Not Our First Rodeo
4.5 stars!
I loved this book! Second Chance is one of my favorite tropes; and I haven’t read one quite like this one! The vibes were always positive, it was such a happy, uplifting story! The resilience of the FMC, and the determination from the MMC, I loved every part of it! I love how they both weren’t giving up on the love they knew was still there, and that everyone was so supportive of it. The MMC was truly one of the best, and so patient with her. The FMC was one of the strongest I’ve read, and I loved them both so much!! I love that the grief they shared was transitioned into something so beautiful and they were able to make their bond stronger rather than claiming it as a forever empty piece. Truly such a beautiful book, with such an amazing plot!

This book was an easy read – and who doesn’t love a cowboy romance?

I found the plot quite original, particularly the existing marriage and accidental pregnancy trope, which is relatively uncommon in my reading experience.

At times, I did struggle to warm to the female main character, but I appreciated the way her difficult journey was written. I loved the male main character from the very beginning!

Thank you to NetGalley, Madison Wright, and the publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I absolutely loved this book. From the very first page, Not Our First Rodeo had me hooked—emotional, raw, comforting, and deeply romantic. Madison Wright has written something really special here.

The connection between Elsie and Beau was everything. Their story is filled with so much heart, tension, and history—it made me feel everything. I was completely invested in their journey. Elsie’s struggles with anxiety felt so real and relatable, and the way it was written—without judgment, without over-explaining—was so refreshing. You could feel her trying so hard to hold everything together, and it just broke my heart in the best way.

Beau? Total dream. Supportive, patient, vulnerable—he’s the kind of love interest you don’t forget. Every time he called her “Elsie, baby,” my heart melted. Their chemistry felt natural, layered with both longing and love, and I was genuinely rooting for them the whole way.

I also loved the small-town setting and the sense of community—friends, family, the local drama—it made the story feel warm and lived-in. There’s so much tenderness in the way the characters show up for each other, even when things get messy. And oh wow, do things get messy. It’s not just a love story—it’s about grief, growth, letting go of control, and learning to open your heart again.

Five stars, no hesitation.
If you’re looking for a heartfelt second-chance romance with depth, healing, and unforgettable characters, this one should be at the top of your list.

First off I want to applaud the author for how well she wrote the struggles the fmc was facing. I liked how careful she was with handling that aspect of the story. Elsie is so well thought out and she felt so real that I felt so protective of her. When she talked about her feelings of failure in her life I couldn’t help but shed several tears. Beau is the man!! The way he was written was top tier! I loved how supportive he was (also his family). Even with Cooper I loved how Beau handled that. Although I did really like how Cooper made Beau a priority as well. I wish we went deeper into how Cooper was acting in the end but maybe that will be book 2? I would definitely recommend this book! So wholesome and very fast paced.

I loved every second of this book. I think I have a new book boyfriend in Beau!! This book tackled complex topics so well and I loved the progression of our FMC going from “tough” to “soft” - vulnerability isn’t something we always get and Madison wrote that so well. I can’t wait for more!

Absolutely loved this book. Cowboy romance say no more!!! Thank you for letting me arc read this book I really enjoyed it. Tropes second chance small town found family yes!!!

Not Our First Rodeo isn’t your typical cowboy romance despite the cover, this book leans heavily into emotional depth and complex issues like anxiety, trauma, and miscarriage. It was a much more serious read than I expected, but I appreciated the thoughtful handling of mental health and grief.

As someone who deals with anxiety and panic attacks, I really connected with Elise’s need to isolate. When your mind is spiraling, it can feel impossible to be around anyone even those who love you. That part of her character felt incredibly real. However, I struggled to have much sympathy for Elise overall. She clearly needed therapy, and her unresolved trauma made her selfish and emotionally distant, especially toward Beau. It’s hard to believe that after 10+ years of marriage, she never once opened up to him about her anxiety or the emotional aftermath of the miscarriage. Beau is written as deeply understanding and supportive, so that kind of emotional secrecy just didn’t feel realistic.

This is a heavy, introspective read that touches on real pain, but it left me feeling more frustrated than hopeful. I applaud the emotional depth, but I didn’t enjoy Elise’s character, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that Beau deserved so much more.

A cowboy/ballerina book wasn't something I knew I needed, but OH MY GOODNESS what a delightful read!

What makes books like these so special is that the whole world is fleshed out, and I need to see some stories from the side characters. I don't usually go for books that include a pregnancy trope or a bit of miscommunication, but I loved this!

🤍 ‘Dance is… well it feels like everything. It has a way of making you feel like it’s the only thing worth living for. It means testing your body’s limits and beating yourself and proving to yourself that you can do things you thought were impossible. It’s exhilarating in a way that almost nothing else is.’ 🤍

I enjoyed this book! I honestly don’t usually read romance books, normally I stick to fantasy and romantasy books so I wasn’t sure how much I’d like this book before starting reading it. But since this was a cowboy x sports romance I was very intrigued to give it a go! 💗

I think that the reason I enjoyed and connected to this book so much and why it got this rating for me, was because of Elsie’s relationship with having a career-ending sports injury and loosing this part big of her identity. As someone who was also in a competitive sport from a young age (swimming) and also got a career ending injury in their 20’s, I related a lot to the feelings that Elsie had in this book. When competing in a sport from a young age and pouring all of your time and passion and love into this one thing, when it ends it feels like a huge loss, like you are unsure who you are anymore, what you like and whether you’ll ever be good at anything or love anything as much again. I feel like the author encapsulated this feeling very well in this book! 🩰

I also saw parts of Elsie in myself with how critical she is of herself and her appearance, which is caused a lot by her experience with her previous coaches, her parents and from herself, all heavily influenced by her ballet career. I feel like this is a universal experience that a lot of sports people would be able to relate to- there is always a lot of pressure that is put on you both externally and internally when competing in sports, a lot of which changes the perception you have of yourself even when you don’t do that sport any more. I appreciated reading a book that showed these feelings well! 🤍

I did enjoy Elsie and Beau’s relationship! I thought that by the end of the book I felt more connected to them and understood a bit more why Elsie acted in some of the ways that she did. I did honestly feel confused at the start of the book why Elsie told Beau she couldn’t stay with her any more, and felt frustrated by it. I also felt frustrated that she was acting selfishly with how she was treating him, since she was not the only person in the relationship dealing with the weight of the miscarriage. And confused why after so long of marriage they felt so disconnected. But as the book drew on, you could see how Elsie started to notice that how she was acting was both very unfair to Beau and his family, but also unfair to herself in that she doesn’t have to suffer the weight of these losses alone. That it wasn’t weak to show her vulnerabilities to others like she thought, and is actually a big strength and very important. And I feel like although I know that I wouldn’t react in the same way as Elsie if the same things were to happen to me, I understand partly why she did act that way- she had a lot of traumatic things happen all at one time, which undoubtedly would be very difficult for anyone to deal with, would make anyone feel alone and be a cause for you feeling like your identity is lost.

Overall, I enjoyed this book- as one of my first romance reads I enjoyed it more than I expected! I think if you read predominantly romance, it would be helpful to read reviews of others that have read this that also read predominantly romance, as I honestly do not have many books to compare this to in this genre. But if you are someone who in the past competed in a sport from a young age and no longer do this sport competitively, I feel like you will enjoy this book as it felt very relatable! 💗

Thank you again to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this e-ARC, I really enjoyed it! ✨

This book deals with some heavy subjects, but I think they were handled quite well by the author. I also enjoyed her writing style pretty well. Beau and Elise were really sweet, and it was unique and fun to see an already married couple, already very much in love couple, come back and find their way back to each other after something difficult had them broken apart in a sense. I enjoyed their dynamic and how we got to watch them grow and build their marriage into something better than before. I will say because the couple is married there is a bit of sexual joking between the two of them that happens. I also really enjoy pregnancy tropes when done well, they can be so heartwarming and sweet and add a whole extra layer to the story and the couple, and I think this one did it pretty well.

My main complaint of this book was some of the content personally. While being technically closed door, there was two very descriptive fade to black scenes present. While it is between a married couple, I don't usually read fade to black scenes especially if they are a bit more descriptive like these ones were. That's my personal preferences, it was a little much for me, so just beware of that being present.

Spice: Closed door; 2 descriptive fade to black scenes, sexual innuendos & some lightly sexual descriptions.
Language: Wasn't heavily excessive but there was cussing throughout, along with at least 2 f-bombs dropped.
Content/Trigger Warnings: Miscarriage, Grief, Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Parental Neglect & Estrangement, Body Image Issues.

A married couple that has been through unthinkable trauma and the journey they go on to not only get together again but to come out of it more in love and stronger then ever.
This book was an amazing love story but also a rediscovery to a stronger love. The conversations on grief, trauma and mental illness were very detailed and as someone dealing with those issues I felt seen and heard in the book. It would have been nice if Elsie went to therapy but not everybody likes therapy so I get it 😂
This pace of this book was really nice even though we were skipping time pretty quickly I didn’t fell like I was missing anything in the gaps.
Elsie though is troubled I’m proud of how she pulled through the darkness to get to be a better version of herself. Whereas Beau is the most sympathetic and caring man who cares for Elsie but can also express his own feelings. Loved that
Can’t wait for more in the series!! (Hopefully cooper and jade)

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for sending the ARC

small town | horse trainer x dancer | second chance | loss/grief | trauma

I connected with this book and Elsie so much. My journey was different to Elsie’s but it still was such an emotional read for me.

Madison Wright did an exceptional job at exploring grief and miscarriage on the page in such a raw but delicate way. It was powerful, honest and so real. From the way Elsie felt about her body, to the thought that consumed her and the way she looked her husband and felt responsible for his pain. Honestly it gave me all the feels.

I usually don’t like miscommunication and in a perfect world if Elsie was just honest then she wouldn’t have ended up the way she was. Elsie was so lost as a human that she didn’t even know how to communicate with anyone. She was stuck inside a body that she believed failed her, and when you’re in that place that’s how you feel.

Beau - seriously. Perfection. He loved Elsie so deeply and despite how hurt he was he never stopped loving her. I loved how Beau healed Elsie by simply showing her how to love and believe in herself.

This truly was such a beautiful story - I absolutely adored this book and all the characters. I am hoping we get a Cooper and Jade story next?

4.5*

Please make sure to read the trigger warnings for this one. It tackles some tough topics which are a big part of the story.

Beau & Elsie had me by the heartstrings!!

Their marriage is in trouble after they suffer a loss and Elsie asks Beau to leave... but after an intense and spontaneous night together, Elsie becomes pregnant which pulls them back together. In every single interaction they shared, it was intensely clear that Elsie was Beau's entire world. He'd give her anything and every thing she wanted, if it made her happy. Elsie loves that man so damn much right back but she is struggling and isolating herself away from every one who loves her. Being in her head was difficult but I loved getting to see her heal.

The author put so much feeling and emotion into this story and it had me completely invested. There was this beautiful intimacy and familiarity between these two and they were so easy to root for.

A great cowboy romance that hooked me from page 1.

If Madison Wright writes it... I'm gonna read it. Especially if its about a cowboy that will do anything for his wife. 🤭

This was such an adorable and quick read. I loved Elsie and Beau and their marriage in trouble (not a trope I thought I would ever like but I'm eating it up?). There were many tears shed while reading this one, with heavy topics of anxiety, grief, and pregnancy loss, but it was told in such a beautiful way. I hope we get Jade and Cooper's story soon!!

read if you love: found family, small town, second chance/marriage in crisis

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for this ARC.

a book about a cowboy who loves his girl & will do anything for her? yea im gonna eat it up!!!

this book was not only an adorable love story, but it described grief & anxiety in such an amazing way. I felt these two’s pain through the words on the page and found myself crying at certain points throughout.

Beau is quite literally the sweetest (but also hottest) man😭 His family is also amazing omg

I feel like i’m friends with Elsie and feel so proud of her for overcoming her issues!! I found myself relating to her on certain aspects and then wanting to give her the biggest hug!!

i really enjoyed this book and i am SO happy that it’s the start of a series!!!

*thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for this ARC*

Not Our First Rodeo
Inglés
293 páginas
4/5

Primero que nada este libro lo leí como copia avanzada y no sabes las ganas que le tenía, los libros de la autora suelen encantarme, siempre son ligeros, un soplo de aire fresco y cuando leí el titulo de este libro y la portada pensé, justo lo que necesito y...hermanas, sí fue lo que necesitaba, pero no sabía que lo necesitaba, este libro me llevó por un camino de empatía, de duelo, de amor, de crecimiento, de aprendizaje, de entendimiento.

Déjenme les explico, en este libros nos vamos a encontrar con un matrimonio que se encuentra en crisis, esto, debido a que tras una lesión que le quitó sus sueños de ser una bailarina profesional y una perdida extremadamente dolorosa Elsie le pide a Beau, su maravilloso, comprensivo y muy enamorado esposo, que se vaya para poder sanar.

Beau no entiende la decisión de Elsie, pero la respeta y trata de hacer lo que es mejor para ella y para acompañarla en su proceso de sanar, pero él no esta dispuesto a dejarla ir, no esta dispuesto a perder al amor de su vida.

Luego de una noche con Beau de malas decisiones ¿o buenas? Elsie descubre que está embarazada y este embarazo la lleva a enfrentarse a cosas dolorosas, la lleva a un camino de introspección a un camino de enfrentarse a lo que más miedo le da.

A ver, es un libro diferente a lo que pensaba, yo esperaba encontrarme con un romance, pero encontré más que eso, sí, es imposible decir que no hay romance porque Beau es el mas precioso y romántico de todos, la forma en como ama a Elise me hace llorar de pensar que podría no conocer nunca a alguien que me ame así. Pero, no es lo principal, creo que el foco de esta maravillosa historia es ver a una Elsie humana, una Elsie que aunque quiere tiene dificultades para enfrentarse a si misma. Al principio me desesperaba mucho con ella, luego entendí que no es difícil verse reflejado en su historia, en sus sentimientos, en su dolor, en su crecimiento y en su profundo amor por las personas que más ama.

Así que si me preguntan si lo recomiendo es un rotundo SÍ, la historia de Elsie merece ser leída.
Claro no es un libro perfecto, tiene sus fallas, por ejemplo, odiaba que todo se centrara en el dolor de Elsie, en que Elsie sanara, pero solo UNA PERSONA, solo UNA, se atrevió a interesarse por los sentimientos de Beau, mi niño merecía ser mas valorado por los que lo rodeaban y merecía ser más valorado por sí mismo.

Fuera de eso, es un libro maravilloso.

This was such a perfect marriage in trouble, second chance, small town, found family. Literally all of my favorite tropes in one. I also love the anxiety rep in this and it felt very very realistic!! Beau was the most caring man EVER EVER and i loved him with my whole heart and soul!!! Such a good found family, i hope we get Jade and Coopers story ASAP

dnf @51%

I was so ready for an accidental pregnancy x marriage in crisis cowboy romance but I just didn’t connect with this. My biggest gripe is that the source of the conflict at the start is their separation and the reasoning for their separation is that Elsie didn’t want to be vulnerable with her husband and so logically asking him to move out made more sense. I just couldn’t fathom and it ruined my experience.

A lovely second-chance romance, filled with love, loss, self reflection & coming back together to overcome obstacles!

I liked the dynamic between Beau and Elsie. Seeing Elsie’s character develop throughout the book and watch her slowly let people back in & learn to stand up for herself was done very well.

I really enjoyed this book & can’t wait for more in the series!

Not Our First Rodeo was a heartwarming book and paved the path for a series that I’m eager to see come to fruition. I’d love to be able to visit Lucky Stars in real life!