Rider's Block

Me encantó. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Es mi primer libro de Waitlyn y definitivamente no será el último, ahora mismo voy por Yes, Chef.


Ameilia y Eric son personas tan opuestas, ella es sociable, amable y él es lo contrario o al menos eso es lo que quiere que todos crean.

Me encantó la evolución de Eric. Al principio me cayó mal, se me hizo un grosero y no tenía idea como la autora lograría darle un giro, pero lo logró y poco a poco lo vi con otros ojos.

Algo que también me gustó mucho fue que la relación se dio poco a poco a pesar de que los dos se gustaban, prefirieron conocerse como amigos, pero había pequeños gestos que revelaban sus sentimientos por mas que intentaran ocultarlos.

Ameilia tiene inseguridades por el abandono de su padre por lo que le cuesta creer en los hombre y se nota mucho en sus reaciones antes Eric. Algo que me encantó fue que esto no se "resolvió" mágicamente con el poder del amor, ella tuvo que trabajar con sus miedos, enfrentarlos, también ayudó que Eric le tuvo paciencia, entendió porque se se tía de esa manera y todos los días le demostró que no era y jamás sería alguien como su padre.


La escena del casco se me hizo tan linda porque refleja como Eric le demuestra que las opiniones y sentimientos de ella son muy importantes para él.



Sólo tengo una queja, ¿por qué contar toda la historia de Penny y Dean en lugar de hacerlo en su propio libro?


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An amazing cowboy romance by Waitlyn Andrews. This book was my introduction to this author and I was not disappointed.

Characters who can comunicate well will always be a win in my book (Everyone needs an Eric). As much as I love these mcs, I cannot get over my love for the supporting characters. The family dynamic adds a touch of realism to the story.

The details and descriptions of the Colorado scenery has you immersed in this book.

This book was so good and I wanted more. I loved it so so much. It was an emotional roller coaster. I want to give the book 10 stars if I could but it was so good. I want more books from this writer.

Waitlyn Andrews’ contemporary cowboy romance had me considering a one-way ticket to Colorado’s cowboy country!

Andrews was able to rope in this reluctant Western reader by combining my love of fiction with a cowboy romance. She took a disgruntled author on the rise and sent her on a writing retreat to the ranch of Rodeo Royalty.

Her rich setting with vivid descriptions pulled me in, but her layered characters who were loyal to their family and loved their land kept me reading. Andrews showed that beneath the gruff exterior and iconic Stetson, there was a loyal, chivalrous man who had great respect for his heritage and enough room in his heart to accommodate a depressed author.

Andrews knows how to wrangle our feelings, too! Her closed-door story had lots of heart and cowboy charm and I wondered how long it would take Amelia ‘Mia’ Greene to fall head over (red) boots for Eric Randall.

I smiled at the contents of Eric’s first aid kit, read in awe at the courageous and dedicated cowboys, and learned lots!

I appreciated Andrews’ examination of cowboy culture, how she was able to lasso a budding romance and give me insight into the road to publication. Her grumpy/sunshine contemporary western romance is one I’d recommend. No “fiddle-farting” - go preorder it!

*swearing (very few instances)

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!

LOVE a great love story with a cowboy. This was SO fun. I chuckled and blushed, and could not put down this book. It was wonderful!

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.

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.

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

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!

“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.

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!

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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!

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!

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.

*Thank you NetGalley for the E-Arc*

4.1⭐️

I had mixed feelings about this book towards the beginning but ultimately I ended up really enjoying it. I love a grumpy cowboy and so many of the side characters were really enjoyable.

My 2 biggest complaints were for 300 pages it felt very drawn out and sometimes the writing felt more like talking rather then an descriptive story.

But overall I really liked it.

loved this romance about a writer and cowboy and slowly falling in love. I loved dean and penny and the whole family. Loved that she figured things out and found love.

Love, love, love this book. This will give you all the hearts in your eyes. This is one of those books you go to when you are feeling down and want something to lift you up. I can reread this book and find more things to love about it. At first it was Amelia who melted Eric’s grumpy heart, but Eric had to be strong and patient to knock down those walls blocking Amelia’s heart. We all need an Eric in our lives. Makes me want to go enjoy the cowboy life. All the characters are wonderful, from his brothers to Amelia’s new friends, to the loveable horses, even Denis, they make this book so much better. This is a must read and will not disappoint. Kudos to Waitlyn and I cannot wait to read more from her. Thanks NetGalley for an advance copy for a review.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Waitlyn Andrews really out did herself with this book! Grumpy sunshine, and rodeo count me in! This is such a sweet little romance book based in small town Colorado! I will be giving this book 4 ⭐️!!! Not only did I love the main characters in this book, but I also really love to supporting characters. I felt like they really added to this book and she nailed it. She even got the rodeo and rancher aspects right in this book!

Waitlyn Andrews has become a must-read author for me, following her swoony romance debut, YES, CHEF, and now with her first Western love story. And I usually don't read cowroms, but it's Waitlyn and I had to and I'm so glad I did! Contemporary romance fans will adore it too!

I enjoyed this. I like that there's no third act break up. They do take their sweet time getting together. The only spice is kissing and hand holding. I wish the cat was more present. Thank you to Netgalley and Waitlyn Andrews for an arc of this.

This was my first cowboy romance novel and I am HOOKED! Rider’s Block follows author Amelia Greene. She just got the news that her latest book (a cowboy mystery) has been denied by 14 publishers! The main reason being that she has never been to Colorado, where her novel takes place. To rectify that, she books a small cabin on a ranch in the Colorado plains to fully immerse herself in ranch life.

I had a great time reading this book! Amelia was a lot of fun and it was really neat seeing her go to a new place and make new friends. As an adult, making new friends is hard!!! I now also want to go to the rodeo and get myself a pair of cowboy boots.

Rider’s Block will be out on September 24, 2024. Run, don’t walk, to get your hands on this book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this! A down on her luck author and a German Shepherd cowboy falling in love? Yes please!!

This cowboy romance set in Colorado’s countryside sparked an idealistic awakening in me! This was such a classic romantic comedy that involved not only the pairing of Erica and Amelia but also two other side characters that have you deeply invested. I loved the plot of her using the 3 month stay for research and ultimately it turning into a “found family” situation.

Eric, the broody and grumpy mountain of a cowboy turning into a romantic softy was also *chefs kiss*. I highly recommend this book if you are into having a good time and feeling the romance of a chivalrous cowboy.

Thank you NetGalley and Waitlyn Andrews for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this romance about a writer and cowboy 🤠and I loved the slow burn!
I really enjoyed how the author write it

Cowboy romance with a writer?! sign me up! this book had a found family, grumpy cowboy, headstrong writer, and the cutest small town vibe! makes me want to go to Colorado 🥰 would highly recommend this one for anyone looking for a cowboy rom com with a slow burn but undeniable chemistry and a cute ranch family!

If you’re looking for a clean cowboy romance, then check this one out. Eric is such a swoony book boyfriend ❤️

If you’re in your cowboy romance era, this is a great title to add to your tbr. Rider’s Block has my favorite trope of grumpy sunshine and did not disappoint. On top of that, there’s no messy annoying third act break-up! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and happily recommend for anyone looking for a cozy, small town, cowboy romance. P. S. This is a closed door romance with no spice, although it’s still very enjoyable and the plot more than fills that space. The writing was done extremely well and built a believable world that immersed me in the country side.

perhaps my favorite trope is where the main character is an author, finding themselves caught in a similar romance of the book they’re researching. surely nothing but platonic friendship awaits you at that ranch in colorado, amelia.

it was pretty easy for me to get deeply immersed into this book. the first half was a very steady build up with back & forth dialog and strong secondary characters. the author prioritized developing a healthy (and comedic) dynamic between all of the characters, not only the fmc/mmc.

instead of a miscommunication or breakup in the third act, the book focused on the flaws of the fmc. I know lacking self-awareness is necessary for character development, but respectfully, girl! go get your man. with all of the action being focused on the first half of the book, the writing did lead the reader through a passive synopsis towards the end to wrap everything up with a nice little bow.

for fans of: excruciatingly slow burns, 90s romcom movies, statement boots, the scene in pride & prejudice (2005) when mr. darcy flexes his hand.

this was also my first experience with netgalley, so thank you to Waitlyn for giving me a fun one to review!!

“It’s not the size of the machine but the way you drive it, right?” 🧡🐴🧡🐴

Amelia is a writer needing some real life cowboy experience for her book. 📖 She decided to come out to Colorado to gain some insight. She never expected love to be part of that experience. Eric is a grumpy cowboy who is a big rodeo star and runs his families ranch. He had a bad accident a couple years back and has lost himself. When Amelia shows up on the road home having car trouble, he knows he is in trouble ❤️

This was such a cute love story with a ton of memorable moments. I loved all of the characters. Amelia & Eric are adorable. I had a hard time with the pace and even with it being closed door, I needed a lot more tension and I needed someone to get hurt that leads to a big come back. With everything I pointed out, it’s still a good read and I recommend it.

🐴 Cowboy Romance
🌦️ Grumpy x Sunshine
📖 Writer Heroine
🛏️ One Bed
🐎 One Horse
👥 Forced Proximity
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Found Family
📏 Tall Heroine
🎂 30+ year old heroine
👭 Lovable Side Characters


⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5
🌶️/5

Thank you Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for a honest review

Rating: 4/5
Spice: 0/5 (closed-door)

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-book! This is the first book I’ve read by Waitlyn Andrews in exchange for an honest, authentic review.

(Quote)
"You're here. You're healthy, and you're the best. Don't make me the reason you quit. Make me the reason you don't stop. Once you win, we can revisit the conversation, but don't make me another regret. I won't be able to live with myself. I can't be another what-if."

(Plot)
Amelia Greene, a successful author, is attempting to break into a new genre but gets denied by multiple publishers due to the lack of research. She realizes that she must visit Colorado and immerse herself in the Cowboy culture. As she lives with the Randall family, she finds herself constantly bumping into the broody, grumpy cowboy Eric. After Eric’s drunk confession, Amelia is hoping to make it through summer without any hiccups and only a finished book.

(Thoughts)
This book is a closed-door romance and it gave me Elsie Silver and Lyla Sage vibes! I loved this book a lot! The grumpy, broody mmc and the strong fmc 🫶 I love when he’s grumpy and then becomes a softy as he falls for her!! I love when Eric called her “Red”That has become one of my favorite nicknames!! Also!! THIS MAN’S CONSISTENT CONFESSION TO AMELIA!! It made me so weak! He constantly waited for Amelia to reach the point he was at and he consistently told her how he felt (we love good communication). One part I really loved was the drunk confession!! AHHHH IT MADE ME BLUSH SO HARD!! Overall, I really did enjoy this book and will be checking out “Yes, Chef.” Ugh I’m sad it’s over buuuut maybe the next one can be about Olivia???

This was such a cute book, it’s paced well & I love the characters!

There’s no on page spice, a little kissing only. I don’t think the book is lacking because of it at all, it works well.

There were some parts that were a little confusing where they were in one place & then all of a sudden in another & I thought I’d missed something but I hadn’t.

It has made me want to go to a rodeo though.

Very cute book! I did think it was a little slow at the end but I was very happy with the ending and loved the correct rodeo and cowboy ways in the book!

First, thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for this review! This is my review I left on Goodreads, as well as StoryGraph.

I really enjoyed this story. In a huge cowboy fan and i felt like this was an original take on the trope!

Overall this was like a 3.75 for me! It was a very sweet closed door romance and I fell in love with Mia and Eric instantly. I’m a little happy he gave up the grump act quick and he wasn’t exactly mean to her. Grumpy/sunshine is a favorite of mine, but sometimes people toe the line between grumpy and mean/bully. Eric was just a closed off guy afraid of showing his feelings 🫣 it was sweet and beautiful.

The writer plot I think was also done very well. Often it can be too cliche or written weirdly around tropes but I loved the angle take here.

Dean and Penny also made for very loveable characters and before realizing we’d see their story play out here, I found myself hoping they get their own book!

I’m happy I was able to read this, would recommend for cowboy lovers :)


There were a few spelling and grammar issues within this version of book itself and white it didn’t exactly impact the rating it definitely stuck out to me here, so if you’re a stickler for that keep in mind. Hopefully they’re found before release 🤞🏽

Small town romance with grumpy guy and sunshine girl? I thought this book was a very good choice for me for the autumn days. I read it in an afternoon and was sad because I wanted more. It was relaxed, humorous, with interesting thoughts. I liked the dynamics, the character development and the atmosphere of the town. It was a nice relaxation, it recharged my soul and put a smile on my face. I fell in love with the characters and I feel like I want to live in a small town like this. I got the usual cowboy romance elements in the book, which makes a book good and makes it pleasantly hip.

I really enjoyed reading this book! It was a cute western romance and the plot was very well written. The characters were adorable and I loved their storyline. The setting feels like a real place and the characters feel like real people.

What a delightful slow burn! I loved this title and the characters were delightful. I enjoyed the family aspect of it and the story as a whole. I can't wait to read more by this author!

Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down! As a huge fan of cowboy romances, this is a standout, especially for those looking for a sweet, closed-door romance.

Our main character, Amelia, is a writer whose latest book has been rejected and needs to do in-person research on cowboy country in Colorado. Luckily, her friend has family in Colorado that she is invited to visit. At first encounter, Eric is your typical grumpy cowboy not wanting to deal with the city girl, but the two start catching feelings and start a budding friendship that turns to more.

While the romance part of the story is slow-paced, I loved watching Amelia find her footing with the Randall family and become part of it. Eric was patient with Amelia and let her set the pace for their relationship, instead of leaning into the overbearing stereotype that can often be found in these types of stories, which I appreciated.

The side characters, especially Dean and Penny, add to the enjoyment of this book, and so do the horses! Getting an inside look into the rodeo circuit was also a fun addition to the plot.

Thank you to Netgalley and Waitlyn Andrews for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to @netgalley for the ARC.

I had high hopes reading this book. I loved “Yes, Chef” and hope that this book would measure up to it.
I was not disappointed. Amelia is a writer that has had her most recent effort passed on 14 times. She is speaking about the book to her friend, and what it is about, and her friend offers her to go to the family’s ranch in Colorado for research.
Amelia goes to Colorado for a month, which ends up being the Summer. She gets a lot of information for her book and is embraced by the family as if she was one of them.
Being a romance, she of course finds her person, but this book was well written with the story and the slow burn of Amelia and her hopeful partner. I felt I was in Colorado, Even with the high temperatures here at home, I could feel the autumn chills described in the story.
As with “Yes, Chef” there were some story lines that I could have had more of, but all in all, I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next one!

Any of my book friends know that I will SWOON for a cowboy romance, and Waitlyn Andrews’ Rider’s Block did not disappoint!

I was excited right from the start when I realized our FMC and I share the same name, and was really hooked on her backstory of trying to write her next best-selling novel.

Amelia is writing a cowboy romance, but is currently being turned down by publishers as her novel is lacking authenticity. What better way to make your novel more authentic, than to spend a summer with ranchers/athletes, learning everything about their way of life?

What I really enjoyed about this book was how everyone at the ranch immediately took Amelia into their family with open arms. Now, it took a little bit for our grump MMC cowboy, Eric, to realize he had been won over, but the love was there nonetheless.

This was very much a slow burn romance, but I appreciated that the book was equal parts Eric and Amelia falling for each other as it was Amelia learning to let her guard down and allow herself to be loved again. On the topic of romance, I also enjoyed that there was little to no smut in this novel besides a few kissing scenes, it really allowed us to watch Eric and Amelia build their relationship together.

Another really neat aspect of this book was that every chapter had a song attributed to it! Andrews easily could have picked random country songs for these chapters, but the fact that she picked ones that fit each chapters vibe/plot was much more meaningful.

This is perfect for fans of Elsie Silver, and reminded me a lot of being back in Chestnut Springs! I would love to see additional novels focusing on the other brothers and their lives.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, and would read more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley for my free e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

This was my first cowboy romance and it did not disappoint!
It's a clean slow burn with no third act break up and a little bit of a Hallmark movie feel to it. All the characters were so likable and had me rooting for them. One of my favorite parts is that each chapter has a different country song that matches the vibes of the chapter. I can't focus enough to read and listen to music at the same time, but you know I went and made a playlist as soon as I finished the book!
The book started off so strong, I was immediately sucked in, ready to go to a rodeo f I thought for sure this would be a 5 * read for me. The only reason I ended up not giving it a 5 is because it started off with obvious attraction between the two (the dance after the first rodeo with the whiskey da), but the romance build up after that is truly a slow burn and it left me feeling a little frustrated with Amelia, the FMC. However if you love that burn and watching characters fight their feelings, this would probably be perfect for you!

Wow! I absolutely loved reading this book. I couldn’t put it down, I read it within one day. I’ve become obsessed with cowboy romance novels and this one moved to the top of my list of favorites. The characters were so adorable, I wanna be apart of the Randall family! I enjoyed learning the quirks of each character and the dynamics between them. I would highly recommend this book if you need a sweet romance, that will make you giddy with love.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

You know what this book made me feel? This book made me feel like I need to pack up my husband and my kids (4 boys mind you) and find a ranch in Colorado and get a bunch of horses and live happily ever after. Is that too much to ask??

This book was so beautifully written. This is hands down one of the best books I’ve read that has literally no spice in it whatsoever. And you know what? I don’t even care! The characters were written wonderfully. I felt like I knew them. The MMC is one of the best black cat turned golden retrievers ever okay? I said it and I stand by it! The way the descriptions of the setting and the scenery….immaculately done. I feel like I’m missing out on seeing this vastly beautiful place in real life.
There were moments between Eric (MMC) and Roper (Eric’s horse) that made me so emotional.
If you are thinking about entering your contemporary cowboy romance era, I suggest you start here because this was done SO well. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me this free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the Kindle arc edition, I’m so sincerely grateful for these early reads!
Starting off, I really wanted to like this book, but it just wasn’t for me. I love a good cowboy romance with a steady mmc, and fmc who is strong and driven, but I just felt like there were so many cliches that it got a bit redundant. I wasn’t a fan of the repeating phrases, the strained relationship the fmc had with her dad led to really confusing inner dialogue that felt like her feelings were flip flopping. I really wanted to like this, but unfortunately I won’t be purchasing when it comes out :/

Rider's Block

Amelia's 10th book gets rejected for being unrealistic so she spends a month on a ranch in Colorado with her friend Olivia's cousins. She falls hard for the small town vibes, and maybe even harder for Eric, the eldest son at the ranch. This book is perfect for those who love Lost and Lassoed/ the Blue Ranch series from Layla Sage. It has the same rosy glassed, small town, ranch life vibes.

The four main characters: Amelia, Eric, Dean, and Penny are all interesting and easy to root for. Their voices are different, and Andrews' does a good job of showing things happen rather than telling us they happened. Of course I fell in love with this small town with its ranch life, rodeo, and dance halls. Of course I drempt about moving to Colorado to this fictional place to live this fantasy. Sigh.

Andrews' uses a lot of clichés in her writing. Especially when talking about love or of Amelia's issues with trust due to her dad. I wish this could've been more nuanced. The book could be tightened up a bit. Still, it was an enjoyable small town romance read by an independent author. 3.5 stars. Thanks to Net Galley and Waitlyn Andrews for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book made me want to pack up my things and move to a ranch in Colorado immediately. I love cowboy/small town romances, I binge and eat them up every time, so it's no surprise that I enjoyed this one. It hooked me immediately! Loved the characters, loved the grumpy x sunshine, and especially loved the found family on the ranch, it was a sweet and easy read that would be perfect to pick up during the fall!

This is my first book to ready by Waitlyn Andrews, and overall I enjoyed reading Rider's Block.

Amelia 'Mia' Greene is a multi-successful author who just got her latest book rejected, for the 14th time. It's time for Amelia to go do some research, which leads her to friends' family farm in Colorado to immerse herself into the cowboy culture and see where exactly she went wrong. Upon a bumpy arrival, she meets Eric, the gruff, and a touch hostile, cowboy who runs the ranch with his parents and siblings. Amelia starts to get engrained into life with Eric's family, and starts to fall for the
small-town charm and falls in love with the rodeo.

The parts about this book that I appreciated and enjoyed the most, where the knowledge and appreciation for the cowboy way of life and how it was written. The author lets us explore what being apart of a ranch is truly like through the eyes of someone who is a novice. It makes you fall in love with it as the same time as Mia. I also loved the development of Mia and Eric's relationship. Waitlyn sets the foundation of attraction and let's the two MMCs build upon it.

That being said, I did feel like parts of the book were drawn out and it took too long for certain parts of the plot to develop. It started to feel redundant and I found myself wanting to skip ahead to get through what I felt like was being repeated and unnecessary.

Overall, this is a sweet, smalltown, cowboy romance that I recommend to those who love closed-door romances. I also think it's a great book to help you get out of a reading slump!

******

Thank you, NetGalley, for the digital ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"- 𝙰𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚏𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗?
- 𝙸'𝚖 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚏𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚢 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞.
- 𝙸 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎.
- 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚗."

If it took me a while to get used to the author's writing style, once I did, I had a silly grin on my face as I discovered the characters, saw their personalities evolve, loving the side characters as much as the main ones, kicking my feet and giggling.

I loved the strong, self-assured, confident woman that Amelia is, with a good repartee, sweet, open to new adventures and experiences, while being calm, thoughtful and protecting her heart from the risk of reliving her traumas. I enjoyed watching this Californian adapt to ranch life and its inhabitants.

As for Eric, I loved this loyal, chivalrous cowboy who became grumpy and lonely after an accident. I loved his patience, devotion to his people, sensitivity, strength and love of his land; the fact that he opens up to Amelia, understands her, legitimizes her fears, pacing himself while knowing when to push her to make her understand the obvious.

It was cute, tender, head-free, full of light and sometimes pain, with lots of love and above all light. Without smut, the emphasis was on building a relationship, overcoming traumas and fears, and the unexpected paths we take that change the course of our lives, opening our eyes to what's really important.

The atmosphere was funny, romantic, prickly, teasing and then comforting and vulnerable, with that warm, close-knit, protective family atmosphere, looking out for each other. I can't wait for the world to discover it on September 26.

Calling all Chestnut Springs and Rose Hill lovers to their next cowboy read. Waitlyn Andrews might just be one of my new favorite writers. I ATE Rider’s Block up.

What I loved:
-Each chapter had its own song (chefs kiss!)!
-Eric & Roper. Their relationship is the true star of the show in my eyes.
-I like how Waitlyn goes in depth on explaining everything “cowboy.” Readers are learning alongside Amelia.
-I think it’s interesting seeing the thought process behind writing a book. Amelia struggles with writing her cowboy mystery novel. Throughout the book Amelia ‘learns’ through experience. I could only imagine this is similar to Waitlyn’s writing process.

What I didn’t like:
-chapter 36 didn’t have a song ☹️
-The book ended!! I would love to see this become a series!

Grumpy sunshine. Check! The slowest burns of all slow burns. Check! This book wasn’t just your typical cowboy romance, it felt refreshing. I loved that the FMC and MMC were in their thirties. I would have been moving to Colorado within the first month that’s for sure. The bestie relationship between Dean and Mia was so sweet I loved their bonding. Overall loved the concept of the FMC going on a trip to explore her book concept I feel like I got so much insight into how a book is written.