Member Reviews
I love a cowboy romance so I knew I was going to enjoy this!
Pros: not insta love, no miscommunication - in fact very good communication, lots of exploration of ranching and rodeos rather than the same tired stereotypes but still all the tropes we know and love
Cons: chapter 12 the FMC describes a book she read and disliked, fine except for the very victim blaming vibes that came across - I don’t know if this based on a real romance novel or not but there are plenty of plots that could have described the MMCs actions not aligning with their “love” for the FMC without resorting to the victim blaming shown here. Totally fine with badmouthing toxic representations of relationships but to dismiss this example of assault really ruined the remainder of the book for me.
I loved this author's writing style! It was such an enjoyable book and the characters were well developed. The story was also very well paced and sucked me in from the beginning.
this was such a fun read and would absolutely recommend this for any small town/cowboy romance enjoyers
i was not against the closed door spice either! i think it fit this book well
but i did feel like some parts were a rather frustrating with the FMC and her struggle with her feelings
and i was really itching for eric's pov
that is strictly personal preference and was still enjoyable nonetheless
The Rider's Block is a good introductory book for those looking to get into cowboy romance novels. I thought Andrews did a great job of explaining the different rodeo events and helped me to picture better what these events look like when they are completed. I liked how much we got to know the side characters.
I struggled with the writing style, which I think was a personal preference I could have gotten over. However, my main issue is that the main character drives after a night out drinking. Most of her drinks had been watered down, but I still strongly dislike that she drove home after drinking at all, never mind multiple drinks. This is probably not a deal breaker for most people, but it ruined the book for me.
I really enjoyed the setting of beautiful Colorado on a quaint ranch. As a horse girl and lover of cowboy romances I was excited about this one. It started out really well, but fell short for me. The pacing was a little off and I wasn’t in love with the MMC. I just wanted a little more from this one.
This was extremely well written!! The descriptions of the mountains and views, as well as the characters and how beautifully they communicated with each other. This was such a sweet cowboy romance!
The book does a great job explaining the ranch culture and activities in great details. I liked how rodeos and different rodeos games were described. The found family aspect was heartwarming as well.
The romance fell short for me. Though the MMC, Eric was very likeable, the constant push and pull from our FMC, Amelia put a damper on the mood.
I also wanted more tension and build up. There were so many opportunities for having perfect chemistry like one horse, one tent etc. but nothing really happened. The love happened out of no where with minimum to no build up. Furthermore, the FMC was so committed to her book and it would have been nice to see what her actual book was about.
Lastly, the real issue was the pacing. It was so off with so much tell and not show. Combine way too many inner monologues and you kinda get whiplash.
I liked the ending and that there was no third act break up.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy. My opinions are based solely on my reading experience.
Showstopping, I somehow loved it even more than her first book which I didn't think was possible. Eric and Mia are so adorable and I am obsessed. It took him a bit to warm up to her but once he did, he was such a goner. He loved her so much and would do literally anything for Mia. She knew she had strong feelings for him, it just took her a little longer to admit them. The whole family was so fun and Mia just fit right in.
I received an arc through netgalley.
Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. I could not relate to the characters but loved the setting of this story
When I heard this book was about a writer from California going to Colorado to learn the real ins and outs of ranch life and rodeos since her book keeps getting rejected I was already on the hook. Then the intro said it was inspired by the feeling of 90’s Romcoms and I was totally sold. This book was so fun and heartwarming I loved every second of reading it. The voice of the female lead, Amelia, was refreshing and relatable making the beautiful scenery and descriptions feel as though you were in them. Each character you met had unique and charming personalities that gave you something to love about each of them and left you wanting to be part of the Randall clan.
Now if that wasn’t a selling point then the male lead of a grumpy cowboy with a mysterious accident in his past definitely was. The more we meet Eric and see his gentlemanly ways and straightforwardness, our main character wasn’t the only one falling for him. I loved their interactions as well as his detication and passion for horses, rodeos, and those he loves. His actions speak louder than words but his words are just as meaningful. Every challenge and moment you go through with Eric and Amelia you feel like you are going a round of 8 seconds on the back of a bronco and coming out a winner by the end of the book.
This book has definitely become a top recommendation in my list of cowboy romances with its heartwarming story of love and found family. I did notice a few errors in sentences while reading but not enough to throw you off from the story or get you to put the book down over. The story was fun and fluid giving you a 90’s Romcom feeling like it set out to do. Now I just need to go buy some red boots of my own.
Very cute book. I love when the main character is an author themself and needs the love interests help to write the books.
Red boots. Colorado. Roper
Cute small town romance. A slow burn definitely but a sweet story about a writer look to do some research to rewrite her current book and a cowboy.
If you’re looking for a romance story with no spice or open door this one might be for you. While I liked the gradual change to the main characters becoming a couple it did feel like it took a long time to finally happen.
The plot was good. The characters were likeable. My only complaint is with the accident scene on the camping trip. It felt a little too unreal for the circumstances.
Overall four stars for me.
This was such a good book. I absolutely enjoyed it and look forward to reading other books by this author in the future. Great writing and wonderful storyline.
This book was a cowboy dream! Written with so much humor and life, I couldn’t put it down until I finished it!
This sweet romance will have you saying giddy-up from the start to the finish! I do wish we'd had some spice, but regardless this was still a wonderful romance novel.
I enjoyed this, but felt it wasn’t super original. I also wasn’t super connected to the characters. That said, I had fun while reading it so I won’t complain about that
Rider’s Block is a heartwarming story about Amelia, an author searching for inspiration for her book, and Eric, a grumpy yet charming cowboy. Amelia visits a ranch to spark her creativity, and despite Eric's reserved demeanor, the two form a deep and meaningful connection.
The storyline is captivating, with great chemistry between Amelia and Eric. I loved how Amelia remained true to herself, even while confronting her fears, and how Eric supported her throughout her journey. His rodeo background added an interesting layer to his character, making him even more intriguing.
Additionally, it felt like Eric was more emotionally invested in the relationship than Amelia at times, which left the balance feeling slightly off.
Overall, this book delivered a sweet and engaging romance with a unique setting. I’d recommend it to fans of contemporary romance who enjoy a mix of self-discovery and heartfelt connection.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
**Thank you, NetGalley, for this E-Arc in exchange for my honest review!**
3 ⭐️
This was a very cute cowboy romance. I had a great time reading this book, I specially enjoyed the overall story, it was sweat, funny and emotional. The main character was really good for the plot, as her ignorance and willingness to learn was believable. The friend group was really good too and if all of this sounds good to you I would truly recommend this book to you.
That said, there were a couple of things I didn’t vibe with, particularly the storytelling. Some parts, especially the first 40%, felt a bit too rigid. And, there were minor inconsistencies throughout the book, like confusion over which character was the younger brother. I would've like seeing Eric's POV especially because his switch felt a little artificial and that made the character, at least for me, undeveloped. I just think it might've help to have his perspective to take some of the awkwardness out of the story. But, like I said, this book isn’t bad, it just had a few issues with the writing which are easy to brush over one you get into the story.
Man I love a good small town romance! This was a super cute read! I really loved the characters and the storyline!
I think as a certified horse girl...I need to approve this book!
I loved the big cowboy energy in this book. I would love to curl up in a cozy country cabin and read this book! I thought it was a very delightful read and would love to have a physical copy of this book on my shelf. I'll just be crossing my fingers that this book will become a series! Wailyn Andrews has written a romance for the girls obsessed with cowboys! This book is for fans of Lyla Sage and Elsie Silver! Amazing vibes and characters! A heart-warming read!