✨ARC REVIEW✨

This was such a beautiful story. A story of pain and grief and sadness but one of hope and resilience.

I loved how Madison created such a unique cowboy romance. This book definitely has a heavier tone but the characters in this bring light to it.

I truthfully loved the concept and tropes in this book. Again, this was such a different take on a small town cowboy vibe and I really did appreciate that.

Two people really stood out to me and that is Beau and his brother Cooper. Beau is an angel baby cake who DESERVES THE WORLD. This man deserved better and I think the fact that his feelings were super brushed over by everyone kind of bothered me. This man went through HARD things too. I fully agree with Cooper on everything he says while defending his brother - what about Beau?

Everything Elsie went through is understandable and such a hard thing to understand unless you've been in her shoes. I just didn't like how everyone forgot what she did to Beau so easily. Who was there to protect him and comfort him? He had to basically face everything alone. I get both sides, I really do but I feel super protective over Beau.

Plus, Cooper seems like a really fun character and I already sense a team up with him and Jade and I'm PUMPED for that.

My only cons (other than the whole Beau situation) was I do wish we got more dialogue. I wanted to really get some alone time with our MCs and felt we barely got them speaking. Sometimes, for me, it can be hard to just read inner monologues for most of the chapter. I need communication in a book. Especially for such heavy topics. Second, I felt like I was waiting for some huge moment to happen but it never came. I wanted some grand gesture or something to happen. I think because we don't get groveling or some kind of epic declaration, things felt like they ended pretty quickly.

Regardless, I really enjoyed this book. I found myself wanting to keep reading and that's always a plus. I did enjoy the characters and I loved the overall aesthetics of the town. I really did fall in love with Cooper and definitely need him to have a moment!

Thank you so much to Madison Wright and NetGalley for the e-arc!

I don’t even know how to start this review. Part of me doesn’t want to write it, but since this is an arc I requested, I feel like it’s my job to share a review for it. I’ll start by saying that this is not a bad book and I wish the author success, but this didn’t work for me. At all. I wanted to feel emotion, but what I ended up feeling was apathy.

When I realised this romance was about a marriage in crisis and featured the pregnancy trope, I got so excited to read it, because I enjoy both tropes a lot. But that excitement vanished quickly. This is a good example of a book where there’s a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. I was unable to connect with the characters and believe in their romance, because I wasn’t shown that they’re crazy for each other. I was told they’re in love. I was told they were going through a tough time. But the truth is that we mostly see how the main character is doing and how she’s dealing with stuff that has happened in her life. She was clearly the main focus of the story and there’s nothing wrong with that, but if you’re going to sell me a love story, I want to see more than just the fmc’s issues.

⁀➴ Elsie was a professional ballerina but an injury forced her to quit and let go of her biggest dream. On top of that, she has a miscarriage. As you can imagine, all of this took a toll on her and she got depressed. She fell into a big black hole and hid from the world. She pushed everyone away, including her husband. She said they needed some time apart because she needed space from him to heal. From what I understood, I think they were apart for two months before they met again and had sex (I got so lost in this story, I couldn't understand how much time had passed). And she got pregnant again.

Where do I start? There was no chemistry or tension between Elsie and her husband Beau. I felt nothing when they were together. There clearly was some awkwardness between them, because Beau didn’t really understand why she kept pushing him away and Elsie didn’t want to talk about it, but that’s it. Some may disagree, but to me there was no angst or yearning. And those times when Beau flirted with her and was trying to be sexy were so hard to read, because there is not a bone in my body that believes this is a man that can flirt and talk dirty. I felt embarrassed for him.

Elsie suffers from anxiety and has been dealing with panic attacks her whole life. She grew up with a mother that deposited all her dreams on her and made her feel like she would be nothing if she wasn’t a ballerina. After her injury, Elsie felt like a failure. The miscarriage made her feel like a failure again. Besides this, Elsie is someone that doesn’t want to show vulnerability because she thinks it makes her weak. She doesn’t want other people to see what she’s feeling. I get this, it makes sense to me. HOWEVER...why was she still so afraid to let her husband, I repeat, her husband , see her vulnerable? This is a man she’s known since she was a teen, they’ve been together for a decade, and she never told him about the panic attacks. She didn’t open up to him at all. If I was Beau, I would’ve felt like I didn’t know the person I had married. If they’d been dating for a few month, I’d understand, but they shared a life. And she didn’t let him know her. She asked for space because she was having a lot of panic attacks again and didn’t want him to witness it...Being vulnerable is so scary, that’s something I 100% relate to, but spending 10 years with someone without ever letting them see every part of you, good and bad, is something I struggle to understand. And there was never a moment where Elsie fully understood how badly she’d hurt Beau. He also lost a child, he was also grieving and hurting, but everyone was so concerned for Elsie (included himself) that nobody, with the exception of his brother, took the time to ask him if he was okay.

In conclusion, Elsie desperately needed therapy. Because a lot of there trauma and insecurities stemmed from her childhood and I do not believe she’s fully healed by the end of this book. There’s a long way to go before she’s in a better place and therapy can help her with that.

I also think the pregnancy plot was handled poorly and, once again, there was a lot of telling, not showing, which is not something you want in a case like this. Also, it was mentioned that, in the first pregnancy, Elsie noticed something was wrong because she had stopped feeling nauseous. But during the second pregnancy, the nausea went away and she disregarded it, which makes no sense.

I think there’s more I could say but this review is already long and I don’t feel like talking about this book anymore. Here’s a reminder for future me: please dnf a book when you’re not enjoying it, even if you’ve already read 70% of it.

thank you netgalley for the e-arc!

3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc for an honest review!
I loved this book. It felt so wholesome when reading it.
It follows Elsie who had everything. She had her ballet career ahead of her and a sucessful marriage, until she didn't. She substained an injury which put her in a dark place amongst other things which eventually lead to the breakdown of her marriage.
It follows the couple trying to navigate getting their marriage back on track when a huge curveball comes into the mix.
I loved Elsie & Beau as a couple and the character devlopment for Elsies character. It really showed the dark sides to her and the coming out of the other side. It really was heart warming to read.
I would of loved a bit more from them though. Although it was great i just wanted more!

Overall a 3.5 ⭐️

I went into this book expecting something completely different. What I got makes me sad there are not more stars to give a rating.

Not our first rodeo is not n frilly love story. It is deep and raw and I do suggest reading the trigger warnings, although the dark issues are dealt with, with finesse and honesty.

There are many books today claiming mental heating and anxiety rep. And although it is great to have more inclusive books, I have never felt so seen by a book. Anxiety is dealt with in all its ugly truth. The way it makes you perceive people and situations. How living with it, is a daily struggle and management.

And Beau, oh Beau. The calm waters, the rock, the loyal and determined FMC every woman deserves. This MMC deserves all the praise.

I highly recommend this book if you struggle with grief, anxiety or depression, or if you're in a relationship with someone who faces these battles. Also, if you enjoy:

🌟 Cowboy Romance
🌟 Cinnamon roll MMC
🌟 Second Chance Romane
🌟 Marriage in trouble

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC, it was an honour to read and review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Beau Jennings & Elsie Jennings
- Dual POV
- Marriage in trouble
- Accidental pregnancy
- Re-found family
- Horse trainer & ranch hand MMC
- Anxious ex-ballerina FMC
- He takes care of her
- Supportive family
- Small mountain town

✨ a few of my favorite things:
- the nicknames, “Elsie baby”
- The flirting and teasing between Beau & Elise
- The closet 🤭
- Cooper & Jade’s rivalry
- Jade & Elsie’s relationship
- The self-aware healing by MCs learning to fight against instincts that are hurting their marriage
- Beau’s dad 🥲 I love the way he talks to his family and he is truly the pillar of the family
- The marital redemption is so so good 🥹🥰

Content warning : miscarriage (author has more warnings in beginning of book)

Chapter 1 is the “fade to black” however it includes a lot of explicit detail of what the MCs are doing not just thoughts and feelings. This lasts longer and gives more details; some of which may be considered open door to some people. There is also another fade to black in Chapter 25 which has less details.

There is explicit language throughout. There is a lot of innuendo and sex jokes that may be off putting to some. (You can message me if you need more details on any of that).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Book 1 in the Lucky Stars Ranch - I really enjoyed this story. I have not read many books like this where it is a married couple trying to save their marriage. I greatly appreciated the character development and growth that took page over the book. Both MCs had a lot of growing to do and many mistakes were made. However, they were able to make something so much better than before once they found their way back to each other 💕

I appreciated that Madison wrote a man that actually sounds like a man, because we need more manly men in this world. He steps up and takes care of this family and shows up for the people in his life. Elsie drove me nuts a little cause she knows she’s hurting herself and others but she keeps making the wrong choices. However, once it clicks for her and she finally starts seeing the light 👏🏻 it was so worth all the hard they went through. Beau and Elise together often made me tear up because even though they made mistakes the love between them is so clear and they were made for each other.

I loved the side characters with all the quirks and full of their own personalities and shenanigans. I had no shortage of laughs with this book.

Okay now for my big disclaimer. This book has more details in the tension, jokes, and intimate moments between MCs that what I normally review. There are two fade to black scenes (Chapter 1 & 25). Personally, there is one thing in chapter 1 that made me question if it was open door. I talked with others and it’s a mixed bag on others opinions. So in my opinion Chapter 1 has a very steamy, detailed, long fade to black. I personally felt like some of the details were unnecessary as Madison already created amazing tension and chemistry. But to each his own.

This is a fade to black book with language, innuendo, open dialogue about sex and come content may be upsetting to some (miscarriage as well as other warning in the beginning of the book).

**Thank you so much to Madison for letting me read this ARC via NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy. No positive review was required. All thoughts are my own.**

Not Our First Rodeo

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️ (4.25)
🌶

"We may have broken, but when we put ourselves back together, we made something more beautiful than what we were before.”

Started this book knowing that it has my one only trigger - miscarriages and infertility are extremely hard for me to read. Not in a way that I avoid them, but they make me extremely emotional. Elsie and Beau both experience a miscarriage and the loss of their baby definitely shapes this whole story. But I promise, there is a HEA! I absolutely love how their story was written and while it's a hard topic, I think the feelings were depicted well. So excited for what's next on Lucky Stars Ranch!

Elsie and Beau have been together since they were 16. He's the only man shes ever loved and still loves. But after tragedy after tragedy, Elsie loses herself and doesn't know how to make her way back to her husband, even if she misses him terribly.

i am wholeheartedly OBSESSED & in love with this book. elsie and beau’s story had me feeling all the emotions in the best way possible. i think i need a cowboy to come take me away immediately now 🤠

Binged in one day & cried at least 4 times. Beautiful and emotional read that was such a quick read.
There is an off-page miscarriage, and working through the mental/emotional toll. Be mindful of that and other possible triggers listed.

🤠Vibes🤠
Marriage in Crisis
Accidental Pregnancy
Horse Trainer x Ballerina
High School Sweethearts
Found Family

This book took me on a journey and a half. It was a true tale of love, friendship, grief, pain and overcoming it all to accept ourselves and our sufferings!

I related to a key part of this story having gone through it myself and it was SO healing. It was so beautifully written.

I adored Beau and he was just perfect for Elsie and I am in love with their story!

I am speechless.
Madison Wright has a way of writing such beautiful, real, and emotionally invoking stories that leaves me in awe every time. Just reading the blurb, you can already tell this could be an emotional book. But what you don’t know until you read it, is how beautiful it is as well. The love and support oozes off the pages. The respect and commitment between not only Elsie and Beau, but their family as well, is everything you could wish for them and in this book.

I adored this couple. I wanted to drive through the Montana mountains and give them the world. Their internal and personal growth was so beautiful to watch. I worried that this book would be so incredibly angsty and heartbreaking in a way that I would have had difficulty reading through it, but it wasn’t at all. Madison did such an amazing job portraying such a personal story in a way that could touch the lives of others, bring a tear to your eye, and leave you with a smile on your face. I think the way she writes is so beautiful and leaves you feeling wrapped in a hug. I’m forever a fan.

And on a lighter note… when they had good moments, they are so funny. I loved their quick back and forth comments. I could have read that for days! I am so excited for future books on Lucky Star Ranch so we can get some more of this banter peaking through!

Beau is the definition of if he wanted to he would 🤍

Elsie was going through it mental (and physically) and thought it was best to handle it on her own but Beau stepping up and realizing that’s not going to work it didn’t let her go through it alone was absolutely beautiful.

Bonus points for Beau being a cowboy and it’s set in a small town 🤍🤍

3.5 stars for me! I did really enjoy this book and the premise of it. I loved Beau he was such a beautifully written MMC, patient, loving, kind, loyal! What more could you want! I did enjoy how grown up he was in giving Elsie her space but still staying loyal to her and supporting her.
Elsie was lovely and I do recognise the trauma and anxiety/panic attacks but I did feel like it was all about her feelings and Beau was just forgotten about.
I just wanted her to be honest with him about everything she is going through so he could be there to support her properly.
I still did enjoy this book and can’t wait for the next one in the series I feel like it set heaps of side characters up ready for their stories!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5/5 stars)

This book had a lot of emotional depth and tackled heavy themes like grief, healing, and second chances. Elsie’s journey—through heartbreak, loss, and learning to live again—was raw and real. Her perspective is front and center for most of the novel, and you really get a sense of her internal battles and growth.

That said, I found myself wanting more from Beau’s side of the story. While he’s clearly a devoted and steady presence, I felt a bit out of the loop with his emotions and motivations. His love for Elsie is undeniable, but I would’ve loved to see more development and insight into his character beyond being supportive. It often felt like the narrative was heavily weighted toward Elsie, leaving Beau as more of a background figure than an equal partner in the story.

Overall, it’s a heartfelt book with some touching moments, but I think a more balanced focus on both characters would have made the story even stronger.

Elsie was a very succesful person and she thought sie had it all. yes, she was.. After a lot of unfortunate events taking place in her life, she seems to find herself ina very deep, depressive hole with no way out. So she does what she thinks is best - she pushes everyone away. with no exceptions. Even her husband, Beau, who was (and still is) a love of her life.

But is it a right thing to do? Will she be able to let herself happy again? Will she be able to get her marriage back?



I think i have never read a book like that before. Like sure, i have read books with unexpected pregnancy (which i am not a fan of), but i DO love a second chance trope. I always think that if you are meant to be, you will always find a way back to each other, maybe after healing yourself. And this is what this story is about - it's a journey to loving yourself and letting other people in - because even if you think you are tough, you do not have to face your fears alone.
What i found the best was the fact, that this 'way to be better/happier' is not easy and sometimes you will make one step ahead only to take two back - and this is okay. Nothing changes in one night but trying is the best thing you can do. I think that's beautiful.

I also loved the fact that it spoke out the fact, that men would need help too. They are often overseen just because they are meant to be tough and not show any emotions - i think it's very harming in our society. There are always two sides who may be hurting, not only one.

I would recommend this book to everyone. It is not a summery romance, it's a story about healing and finding yourself and love again.





all opinions are my own.

If you’re looking for a book that feels like a warm hug, it’s this one. Truly a comfort read. I read it in a day, not wanting to put it down.

This book just felt so authentic and handled sensitive topics really well. Elsie suffers from anxiety and panic attacks, especially after her miscarriage. These can be tough topics to address, but I thought Wright did a fantastic job with them.

I loved Beau and Elsie. You knew from the beginning that even when they were separated, they weren’t done with each other. I really loved watching their relationship evolve.

I don’t know how I’m supposed to just move on and read other books now? I’ll be thinking about this book for a while. In the mean time, I just went got two other books by Madison Wright (Only In Your Dreams and Off the Beaten Path) that I’m so excited to read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victoria Editing for the eARC.

4.5⭐️!!

Elsie & Beau have my heart! What a gorgeous story. I was hooked from the first chapter, my love for the pregnancy trope has definitely grown after this book. Their story was so well written, I couldn’t put it down. The way their personal struggles & grief for what they had been through was portrayed in such a perfect way too. Elsie is incredible & she’s got a man who would do anything for her & I love that!
Also I’m hoping we get books for Beaus family because I NEED their stories!

Not Our First Rodeo is the first book in a new cowboy romance series by author Madison Wright about a family of ranchers who live on Lucky Stars Ranch in Montana. This book follows Beau and Elsie, a married couple who separated after a devastating loss. After letting their guard down for one night, their future completely changes. Will they be able to rebuild the life they once thought possible, together?

My Impressions: Beau's family members were well-characterized and I could tell they will have future stories of their own in this series. I enjoyed the setting of this book and it had many great elements I love. Despite the ranch/cowboy and marriage in crisis elements I enjoyed, the plot arc didn't compel me and the delivery of this story fell flat. I felt like most of this book was a health progress journal for Elsie and didn't provide the emotional connection (angst?) I was hoping for. That being said, I have lived through the same events/issues as Elsie, so maybe for a reader who hasn't, this book would be a more insightful and compelling read.

Conclusion: It was cute, with no major issues, but ultimately fell flat and wasn't memorable for me.

Content Considerations: Light use of moderate/strong profanity, fade to black romantic scenes between married couple with some steamy build-up but not explicit, some sexual innuendos, miscarriage (openly discussed, but occurred in the past, not a spoiler I promise), estranged martial relationship.

Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley for the complementary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. My review is my own opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

Thank you NetGalley & Victory Editing for this arc!!

I am a huge fan of cowboy romances & the pregnancy trope so I was excited when I requested this story and got approved.

Overall, I give it a solid 3.5 ⭐️’s. It was a wholesome story and Beau was the most gentle man ever. No matter how much space Elsie needed, he gave it to her, and he never pushed her past her limits. He continued to show up even if Elsie was unsure of what she wanted. He always knew what to say, and learned what she needed just by watching.

Elsie struggled a lot during this book. Through her grief and panic attacks, she still continued to show up everyday even if it was hard. It was a very relatable struggle, and I like how it was captured.

I am not sure I was a big fan of the failing/reconnecting marriage aspect, but it was done well in this story. It shows that when you have people in your corner, you are truly rich in life. This made me enjoy the side characters, like Cooper and Jade, and I just know they are about to get their own book!! Can’t wait to see what is next for Lucky Stars Ranch, overall a cute, quick read!

Highly recommend if you are a fan of:
- small-town romance
- cowboy romance
- accidental pregnancy trope
- childhood lovers/second chance romance

I’ve been through four pregnancies and spent every spare moment of my childhood in a dance studio, so this one really got me all in my feels. The cowboy vibes are pretty similar to a lot of recent books, but the premise is somewhat unique. It follows Elsie and Beau, who find out they’re pregnant in the midst of some identity crisis/marriage troubles.

I typically enjoy Madison Wright’s books, but I struggled with this one a bit. Elsie’s feelings were all totally normal, valid feelings, but I just wanted to shake some sense into her sometimes! The conflict just felt like it was trying too hard, and the resolution wasn’t much of a resolution at all really. I still enjoyed it pretty well, though. There’s a good cast of side characters, likely setting things up for future stories, which I’m still very much going to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Madison Wright for the ARC of this book!

Not Our First Rodeo by Madison Wright is a charming, emotionally driven romance that blends second chances, small-town warmth, and just enough drama to keep the pages turning. Wright has a knack for crafting relatable characters—especially the lead pair, whose chemistry feels natural and earned over time. The setting is vivid, filled with dusty backroads, rodeo lights, and family dynamics that tug at the heart.

What holds this book back from a higher rating is pacing. Some plot beats feel slightly rushed, while others linger longer than necessary. A few side characters also could've used more depth, especially considering the tight-knit community the story leans on.

Still, Wright delivers an engaging story about resilience, love, and finding your way back to what matters. It's not perfect, but it's a warm, enjoyable read for fans of contemporary romance with a western twist.