I actually really enjoyed this book i thought it was so cutesy and they were so happy together i loved it. Her mother was so very insufferable im glad Ellie stood up for herself in the end it was lovely to see. Overall really cute book and i’m so glad i was able to read it!!

This was ny first ever arc read so thank you for allowing me to be one of the first readers!

This book was so fun and relaxing to read! It follows Colton, a retired rodeo cowboy who is working at an estate in the UK, & Ellie, a dressage rider who is at a summer camp preparing for the olympics. They have a rocky first meet but eventually work things out. This story depicts metal health issues such as depression and anxiety. Mitchell does a great job at representing the main characters mental health issues and having them be there for each other. Its a lovely story with some amazing characters and i hope we get to see more for this author!

For all the girls who read Saddle Club when they were younger this is for you. A perfectly spicey romance about two unlikely people who find comfort and passion with each other. Plus, who doesn't want a cowboy? This debut novel by H. Mitchell is well paced and written and I can't wait to see what else she has for us in the future. Not only is the slow burn perfectly executed but I have never wanted Banana Bread with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream more than I do after reading this book. Thank you to H. Mitchell for giving me the chance to read Colten and Ellie's story before everyone else, and make sure to grab your copy February 17th!

“A problem shared is a problem halved, and we both vowed to help each other through the good and the bad”

Firstly, a massive thank you to the author for approving me as an ARC reader 🫶🏼

For a debut novel, this book as absolutely perfect. It was so well written, such a lovely plot and even though I’d read my fair share of cowboy romances, completely different to anything I’ve ever read.

For starters it’s set in the UK which being from the UK myself I bloody LOVE. The way Colton obsesses with Ellie from the moment he laid eyes on her and the way Ellie slowly starts to let him in. It’s just all perfect.

The fact that mental health is mentioned in the book as well is amazing, I haven’t come across many books that mention mental health but this really helps me connect with characters on a personal level.

I was planning on binge reading this but I loved it so much I’m glad I took my time nd really slowed down to enjoy every single second. I’m am dying for more books in this series, maybe a Wyatt book next? 👀

This book is one of my, if not is, my most favourite book of of this year so far, I can’t wait for it to be released so I can add the physical copy to my shelf 💕

3.75/4✨firstly i am so grateful to have received an arc of this book, i came across it through tiktok and thought it sounded so good!

this was such a sweet read! it follows ellie, a dressage rider & member of the british national equestrian team as she chases an olympic dream, and colton — a hall of famer in the world of rodeo riding who ends up far away from home for the summer to help save his families ranch. their paths cross while training & working on the same estate and despite both being determined to stay focused, fate (or a runaway horse) brings them together!

colton was such a sweetheart and the love he had for his family was so sweet! i enjoyed his character right from the beginning. he was always so considerate of ellies feelings. he constantly looked out & was there for her, reminding her to make time for the things she truly loved! ellie was such a strong character and watching her growth throughout the book was honestly so inspiring. they were so authentic and their openness with mental health really made me love their characters even more! they were so cute together, all their little moments and secret mornings of beans on toast felt so normal and grounded despite both being under such stress. they were eachothers reprieve and watching them fall in love was so lovely!

the storyline was such a cool concept and i found it so fun to read as horse riding isn’t something I’m super familiar with but i was so intrigued! i also really enjoyed the side characters, Rory and Sanya, and their relationship too!

what a lovely debut & thank you so much for the arc

This is a cutesy cowboy/horse girl romance that follows Colton’s summer job in England where he meets elite dressage rider Ellie.

This is a solid debut from H Mitchell and was an easy read! It tackled tricky topics including mental illness and an abusive parent and was great to see representation of a genuinely supportive and caring relationship between the MCs through these struggles! We saw some great character progression from Ellie learning to stand up for herself towards the end of the book!

This was more towards a slow burn romance, but once it gets going, it moves fast! A great debut, and an enjoyable easy read! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

~Thanks to NetGalley and H. Mitchell for the ARC!~

Very cutesy horse rider—cowboy romance! Found myself giggling at some parts and then gasping in outrage at others. Lots of mental health representation. Trigger warning of an abusive parent who seriously upset me so much I kept catching myself whispering *hit her, hit her!* and I’m not even one for violence! MMC is sensitive and adorable. FMC has a lot of growth needed through the book and loved to finally see it, though, I wish she had some small breakthroughs earlier in the book. This is a sloooow burn but def has some spice if you are into that! Overall fun read and congratulations to H. Mitchell on her great debut novel!!

4.5 stars!!!


What to expect with this book:


•Black cat x golden retriever
•One sided love at first site
•Dislike to friends to lovers
•Mental health representation
• No 3rd act breakup

In this debut novel, we have Colton Brooks who takes a job in England at Lord Chamberlain’s estate to teach his sons how to become real cowboys and Ellie Stirling training for the Olympics in dressage.

I love how in the beginning Colton was smitten with Ellie the whole time and I’m usually in not to into insta-love but I love how Ellie wanted nothing and I repeat nothing to do with him. Watching them become friends was so nice because she really just needed more people to be on her cheering team. The way that he helped her finally realize what she wanted and to let loose. I hated her mom so so much and when Ellie finally was able to stand up to her, I was cheering so hard.

I was so surprised that this was a debut novel, I really liked it and I kinda wish there was more. I just needed it a little longer because I loved them so much

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book early!

If you love a sweet cowboy love story, this is the book. It was just darling! I could not get over how many times my heart melted at how adorable it was.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC!

“Make time for the things you love.”

This was a really sweet romance with a fun premise. I love how Colton and Ellie are both passionate about horses, but come from entirely opposite worlds. One of the things I admire most about this book is the mental health representation. Mitchell approaches anxiety and depression in such a raw and honest way, making the characters more relatable. Mitchell treated both topics with such care and respect! There’s also such a fun host of characters that I really enjoyed.

Both main characters are well-written and well-developed. Colton is a masculine male character that has no shame talking about his struggles… we love a man in touch with his emotions! (I think this is super important!). And Ellie is a character with a well-developed arc who learns to stand up for herself and fight for what she wants. Both of these characters are so wonderful & they are perfectly paired!

I love Ellie and Colton!

ARC through NetGalley

What could be better than a retired rodeo cowboy and Olympic dressage hopeful? Their chance encounter one summer on Lord Chamberlain’s Estate.

This debut novel by H Mitchell was refreshing. The characters were developed so well. The author has not only done her homework in the equine field, but in understanding the work and training of Olympic hopefuls.

I enjoyed this slow burn of Colton and Ellie’s relationship as it developed into so much more. The author doesn’t great job relaying the emotion of each character. I look forward to reading Part 2 of this series, and hope to see more of Rory and Sanya or Wyatt and Christine.

“Make Time for What You Love” - words we can all live by.

I enjoy romcoms and I just finished a great one. My Ellie by H. Mitchell was a fun read. I definitely recommend it.

The characters in this book are so incredibly well-written that I felt like I was living every scene alongside them. Calton is the perfect gentleman—the kind you dream about but rarely find in real life 😆. His charm and subtle strength are just irresistible. And Ellie? She’s an absolute rockstar. Her sass had me smiling so many times, and her determination to stay strong through everything she’s facing is nothing short of inspiring. The side characters are just as incredible, each adding depth and richness to the story. The author has an amazing gift for creating characters that feel so real, it’s like they could walk right off the page. Every word, every detail pulls you deeper into the world they’ve built—truly a storyteller who knows how to capture hearts.

I absolutely adore this book! This is H Mitchell’s debut novel and it is so good! I cannot believe this is her first book.

The book follows Colton, an American Rodeo Cowboy, as he goes to England for a summer job training the two sons of a Lord there. While he is in England at the Lord’s property there is also an English team of Olympic hopefuls training for the trials. In this group is Ellie, a dressage rider, who has only ever put all of her focus and time into getting an Olympic Gold medal. Colton is such a green flag I loved him. Ellie has spent her whole life trying to live up to her mom’s standards and she is more stand-offish at first, but her intentions are always good.

This is a slow burn romance so you really get to see their friendship and foundation of the relationship build between them throughout the book. There is also such great representation of mental health in this book I was blown away about how well it was written. She did great with the detail and depth to the characters so they all added to the story well without feeling like filler just trying to hit a word count.

It has a great flow that made it easy to read. I would definitely recommend it as a palate cleanser if you read a lot of heavy themed books, or if you only like sweet romances this would be perfect.

I am so impressed by this debut novel from H. Mitchel. She did a wonderful job making the characters seem real and authentic, giving them experiences that didn't feel like she was just trying to grab at something to further the plot along. Colton is a dream boat, the way he thinks and talks ...my god. The story was easy to follow and flowed together really well, it was a fast read but not quick. it's a great weekend read or palate cleanser for anybody to sink their teeth into. super excited to see what comes next ❤️

what's inside:
-grumpy sunshine
-friends to lovers
-mental health rep
-he falls first
-slow burn
-found family

CW/TW:
-abuse from a parent, both physical and emotional
-depression/anxiety
-explicit sex scenes ( 3/5 )

I found this author through Threads and was given an ARC and was pleasantly surprised by this debut novel.

I truly loved all the characters in this book, except Ellie's mom, who can go to hell. Ellie was the highlight of this book for me, though. I loved how she grew throughout the story and learned to stand up for herself with the help of our handsome cowboy, Colton!

The romance builds slowly, from enemies to friends to lovers, and reaches a satisfying climax, pun intended.

I was sobbing by the end of this novel, and a book that can make me cry is five stars in my eyes!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DE-zB9kSrEN/?igsh=MTY3OXJ6czEwc2V0ZQ==

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7226995010

Reviews published on January 18, 2025


𝙼𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 🌶️🌶️

I devoured this book in less than 24 hours! I mean…a book about a cowboy named Colton? Sign me up! ✍🏼

Ellie is a dressage rider who wants to be an Olympian, but feels like a constant disappointment to her overbearing and negative mother. Colton is a retired rodeo rider who moves to England for the summer to help train two boys in barrel racing. They are both staying at the same estate and form an unlikely friendship that evolves from there. Ugh I loved their relationship so much and I want more of them!

I will definitely keep my eyes peeled for more novels by H Mitchell!

Wow, oh wow! I found this book and author via threads and Instagram and it did not disappoint. I love a slow burn and the tasteful spice is amazing. The mental health representation of anxiety and depression is one of the best representations I’ve read recently - truly she treated these topics with such care and respect.

Colton, an American cowboy, goes over the pond to teach a Lord’s sons to be cowboys. The Lord is also hosting a group of young adults who are hoping to make Olympic trials. Ellie is one of the hopefuls who is staying on the grounds. This is a forbidden romance, found family story with *amazing* mental health rep, healthy communication and great plot. A fantastic debut!

Side note: if Meemaw’s desserts are based on any real recipes please share because they sounded amazing :)

“𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐄𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞, 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭”

•••••

“𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐧. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈’𝐝 𝐠𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮.”

☁️☁️☁️

𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚏𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚐𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚞𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚜 🦋🦋🦋

𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚍𝚎𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕, 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚘𝚘 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍. 𝙸’𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚏𝚏 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚢, 𝚒 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖. 𝙼𝚢 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝙴𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸’𝚖 𝚜𝚘 𝚐𝚕𝚊𝚍 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚝𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚜.


𝙷𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚝𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝. 𝙷𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚘 𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚜 𝙴𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚎, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚖𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛, 𝚖𝚢 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛. 𝙷𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚢, 𝙷 𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛. 𝙸𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚊𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜. 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗’𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚎𝚕𝚜𝚎 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚎! 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚋𝚎𝚝 𝙸 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚋𝚎 𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚞𝚝𝚜 𝚘𝚞𝚝.