As Mia says partway through the book, “I’m living for it.”

Mia comes to a Colorado ranch to do some research for her latest novel. There she meets Eric; he’s a handsome cowboy whose surly attitude hides the fact that he is smitten with her. As the months roll along, their relationship grows naturally and you’ll swoon alongside Mia every time Eric calls her “Babe” or “Red.”

This book has two mature characters navigating their feelings by communicating. It is extremely refreshing. Mia doesn’t back down from her non-negotiables in a relationship. Eric understands that and meets her where she is. The patience and understanding that Eric shows to Mia is steadfast. In return, she envelopes herself in his family and community.

Absolutely recommend this book. It is standalone and closed door.

4.5 ⭐️!!!!!!

I so sincerely loved this book and am so grateful to be an ARC reader for it. This book is the beautiful story of two strangers who get off on the wrong foot (because he’s a grumpy cowboy, yee haw) but who find common ground in a friendship and reconcile into something so much more!

This book captures the concepts of a found family and just showing kindness in such a beautiful and thoughtful way. I truly hope this isn’t the last we see of this Eastern Colorado crew!

A multi-successful book author finally hits her goal of financial stability and decides that instead of writing the way she always has, to finally follow
her heart and lean into her latest book. Instead of following her previous formulaic approach, she goes for a cowboy mystery based in Colorado. This promptly gets rejected by 14 publishers for her missing the mark. After feedback that she really didn't know the cowboy life she wrote about, a friend offers for her to stay at her aunt and uncles ranch for the summer to immerse herself in the life, and figure out where her book went wrong. She packs her bags in California, heads out to Colorado and meets surly and massive cowboy Eric, and his sweet and charming parents Nancy and George. They run the ranch with his two brothers, spouses and partners, and a bunch of ranch hands in tow.

This starts off as a grumpy/sunshine vibe, with Eric being openly hostile and Amelia trying to fit into a brand new world for book research. I loved how much you truly learn about Saddle Bronc and other rodeo events to the point you feel immersed in the atmosphere. The small-town vibe was sweet and lighthearted, with the big family being meddling and comical, made the book an easy read.

I did find parts of the novel to feel long and repetitive. I can understand that Amelia had to work through her own trauma, but 100 pages of progress started to feel a little redundant over time. It also felt like there were some pointless extra characters. Her family trauma was one thing, but adding on a lackluster boyfriend and friends just felt a little excessive. It didn't take away from the story, but it felt like more background than needed.

I personally am also not a fan of grown adults with previous relationships being overly chaste. Closed-door books are one thing, but the idea they only kissed for over half a year before abruptly taking a massive leap in their relationship just stood a little too far outside of reality for me. Again, not that it took away from the book overall, it just drew me out of it enough to not have that same satisfaction of a romance well told.

All in all, I'd recommend this one, it was sweet, funny, and a good read for when you're in a slump!

“I like you in my hat.” “I like wearing your hat.”

Amelia decides to finally head to Colorado, after getting rejected by multiple publishers, because apparently she didn’t have enough knowledge about the theme. And how the life there was. So she rents a little cabin at a ranch where she gets invited into a family quickly. When she also meets Eric, the grumpiest cowboy ever. For weeks she tries to not be in the way for him. Or annoy him. But what if he doesn’t think she’s that annoying after all.

Okay, so I picked this up because I was mindlessly scrolling through goodreads and netgalley, trying to find my next read. And then I stumbled across this one. I had never heard about the books or the author before. But the cover and description was calling my name.

I really loved the writing, and now I’m intrigued to read her other book. (Fun fact: this is her second published book) I really love finding new authors like this! There are so many good ones out there that are just waiting to be discovered.

Anyway, I do love me a good first person pov. But I would have looooovvvveeeeedddd to read about his thoughts. Like I mean he’s a grumpy cowboy. Why would I not? But I can’t really complain about that when everything else was so perfect.

And I loved all of the characters, even all the family members bla bla (not her dad). I really wish she would turn this into a series. A dream come true. Like Penny and Dean (that was his name right) and also all the others.

I really loved this whole universe. And I will be thinking about this book for loooooong.

Okay, now my likes. First of the setting, because like imagine yourself on a ranch. With horses and hot cowboys?!?!? Then, the characters. I would die to have Eric. And I'm being serious. And just the whole aesthetic is such a vibe. I felt like I was there. Gosh, I really wish I was.

To the hard part, dislikes… I cannot come up with anything. I do have a wish though. That I mentioned earlier. I wish that we got Eric's pov. Like I could read a book with only his pov. And I wouldn't be bored.

I recommend this for anyone that loves a hot grumpy cowboy. 🤠

Also a big thank you to netgalley and Waitlyn for providing me with this fantastic earc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun, quick read that I enjoyed, but I also wish there was some spice to it. I kept waiting for it to happen… and it never did. I know some people seek out closed door romances, so this would be a great book for those readers. In the foreward, the author mentions that she is self published, and I hope publishers will pick up this book because it’s so much better than a lot of books I’ve read on KU.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this digital ARC.

I DNFed this after two chapters, so I can't really speak to the characters and/or story.
I just feel like this hasn't been edited yet and I really struggle with that. I understand ARCs aren't the finished product just yet, but I can't go through with this.

4.5 ⭐️

This book was adorable! It was a quick read and you can’t put it down once you start.

The MMC Eric is a great book boyfriend! He is grumpy on the outside but a loveable teddy bear on the inside. It wasn’t insta love like so many romances it was a well developed slow burn. Not only do the leads have great character development but Eric’s family does too. I’m hoping we get more books with this family.

I do wish we got dual POV as this is my favorite way to read romance.

Waitlyn Andrews has me in a chokehold!! I was captivated by Yes Chef!, so when I got her email that Rider's Block was available on NetGalley, I ran to grab it! Cowboys are my kryptonite, and this book definitely had me weak. A grumpy, gruff, rodeo-cowboy/bibliophile with a soft spot for Jane Austen??!! I was drooling. This book was laugh out loud funny, heart warming, and tear jerking at times. The scenery descriptions were so vivid and beautiful that the reader feels like they are a part of Colorado ranch life. I absolutely adored the peppered references to Jane Austen works, Frozen, and even Friends. I absolutely could not put this book down. I will be rereading it and will probably be purchasing a pair of cowboy boots and planning a trip west. I am for certain anxious for the next Waitlyn Andrews book!
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC early in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are 100% my own.

This book had me hooked right from the beginning! I loved all of our character and the development they go through. I love how broody Eric is right from the start. These characters are so well written they could jump off the page and be people you meet in real life. I also love Eric's family dynamic they seem so wonderful you wish you could be apart of their family. I also love how Amelia makes friends with the local western store owner. This being the first book I have read from this author I wasn't sure what to expect. It hit all the marks for me.

Overall I'm giving this book a 5/5 stars. The only thing that would have made me like this book even more is if it had been dual POV. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a cowboy romance with well written characters that you just can't help but fall in love with.

The blend of romance and humor is spot-on. Amelia and Eric’s banter is electric, and the simmering attraction adds so much depth. It’s a perfect mix of charming, funny, and romantic that feels genuine and refreshing. In short, this read is like a fun, emotional rollercoaster, and I loved every minute of it!

This was such a fun romance! I know it’s a great book when I look at the percentage read on my kindle and am relieved to see I have a lot left. The characters were lovable, the descriptive settings were immersive, and it was a fun glimpse into cowboy life.

Amelia + Eric 🫶🏻

This book gave me aaalll the feels 🥹 I love the idea of an author visiting a ranch to really learn what ranch/cowboy life is. After one too many rejections on her book, Amelia flies to Colorado to see what she’s missing. Amelia is such an easy character to love. She’s willing to learn and be involved on the ranch and she’s respectful to how the life is 🥰

Eric 🥹🥹 he starts off as grumpy and moody but really he is kind-hearted, respectful and patient. Once he was ready to go all in, he was there for Amelia until she was ready. The slow burn in this was absolutely perfect and I loved that they took their time and really grew with each other before labeling anything.

The Randall family made their way into my heart and I hope to see more of them! Found family has been one of my new favorite tropes and I’m definitely adding this book to my suggestions.

I think this might have been my first cowboy romance (or at least the first one in a LONG time), and I absolutely loved it! 😍 It was such a cute story, and I know I’ll be diving into more cowboy romances immediately! 🤠

Amelia, a writer suffering from a severe case of writer's block, has faced rejection for her most recent book 14 times! 😱 She’s working on a cowboy mystery set in Colorado, but having never spent much time there, it shows. When a friend offers her a stay with their family to get the full experience and help break through her writer's block, she eagerly sets off to Colorado.

Very quickly into her trip, she blows a tire and meets a grumpy yet handsome cowboy named Eric. He just so happens to be part of the family she’s going to be spending the summer with—perfect, right? Well, not exactly! He's your typical cowboy (at least from Amelia's perspective), and their relationship gets off to a rocky start. But as the story unfolds and we meet the Randall family, I found myself wanting to be a part of their family too. It was such a joy watching Amelia grow to love this family and, in turn, find herself. 🥰

This book had zero spice, but honestly, I loved it for that! 🌸 It was such a sweet story, and one of my favorite aspects was how these two communicated! As much as I enjoy some angst, it was refreshing to see how they could be honest and open with each other (even if it took some time). I truly appreciated that. I’m not sure if there will be more books revolving around the Randall family, but if there are, I’ll definitely be reading them! 📚💕

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

“Rider’s Block” is a contemporary romance by Waitlyn Andrews. I’ve mixed feelings about this book. Overall, I enjoyed it - I found the research into being part of a rodeo family interesting, along with some of the “horse ranching” bits. I also thought the romance build-up between the two main characters was really fun. But this book had a number of side plots that, for lack of a better phrase, could have been removed and the story would not have been affected (in fact the book as a whole would’ve been tighter). I enjoyed the story but it felt too long! Our main female character, Amelia, was fun - as was the group of folks she meets in Colorado thanks to a friend’s connection. It was easy to keep the main characters in Colorado apart (which was great). I also liked the delving into the frustrations of being an author (though it took me a while to realize that the deadlines were self-imposed, not agent imposed). Another cute book by this author - a strong recommend.

This book was amazing I was looking for a good Cowboy book that would catch my eye and this book did the trick. I was addicted to this book and couldn't put it down at all I spent the whole night reading it. I loved how Eric was grumpy on the outside but when you got to know him he was a big teddy bear. Dean was an amazing side character and probably was my favorite character out of all the characters. Had an amazing time reading this!

This book was adorable! And refreshing. I read a lot of romance - a lot of it centered around small towns and cowboys. Yet this book was different and that’s hard to accomplish when writing about common themes and tropes.

I ended up loving it so much more than I thought I would and the love story is such a slow build up. If you’re looking for a closed door cowboy romance look no further! Rider’s Block is the one for you

I really loved this book. If you’re a fan of the Rebel Blue Ranch series or Chestnut Springs series then you’ll probably like this book as well. Eric starts off as a grumpy cowboy who’s secretly harbouring a crush for Amelia our city girl author who’s in the country for some education for her new novel. Even when he’s being grumpy there’s still little things he does where he’s clearly protective of her but when he finally admits he wants her, there’s no resisting this sweet cowboy. Amelia stays with her friend's family on their ranch and ends up finding her own home and family with these people. She gets a new wardrobe, heads off to the rodeo a few times, falls off a few horses, makes a new best friend, and finds love in a grumpy cowboy who's got a soft side. I love the friendships that Amelia makes with everyone and that this book is very much cowboys and not just small town. Also Dean and Penny's relationship throughout the book was adorable and such a treat to watch as well.

I had fun reading Rider's Block. I enjoyed all of the characters and the cowboy theme. Just like her first book, Andrews did a fantastic job with the slow burn romance. I thought Amelia and Eric were fantastic main characters. I liked reading Amelia's POV and watching her grow more comfortable with her feelings towards Eric. I adored Amelia and Eric's relationship. I liked their chemistry and tension. Once they warmed up to each other, it was fun to watch their walls go down. Eric was such a sweet book boyfriend. I liked how he went about pursuing Amelia. I thought the side characters were well written. I enjoyed the Randall brothers, especially Dean! It was fun to have a mini romance within the story. The Randall family was so opening and supportive. Andrews did a great job with the found family trope. She also nailed the forced proximity and grumpy/sunshine tropes. The Colorado setting felt fleshed out and believable. I felt like I was there in the plains with Amelia! I especially enjoyed the camping trip scene. That whole storyline was funny...especially with Dennis and Dean. I did feel like there were some things that could have been explained better. For example, Amelia mentioned her "deadline" multiple times before it was pointed out that it was a self-induced deadline. This confused me at first. I also was unsure what genre Amelia wrote. It was mentioned that she's a romance writer; however, the whole plot line was about her writing a mystery. I thought that whole storyline could have been clearer. Lastly, I did notice some past tension issues in the writing. Overall, I thought this was another terrific novel by Andrews. Thank you to Netgally and Waitlyn Andrews for the ARC.

Pull on your (red) cowboy boots, pour a glass of Pendleton and strap yourself in because this was a rollercoaster of a read! From the very beginning, it twists and turns through various life events both joyful and upsetting - it had me sighing, grumbling, grinning and kicking my feet in a matter of pages. Each chapter is accompanied by a song which turns into a pretty great playlist!
It reads like it feels, that you could sit with the characters and enjoy dinner or drinks together and chat about your lives.
I love the relationship that Amelia (Mia) and Eric develop - give me a MMC that communicates anyday! And I thoroughly enjoy the dynamics of the Randall family but what I truly enjoyed the most, was the relationships of the women in the book and that is what will pull me back time and time again to reread.

No fiddle-farting around, go and pre-order your copy of Rider's Block! Released on September 26th!

Finished this in less than 5 hours! It hooked me FAST. I really love cowboy romances and thought this one was a great addition to the subgenre. It has gorgeous descriptions of settings and hits a lot of great tropes. Found family and grumpy x sunshine being my two favorites.
The reason it lost a star is because the middle kind of dragged their romance in my opinion. Also, I felt like her character could’ve had more reflection and growth other than her having an epiphany (if that makes sense). Her issues with her father just felt open ended, but other than that I really enjoyed this read!