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!

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

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.

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???

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.

Such a cute story of a writer struggling with a book and making the decision to travel to the setting to help with her writing only to find herself going head-to-head with a grumpy cowboy who she ends up falling in love with but his life is in Colorado and hers is in California. She doesn't want to give up the life she thinks she wants and doesn't want to ask him to do the same either but eventually she has to pick what's more important to her. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more from the author.

I was 100% sure that I would love this book, I mean, she is a writer, he is a cawboy, a wholesome found family, he fell in love first. And I have indeed loved it, but the men of this author have left me very high standards.
I don't know much about cowboys, so don't know how acurate is the author, but she has convinced me, and she made me feel part of this story from the first page. The atmosphere, the rodeos, made me need more books like this one in my life, it has become my new obsession.
One thing that I value very much is that it's not one of those stories in which their love interests fall in love, argue for nonsense, and reconcile to be together. We can see how the relationshipbetween them evolves and how they fall in love, and that makes this book more special for me.
Definitely I need everyone to read it so I can talk about it with more people.

Rider’s Block is such a sweet love story! I loved every character and you can imagine/feel as though you’re there in the story the entire time. Really made me want to get away to the Colorado plains and stay on a ranch for a summer 🤠

This book releases on September 26th!

Cowboy romance
Grumpy x Sunshine
No spicy scenes
Forced proximity
Little bit of family drama
Healing old wounds
Feel-good romcom

I really enjoyed this book. Small town, romance, grumpy cowboy, author with writers block, really can’t go wrong. Super cute story of people overcoming their fears with letting people in and realizing the power with having a great supportive partner and family unit.

I do wish Dean and Penny had their own book for their side love story in this, I think that would have been a really great book to read.

I feel a couple parts of the story were lengthy and didn’t add much to the story for me at least.

Over all I really did enjoy this book and the characters. Eric is just the perfect swoony grumpy cowboy! Amelia was a great relatable fmc that I loved, her dad is a pos who deserves nothing good in this world!

This is a clean romance, so if that is what you look for this is really great option to cure the small town romance without spice itch. Even for readers that enjoy or want spice, this is a great read.

Go check it out!

I am a big fan of cowboy romance and this one was fun to read. This is a slow burn which is always a favorite - but being closed door it is much lighter on the spice than my typical read. I was glad that there was a well rounded cast of side characters to keep me engaged. I felt a lot of similarities between some of my long-standing favorites like the Blue Moon series by Lucy Score and Elsie Silver's Chestnut Springs - large, meddling "found family" with some good humor.
I like the premise of an author spending time on a ranch for research, with the slight misunderstanding/grumpy x sunshine/enemies to lovers vibes at first. And I really enjoyed two main characters who communicate very well!

Thank you for the chance to read this arc!

Rating: 4.25 ⭐️
This book is what you’d get if an Elsie Silver book had a baby with a Hallmark movie, and I mean that with the highest praise. Everything about Rider’s Block felt really wholesome and earnest without being sickeningly sweet.

I loved the characters so much! The personalities balanced one another out so well and I loved discovering new things about them as the story went on. The pacing was fantastic and really made sense given Amelia and Eric’s backstories.

I flew through this book simply because I couldn’t put it down. It was so funny and such a quick and easy read.

Read if you like:
- German Shepherd cowboys
- Learning about ranch life & rodeos
- Family and found family
- Lots of swoon with no spice
- Horses with lots of personality
- Injury tending
- Red cowboy boots and drunken confessions

e-ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Wow! I wanted to read this book because of the clever title. I loved every moment of this story. The romantic tension, the found family, the relationship that is a true partnership, the town, the ranch life, the bond with the animals, the rodeo circuit. Loved it all. This is a clean romance but there’s plenty of chemistry. This book is also so funny! A new favorite for sure! Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)

Waitlyn Andrew delivers again with her sophomore romcom, Rider’s Block. After whisking us away on a delicious adventure in Paris with Yes, Chef, she now brings us a love story set in the stunning Colorado plains, pairing a cowboy with a romance writer.

Amelia, a successful romance author, hits a roadblock when her latest cowboy-themed book gets rejected 14 times. The reason? She’s never actually spent any time in the Colorado plains she writes about. When the opportunity arises to live on a real cowboy ranch for some hands-on research, the last thing Amelia expects is to meet Eric Randall—a grumpy, handsome cowboy who just might steal her heart. Through rodeos, new friendships, and the warmth of a found family, Amelia and Eric discover they’re at their best when working together to achieve their dreams.

This book was such a delight to read! The character development was especially well done, with both Amelia and Eric growing individually and learning to love and be loved in return. I also adored the side characters (horses included!). Waitlyn did a brilliant job of immersing readers in the setting—you can feel the warmth of the sun, see the night stars, admire the sunsets, and almost smell the cinnamon rolls. It’s an utterly cozy fall read that will leave you smiling.

Highly recommended for fans of closed-door romances, cowboys, and the grumpy/sunshine trope.

Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for an advanced copy for my honest opinion.

Absolutely adored this book! The lush scenery, the vividly three dimensional characters, and an author FMC!? Three of my favorite things. Though it was closed door, the tension between Mia and Eric was palpable and didn’t make me feel like I was missing anything. A great read for fans of Western/cowboy romances!

This was an absolutely amazing book! It was my first cowboy romance and I loved the writing style. I really enjoyed the vivid descriptions of everything, the food, scenery etc. Penny by far was my favorite character, she was so outgoing and funny! I definitely recommend this book.

I got this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

Gosh! Well my hearts been warmed!! What a slow burn country romance!!!
First before I truly get started I LOVE a book with a playlist so already I had high hopes and this did not disappoint!
Something I truly loved about this book is how everyone at the ranch took her in with open arms and the slow burn .. we love a slow burn over here. I also appreciated how this one had no spice, sometime I just need a heart warming book I can cuddle up by the fire with and this was truly it!
I think this book and this book alone has put me in my cowboy era and I will now only be reading cowboy books!

Thanks to NetGalley and Waitlyn Andrews for an ARC of Rider's Block in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Absolutely adored this book! It's the perfect cozy cowboy romance - not overly cliché, but with just enough stakes to make you feel like you're reading your way through a Hallmark movie with extra excitement and heartfelt moments. I'm really hoping this turns into a series. It would be fun to continue the story through the perspectives of the other characters.

I think I might be in my cowboy era. I cannot get enough of swoony cowboy romance books and this one was right up there. I admittedly didn't realize this one has no spice in it, and I do tend to prefer my romance books with a bit of spice, but this one was still cute. At first I didn't really love Eric's character because there is being grumpy and then there is just being standoffish and I thought he was a bit too aloof. As time went on he definitely grew on me and the way he looked out for Emelia was wonderful. I do hate that his name was Eric but that is a personal preference!

Overall this was wonderfully done, and I look forward to reading more from Waitlyn Andrews.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is an excellent book - i don't read a lot of closed door romance because I generally like a little spice in my life, but Rider's Block was great and I didn't miss the spice at all - the love stories (yes, there is more than one) carried me through. It's a slow-burn cowboy romance that hits you right in the feels.

I absolutely adored Eric and Amelia's story: I loved the way Eric was so patient with her and knew he had to wait for her to be ready. And I loved how Amelia not only won Eric's heart, but his family's as well.

If you are looking for an emotional pick-me-up that will make you laugh and believe in love, pick this one up!


Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The quintessential cowboy romance.

Mr Eric Randall - I love you.

This book was perfect it had everything I wanted. Not one romance but two. I love Dean and Penny paving their story on the side, and how the four of them were constantly giving each other advice but unable to sort their own lives out.

Get me some red cowboy boots. I’m off to Colorado.

4.5⭐️
such a cute slow burn cowboy romance!!!! when ameila an author is writing a cowboy romance she decides she needs some hands on experience- her friend offers for her to stay at her family's ranch in colorado. so she can do some research. being there she meets eric a wild cowboy who has a lot to show her about the rodeo life and farm life. they have insane chemistry but, mia is too guarded to let him in. luckily though eric is persistent and knows she is the one he wants. his family welcomes her with open arms and soon enough they are falling in love. this book was so so good and i truly enjoyed it.

4.5 stars!
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A romance author goes to stay on a ranch in Colorado as research for her book that has been rejected 14 times for not portraying the cowboy lifestyle accurately. The grumpy cowboy is immediately not a huge fan of Ms. California girl, but a tornado and a 4 day horseback excursion orchestrated by the cowboy's meddling family force the pair to get to know each other. "Only one bed" becomes "only one tent" and "only one horse".
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Honestly, this book rivals so many of the current popular cowboy romance books. I have not read a cowboy romance that is so descriptive of a 'true' rodeo - there's much more than just bull riding! Waitlyn Andrews clearly knows her stuff. And aside from the cowboy lifestyle and rodeo knowledge, this is just such a well-written and developed book. Every character felt real and I loved not only the main characters but several of the side characters as well (Dean and Penny!!!). The romantic gestures from both the MMC and FMC were perfection. I also loved the inclusion of a country song to fit the vibe at the beginning of each chapter. There were times I felt like the pacing was a little strange, but overall I was/am obsessed with this book!!
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ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

5/5⭐️
To any book besties that love cowboy romance, this book is for you!
This was definitely a slow burn romance but it captured them both falling in love at different times perfectly! I loved seeing Eric get out of his grumpiness and finally let Amelia in little by little. Honestly was adorable. And I loved seeing Amelia learn how to let people in and open up to the idea of romance being a good thing.
This was such a cute clean cowboy romance and I liked it so much more than I thought I would.
I also loved how welcoming Eric’s family was to Amelia and how much they took care of her! And the side characters were definitely my favorite, I loved them all!
I wish this was a series because it was so good!

This was my first ‘proper’ cowboy romance book and I just absolutely loved it. I loved how everything was explained so the reader could understand fully what was going on and why things were the way they were. I found the family dynamics and the setting really heartwarming and the whole book just made me feel all gooey inside. I loved this book so much and can’t wait to re-read again!

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc of this book! I got it from the read now section and you should too. It’s launching September 26th.
Amelia has written quite a few books and met her financial goals. But now she wants to switch genres. She gets denied by publishers 14 times! She decides to do some more research on the subject and finds herself in Colorado. Eric Randall is a grumpy cowboy who helps his parents and brothers run the family ranch.

I loved the songs on top of the chapters so I had to create the playlist to go with it! This book is a very sweet rom-com. Making this such an easy read. I loved the side character Dean and Penny.

A fab read. Amelia is in Colorado to research her cowboy book and in not expecting to fall for a cowboy of her own. Both great characters and you want everything to work out for them. A great setting for a book. Looking forward to more from this author.

All my cowboy dreams came true on this book!!! Oh goodness I love Waitlyn Andrew's and her writing. I recently finished Yes Chef which was her debut novel, this was just as good! Amelia and Eric became couple goals real quick for me. It was giving The Longest Ride mixed with the Great Gatsby. My favorite line from this book is " You wear the hat, you ride the cowboy":

Thank you go Waitlyn and NetGalley for this advanced copy!

This book was the ultimate cowboy romance, from grumpy sunshine, friends to lovers to just ultimate 5 Star read. Waitlyn Andrews little made me feel like i was in the book there with the main characters living and breathing this book.
if you love a cowboy, gentleman and closed door romance this book is for you.

“His scowl is a brooding sort of sexy that’s hard to look away from, but it pales in comparison to the smile that is now gracing his have. Genuine, engaged, a little mischievous. A lot of dangerous… unfortunately contagious.”

This love story between Eric and Mia had everything you want a feel good love story to have: swoon worthy cowboys, friends turned to family, Colorado sunsets and working through the past to be able to fall in love with your present and future. This books checks all those off and more✔️

We start with Mia, our California writer who is struggling to get her book picked up by publishers because it doesn’t feel authentic to the setting she chose of the Colorado plains. Her friend, who just so happens to have family in said Colorado plains, offers a solution to rid her of her writers block and make her book a success. This solution involves a grumpy cowboy, multiple flat tires, nightly dinners, many rodeos and the cowboy hat rule (IYKYK)🤠

Overall I loved Eric and Mia’s trajectory, and even though it was a slow burn, it was so satisfying in the end! Eric was so patient, so kind, and such a gentleman, but I also loved seeing his playful side come out towards the end! His unwavering commitment to Mia (AKA Red which made me kick my feet and giggle every time he said it) was so precious.

One of my favorite parts of the book was DEAN! His love story with Penny, his friendship with Mia, his bond with his brothers. I ate it up!!!! He was so sweet, and hilarious and I just couldn’t get enough of him!

Overall this was such an easy, quick read that is the perfect palette cleanser if you’re looking for a sweet, funny, engaging and clean romance! Definitely recommend if you love:

🤠Grumpy/Sunshine
💫Friends to Lovers
🤠She falls first, He falls harder
💫Found Family
🤠Cowboy Romance
💫Slow Burn
🤠One Bed and One Horse

**Thank you NetGalley and Waitlyn Andrews for sending over an arc in exchange for an honest review!**

I received an arc of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows our fmc Amelia who is a published novelist living in California. She gets negative feedback on her latest book submission so she heads to the the small town in Colorado that she wrote about without having been there before. When he rental car breaks down who appears to help besides grumpy cowboy Eric. As time moves on Amelia and us realize that Weic is huge softy. This book was so cute and sweet. Keep in mind it is a clean romance which I did not know going in . I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a cute cowboy romance that’s fast paced and 100% bingeable
Thank you netgalley

I am officially a cowboy romance girly, thanks to Mrs. Waitlyn Andrew’s! This book was just what I needed in an escape to beautiful Colorado in the summer and fall! I absolutely adored Eric, our MMC! The rodeos, sunsets, and dance scenes were absolutely done to perfection! I could not get enough of this sweet and stunning read! Go read it ASAP!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh, and the best part! It was closed door! 🤎🤠

This book was so fun! What a great slow burn Cowboy Romance! The banter?!?!? loveedd. I laughed throughout the banter between characters and love love love that it was surrounded by the rodeo scene and ranch life!!

A sweet story. I did have some small gripes with Amelia as a character because she sometimes felt a bit off to me, and I didn’t love how fast things progress at the end, especially after how long the book spends slowly building things. Overall, though, a fun and cute read!

This hit just the right spot. It was just what I needed. While not the perfect book in existence, it was everything I wanted at the time and o definitely have some people in mind that I think would love it.

Waitlyn Andrew’s Contemporary Cowboy Romance left me head over (Red) boots for Amelia and Eric’s story.

Best Selling Author Amelia Greene ends up staying with Rodeo Royalty for the summer to research the “cowboy culture” for her rejected book manuscript. She’s planning on immersing herself with the locals and doing whatever is necessary to get her next book published. What she didn’t plan on was Eric Randall, the grumpy cowboy who she can’t seem to stay away from. His whole family sees the way they interact, but will she survive the summer and make it back to California unscathed?

Read if you like:
🤎 Cowboy Romance
🤎 Small Town Romance
🤎 One Horse/One Bed
🤎 Slow Burn
🤎 Closed Door Romance
🤎 Forced Proximity
🤎 Lovable Side Characters

Funny, quick and esay to read - Cowboy romance, don't mind if I do buuut I need my romance a little less sweet and a little more spicy. But girl, I get it, save a horse and ride that Cowboy!

Bigcity girl meets smalltown cowboy. This would be perfect for a Hallmark movie for the late summer or fall (and I mean this in the best way)

Post on IG (One_fairy_tale_at_the_time) the 8 of oct 2024

The book had a great start to it, and I love a cowboy romance. I liked the couple together though I wish I got Eric's pov as well in this book. I didn't love the main character that much which is what brought the book down for me. She complained about getting a Prius, but that's not how renting a car works, you choose the car you want, you aren't just assigned a car. There were a bunch of little things like that that I found irksome about Amelia, and it brought down my enjoyment of the book. Overall this was a fun read, and I did enjoy getting to learn more about rodeo events.

I felt there was a missed opportunity with having Penny/Dean get together in this book, I felt like they easily could've had their own book for their romance.

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars!

*Single POV (h)
*No OWD
*He falls first
*Cowboy x Author
*Colorado setting
*Closed door romance - only kisses on page
*Does include cursing so I wouldn't call it 'clean' romance
*Epilogue set 1 yr later

This book was exactly what I needed.

If you like cowboy romance with grumpy men who are a little reluctant at first but then fall HARD, then this is for you. I honestly didn't even mind the lack of spice. It was a nice change of pace amidst my smut-fest 2024.

The cover is what drew me in at first. Then I stuck around for the brooding male lead.

This book has a family dynamic most would dream for. I want to be a Randall so bad! There is a heavy mention of food/cooking, so grab snacks when you read too. ;)

This e-arc came courtesy of the author and NetGalley. Big thanks to them for the chance to grab this one early.

if you are a fan of Wells Ranch like I am, this is perfect if you want a closed door romance with similar vibes.

i never expect to love a closed door romance. to be honest, i went into this not even knowing it was one. however, their chemistry between eric and amelia was so perfect that the tension throughout the entire book carried so nicely.

amelia wasn’t my favorite fmc. she was very back and forth and stubborn when it came to her feelings. we do learn why she is the way she is but it felt like it went on for so long. the second she admits her feelings, everything happens so fast and thats not my favorite in books.

eric was an amazing grumpy cowboy. i just wished it was dual pov so we could get more inside of his brain. he was stirring with his feelings for so long, it would have been really nice to see them.

this was overall a really well done cowboy romance! it really feels true to the culture and its a breath of fresh air.

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

ARC REVIEW - RIDER’S BLOCK BY WAITLYN ANDREWS 🐴

This was such a cozy and cute cowboy romance. I loved all of the characters. I loved getting to know them and learning little tidbits of their lives as the story went on. And reading about the friendships and the relationships flourishing was amazing. I really loved how everyone at the ranch immediately welcomed Amelia into their family, it was really sweet. Amelia and Eric had a great relationship buildup, and strong character development both separately and together, it was well written and executed great.

Although, I found the pacing a little slow, it was still a fun, quick read! And despite that, Waitlyn did a fantastic job of engaging the reader into the settings-the rodeos, the baking and dancing, gazing at the starry night sky, and the breeze on your face while horseback riding. It really made the story so compelling and all those little moments had me smiling throughout. Another awesome thing was that at the beginning of each chapter, it had a song listed! I love when books have a chapter playlist! Waitlyn really chose some great songs!

I really enjoyed this one! I wish it was a series so I could see more of them! I definitely recommend this if you love a closed door cowboy romance 🐎

Tropes/What to expect:
🧡 Cowboy x Writer romance
🧡 Found Family
🧡 Grumpy/Sunshine
🧡 No spice
🧡 One horse
🧡 Slow burn
🧡 He calls her ‘red’
🧡 1st POV
🧡 Learning about ranch life & Rodeos

4.5 stars

This book, especially for being self-published, was great. Grumpy rancher Eric was a complete softie underneath all those scowls and became so swoon-worthy once he finally accepted his feelings. The drunk confession scene absolutely melted me. I can only imagine how good this author could be once they get a break because with a little bit of professional editing (the last 20% was a tad drawn out for me), this would've been beyond 5 stars. I would call this more "no spice" vs "closed door" but I'll be honest I was hoping for spice solely because I felt this author would have written AMAZING scenes. I really connected with the writing style and the pacing (at least for the first 80%). If the author wanted to stick to western/cowboy romance and added spice, I think they could easily be the next Elsie Silver or Lyla Sage. I am excited to check out their first book now that I've been introduced.

Thank you to NetGalley and Waitlyn Andrews for this ARC!

This was a slow burn, small town, big family, cowboy romance. Mia travels to Colarodo to learn about life on a ranch as research for her book that is getting rejected for its unrealistic setting. While there she falls in love with ranch life and the family and friends who have taken her in and made her feel at home. With some light hearted conflict along the way this grumpy/sunshine romance is a feel good read. No on page intimacy.

Wow wow wow. I absolutely LOVED this book! It was definitely swoon worthy. This was my first Cowboy Romance and I don’t think I can read another genre now. The romance between Grumpy Eric and Sunshine Amelia was truly beautiful to read about. Amelia’s character definitely resonated a lot with me because *daddy issues*. This was a very slow burn, closed door romance that I DEVOURED in two days.

Thank you SO much to NetGalley and Waitlyn Andrews for the ARC. Rider’s Block is out September 26, 2024 and 1000% worth the read!

been awhile since i've read a romance and this one did what it needed to do! a slow burn cowboy romance that gave me butterflies, had me laugh, and left me wanting more. i had such a fun time reading this and definitely recommend if you're looking to get into romance

Thank you Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange of an honest review.

I have been quite into cowboy romances lately so when I saw this on Netgalley, I immediately clicked to get it. But honestly, I’m having a hard time writing this, because I actually loved this book but I also didn’t? It’s confusing and difficult to explain because I had a nice time reading it but there were a lot of things that weren’t good or were just confusing or straight up negative.

I loved reading about Colorado, a place I would very much like to visit in real life too. The setting and all made me want to become a cowgirl, living on a farm and make that my whole lifestyle. I’m very much a city girl who loves the occasional countryside or mountain trips but a book to make me want to move there, the setting has to be exceptional.

I loved the Randall family, I loved their dynamic and all they did. I loved that the guys were super respectful and all around gentlemen and even when they made a mistake, they did everything to make it right again. Amelia was a bit more complicated, I saw some small parts of myself in her but it was clear she had a lot to work through with her family situation.
I also really liked the friendship and sisterhood found between the three girls, Penny, Christine and Amelia. I loved reading their interactions with each other and I loved how the girls just embraced her from the first moment.

The writing was also something I enjoyed a lot, despite finding a lot of overly long sentences. It was a breezy read with the story flowing and no boring moment. I loved that while we were focused on the main characters, Amelia and Eric, she weaved in the side characters’ stories excellently so we got to follow along with their lives too.

Now of course there were things I didn’t like, as I stated before. Some of the cowboy lingo and the rodeo competition stuff was confusing for someone who didn’t grow up in a country/county with cowboys, like me. I had to google most of the competition acts because I didn’t know what they were and there was no explanation or description in the book.
The romance between the main characters… I just didn’t feel much of it. It was surely there but it did nothing to me, sadly it didn’t evoke any type of emotions like romance books usually do. Not sure if it was a lot of fade to black scenes or not getting deep into it that made me feel disconnected from them in that aspect.
It was also confusing which brother was which in age, because Eric was called both the youngest and the oldest brother so I’m actually not sure which one he is.
And lastly… Amelia told them straight up that she doesn’t want to be called Mia and all of them ignored her and kept calling her Mia. For me, this is super disrespectful. It happened to me back in my home country, they keep calling me a name I hate, no matter how much I want it. It felt the same with Amelia too.

All in all, despite my negative feelings, I would recommend this book if you are, just like me, has a newfound love for yeehaw romances.

The cutest cowboy romcom I’ve read lately. The perfect mix of dialogue, swoon, and humor that read like watching a movie. I had to go get the other book by this author as well. Excellent! Can’t wait to read more!

y'all this was such a cute western romance!!

rating- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
spice- none
do i recommend?- YES 1000x

tropes:
- small-town romance
- grumpy x sunshine
- cowboy MMC & writer FMC
- forced proximity
- rodeos
- found family
- he calls her "Red" for her boots
- slow burn

thank you to netgalley and waitlyn for the opportunity to read and review this book!!

I loved this fun cowboy romance! The main characters are so relatable and loveable. I'm looking forward to new works from this author!

SPOILER FREE BOOK REVIEW ❤️
⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️- 4 stars
🌶- Spice

This book surprised me *in a good way* - I typically steer away from slow burns but this one has not only captured my heart but also allowed me to dip my toes into Cowboy Romance!

Some Tropes:
🧡 Cowboy x City Girl
🧡 Grumpy x Sunshine
🧡 Slow Burn

I really enjoyed the relationship building in this book. It truly was an ode to "home isn't a place but the people you surround yourself with." Amelia felt realistic in terms of how trauma can affect a person and the support that she gets from not just Eric but ALL the characters in this book is swoon worthy. I am officially in my cowboy romance era and I have Waitlyn Andrews to thank! Just something to note: there isn't really any spice in this story, but if you're looking for a cute little romance story - this is for you!

The only thing I wish this book had was Eric's POV! I think that would've added a little more depth to the story.

I was lucky enough to be given a copy of this book. Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was a prefect summer cowboy romance.

After getting denied 14 times on her next novel, Amelia friend suggests the real thing. Going out to Colorado plains for some in house experience! Amelia didn't think it was a good idea but her mom told her she had no other options. Staying with her friends family on their farm/land she thought she was just going to sit back and view from afar. Boy was she wrong. After busting a tire, her first impression with the brooding cowboy was not what she imagined. This trip was going to get her a 15th denial. Now she just needs to win the heart of the brooding cowboy and maybe she'll be able to write a full story.

Amelia was such a fun character to read about! She was very well driven and independent. I loved her back story and how it made her even stronger. She wasn't afraid to get out there and learn to produce for her novel. The relationships she built with each character was immaculate. She was so easy going and the other character never batted an eye away from her. They took her in as their own.

Eric was broody but sensitive. He definitely had his guard up, for reason. He definitely gave off older brother vibes to the family and to others as well. He is someone who wants to control things because he wants to make sure everyone and everything is okay. His grumpiness at the beginning was so fun to read. It's only time until they break!

I loved how this was much more than just a summer romance, it was an author really getting into character and their ability to write a story. The experience Amelia experienced was so nice as a reader because we were able to see how it all came along. I wish there was a bit more before the relationship started to elongate the banter but to me it seemed that the couple jumped too fast into a relationship. I wanted to cherish them without them being an item.

All the side characters were so great, I don't think there is one I disliked or didn't fit! Super fun and great novel written. Definitely have a fan!

Thank you NetGalley, and Waitlyn Andrews for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute cowboy love story! A take on the classic cowboy x city girl who finds herself on the ranch, this is such a great story. There’s not a lot of conflict, no TAB, no miscommunication, but the book remains interesting with some other elements - the love stories, the family dynamics, and the rodeo competitions.

I really enjoyed this story, and can’t wait to see what’s next!

This is my first cowboy romance and I found it a quick and easy read. The plot was engaging and the chemistry was definitely there! Will recommend it

Firstly, this book really does feel like a love letter in many way to the cowboy culture and you can really tell how much the author loves that said culture and the community surrounding it.

The characters were really lovely and I did really enjoy our main FMC due to her looking on the bright side mentality and hard work, she also felt incredibly real and her fear of not succeeding in the publishing world was very authentic and I loved how honestly that was written. The secondary characters were a lot of fun, especially Dean and Penny who stole the book for me.

The love story in my opinion needed a few more vulnerable moments between the characters to really add to the build up for me, because due to only having one POV , Eric’s feelings seem a little out of the blue, not that he liked her, but just how much he liked her. I still found them a very sweet couple and I really enjoyed the writing style of the author. They’re were some really lovely found family moments and Nancy is the woman I too aspire to be!!

Overall, I did enjoy this story I just wasn’t as invested in the storyline as I wanted to be once they got together as it felt a little rushed and didn’t connect with me personally.

Publication: September 26th, 2024

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Ameillia Greene is an author and she is working on the draft of her next book, It's a cowboy romance but the thing is she never got to experience the country, so one of her friend's family lives in Colorado, the countryside of it so she's there for research for her book to make her book more real. and of course, she might fall in love along the way but you have to read to find out :)

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher

This was an adorable cowboy romance - featuring Amelia, a city girl writer desperate for authenticity in her new mystery novel set in the plains of Colorado, and Eric, a strong, silent cowboy with a gruff demeanor who finds himself thrown off balance by the new arrival on his family's ranch. This is a no spice romance - but there is plenty to swoon over from their first meeting, to their beautiful friendship and seeing how Eric does everything he can to take care of Amelia, to taking a chance on a relationship and dealing with the scars of their past! Eric was such a gentleman, but also brooding and perfectly possessive when he needed to be. And seeing Amelia in all of her quirky and independent glory was very entertaining. All of the side characters are amazing (I loved Dean and Penny)- you want to be adopted by Eric's family. Also the song title at the beginning of each chapter was a small but fun detail that I enjoyed. Definitely a fun, light read - excited to read more from this author. Thank you to the author Waitlyn Andrews for the chance to read this novel.

Slow burn, author fmc, rancher mmc, forced proximity, he falls first, he takes care of her, closed door, the hat rule

I love this book. This is the most adorable, full of love book I think I’ve ever read. I stayed up way too late reading this book, definitely read it during work, and love everything about it. I am going to request stories of our favorite ranching family because I just want more.

I was very fortunate to read Waitlyn Andrew’s other book early, and the second she posted this book I requested it. I love how she sets her stories, it feels like I’m right there with the characters. I love how her characters are complex and grow through the book, and especially how they don’t sacrifice themselves and what makes them happy for the sake of a relationship.