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Boundless Players #2
Homebound
🌶 🌶 🌶 She’s Texas's toughest bull rider, and he’s determined to win her heart. 🌶 🌶 🌶
Dakota and Wyatt. Storm and sunshine. Growing up, they were as inseparable as a pair of cowboy boots. The best of friends – or so Dakota thought.
Every summer, Wyatt would come home to his family’s flower farm in Granite Falls, Texas, and they’d stargaze in the fields together, pinkies brushing, laughter rumbling with the cicadas . . . until one summer, he never returned.
Dakota hasn’t heard a peep from Wyatt in over three years, and during that time, a lot has changed. He’s the hockey world’s golden boy, and she’s developed a reputation as “The Cowboy Killer,” breaking both rodeo records and men’s hearts. The last thing Dakota needs is a distraction from her bull-riding goals, but everything changes when her old friend waltzes back into town with an adorable baby on his hip.
Wyatt’s back to get the girl he’s been obsessing over for years, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get her back – two-stepping at the rodeo, jumping into Cibolo Creek, even rendezvousing in outdoor showers. All Dakota wants is to keep her distance and focus on training, but when she learns the truth behind why Wyatt left, she finds it hard to stay away. . .
The scorching Texas sun might not be the only thing that burns them this summer.
Dakota and Wyatt. Storm and sunshine. Growing up, they were as inseparable as a pair of cowboy boots. The best of friends – or so Dakota thought.
Every summer, Wyatt would come home to his family’s flower farm in Granite Falls, Texas, and they’d stargaze in the fields together, pinkies brushing, laughter rumbling with the cicadas . . . until one summer, he never returned.
Dakota hasn’t heard a peep from Wyatt in over three years, and during that time, a lot has changed. He’s the hockey world’s golden boy, and she’s developed a reputation as “The Cowboy Killer,” breaking both rodeo records and men’s hearts. The last thing Dakota needs is a distraction from her bull-riding goals, but everything changes when her old friend waltzes back into town with an adorable baby on his hip.
Wyatt’s back to get the girl he’s been obsessing over for years, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get her back – two-stepping at the rodeo, jumping into Cibolo Creek, even rendezvousing in outdoor showers. All Dakota wants is to keep her distance and focus on training, but when she learns the truth behind why Wyatt left, she finds it hard to stay away. . .
The scorching Texas sun might not be the only thing that burns them this summer.
352 pages, Paperback
First published August 8, 2024
1312 people are currently reading
20502 people want to read
About the author
Meredith Trapp
2 books716 followersMeredith is a professional daydreamer that writes romance stories full of spice, smooches, and swoons. She lives in Texas with her favorite person, one lazy poodle, and a plethora of dying house plants. When she’s not writing, she’s reading about hockey players, possessive billionaires, or faeries with large wingspans--she's not picky when it comes to fictional men. You can usually find her walking beneath the Texas sun or spending time with her family at the lake. To stay up to date on Meredith's upcoming projects, connect with her on social media @authormeredithtrapp.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,100 reviews
Want to read
July 5, 2025I'm loving all these new romance Western books and LOOK AT THE COVER, IS IT NOT THE MOST GORGEOUS THING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN?!
Some tropes which are included in this book that has immediately grabbed my attention:
- Cowboy romance, naturally
- Single dad
- Lady bull rider
- Forced proximity
- Black cat x Golden retriever (one of my favorite tropes)
- CHILDHOOD FRIENDS TO STRANGERS TO LOVERS!!!!
- ''It's always been you''😫
- No third act breakup ❤️
brb, gonna make an entire playlist of songs about cowboys and associating them with this book.
Some tropes which are included in this book that has immediately grabbed my attention:
- Cowboy romance, naturally
- Single dad
- Lady bull rider
- Forced proximity
- Black cat x Golden retriever (one of my favorite tropes)
- CHILDHOOD FRIENDS TO STRANGERS TO LOVERS!!!!
- ''It's always been you''😫
- No third act breakup ❤️
brb, gonna make an entire playlist of songs about cowboys and associating them with this book.
September 8, 2025
✩ 2 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Childhood Best Friends-to-Lovers
➼ Single Dad
➼ It’s Always Been Her
➼ Bull Rider FMC x Hockey Player MMC
➼ Small Town
➼ Black Cat x Golden Retriever
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Cowgirl Romance
➼ Dual Narration
➼ Dual First Person POV
I feel like this book was trying to do too much. Such an odd combination of tropes and character details. A female bull rider, a single dad raising a baby on his own, a second chance romance for childhood best friends, our MC’s moving in together for the flimsiest of reasons, an FMC who has never considered the MMC as an option despite them being best friends for years, etc. I felt like the author was trying to single handedly destroy all stereotypes with a single book or something.
Besides all that, the MMC was just a little too over the top lovey dovey for me. I’m glad there was a reason for the nickname, but it was a lame reason and I wasn’t a fan of him calling her Honey all the time. Someone told me recently that the word cringe is cringe now 😜, but the best word to describe this couple would be cringe. They were too much and not in a good way.
Also, there is almost no mention of hockey in this, so if you’re reading it for that connection, don’t. Sadly, I did not enjoy this one!
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Oops… I guess I missed the first book in this series. Oh well… this one is already downloaded.🤠
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
What to Expect:
➼ Childhood Best Friends-to-Lovers
➼ Single Dad
➼ It’s Always Been Her
➼ Bull Rider FMC x Hockey Player MMC
➼ Small Town
➼ Black Cat x Golden Retriever
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Cowgirl Romance
➼ Dual Narration
➼ Dual First Person POV
I feel like this book was trying to do too much. Such an odd combination of tropes and character details. A female bull rider, a single dad raising a baby on his own, a second chance romance for childhood best friends, our MC’s moving in together for the flimsiest of reasons, an FMC who has never considered the MMC as an option despite them being best friends for years, etc. I felt like the author was trying to single handedly destroy all stereotypes with a single book or something.
Besides all that, the MMC was just a little too over the top lovey dovey for me. I’m glad there was a reason for the nickname, but it was a lame reason and I wasn’t a fan of him calling her Honey all the time. Someone told me recently that the word cringe is cringe now 😜, but the best word to describe this couple would be cringe. They were too much and not in a good way.
Also, there is almost no mention of hockey in this, so if you’re reading it for that connection, don’t. Sadly, I did not enjoy this one!
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Oops… I guess I missed the first book in this series. Oh well… this one is already downloaded.🤠
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
nfm-mcs-not-celibate
July 15, 2024Update2:
Some kind readers mentioned that the heroine was engaged to someone else and the hero was trying to move on, so that might work for some of you. Anyway it’s still not my cup of tea.
Update1:
(It’s confirmed) the child is his and it was from a ONS
________
Not for me
“It’s always been you” trope 🙄 and he has a child from OW.
Some kind readers mentioned that the heroine was engaged to someone else and the hero was trying to move on, so that might work for some of you. Anyway it’s still not my cup of tea.
Update1:
(It’s confirmed) the child is his and it was from a ONS
________
Not for me
“It’s always been you” trope 🙄 and he has a child from OW.
June 2, 2025
2.5 ˖⁺‧✮
i just didn’t like this book. there was nothing interesting or catching; plot felt uneventful; characters were annoying.
i want to start with characters and interactions because those were actually annoying and embarrassing. both of main characters are adults, but for some reason, they acted like teenagers. i don’t know why, maybe it’s the love effect or not seeing each other for so long 😭 no idea. the conversation were so uncomfortable, i had to take breaks every couple of chapters because of how awkward everything was. from settings to words to chemistry.
mmc is a hockey player, even more, he’s an nhl player. however, this detail was only mentioned twice throughout the book, therefore, i actually don’t think it was needed. feels like a detail used to attract sport readers🤷♀️
plot was promising and i enjoyed the setting, but there was nothing outside their house, bar and wherever dakota was competing. i didn’t get the atmosphere of that small town or people who were living there.
Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for the arc.
i just didn’t like this book. there was nothing interesting or catching; plot felt uneventful; characters were annoying.
i want to start with characters and interactions because those were actually annoying and embarrassing. both of main characters are adults, but for some reason, they acted like teenagers. i don’t know why, maybe it’s the love effect or not seeing each other for so long 😭 no idea. the conversation were so uncomfortable, i had to take breaks every couple of chapters because of how awkward everything was. from settings to words to chemistry.
mmc is a hockey player, even more, he’s an nhl player. however, this detail was only mentioned twice throughout the book, therefore, i actually don’t think it was needed. feels like a detail used to attract sport readers🤷♀️
plot was promising and i enjoyed the setting, but there was nothing outside their house, bar and wherever dakota was competing. i didn’t get the atmosphere of that small town or people who were living there.
Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for the arc.
August 2, 2024
Nothing like a man knowing he wants to get the girl and doing everything to get her. Seeing the slow burn burning was amazing
This book was super unexpected because, for me, the whole he came back just to get the girl vibe seemed far, BUT THE AUTHOR IMPRESSED ME SO MUCH!!! 😍
Dakota is a strong, independent, and stubborn woman with a scowl who calls everyone "sugar"—agh, I need her confidence. She is ready to take on anyone who gets in her way, but Dakota wasn't ready for a MAN to be in front of her, basically on his knees, giving everything he has. PERFECTION. 😍✨
The slow burn was indeed slow, but it was needed. Dakota and Wyatt have known each other since they were little, so I liked the realistic angle of Dakota's POV: "Why am I thinking of Wyatt without a shirt... that's illegal." 🤭 Five freaking stars! I loved the giddiness and the swoon of this amazing duo, AND WE CANNOT FORGET WYATT'S DAUGHTER—so squishy and the perfect character to unite them. 💖
Lastly... the outdoor shower scenes, they were chef's kiss. 🤌🔥
Fav Quotes
"I'm f-- peacocking."
"Wyatt Dale Patterson. Are you flirting with me?" "Yes ma'am. I have been for a while now. You gonna put me out of my misery and flirt back?"
“Take what you need from me,” I groan against her lips. “I’m yours, so take it all."
Tropes
✨cowboy romance
✨childhood friends to lovers
✨ single dad
✨ blackcat x golden retriever
✨ forced proximity
✨ no third act breakup
Thank you Meredith Trapp for giving me an eARC in exchange for my honest review
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱: yee-haw 🤠 leeeet's gooooo! gimme that cowboy single dad vibes ASAP
This book was super unexpected because, for me, the whole he came back just to get the girl vibe seemed far, BUT THE AUTHOR IMPRESSED ME SO MUCH!!! 😍
Dakota is a strong, independent, and stubborn woman with a scowl who calls everyone "sugar"—agh, I need her confidence. She is ready to take on anyone who gets in her way, but Dakota wasn't ready for a MAN to be in front of her, basically on his knees, giving everything he has. PERFECTION. 😍✨
The slow burn was indeed slow, but it was needed. Dakota and Wyatt have known each other since they were little, so I liked the realistic angle of Dakota's POV: "Why am I thinking of Wyatt without a shirt... that's illegal." 🤭 Five freaking stars! I loved the giddiness and the swoon of this amazing duo, AND WE CANNOT FORGET WYATT'S DAUGHTER—so squishy and the perfect character to unite them. 💖
Lastly... the outdoor shower scenes, they were chef's kiss. 🤌🔥
Fav Quotes
"I'm f-- peacocking."
"Wyatt Dale Patterson. Are you flirting with me?" "Yes ma'am. I have been for a while now. You gonna put me out of my misery and flirt back?"
“Take what you need from me,” I groan against her lips. “I’m yours, so take it all."
Tropes
✨cowboy romance
✨childhood friends to lovers
✨ single dad
✨ blackcat x golden retriever
✨ forced proximity
✨ no third act breakup
Thank you Meredith Trapp for giving me an eARC in exchange for my honest review
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱: yee-haw 🤠 leeeet's gooooo! gimme that cowboy single dad vibes ASAP
August 23, 2024
get you a man who'll keep betting on you even after you do nothing but fail 💋
Wyatt's back in town for the summer and taking a break after the hockey season's over, but he's not only here to see his family and rest. He's back and ready to earn Dakota's heart once and for all and finally have her stop thinking of him as only "her summer boy".
↪ thoughts:
There were a bunch of corny lines, it was super slow during the first 40%, the FMC's feelings for the MMC felt very abrupt, every time they defended each other very much gave that one scene in Ginny and Georgia where Ginny gives the corniest comeback ever and turns around thinking that she ate that (you know which scene I'm talking about and I would put the gif of it if I knew how to insert one here)... but , 60% into it I got more invested, Dakota and Wyatt had their cute moments, and Vienna was the cutest baby girl ever so yeah. Idk, it wasn't terrible but it wasn't great either 😭
Though I want to point out that everyone's been so dramatic in the reviews of this book about him getting another woman pregnant while claiming he's been in love with the FMC his whole life. So here's what actually happened: He left town to forget about her because she got engaged, while trying to forget her he had a one-night stand and got a girl pregnant, she told him some months later, and he decided to stay with the baby. Mind you, he used a condom, and I only mention this because I also saw people saying that "how could he have sex with another woman without protection if he's in love with the FMC?" We know condoms exist and aren't 100% effective... right? I would like to pretend that we are all grown enough to know that.
(I sound kinda mad in that last part but stop writing reviews without knowing what actually happens in the book. Go and read it, read the author's review if they write one or read the reviews of people that have actually read the book before you say anything. You're pushing away people's curiosity over it with false information and your own assumptions)
“When you fall for your best friend, you’re falling for their secrets, their backstory, and every skeleton in their closet. It’s a heavier kind of love, but it’s the kind forevers are made of.”↪ plot:
Wyatt's back in town for the summer and taking a break after the hockey season's over, but he's not only here to see his family and rest. He's back and ready to earn Dakota's heart once and for all and finally have her stop thinking of him as only "her summer boy".
↪ thoughts:
There were a bunch of corny lines, it was super slow during the first 40%, the FMC's feelings for the MMC felt very abrupt, every time they defended each other very much gave that one scene in Ginny and Georgia where Ginny gives the corniest comeback ever and turns around thinking that she ate that (you know which scene I'm talking about and I would put the gif of it if I knew how to insert one here)... but , 60% into it I got more invested, Dakota and Wyatt had their cute moments, and Vienna was the cutest baby girl ever so yeah. Idk, it wasn't terrible but it wasn't great either 😭
Though I want to point out that everyone's been so dramatic in the reviews of this book about him getting another woman pregnant while claiming he's been in love with the FMC his whole life. So here's what actually happened: He left town to forget about her because she got engaged, while trying to forget her he had a one-night stand and got a girl pregnant, she told him some months later, and he decided to stay with the baby. Mind you, he used a condom, and I only mention this because I also saw people saying that "how could he have sex with another woman without protection if he's in love with the FMC?" We know condoms exist and aren't 100% effective... right? I would like to pretend that we are all grown enough to know that.
(I sound kinda mad in that last part but stop writing reviews without knowing what actually happens in the book. Go and read it, read the author's review if they write one or read the reviews of people that have actually read the book before you say anything. You're pushing away people's curiosity over it with false information and your own assumptions)
September 25, 2024
RTC • yeehaw 🤠
Read
August 15, 20244.5 stars
Ahhhh will I ever get over a man obsessed romance!? I don't think so. The hero in this has been in love with the heroine since they were kids growing up and he'd visit every summer. One year, though, she gets engaged and he leaves and doesn't see her again for three years. And now he's a single dad to an adorable daughter. It's roommates and forced proximity because they have to share a house while he's visiting (he's a professional hockey player too). I loved how all-in the hero was and how he would call his friends to update them on his progress of finally getting the girl. The banter was everything and them working out together so he can help her training!? Looovedddd it. His flirting was everything and I also loved how the heroine really fell in love with his daughter! This was just so so good and I couldn't recommend it enough!!
Ahhhh will I ever get over a man obsessed romance!? I don't think so. The hero in this has been in love with the heroine since they were kids growing up and he'd visit every summer. One year, though, she gets engaged and he leaves and doesn't see her again for three years. And now he's a single dad to an adorable daughter. It's roommates and forced proximity because they have to share a house while he's visiting (he's a professional hockey player too). I loved how all-in the hero was and how he would call his friends to update them on his progress of finally getting the girl. The banter was everything and them working out together so he can help her training!? Looovedddd it. His flirting was everything and I also loved how the heroine really fell in love with his daughter! This was just so so good and I couldn't recommend it enough!!
June 22, 2025
4⭐️
╰► 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!
❰𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐜 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰!❱
“𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒐𝒖𝒕. 𝑷𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒚. 𝑶𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍.”
₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨💭
╰┈➤ when i requested this book on netgalley, i was really intrigued by the synopsis, as well as excited to see whether i would enjoy this book or not. it’s safe to say that i enjoyed this book ALOT. it was a very cozy and adorable (spicy as well) read and this single dad small town romance really showed me just how single i am.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷𝙙𝙖𝙠𝙤𝙩𝙖 𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙧🐂
╰┈➤ i think dakota was an okay character. i really loved that she had a passion and dream for herself, and the thing that added to her character, in my opinion, is that she loved wyatt’s daughter like she was her own. she was definitely a strong character, but she was so goddamn clueless to wyatt’s feelings for her that it was almost painful. if i had a hockey guy coming after me, i’d jump into his arms, no hesitation.
₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥𝙬𝙮𝙖𝙩𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣🏒
╰┈➤ i loved this man so much i’m not even joking. i actually fell for him a little bit because he was just so in love with dakota. once he started to realize that he had to show her that he’s a man instead of the little boy she knew…. OH BOY DID HE SHOW HER!!! i love that he supported her and her rodeo career. he knew dakota didn’t need to hear that she can achieve her goals, but he said it anyways and i loved that. also, i ADORED HIM WITH HIS DAUGHTER. HE WAS SUCH A GOOD DAD AND JUST SO SO *CHEFS KISS*💋
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣🔒
╰┈➤ if you’re looking for a obsessed single dad, small town romance, this is for sure your jam. wyatt was just such a good and respectful man towards everyone, and the chemistry between dakota and him had me giggling. i absolutely loved that he was younger than her, because i feel like you just don’t see that a lot in romance books, but that concept is something that always interests me. i would totally recommend this book.
╳°»｡ ∾･⁙･ ღ ➵ ⁘ ➵ ღ ･⁙･∾ ｡«°╳
𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱
𝗶'𝗺 𝘀𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀. 𝗶 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗳𝗳
╰► 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!
❰𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐜 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰!❱
“𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒐𝒖𝒕. 𝑷𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒚. 𝑶𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍.”
₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨💭
╰┈➤ when i requested this book on netgalley, i was really intrigued by the synopsis, as well as excited to see whether i would enjoy this book or not. it’s safe to say that i enjoyed this book ALOT. it was a very cozy and adorable (spicy as well) read and this single dad small town romance really showed me just how single i am.
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷𝙙𝙖𝙠𝙤𝙩𝙖 𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙧🐂
╰┈➤ i think dakota was an okay character. i really loved that she had a passion and dream for herself, and the thing that added to her character, in my opinion, is that she loved wyatt’s daughter like she was her own. she was definitely a strong character, but she was so goddamn clueless to wyatt’s feelings for her that it was almost painful. if i had a hockey guy coming after me, i’d jump into his arms, no hesitation.
₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥𝙬𝙮𝙖𝙩𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣🏒
╰┈➤ i loved this man so much i’m not even joking. i actually fell for him a little bit because he was just so in love with dakota. once he started to realize that he had to show her that he’s a man instead of the little boy she knew…. OH BOY DID HE SHOW HER!!! i love that he supported her and her rodeo career. he knew dakota didn’t need to hear that she can achieve her goals, but he said it anyways and i loved that. also, i ADORED HIM WITH HIS DAUGHTER. HE WAS SUCH A GOOD DAD AND JUST SO SO *CHEFS KISS*💋
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣🔒
╰┈➤ if you’re looking for a obsessed single dad, small town romance, this is for sure your jam. wyatt was just such a good and respectful man towards everyone, and the chemistry between dakota and him had me giggling. i absolutely loved that he was younger than her, because i feel like you just don’t see that a lot in romance books, but that concept is something that always interests me. i would totally recommend this book.
╳°»｡ ∾･⁙･ ღ ➵ ⁘ ➵ ღ ･⁙･∾ ｡«°╳
𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱
𝗶'𝗺 𝘀𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀. 𝗶 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗳𝗳
August 8, 2024
i think i have finally decided to settle on this being a three star read for me, while i found it really cute the pacing was just so weird for me personally. i felt like the first half really dragged on and was a bit hard to get in to, i DID like the first half and again it was cute but the second half was just way better for me.
there was a lot of discussion prior to this book releasing where people just went off about “how has it always been her and how has he always loved her when he had a kid from a one night stand” and i want to be so clear and honest when i say this: dakota was the problem the entire time LMAO.
if you would like the reasoning pls refer to my blocked out part here -
now that thats out of the way, truthfully there were times where i wanted to just hit my head against the wall about dakota being so stubborn to let herself give into her feelings and attraction to wyatt and i really would have liked to see more of the actual falling process on her end, because when she FINALLY realized she liked him it was like this weird 180 that just felt off?
i also found myself confused in some areas where the bull riding was concerned, the synopsis of this book made it seem for me as though shes this world class champion in bull riding yet in the book you would think shes just picked this up and started her journey because why has she never stayed on longer than the required minimum of 8 seconds (before a few months ago when they changed it to 6)????? i guess i sort of felt that she was going to be this crazy highly decorated bull rider just going through a dry spell and ended the book feeling like she was a rookie rider chasing a crazy dream?????
those two things were my biggest issues on this book and why i decided on a three and high key they make it sound like i didnt like this book whatsoever but truly i did. wyatt was EVERYTHING, vienna was the most fucking precious thing in the world and i absolutely LOVEEDDDDD reading about dakota with vi. there were some parts that felt very cringey but if you dont really care about any of the things i mentioned not caring for then i think youre going to absolutely love this read!
there was a lot of discussion prior to this book releasing where people just went off about “how has it always been her and how has he always loved her when he had a kid from a one night stand” and i want to be so clear and honest when i say this: dakota was the problem the entire time LMAO.
if you would like the reasoning pls refer to my blocked out part here -
now that thats out of the way, truthfully there were times where i wanted to just hit my head against the wall about dakota being so stubborn to let herself give into her feelings and attraction to wyatt and i really would have liked to see more of the actual falling process on her end, because when she FINALLY realized she liked him it was like this weird 180 that just felt off?
i also found myself confused in some areas where the bull riding was concerned, the synopsis of this book made it seem for me as though shes this world class champion in bull riding yet in the book you would think shes just picked this up and started her journey because why has she never stayed on longer than the required minimum of 8 seconds (before a few months ago when they changed it to 6)????? i guess i sort of felt that she was going to be this crazy highly decorated bull rider just going through a dry spell and ended the book feeling like she was a rookie rider chasing a crazy dream?????
those two things were my biggest issues on this book and why i decided on a three and high key they make it sound like i didnt like this book whatsoever but truly i did. wyatt was EVERYTHING, vienna was the most fucking precious thing in the world and i absolutely LOVEEDDDDD reading about dakota with vi. there were some parts that felt very cringey but if you dont really care about any of the things i mentioned not caring for then i think youre going to absolutely love this read!
dnf
August 8, 2024Let's not talk about the MMC being all super in love with the FMC but still having a kid with OW.
Bye.
Bye.
May 26, 2025
Get ready for your new favorite book boyfriend 😋
I was really excited to continue the Boundless Players series, but this time we get a small-town romance with a sexy southern man. I wasn’t expecting such a badass female bull rider, but I’m here for it.
I’m not usually the biggest fan of friends to lovers but this was captured perfectly. It left readers with just the right amount of desperate yearning, and a lifetime of memories that just make their bond together that much better.
The spice was top tier and omg the slow-burn angst we live for. We love a good guy, but seriously what a gentleman. AND he actually respects her independence. Wow.
Thank you so much to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC! ♥️
I was really excited to continue the Boundless Players series, but this time we get a small-town romance with a sexy southern man. I wasn’t expecting such a badass female bull rider, but I’m here for it.
I’m not usually the biggest fan of friends to lovers but this was captured perfectly. It left readers with just the right amount of desperate yearning, and a lifetime of memories that just make their bond together that much better.
The spice was top tier and omg the slow-burn angst we live for. We love a good guy, but seriously what a gentleman. AND he actually respects her independence. Wow.
Thank you so much to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC! ♥️
August 10, 2024
this book…
i’ve never read a cowboy romance where the girl was the bull rider so i was very intrigued when i read the synopsis for this book. sadly i did not love the writing style or the overall story. it was just very cheesy and repetitive and the characters were not all that likable. let’s hope and pray this isn’t gonna put me in a slump because i will cry…
i’ve never read a cowboy romance where the girl was the bull rider so i was very intrigued when i read the synopsis for this book. sadly i did not love the writing style or the overall story. it was just very cheesy and repetitive and the characters were not all that likable. let’s hope and pray this isn’t gonna put me in a slump because i will cry…
September 3, 2024
dakota was the problem.
June 17, 2025
“You’re too good for me.”
“No, I’m just good for you, and you’re good for me.”
Thank you Atria & Simon and Schuster Audio for the ARC & ALC. All opinions are my own.
Loved Dakota & Wyatt’s story!
Childhood friends, he’s always been in love with her, and it’s time she caught up 🥰
✦ tropes & stuff:
🏒 single dad hockey player mmc
🐎 bull rider/cowgirl fmc
🌼 childhood friends to strangers to lovers
🐈⬛ black cat x golden retriever
🔗 forced proximity
✨ “it’s always been you”
🚫 no third act breakup
💞 dual 1st person pov
•┈••✦ review ✦••┈•
🎧 audio+ebook | ⭐️: 4.75 | 🌶️: 3 |
(5⭐️ for the audio, 4.5⭐️ for the story/writing - the audio definitely enhanced this one for me!)
💭 what I loved about this one:
- how Wyatt just changes how he acts around Dakota (flirting) and she’s confused but also loves it 🥰
- how purely Dakota loved Vienna (Wyatt’s daughter)
- love how he softens her, and she motivates him to want more for himself/push himself to be better
🙃 what didn’t quite work for me:
- not a fan of reading about an MC hooking up with others
🎧 audiobook thoughts:
Sean Masters makes a lovely cowboy 😮💨 & CJ Bloom captured Dakota’s energy so well.
📖 Homebound by Meredith Trapp
📚 book 2 • Boundless Players series
💜: contemporary romance (mf)
🎙 narrated by: CJ Bloom & Sean Masters
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
“No, I’m just good for you, and you’re good for me.”
Thank you Atria & Simon and Schuster Audio for the ARC & ALC. All opinions are my own.
Loved Dakota & Wyatt’s story!
Childhood friends, he’s always been in love with her, and it’s time she caught up 🥰
✦ tropes & stuff:
🏒 single dad hockey player mmc
🐎 bull rider/cowgirl fmc
🌼 childhood friends to strangers to lovers
🐈⬛ black cat x golden retriever
🔗 forced proximity
✨ “it’s always been you”
🚫 no third act breakup
💞 dual 1st person pov
•┈••✦ review ✦••┈•
🎧 audio+ebook | ⭐️: 4.75 | 🌶️: 3 |
(5⭐️ for the audio, 4.5⭐️ for the story/writing - the audio definitely enhanced this one for me!)
💭 what I loved about this one:
- how Wyatt just changes how he acts around Dakota (flirting) and she’s confused but also loves it 🥰
- how purely Dakota loved Vienna (Wyatt’s daughter)
- love how he softens her, and she motivates him to want more for himself/push himself to be better
🙃 what didn’t quite work for me:
- not a fan of reading about an MC hooking up with others
🎧 audiobook thoughts:
Sean Masters makes a lovely cowboy 😮💨 & CJ Bloom captured Dakota’s energy so well.
📖 Homebound by Meredith Trapp
📚 book 2 • Boundless Players series
💜: contemporary romance (mf)
🎙 narrated by: CJ Bloom & Sean Masters
*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
August 15, 2024
The way I needed to see if this man could get himself out of the friend zone was a need that I couldn’t deny.
If you’re looking for a fun yet spicyyyy, lighthearted bull rider/single dad romance where the friends to lovers is giving LONG TIME friends to lovers then I definitely recommend this!!
Also I need what I’m assuming is going to be book 3 in this interconnected romance series?!?! Because her bestie tho 👀.
Thank you so much to Meredith Trapp and Love Notes PR for my ARC ☺️💜
If you’re looking for a fun yet spicyyyy, lighthearted bull rider/single dad romance where the friends to lovers is giving LONG TIME friends to lovers then I definitely recommend this!!
Also I need what I’m assuming is going to be book 3 in this interconnected romance series?!?! Because her bestie tho 👀.
Thank you so much to Meredith Trapp and Love Notes PR for my ARC ☺️💜
January 30, 2025
The romance is super sweet
Writing was a bit repetitive
The beginning was a lot of telling instead of showing
Writing was a bit repetitive
The beginning was a lot of telling instead of showing
March 28, 2025
༄˖°.🍂.ೃ࿔*:･ "She might not be mine, but I'm hers." ༄˖°.🍂.ೃ࿔*:･
Homebound was so good. Very early on, I had my doubts ngl, because I was not vibing with the characters a bit.... BUUUUUT this quickly changed yall. I absolutely adored this book so much? Had the time of my life, wanted to read every single second of the say. This is so wholesome, but also steamy and it has some great romantic moments.
Tropes you will find inside this book:
✮ Cowgirl fmc
✮ Single dad mmc
✮ Roommates
✮ Obsessed boy/he has been YEARNING for her since he was a kid
✮ Estranged best friends to lovers
✮ Black cat fmc x Golden Retriever mmc
✮ No third-act breakup!!
I'm such a big single parent trope fan, but I tend to love this trope more whenever the characters have babies instead of toddlers/kids. Wyatt has a baby girl and she's like 1yo and OH MY GOD I WILL LITERALLY GIVE MY LIFE FOR HER ♡ And Dakota will also give her life for little Vi. The family they make while living in the barn is everything to me, the vibes were vibing, the romance was romancing oh baby this book >>>
Wyatt is a true lover, an obsessed man, a golden retriever who adores Dakota, jealous, possessive, a YEARNER જ⁀➴ He has been keeping the ring he used to propose to Dakota when they were 8yos and she rejected him lmao. He kept it with him, waiting like 16 years to ask her again (!!). Now, he's back in his hometown and ready to make her see that she's the one for him. She's never looked at him that way but everything changes when they start co-habiting lmao THIS BOOK GIVES YOU SO MUCH YALL im in love.
I hope we get another book in this town because I wanna see what happens with Alanna and Wyatt's cousin ⋆˙⟡ Oh, I feel I could love that book too a lot.
Homebound was so good. Very early on, I had my doubts ngl, because I was not vibing with the characters a bit.... BUUUUUT this quickly changed yall. I absolutely adored this book so much? Had the time of my life, wanted to read every single second of the say. This is so wholesome, but also steamy and it has some great romantic moments.
Tropes you will find inside this book:
✮ Cowgirl fmc
✮ Single dad mmc
✮ Roommates
✮ Obsessed boy/he has been YEARNING for her since he was a kid
✮ Estranged best friends to lovers
✮ Black cat fmc x Golden Retriever mmc
✮ No third-act breakup!!
I'm such a big single parent trope fan, but I tend to love this trope more whenever the characters have babies instead of toddlers/kids. Wyatt has a baby girl and she's like 1yo and OH MY GOD I WILL LITERALLY GIVE MY LIFE FOR HER ♡ And Dakota will also give her life for little Vi. The family they make while living in the barn is everything to me, the vibes were vibing, the romance was romancing oh baby this book >>>
Wyatt is a true lover, an obsessed man, a golden retriever who adores Dakota, jealous, possessive, a YEARNER જ⁀➴ He has been keeping the ring he used to propose to Dakota when they were 8yos and she rejected him lmao. He kept it with him, waiting like 16 years to ask her again (!!). Now, he's back in his hometown and ready to make her see that she's the one for him. She's never looked at him that way but everything changes when they start co-habiting lmao THIS BOOK GIVES YOU SO MUCH YALL im in love.
I hope we get another book in this town because I wanna see what happens with Alanna and Wyatt's cousin ⋆˙⟡ Oh, I feel I could love that book too a lot.
May 17, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to review the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Small town romance
Forced proximity
Single dad
He falls first
Friend to lovers
In this slow burn romance, Wyatt and Dakota were childhood best friends, until he got his heart broken and didn’t return. He’s always loved her but it was never the right time to reveal his true feelings and then she got engaged to someone else. But the engagement is off and she’s staying in his family’s converted barn. It’s the perfect opportunity to swoop in and get what he’s always wanted. Her.
It was indeed as SLOW burn. Things didn’t really get exciting until the second half of the book, and while I found Wyatt swoon worthy, Dakota annoyed me. 3.5 stars rounded up.
Small town romance
Forced proximity
Single dad
He falls first
Friend to lovers
In this slow burn romance, Wyatt and Dakota were childhood best friends, until he got his heart broken and didn’t return. He’s always loved her but it was never the right time to reveal his true feelings and then she got engaged to someone else. But the engagement is off and she’s staying in his family’s converted barn. It’s the perfect opportunity to swoop in and get what he’s always wanted. Her.
It was indeed as SLOW burn. Things didn’t really get exciting until the second half of the book, and while I found Wyatt swoon worthy, Dakota annoyed me. 3.5 stars rounded up.
July 28, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and to Atria Books as well as the author for providing me with this ARC, in exchange for my honest review.
Would’ve been 5 stars if I didn’t spend the whole book wondering why Betty’s name was changed to Vienna. Cowboy romance will always lure me in! Overall it was a good book. Childhood friends, to strangers, to lovers. I am excited for next one - I’m guessing Alanna and Willie 👀
Would’ve been 5 stars if I didn’t spend the whole book wondering why Betty’s name was changed to Vienna. Cowboy romance will always lure me in! Overall it was a good book. Childhood friends, to strangers, to lovers. I am excited for next one - I’m guessing Alanna and Willie 👀
August 11, 2024
I didn’t think this book could be WORSE than the first in the series but wowee did this author prove me wrong.
I had such faith that she couldn’t possibly ruin a cowboy but she did. Truly she did.
I LOVED Patty Daddy in book 1 but in this story? Yawn. He was literally so fucking boring and honestly? So desperate. This man pined over his best friend for literal decades and she just thought of him as her “summer boy” be so fucking for real.
And I’m sorry but Patty had a whole life in another state and we just never saw any of it?????
And you know what? Dakota is a PICK ME girl. And so was Nina. This author can only right pick me girls and it’s infuriating. GOD.
What about all the plot holes? All the unnecessary tropes? And all the internal monologue. So much internal monologue. 😴😴😴😴😴😴
There was truly no fucking need for Boone to keep showing up after the first time. There was no need for Nash to be literally mentioned for 2.5 seconds and cause that much headache. In this whole book, we saw Dakota hook up (or attempt to) with 4 different guys. And Patty just sat there watching it?????? Talk about a fucking push over. Patty and Dakota were genuinely dating for 1 minute when his daughter called her Mama and everyone just went “oh yep that’s normal love that”.
And then Patty moved back to Texas but we get no closure on the rest of his life? Like did he move teams? Did Micah come with? How long was the long distance? What’s their plan while Dakota is in the PBR? Did he buy her an actual engagement ring or is she just gonna wear a dumb mood ring that doesn’t fit her ring finger bc it’s from when she was 8 years old?
This book needed more Micha Cruz and a whole let less of everything else. If y’all see me even hint at wanting to read the third book in this series when it’s released (idk if it’s Michas or not) please cut my hands off because we already know that it’ll just be disappointing again.
I had such faith that she couldn’t possibly ruin a cowboy but she did. Truly she did.
I LOVED Patty Daddy in book 1 but in this story? Yawn. He was literally so fucking boring and honestly? So desperate. This man pined over his best friend for literal decades and she just thought of him as her “summer boy” be so fucking for real.
And I’m sorry but Patty had a whole life in another state and we just never saw any of it?????
And you know what? Dakota is a PICK ME girl. And so was Nina. This author can only right pick me girls and it’s infuriating. GOD.
What about all the plot holes? All the unnecessary tropes? And all the internal monologue. So much internal monologue. 😴😴😴😴😴😴
There was truly no fucking need for Boone to keep showing up after the first time. There was no need for Nash to be literally mentioned for 2.5 seconds and cause that much headache. In this whole book, we saw Dakota hook up (or attempt to) with 4 different guys. And Patty just sat there watching it?????? Talk about a fucking push over. Patty and Dakota were genuinely dating for 1 minute when his daughter called her Mama and everyone just went “oh yep that’s normal love that”.
And then Patty moved back to Texas but we get no closure on the rest of his life? Like did he move teams? Did Micah come with? How long was the long distance? What’s their plan while Dakota is in the PBR? Did he buy her an actual engagement ring or is she just gonna wear a dumb mood ring that doesn’t fit her ring finger bc it’s from when she was 8 years old?
This book needed more Micha Cruz and a whole let less of everything else. If y’all see me even hint at wanting to read the third book in this series when it’s released (idk if it’s Michas or not) please cut my hands off because we already know that it’ll just be disappointing again.
August 8, 2024
I don’t have words to describe how much I enjoyed Wyatt and Dakota’s romance! These two were best friends growing up, but one summer he cuts off contact and they don’t speak again until now, three years later. Wyatt is now a popular NHL player and single dad to an adorable little girl, and Dakota is one of the best (if not only) woman bull riders on the circuit right now. Wyatt and his daughter are back for the summer, and he’s here to make amends to finally get the girl of his dreams!
I love when a guy pines after a woman who has no clue her bestie loves her. While Dakota might’ve once seen Wyatt as her summer boy, he is ALL man now. Despite Dakota’s grudge, it wasn’t hard for them to fall back into their routine because they knew each other so well. Wyatt came back into Dakota’s life at a time where she needed a safe place to be cared for and encouraged. Likewise, Dakota showed Wyatt that her love didn’t come with conditions because she quickly fell in love with his daughter, Vienna, knowing that they were a package deal.
There were so many little things that made my heart warm (Wyatt’s closeness with his moms, Dakota’s tough but cuddly dad), as well as made me blush (“keep those boots on”). Definitely pick this one up because it had all the things I love about a single dad/small town romance!
TROPES: single dad, small town, childhood best friends to lovers (with a little dislike from her in between), heavy pining/“it’s always been you, she’s a bull rider, she’s the grump, forced proximity/roommates, no 3rd act breakup
I love when a guy pines after a woman who has no clue her bestie loves her. While Dakota might’ve once seen Wyatt as her summer boy, he is ALL man now. Despite Dakota’s grudge, it wasn’t hard for them to fall back into their routine because they knew each other so well. Wyatt came back into Dakota’s life at a time where she needed a safe place to be cared for and encouraged. Likewise, Dakota showed Wyatt that her love didn’t come with conditions because she quickly fell in love with his daughter, Vienna, knowing that they were a package deal.
There were so many little things that made my heart warm (Wyatt’s closeness with his moms, Dakota’s tough but cuddly dad), as well as made me blush (“keep those boots on”). Definitely pick this one up because it had all the things I love about a single dad/small town romance!
TROPES: single dad, small town, childhood best friends to lovers (with a little dislike from her in between), heavy pining/“it’s always been you, she’s a bull rider, she’s the grump, forced proximity/roommates, no 3rd act breakup
May 19, 2025
As much as I lean into my Vietnamese-ness these days, I am also trying to lean into my Texan-ness. I'm not sure this was the best first entry into the cowboy romance bandwagon. I'll keep trying, but the misogyny and slut shaming must stop.
Enemies to lovers excites the rest of you all, but there's a certain sweetness to friends to lovers. However, I got a little annoyed with how often two years is described as an age gap. Kodie is not an older woman. And I wanted DILF vibes from Wyatt, but the man is literally twenty six and I can't (make it forty six - I'm an atheist but I need Jesus).
Some of the sex was hot, but that doesn't make up for the rest of the story, a lot of which was repetitive. We get it, Kodie rides bulls. She's trying to stay on for eight seconds. She sleeps around. Blah blah blah.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Enemies to lovers excites the rest of you all, but there's a certain sweetness to friends to lovers. However, I got a little annoyed with how often two years is described as an age gap. Kodie is not an older woman. And I wanted DILF vibes from Wyatt, but the man is literally twenty six and I can't (make it forty six - I'm an atheist but I need Jesus).
Some of the sex was hot, but that doesn't make up for the rest of the story, a lot of which was repetitive. We get it, Kodie rides bulls. She's trying to stay on for eight seconds. She sleeps around. Blah blah blah.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books
July 14, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As a Texas girly through and through, Homebound completely stole my heart, especially with all the nods to the Texas Hill Country that made it feel like home. The setting was just the icing on the cake because this plot? Everything.
Wyatt is the kind of MMC that makes your heart ache in the best way. He’s a hockey player with a heart of gold, a single dad who would do anything for his daughter, and a best friend who’s been down bad for his childhood bestie for years. His quiet devotion, kindness, and strength make him an absolute dream.
And Dakota? A badass, bull-riding FMC who proves that strength and vulnerability can go hand in hand. Watching her slowly open up to Wyatt and to the idea of love was such a satisfying journey. The way she falls not just for Wyatt, but for his daughter Vivian too? Adorable.
The family dynamics were another highlight. Wyatt’s moms, Dakota’s dad, their best friends—everyone in their circle was supportive, warm, and added so much to the story. I found myself tagging sweet, soft moments left and right.
Meredith Trapp is officially on my auto-buy list. Homebound is the kind of romance that makes you feel all warm and melty inside, and I already can’t wait to see what she writes next.
As a Texas girly through and through, Homebound completely stole my heart, especially with all the nods to the Texas Hill Country that made it feel like home. The setting was just the icing on the cake because this plot? Everything.
Wyatt is the kind of MMC that makes your heart ache in the best way. He’s a hockey player with a heart of gold, a single dad who would do anything for his daughter, and a best friend who’s been down bad for his childhood bestie for years. His quiet devotion, kindness, and strength make him an absolute dream.
And Dakota? A badass, bull-riding FMC who proves that strength and vulnerability can go hand in hand. Watching her slowly open up to Wyatt and to the idea of love was such a satisfying journey. The way she falls not just for Wyatt, but for his daughter Vivian too? Adorable.
The family dynamics were another highlight. Wyatt’s moms, Dakota’s dad, their best friends—everyone in their circle was supportive, warm, and added so much to the story. I found myself tagging sweet, soft moments left and right.
Meredith Trapp is officially on my auto-buy list. Homebound is the kind of romance that makes you feel all warm and melty inside, and I already can’t wait to see what she writes next.
September 18, 2024
Sweet and spicy, cute and dirty, funny and emotional—these are just a few of the words that come to mind when I think about Homebound!
I've finally found my ride-or-die in cowboy small-town romances 🤠. This book had everything to draw me into its world, and it did not disappoint! ♥️
🌸 Small town romance
🍃 Cowgirl x hockey player (I meaaaaan, what a combo!)
🌸 Single dad
🍃 Best friends to lovers
🌸 He falls first
Wyatt has quickly become one of my favorite book boyfriends. He was absolute perfection—perfection with Vienna, perfection with Dakota, and overall, the author did an amazing job crafting his character. I have ZERO complaints.
Dakota was wild yet sweet, and I loved how she gradually opened up to those around her, especially her inner circle, revealing her vulnerabilities and fears. Her character development was the most significant, and I absolutely loved watching her grow.
All the secondary characters were spot on! I adored Vienna—she was so cute. And I couldn’t get enough of Cruz and Wyatt's phone calls, or Lana and Dakota’s coffee gossip sessions 😍
THANK TOU Love Note PR and Meredith Trapp for the ARC.
For more bookish content follow me on instagram at@onetoomanybooks.ac 💫📚
I've finally found my ride-or-die in cowboy small-town romances 🤠. This book had everything to draw me into its world, and it did not disappoint! ♥️
🌸 Small town romance
🍃 Cowgirl x hockey player (I meaaaaan, what a combo!)
🌸 Single dad
🍃 Best friends to lovers
🌸 He falls first
Wyatt has quickly become one of my favorite book boyfriends. He was absolute perfection—perfection with Vienna, perfection with Dakota, and overall, the author did an amazing job crafting his character. I have ZERO complaints.
Dakota was wild yet sweet, and I loved how she gradually opened up to those around her, especially her inner circle, revealing her vulnerabilities and fears. Her character development was the most significant, and I absolutely loved watching her grow.
All the secondary characters were spot on! I adored Vienna—she was so cute. And I couldn’t get enough of Cruz and Wyatt's phone calls, or Lana and Dakota’s coffee gossip sessions 😍
THANK TOU Love Note PR and Meredith Trapp for the ARC.
For more bookish content follow me on instagram at@onetoomanybooks.ac 💫📚
August 21, 2024
I love it couldn’t & wouldn’t wanna put it down 🖤‼️ I love my girl Dakota the way I relate w her made this book perfect & even tho I could never picture myself w a golden retriever irl I SO GET IT NOW 🥹 like this was the most accurate description of a woman will stay in her masculine energy until a man makes her feel safe to be comfortable in her feminine energy 💌🔐 wyatt was dreamy fr & a ZADDY 😮💨 the love he has for Dakota burned bright since childhood he knew she was made for him & his determination to get the girl has you in all your feelings, the infatuation was palpable he was obsessed but the good type of obsessed the one you want irl he got me giggling & swooning 😍my girl was strong & independent(but kodie go get you some glasses) she was blind of the depth of Wyatt’s feelings until he decides to let her known & from that point their chemistry was electric, she rose to the occasion & excel as a mama, Wyatt’s relationship w his kid 🥹😭 stoppp i do not like kids & this makes me wonder 👀 & the whole parenthood struggles on point the ups & lows 🤌🏼 overall it was a fast paced fluffy & entertaining book! IMO this book felt like healing & I rlly love it 🖤 we should all have a Wyatt in our lives also did a mention his a 🏒🥵 small town romance!
I SAY GO READ IT! First book I read of the author & not the last one for sure I NEED TO TRY A PRICKLY PEAR MARGARITA now 😎
I SAY GO READ IT! First book I read of the author & not the last one for sure I NEED TO TRY A PRICKLY PEAR MARGARITA now 😎
August 12, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
If you like childhood friends/slowburn/second chance/single dad romances, then you are going to be all over Homebound. This sizzling romance is told from the perspective of both our protagonists, Dakota and Wyatt. Dakota is busy on the bull riding circuit and doesn't want to open her heart again to be hurt. But NHL star Wyatt has come home this summer to convince his childhood friend to give their love a second chance.
Easy reading, a good HEA, and two protagonists that I enjoyed reading about. Although this is part of a series, I believe each book can be enjoyed as a standalone. If Willie and Lana are the next protagonists, I will certainly be all over that.
Publication Date 17/06/25
Goodreads Review 12/08/25
If you like childhood friends/slowburn/second chance/single dad romances, then you are going to be all over Homebound. This sizzling romance is told from the perspective of both our protagonists, Dakota and Wyatt. Dakota is busy on the bull riding circuit and doesn't want to open her heart again to be hurt. But NHL star Wyatt has come home this summer to convince his childhood friend to give their love a second chance.
Easy reading, a good HEA, and two protagonists that I enjoyed reading about. Although this is part of a series, I believe each book can be enjoyed as a standalone. If Willie and Lana are the next protagonists, I will certainly be all over that.
Publication Date 17/06/25
Goodreads Review 12/08/25
September 30, 2024
2.5/5 🌟
♡ It's always been you but he has daughter with OW
♡ she fckd half of the town before realizing he is IT for her
♡ Friends to lovers
♡ Single dad
🚩 Well there were almost 2 OM scenes if Vienna ( H daughter ) didn't cry...
And also he only has "eyes for her" but has a one year old daughter with OW ...
BOTH are a red flag 🚩💔😔
𝑫𝒂𝒌𝒐𝒕𝒂 - 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒆 🩷
I did not like her.
In the end she was okay, but for me she didn't act like a good heroine... Wyatt was just her dream man after she realized how good he looks and how much muscles he has 😵💫😬
Men are a piece of meat for her... Just not it for me 😐
Also calling his daughter "our" after like 2 min is just too much 👀😲
𝑾𝒚𝒂𝒕𝒕 - 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒐 💙
I really really really liked him but he needed to move on a long time ago 💔🫂
He is such a sweetheart and he and his daughter are so cute together 🥹🫶🤍
Loved him and in the end I was happy for them but I didn't really FEEL it...
♡ It's always been you but he has daughter with OW
♡ she fckd half of the town before realizing he is IT for her
♡ Friends to lovers
♡ Single dad
🚩 Well there were almost 2 OM scenes if Vienna ( H daughter ) didn't cry...
And also he only has "eyes for her" but has a one year old daughter with OW ...
BOTH are a red flag 🚩💔😔
𝑫𝒂𝒌𝒐𝒕𝒂 - 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒆 🩷
I did not like her.
In the end she was okay, but for me she didn't act like a good heroine... Wyatt was just her dream man after she realized how good he looks and how much muscles he has 😵💫😬
Men are a piece of meat for her... Just not it for me 😐
Also calling his daughter "our" after like 2 min is just too much 👀😲
𝑾𝒚𝒂𝒕𝒕 - 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒐 💙
I really really really liked him but he needed to move on a long time ago 💔🫂
He is such a sweetheart and he and his daughter are so cute together 🥹🫶🤍
Loved him and in the end I was happy for them but I didn't really FEEL it...
June 2, 2025
Black cat x golden retriever is one of my FAVORITE tropes so when you add in the fact that SHE'S the bull rider. Yeah. I knew it was going to be a five star read early on.
Thank you so much to Meredith Trapp, Atria and NetGalley for the early copy.
Thank you so much to Meredith Trapp, Atria and NetGalley for the early copy.
August 2, 2024
4.75 🌟
holy shit how i loved this! this was the perfect friends to lovers slow burn. 🧡
i love a grumpy girl and a golden boy and this satisfied my hunger for that. she was also the bull rider and he's a single dad. do i need to say more?
the way dakota went from seeing wyatt as her friend to the love interest developed gradually and perfectly. usually they're thinking about how attractive they are from the start but she really wasn't!!!! and she was a little mean to him but it was fine, i enjoy a gal with some spice 🔥🔥
wyatt, oh the golden retriever wyatt. what a doll. i love a cinnamon roll blondie boy. he was so sweet and so devastatingly in love with dakota. what a gem 😭 where can i order my own
their romance was a slower burn than id anticipated, but it worked wonderfully for the story. and once it burned, it went up in flames!!! goddamn the mouth on that wyatt had me giggling and blushing like a fangirl🙂↕️🙂↕️
of course we've got a healthy dose of a small town romance, wyatt's amazing mothers, dakota's loving father (daddy issues are screaming rn), and some ex conflict. but it cleaned up so nicely. also the way dakota fell soooo hard for wyatt's daughter is sooo sweet.
the only reason(s) this isn't a 5 star read is because around the 50-60% mark, it got a litttle repetitive, and while i understand the effect of the slow burn, i don't like when books tend to go in circles, with wyatt trying to get her to see him as more than a friend, etc. there were also some sentences that needed shaping up in terms of structure, but hopefully the finished product will have touched on that. there was this part where dakota wasn't even present or mentioned in the conversation and wyatt's train of thought went right to her, but it just didn't even fit. it seemed like a paragraph that should've just been deleted. their internal monologue is also only about each other after a while and i hate when a book deviates like that, hence the rating and the repetitiveness.
furthermore, wyatt's daughters name wasn't vienna in the previous book (haven't read it) and they switched it because of the song? i guess im just tired of seeing that song everywhere.... it felt like it was added for brownie points and not for authenticity. not to mention the 1 tiktok song that was mentioned in this book like please stop
i wish that their past had been expanded on more thoroughly. apparently she saved his life by pulling him out of a creek? and they spent summers together but other years apart? i have a bad memory but i don't remember why they were always apart, and wish we'd gotten some more backstory. again, their inner monologue mostly focused on thinking about each other, so we don't get a whole lot of actual plot once the ball gets rollin. i also thought it was his mom's flower farm in texas and then by the end of the book im learning the moms don't even live in texas??? so where the hell are they???
those are small gripes i had and were easy to look past, so that's why i still rated this so highly. thank you so much to the author and lovenotes for the arc!!💘
tropes:
- single daddy
- bullrider girl
- reverse grumpy x sunshine
- (slow dancing in the kitchen)
- small town
- obsessed mmc
- he's younger by 2 years
- friends to lovers
holy shit how i loved this! this was the perfect friends to lovers slow burn. 🧡
i love a grumpy girl and a golden boy and this satisfied my hunger for that. she was also the bull rider and he's a single dad. do i need to say more?
the way dakota went from seeing wyatt as her friend to the love interest developed gradually and perfectly. usually they're thinking about how attractive they are from the start but she really wasn't!!!! and she was a little mean to him but it was fine, i enjoy a gal with some spice 🔥🔥
wyatt, oh the golden retriever wyatt. what a doll. i love a cinnamon roll blondie boy. he was so sweet and so devastatingly in love with dakota. what a gem 😭 where can i order my own
their romance was a slower burn than id anticipated, but it worked wonderfully for the story. and once it burned, it went up in flames!!! goddamn the mouth on that wyatt had me giggling and blushing like a fangirl🙂↕️🙂↕️
of course we've got a healthy dose of a small town romance, wyatt's amazing mothers, dakota's loving father (daddy issues are screaming rn), and some ex conflict. but it cleaned up so nicely. also the way dakota fell soooo hard for wyatt's daughter is sooo sweet.
the only reason(s) this isn't a 5 star read is because around the 50-60% mark, it got a litttle repetitive, and while i understand the effect of the slow burn, i don't like when books tend to go in circles, with wyatt trying to get her to see him as more than a friend, etc. there were also some sentences that needed shaping up in terms of structure, but hopefully the finished product will have touched on that. there was this part where dakota wasn't even present or mentioned in the conversation and wyatt's train of thought went right to her, but it just didn't even fit. it seemed like a paragraph that should've just been deleted. their internal monologue is also only about each other after a while and i hate when a book deviates like that, hence the rating and the repetitiveness.
furthermore, wyatt's daughters name wasn't vienna in the previous book (haven't read it) and they switched it because of the song? i guess im just tired of seeing that song everywhere.... it felt like it was added for brownie points and not for authenticity. not to mention the 1 tiktok song that was mentioned in this book like please stop
i wish that their past had been expanded on more thoroughly. apparently she saved his life by pulling him out of a creek? and they spent summers together but other years apart? i have a bad memory but i don't remember why they were always apart, and wish we'd gotten some more backstory. again, their inner monologue mostly focused on thinking about each other, so we don't get a whole lot of actual plot once the ball gets rollin. i also thought it was his mom's flower farm in texas and then by the end of the book im learning the moms don't even live in texas??? so where the hell are they???
those are small gripes i had and were easy to look past, so that's why i still rated this so highly. thank you so much to the author and lovenotes for the arc!!💘
tropes:
- single daddy
- bullrider girl
- reverse grumpy x sunshine
- (slow dancing in the kitchen)
- small town
- obsessed mmc
- he's younger by 2 years
- friends to lovers
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