Holiday Rider

The Cartwright Family #3

by Maggie Cole

He needs her to save his career. She needs to watch him suffer first. But some grudges come wrapped in red lace and go down just like whiskey—burning, dirty, unforgettable.

Wyatt Houston broke me with his cowboy grit and filthy promises. Now I’m supposed to save his career.

It’ll be a cold day in Hell.

He’s the only man to ruin me so thoroughly I still taste the ash.

But my family? They're relentless.

They ask why I won’t help, but I can’t exactly confess how my brother’s best friend was my first everything.

Or all the nights I snuck into his bed.
Or how he used my heart like a stepping stone to fame.

I swore I’d never again crave the way his voice drops when he’s angry.
I’d forget the hands that once worshipped me like a sin.

So I’ll just stay professional.

Yet when he looks at me like I’m the only thing he's ever wanted to ride hard and claim twice, I remember exactly how I broke.

God help me. I might cave and let him do it again.

Holiday Rider is a slow-burn, steamy standalone featuring a billionaire heroine, a bull rider, a second-chance romance, and a sizzling frenemies-to-lovers twist. When the woman he lost but never stopped wanting is the only one who can save his career, he'll risk everything to win her back. Only this time, he means forever.

Genres: Christmas, Holiday, Second Chance, Romance, Found Family, Cowboy Romance, Westerns

448 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2025

About the author

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Maggie Cole is committed to bringing her readers alphalicious book boyfriends and fiercely strong heroines.

She’s been called the literary master of steamy romance. Her books are full of raw emotion, suspense, and will always keep you wanting more. She is a masterful storyteller of contemporary romance and loves writing about broken people who rise above the ashes. Her books can often be found hanging out in the top 100, even years after publication.

Maggie lives in Florida with her son. She loves tennis, yoga, paddleboarding, boating, other water activities, and everything naughty.

Her current series were written in the order below:
All In (Stand alones with entwined characters)
It's Complicated (Stand alones with entwined characters)
Together We Stand (Brooks Family Saga - read in order)
Behind Closed Doors (Read in order)
Mafia Wars
Mafia Wars New York
Club Indulgence Duet
Mafia Wars Ireland
Wilted Kingdom Duet
The Underworld
The Cartwright Family (Holiday Romance)

Reviews

[Kim Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever since this was announced it would come out this month, I’ve been looking forward to the next Cartwright story. I’d say about a year I’ve been anticipating this. I just didn’t think the result would be what I just read. It started off good and it felt like it was going somewhere until we dip into the past. The majority of the book recounts Wyatt and Willow’s relationship. Normally I wouldn’t have any qualms about this, the more history the better. It was just the way things were handled in the household and how Wyatt and Willow navigated their relationship that I had a hard time with and what I struggled to get through when reading this. There was too many egos, tough guy attitudes and keeping Willow and the women of the family in the dark. Jagger just pissed me off and I can’t believe his story is next. He played the devil on Wyatt’s back and always tended to get him in trouble. He’s got a lot of living up to and will have to work for my support. I already sense this book being difficult to navigate around because of him. Anytime there was an argument or someone would come back bruised and battered he was somehow involved. Willow was told to stay out of it when Wyatt and Jagger were getting questioned and scolded as well as her sisters and even her mother. I don’t know if this was just the family’s dynamic or if this is how people in Texas are, but I didn’t like this at all, they aren’t kids and should know what’s going on. Wyatt’s attitude and stubbornness played a factor too. You couldn’t get through to him and he was always so defensive about everything. The way he rode the bull, how he was given advice, taking no for an answer and being pushy about moving up and riding. This is where his ego and cockiness played a huge factor, and again, I don’t know if it’s just how people are in Texas, his age at the time, or just him, but I didn’t like it. It didn’t give him brownie points in my book. There was no deepness to him and he doesn’t have any emotional moments. The man did not want to show any emotions for fear of who knows what. Weakness? Ego? Embarrassment? which brings me to the tough guy attitude. If he just admitted he was wrong and has issues, maybe him and Willow wouldn’t have broken up in the first place, maybe he would have made better decisions. All I know is I didn’t really care for anybody in this book. There was too much tension with everything, from Willow’s family, and to Jax, who also annoyed me. He’s Wyatt’s manager I guess. I don’t need to feel tension when I read a book. I want to swoon, be happy and root for the hero and heroine. All I felt when reading this was frustration, anger and some flutters here and there but nothing swoon worthy to me. It didn’t help that when we venture back into present times it focuses on Wyatt and Willow, or I guess Wyatt trying to win her back and prove himself worthy with Willow fighting it. This also got annoying because it was like, make a decision! Are we doing this or not and it didn’t feel fair to drag her into a spiral when she was still trying to come to terms with seeing him again and dealing with all these lingering emotions. On top of that, each time they hashed it out and talked about the past they just made the same arguments! It was getting to the point of being ridiculous and for several chapters I didn’t know which direction this was going in. They would make progress with each other only to have it go up in flames again. The most annoying part of this book was the same arguments and concerns being used towards each other and the attitudes with everybody. This leads me going back to Wyatt and how he didn’t talk about his feelings or express any hopes or fears. Even when I was reading the chapters from his point of view, there still wasn’t any progress on his emotions and he still felt closed up. I didn’t get him and it just felt like a wall was up between me and him and I’m not even Willow! With that being said, the only reason I’m not giving this lower than a 3 is because the sex scenes were spicy and there was some good moments in the book, all at the end of course, plus just the potential this could have had. I don’t know how Jagger’s book is going to go but I’m nervous if this book is anything to go by.

[Julie Booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story had me staying up late and getting up early to finish. Willow and Wyatts’ story is that good. A slow burn with two stubborn people who know what they want but he messed up, and she is guarding her heart. Will a second chance happen?

Willow Cartright comes from a loving family, a successful family. She has become a successful agent in her own right. Wyatt did not have the perfect family, far from it, but Cartwright’s took him in, helping him achieve his dreams of being a bull rider. These two have a past, he broke her heart, now that he is back, she wants him to hurt as she did. Willow is stubborn, full of sass, and knows her limits, and taking Wyatt as a client is not a good idea. He has made a lot of bad choices, and he needs her now.

I love the journey these to take, the secrets in the beginning, to his trying to turn his life around. The two need to overcome a lot, but the future might look bright for these two.

Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

[QuinnReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard Won HEA

My anxiety ran high for so much of this. It was mostly caused by my desire to wallop Wyatt Houston. Jagger Cartwright, Willow's brother, is equally maddening. Lord, save us from cocky, PITA cowboys! 🤠 💥💫🤣

This isn't a fluffy holiday book. Willow and Wyatt have to work to get their HEA (which has a really sweet conclusion). There's heartbreak, fists (not between W & W), secrets, and up-against-a-wall hate / makeup smexy times. I'm kind of preferential to the last one. 🌶❤️‍🔥😉

He's the kind of man who'd wreck your plans, your bed, and your sense of right and wrong, without ever raising his voice.
-- Willow Cartwright

I liked the trip down memory lane, seeing when things changed from crush to lust to love to heartbreak for them. Witnessing their combustion as adults is even better, though. 🔥🫠

One of my favorite things about this series is that we check on other Cartwright family members all along the way. Spending time with them is guaranteed to entertain. 😄🩷 Until next year, cheers to the Cartwrights! 🎄🎁🌶💙🥳

H = 28; h = 25

[Stefanie Simeone · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this series

There is an obvious connection between Willow and Wyatt. I’m glad we got the back story that led to their breakup. I loved the story and love this family.

[Tiffany Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Amazing Second Chance!**

"Holiday Rider" is the third book in The Cartwright Family series, and I absolutely devoured it in one sitting. Wyatt is not your typical cinnamon roll in a second-chance romance; he is deeply flawed and a complete mess. He acknowledges his many mistakes and knows he doesn’t deserve a second chance with the only woman he has ever truly loved. However, he is determined not to give up on Willow.

Willow, on the other hand, is strong, independent, and full of sass. After having her heart broken by Wyatt once before, she is not going to let him back into her life easily. She is definitely going to make him work for her love. I am enjoying every minute of this book. The characters of Willow and Wyatt feel incredibly real as they grapple with their everyday struggles. Their connection is so relatable.

The love they had for each other never truly went away, but they both have to heal from past hurts and learn how to move forward together. Their chemistry is intense and passionate, from their youthful days to their final reunion.

This is my first book in the Cartwright Family series, and I can't help but wish I were a Cartwright—or at least wanted to be involved with one of the single Cartwright brothers! I love how Willow's brothers are so protective yet supportive of each other, as that is what family is all about. They have each other’s backs no matter what, and I truly appreciate that about a loving family. I can not wait for the next Cartwright book in the series.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sassy Southern Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I start with holiday rider? This was out of my normal genre but I am so happy I took a chance. I couldn't put it down! This pulled me in right from page 1 and I went through so many emotions while reading that I had to remind myself I was not in the book I was reading the book!
Wyatt and Willow, first off, the names fit so well and roll of your tongue! I went from nerves and yelling at the two main characters to crying and giddy right along with them. This book even made me cry happy tears! Who am I? The steamy love to happy, joyful ending it was just a well written book! I was very sad when it ended because it left me wanting more or Wyatt and Willows story. This story touched on real life struggles, addiction and the strong foundation of having an amazing family that has your back no matter what. I really hope the amazing author writes a second book on how the rest of their story unfolds. I highly recommend this book for sure!- Heather





Holiday Rider is an Amazing story.
I Love the Cartwright Family,I was totally enchanted by Willow and Wyatt as they may get a second chance at love.
Wyatt Houston is a bullrider and his life aint so great at the moment,he is also Willow's brothers best friend...Of course her brother does not know about his past with Willow.
Willow is a rodeo agent who has just been given a new client as a favour for someone she knows,that client just so happens to be Wyatt.
The problem she has is that Willow and Wyatt have a past,he broke her heart and now she kind of wants to make him suffer a bit.Willow is full of sass and bravado.
The banter between these two is great and their chemistry is still very much sizzling away ready to explode...The attraction palpable which is another problem when Wyatt moves onto the family ranch.
Suddenly he is everywhere and she can't avoid him likes she wants to.
Wyatt has issues and troubles and is trying to get his life back but he needs Willow to do that,there is a regret and sadness in him...she was the only woman he has ever loved and now she is back in his life in a huge way.
I did Love Wyatt his imperfections made him feel more authentic and you can't help fall in love with him.
Can they overcome the past and have another chance to be together?
Maggie Cole's writing is wonderful and captivating I absolutely adored reading them and falling in love with the Cartwright family.
Holiday Rider is romantic,steamy and emotional with drama and heartwarming feels.
I Loved it.
5 Stars.- Cat W.

[Mel Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cowboys, Christmas, and a second chance romance. This contemporary cowboy romance follows Willow and Wyatt. When Wyatt came to live with Willow’s family as a teen, neither expected sparks to fly. Soon the two became each other’s first love (in secret) but as often does, life gets in the way. When Wyatt returns to town years later determined to win his girl back, the woman he finds isn’t so easily swayed.

This story was a lot more emotional than I was expecting. Addiction struggles, abuse, and heartbreak all play majors roles in this story. What shines through though is resilience and loyalty. These characters have flaws and struggles. They are human but they show up for one another when it counts. Besides their intense emotional connection, these too have so much chemistry. I love a dirty talking cowboy and Wyatt is just that.

My reasons for knocking off a star are the lack of Christmas and the arguing. There is barely a mention of Christmas which was odd for a book marketed as a holiday romance. Also, there was an abundance of arguing in this book between all the characters. So much fighting between so many characters felt draining.

Overall, I adore Maggie’s writing and the characters she creates. If you love an MMC cowboy with a filthy mouth and a spitfire FMC then this book is for you!

Thank you so much to Maggie and her team for this ARC in return for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

[Reina LC · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book I've read from this series, but I did not like this one as much.
Wyatt honestly irritated me a ton, and Willow made me so mad with how weak she was. All these shitty men just telling her (a grown ass adult) what to do and she just takes it with basically no fight, just accepts it. I wanted her to tell them where to shove it and make her own choices.

Wyatt got better right towards the end when he finally admitted his issues and got help and that was refreshing to see.

I will prolly skip the next one cause Jagger is honestly the worst. You'll need to work overtime to make him even remotely likable 😬

[ShelfishlyKelly📚 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down to a 3.

Holiday Rider is the third book in the Cartwright Family series of interconnected standalones. Each book focuses on one of the eight Cartwright siblings — a big, close-knit ranching family with plenty of small-town charm and chaos. This one follows Willow, a rodeo agent who represents bull riders, and Wyatt, her brother’s best friend and the one who broke her heart years ago.

When Willow gets called on Christmas to bail out two of her riders, she doesn’t expect to run into Wyatt. He’s now a bull rider whose career is hanging by a thread, and to her horror (and his delight), she’s assigned to represent him. Determined to keep things professional, Willow does her best to keep her distance… but Wyatt’s made up his mind. He may have walked away once, but he’s never stopped wanting her.

Willow’s the kind of heroine who’s easy to root for — smart, driven, and fiercely loyal to her family. Wyatt, on the other hand, is that blend of cowboy charm and stubborn determination that romance readers tend to love. But I had mixed feelings about their dynamic. When they first connected, she was fifteen and he was eighteen, which honestly felt a little uncomfortable. Even though their relationship doesn’t turn physical until she’s older, the timeline around it still left me raising an eyebrow.

Like the first two books, the writing mixes an actual plot with plenty of spice. I always appreciate when there’s substance beyond the steam — and the Cartwrights have a ton of heart. Family is everything to them, and that’s what keeps me coming back. Even Wyatt, whose own father was abusive, has long been treated as an honorary member of the family, which adds another layer of complication to his romance with Willow.

That said, I still found myself rolling my eyes at a few moments — namely, a scene where Wyatt jokes about being “hung like a horse” (we get it, you’re a cowboy) and a spicy chapter that left me genuinely confused about logistics. Also, can we talk about how the author constantly refers to people’s eyes as “blues”? Like, “she turned her blues on me.” I can’t explain why it bothers me so much, but it does.

Despite my gripes, I do really enjoy this series. It’s one of the few that manages to balance spice with storyline and still make family the heart of everything. I think there’s only a fourth book announced so far, but with eight Cartwright siblings, I’m guessing we’ll eventually get the full set — and I’ll be along for the ride.

[Michaela Rodová · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bylo to fajn, i když ty první dvě knížky mě bavily víc 😁😃. Ostatně tu první jsem poslouchala už 2x (loni jsem zvažovala poslech číslo 3, ale nedošlo na něj), tu druhou (poslouchanou letos) bych si taky klidně zopakovala, tuhle spíš ne. Přišla mi asi nějak míň zábavná, vtipná. A možná je to taky tím, že tu jde o second chance romance , ale zase byla pěkně zpracovaná... vývoj vztahu během delší doby, a dost flashbacků, takže člověk viděl jaké to bylo mezi hrdiny před lety.

A tu rodinu zbožňuju pořád.

Na další knížku jsem zvědavá, i když tam bude secret baby a pregnancy trope já moc nemusím.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn’t feeling this book at all. Not until I had an hour left. So it was really slow. But I finished it .

[Michaele · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️❤️

[Rainbow Shelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ 3🌶️

This was one of the most beautiful cowboy romances that i have ever read, i don't know why i didn't pick up this author sooner.

Willow and Wyat story was full with ups and downs how one love story will make you crumble and suffer just to protect the people you love. Im so glad that Wyatt after hitting so many rock bottoms her finds his way back to Willow and make him to be worthy of her and of their love together!

I highly recommend this one!

Thanks to The Author Agency and Maggie Cole for this ARC🫶

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

This is a plot/trope grouping I’ve read a thousand times and usually love, but something about it just gave me the ick. The FMC was a pushover, her Dad made me want to punch something, and the MMC was just too much.

[Jo Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 3 in the holiday series. I fell in love with Willow and Wyatt from the start. Willow is a Cartwright sister who fell in love with her brother's best friend when she was just a teenager. They started their romance commence when Wyatt turned 18 and she was just 15. They kept it a secret from everyone. Wyatt needed to prove himself and left after getting into one too many scrapes along with his friend Jagger. To continue bullying riding he needed to go to Arizona. He broke Willows heart when he refused to take her with him and left in the middle of the night. Years later they cross paths again. They find their happy ever after but it’s not a smooth ride there.

[Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazon



No one knows it, but years before, Wyatt was Willow's future. They fell in love as teens, and she thought they were looking at forever together. But he broke her heart into a million pieces when he left to go chase his bull riding dreams and she vowed to never let him in again. In the years since, Willow hasn't wallowed, she's become a successful agent and is heading down to go deal with some of her clients, when who waltzes back into her life but the boy, now man, who broke her. And she's going to waltz right back out, if only she isn't coerced into bringing him back by her brother. Now what is she going to do with her biggest heartbreak? Not fall for him again...



Wyatt has spent the years since he left Willow becoming someone he never wanted to be. But now he's looking a second chance in the eye - a second chance with the only woman he's ever loved, and a second chance at being the person who deserves her and her (their) family's love.



Whew! This second chance took me on a rollercoaster! Willow was so determined to keep her heart safe that she led Wyatt on a merry chase, made him work for her forgiveness, for a second chance. It wasn't easy, it wasn't pretty, but by the end the love she kept denying won out over her will. Maggie's a new author to me, but after having read Willow and Wyatt's second chance story, I'm a big fan now and am impatiently waiting for Jagger's story next.



ARC provided by The Author Agency for an honest review.

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[Daisy Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

More reviews posted at Tales of Love, Life, and Murder

I wasn’t ready for this one. Willow and Wyatt’s story really hit me in the feels. He wasn’t just her brother’s best friend, he was like a brother to Willow too. Wyatt was always there but eventually they grew up and began seeing each other in a completely different light. She wasn’t just his best friend’s little sister anymore, Willow was her own person suddenly and Wyatt knew back then at just eighteen that she was the only women for him. But love isn’t always enough.


Wyatt was the bruised kid from a bad home welcomed into the fold at the Cartwright Ranch. Jared was more of a father to him than his own ever was and he was grateful for everything they did and all the love shown him. But it was a double-edged sword because Wyatt also knew he wasn’t good enough for Willow. He needed to make something of himself and have something to offer her first, so they kept their relationship under wraps, waiting for the right time to make the reveal. But that time never came because Wyatt just kept getting himself into trouble once he left.


In Willow’s mind, he left her behind and ran when things got tough. He left so he could earn her love in the eyes of her family but for Willow, he left because she wasn’t enough, and she has never forgiven him. With a little help from an unlikely matchmaker behind the scenes, they’re forced to work together again all these years later. Now Wyatt is determined to win her back for good, while Willow is equally determined to never trust him again.


This is a wild ride with one sassy cowgirl, a damaged bronco rider and a lot of history. The tension and banter are so good and I loved these characters so much. Their story is full of emotion and heart with plenty of heat and I loved everything about it. These two are my favorite couple in the series so far and while I’m looking forward to more, I’m wondering how Jagger will redeem himself in his book since he was kind of a jerk to his sister and friend in this one. I know it will be good but I hope he suffers a little before getting his HEA for all the trouble he gave these two.

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎄eARC Review🎄

Holiday Rider by @maggiecoleauthor
The Cartwright Famiy Book 3
Available Oct 29th
4/5⭐️

Holiday Rider was everything I love in a festive read. It’s fast paced, emotional, and full of that delicious second chance tension that keeps you glued to the pages. It touched on some heavy topics, but did so in a way that felt real, and totally unputdownable. And honestly... I was hooked the second I found out there was a hot bad boy bull rider involved.🤠🔥

Willow Cartwright, an agent in the bull-riding world, is ready to settle into Christmas festivities with her family at their ranch when a late night call throws her plans off course. Two of her riders have landed in jail after a bar fight, and who’s right in the middle of it? None other than Wyatt Houston: her brother’s best friend, the circuit’s resident bad boy, and the man who shattered her teenage heart. Cue the sparks, the tension, and a whole lot of fun magic!

What follows is a story about second chances, forgiveness, and facing the demons that haunt you. I loved that Willow didn’t just fall for Wyatt’s cowboy charm right away, she made him work for it, and honestly, he really needed to. Her strength and sass were everything I hoped for after seeing glimpses of her in the earlier books.
The banter? Chef’s kiss.
The angst? Perfectly balanced.
The writing? So vivid it felt like I was right there at the ranch!

And the best part? Catching up with familiar faces from the series! The whole Cartwright family just has my heart. At this point, l’m ready to move in or at least meet one of those single Cartwright men myself.😏

If you love redemption arcs, cowboy charm, and emotional second chances that hit you right in the feels, Holiday Rider absolutely belongs on your holiday TBR.

Thank you Maggie Cole, and @theauthor.agency for the eARC of Holiday Rider! I absolutely enjoyed it and can’t wait for more from the Cartwright family.

[Chandra Tuggle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when you fall for the boy next door, the bedroom next to yours? He’s your brother’s best friend, and you’ve always thought of him as one of your big brothers, too. Suddenly, he turns eighteen, and you get butterflies, stars in your eyes, and heart palpitations. No longer seeing you as a little sister, he feels the same way about you.

In Maggie Cole’s Holiday Rider, Willow and Wyatt experience all of the angst, thrills, and magic of first love, but their love is forbidden because her family has always treated Wyatt like a son and a brother. If anyone finds out, it could cause irreparable damage. Confident that they are one another’s forever, Willow and Wyatt keep their relationship a secret, she gives him all of her firsts, and their love grows stronger each year.

You know what they say about things going too smoothly… Life, mistakes, bad decisions, and miscommunication force Willow and Wyatt apart. They were both left devastated in the aftermath.

Seven years later, Wyatt stumbles back in Willow’s life, and he’s determined to right his wrongs, be the man she deserves, and win her back. Willow isn’t the same girl anymore, though. She’s a tough, savvy businesswoman, and thanks to Wyatt, she guards her heart like Fort Knox. Willow doesn’t want to love Wyatt again, but in her heart of hearts, she knows she never stopped loving him.

In this push and pull battle of hearts and wills that Willow and Wyatt wage against each other, honest, sometimes brutal truths are revealed and passion burns hotter than an inferno. Can Willow forgive Wyatt, put the past behind them and build the life they always dreamed of having? Afterall, the holidays are a time for miracles, aren’t they?

Read Holiday Hire today and find out if Willow and Wyatt get their second chance at love!

[World Of Books 65 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love a good second-chance romance—add in a hot, down-on-his-luck rodeo star who’s lost his way, a determined rodeo agent with fire in her heart, and you’ve got a winner. And that’s exactly what Maggie Cole delivers in Holiday Rider, the third stunning installment in the Cartwright Family series.

Willow Cartwright was hoping for a peaceful Christmas, but when she’s called to bail two of her riders out of jail after a barroom brawl, her plans are turned upside down. What she didn’t expect was to come face-to-face with Wyatt Houston—her brother’s best friend and the man who once broke her teenage heart.

Cole masterfully peels back the layers of Wyatt’s story, revealing the heartbreak, loss, and guilt behind the man who once had the rodeo world at his feet. Now at rock bottom, fate throws him back into Willow’s life when she reluctantly takes him on as a client. Determined to keep things professional, Willow tries to guard her heart—but one look from Wyatt reminds her of everything she’s tried to forget.

Wyatt never stopped loving Willow, and he’s willing to risk everything—even her family’s wrath—to prove he’s still the man worthy of her heart. But when old secrets resurface, both will have to decide if love is enough to heal the past.

With heat, heart, and soul, Holiday Rider is a beautifully written, emotional second-chance romance wrapped in family warmth and festive charm. Maggie Cole delivers yet another heart-stealing, swoon-worthy read that’s impossible to put down.

📚✨ A must-read for anyone who loves redemption arcs, cowboy charm, and second chances that hit straight in the feels.

[Nikki B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holiday Rider is book 3 in the Cartwright Family series, but I read it as a standalone. This is a second chance, cowboy romance and is Wyatt and Willow's story.
Wyatt has always had a problematic home life with his father. Willow's family and their home became Wyatt's safe haven. Until one day, Wyatt and Willow just start to notice each other. But they know that this isn't a relationship that they can have out in the open, especially since Wyatt is a little on the older side. Wyatt is a bull rider but he is just full of angst, bad financial decisions, and is always getting himself into trouble. That's when he finds out that he's finally made enough mistakes. His agent is going to drop him and he needs to move in order to stay on the top, leaving Willow behind, right when she needs him the most. Years later, he reappears in her life, in a jail cell none the less, after a bar fight. She does post bail for him and some other members , but he does have to pay it back. Ending up back at her family home, he thinks this is his in, his second chance, the opportunity to get her back. What he didn't count on, was how upset she still was with him and how much she wants nothing to do with him. Until, unforeseen circumstances forces them to have to work together. Now they have no choice but to put aside all the differences and maybe take next steps into rebuilding something that was lost.
I loved this story, but I have to admit, I got irritated with Wyatt at times. The story was great though and all the characters in the story were wonderful. looking forward to the next in the series.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holiday Rider is an Amazing story.
I Love the Cartwright Family,I was totally enchanted by Willow and Wyatt as they may get a second chance at love.
Wyatt Houston is a bullrider and his life aint so great at the moment,he is also Willow's brothers best friend...Of course her brother does not know about his past with Willow.
Willow is a rodeo agent who has just been given a new client as a favour for someone she knows,that client just so happens to be Wyatt.
The problem she has is that Willow and Wyatt have a past,he broke her heart and now she kind of wants to make him suffer a bit.Willow is full of sass and bravado.
The banter between these two is great and their chemistry is still very much sizzling away ready to explode...The attraction palpable which is another problem when Wyatt moves onto the family ranch.
Suddenly he is everywhere and she can't avoid him likes she wants to.
Wyatt has issues and troubles and is trying to get his life back but he needs Willow to do that,there is a regret and sadness in him...she was the only woman he has ever loved and now she is back in his life in a huge way.
I did Love Wyatt his imperfections made him feel more authentic and you can't help fall in love with him.
Can they overcome the past and have another chance to be together?
Maggie Cole's writing is wonderful and captivating I absolutely adored reading them and falling in love with the Cartwright family.
Holiday Rider is romantic,steamy and emotional with drama and heartwarming feels.
I Loved it.
5 Stars.

[Faiza BEGUM · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖 : Holiday Rider

✨ 3rd book from the Cartwright Family series

✨ Release on 29th October in KU & Amazon

⭐️ - 5
🌶️ - 4

This book follow Wyatt and Willow.

Wyatt is a bull rider who happen to be Willow brothers best friend where Willow is a rodeo agent. Suddenly she was given a new client as a favour for someone she where she wasn’t ready to find out that client was none other then Wyatt. She wanted to make him suffer cause of the way he broke her heart in the past. It’s like a second chance in love. I loved how this book followed everything from first to last. The way their story and characters grew with passing time. Loved the Cartwright family so much. Banter between both of them. The way they tried to get under each other’s skin. Tension between them, their chemistry which is sizzling and always ready to explode any given minute and those stealing glances. My heart broke for Wyatt. The more you read the more you’ll get to know everything about them and specially about him. He was so broken that he pushed away the only woman he truly ever loved. This book is so well written that I can’t even complain even if I want to. Gosh I couldn’t put it down without finishing it. I literally devoured this book without even feeling guilty. And can we talk about the spice like it was amazing 🥵. I can’t get enough of them and need more from this series. Maggie Cole always write masterpieces without any doubt. Would 100% recommend this book to everyone and I’m sure everyone gonna love this book as much as I did.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holiday Rider, the third book in the Cartwright Family series, marked my first foray into Maggie Cole's contemporary work, having previously read her dark mafia novels. This second-chance cowboy romance follows Wyatt Houston, a former bull rider seeking redemption, as he reunites with his former love, Willow Cartwright. However, their past complicated history where Wyatt broke her heart, made her more than a little reluctant to help Wyatt revive his failing career.

Willow was as stubborn as they came, and she was determined to make Wyatt pay for his past mistakes. However, when his former mentor called in a favour, Wyatt found himself with Willow as his new agent, despite her distrust of him. Their relationship was more complex than a simple romance; Wyatt had been a surrogate member of her family as they had protected him from his abusive father. As a result, their relationship had played out in secret, meaning no one knew why Willow was now so hostile towards him. For Wyatt, though, his love they’d shared had never faded. I enjoyed the banter between the two leads as they navigated their way through the story, frequently at odds with each other as they squabbled all the way. The pacing of the overall story was well-balanced, and I loved the secondary characters, particularly Willow's family. However, before Wyatt and Willow could have any hope of their rekindled relationship lasting, Wyatt had to confront his inner demons and acknowledge his personal struggles. Until he did that, there was no way Willow would be able to trust him.

[Maz · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book 3 in this Christmas series we get yearly.
This is Willow Cartwright's story.
Wyatt was her brothers best friend and her parents took him in when he was 17. His upbringing was awful and they've been there for him. He is confident bull rider, hot, flirty and only loved 1 woman.
Willow is a fierce, smart and the best agent for bull riders.
She has always cared for Wyatt until before his 18th she started seeing him differently. It was the same for Wyatt and they both fell in love early.
But issues arise and he leaves her behind for his career. I do feel she should take blame for their break up too.
7 years later Wyatt is back and in need of an agent to save him amd his career.
Without either of them wanting to Willow has no choice but to take him on.
Wyatt realises he wants her back too and he isn't letting go this time. I did like his confidence in his ability to win her back.
She fights back because of fear of being hurt again. Wyatt has a big fight not only to win her but also his best friend and her family.
He delivers all his promises and more. He also shows amazing strength and admitted to his addiction. I liked how this was handled, so please check TW.
Will Wyatt be able to win his love, career and her family or will he collapse under all his stress?
Found Family, very hot spice, banter, lots of bull riding, emotional and a lot warm love.

"It's official. I'm adding a warning label on you: Too Hot to Handle Without Fire Insurance." He waggles his eyebrows."

[Shayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Holiday Rider

If you love:

🔹Second chance
🔹Cowboys
🔹First Love
🔹Brothers Best Friend
🔹Found Family
🔹Holiday Romance

This story follows Wyatt 🤠 and Willow 💋—childhood best friends turned forbidden first loves. Wyatt grew up alongside Willow’s brother Jagger and knew she was off-limits … but that didn’t stop his heart. ❤️

After seven years apart, Wyatt lands back in town after getting into a bar fight 🍻—and suddenly, the past he’s been running from is standing right in front of him. He’s determined to win Willow back, no matter how many walls she’s built. Their journey is full of love, heartache, redemption, and a few unforgettable bad decisions. 💔✨

🔥 I adored Wyatt’s cocky bull-rider charm and his filthy mouth (in the best way). Willow felt so real — strong, hurt, and unwilling to make it easy for him … and I loved every second she made him work for it.

💞 The Cartwright family completely stole my heart — their loyalty, teasing, and fierce love for one another reminded me why Maggie Cole’s small-town worlds feel like home. Seeing Wyatt mature, admit his flaws, and fight to be a better man for Willow made their second-chance love even sweeter.

🎄 This cozy, spicy holiday cowboy romance has everything: small-town charm, family chaos, and a hero worth forgiving. I highly recommend this heartfelt second-chance read! 🤠💋❤️

Genre/Type: Contemporary
APK: Kindle ARC
Pages: 468
Rating: 4🌟
Spice: 3🌶️
Series or Stand Alone: The Cartwright Family, book 3
Tropes or themes: second chance; first love; cowboys; bad boy bull rider; brothers best friend; found family; holiday romance; right person, wrong time; billionaire heroine
Check Triggers ⚠️ Child abuse; gambling addiction✨

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY. COWBOY. HELL. 😭🔥 Holiday Rider absolutely wrecked me in the most delicious way. Wyatt and Willow’s chemistry? It’s pure, unfiltered fire—like they were made to destroy and heal each other all at once. Every glance, every argument, every damn moment they were near each other had me holding my breath and grinning like an idiot.

Maggie Cole does second chance like no one else. The angst? Perfect. The tension? Off the charts. The spice? Downright sinful. Wyatt Houston is the definition of a cowboy heartbreak—gritty, stubborn, and sexy as sin. And Willow? God, I loved her. Strong, sharp, and just soft enough that you feel how much he hurt her. Their history drips through every page, and when they finally crash back together, it’s like fireworks and pain and love all tangled up.

The “I hate you but I still want you” energy? Chef’s kiss. The emotional gut punches? Had me tearing up more than once. And the red lace scene? Yeah, that one’s gonna live rent-free in my brain forever.

Maggie Cole never misses, but this one? This one owns me. It’s messy, hot, emotional, and everything I want in a cowboy second-chance romance. I finished it and immediately wanted to start all over again. Wyatt and Willow are THAT couple—the ones you can’t stop thinking about.

I love Maggie Cole with my whole bookish heart. She did it again. 💔🔥🤠

[The Good Girl Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨ thank you so much Maggie Cole for this! We have loved reading the Cartwright family holidays and we’re so excited for Willow to get her book. This is a second chance romance. Willow fell in love with her brother’s best friend when she was 15. They were together for 3 years before he left her to pursue his bull riding career. She was heartbroken and over the next 7 years she was able to build herself back up and her career as an agent…for bull riders. So obviously when he comes back to town in need of some serious help for his career she ends up having to help. All of her hurt and anger resurfaces when he throws himself back in her life. The reader goes on this journey with Willow. We read their love story from the past and the pull that is still there. He broke our hearts and we were just as pissed at him as she was. Wyatt has his own journey and he always knew that it was her, she was always his forever. He had his demons that he had to work through and seeing him choose to be vulnerable and fight for her…well it made us not be able to stay mad at him. And Willow is as strong as ever, she is all in and will stand by him and support him. Her sticking up to her family and being such a rock. She is such a strong character and we absolutely love her. She deserved her happily ever after.

[Missi · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Tropes✨
🐂 Bad Boy Bull Rider
🎄 Secret Relationship
🐂 Brother's Best Friend
🎄 Second Chance
🐂 Family Drama
🎄 Found Family
🌶️🌶️🌶️ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"You're the only woman I've ever loved. You've helped me become the man I want to be. There's no one I could imagine spending my life with besides you. I don't just want you for the rest of my life, sugar. I need you so I can breathe.”

A second chance romance between a cocky bull rider with something to prove and the woman he left behind. I devoured this one like it was candy. So good. This was my first book by this author and though it was part of a series, it was great as a standalone. I loved the characters. Wyatt and Willow fell for each other when they were teenagers but it was all a secret. Then Wyatt became a professional bull rider and left Willow behind.
The chemistry between Willow and Wyatt was still there and hot as ever. Wyatt had to fall to see the bad habits that were ruining his career. Willow had to learn to help heal him. When they got back together, it was sweet, sexy and full of sugar 😉. The family dynamics, the sneaking around and Wyatt being Willow's brother's best friend make for some serious family drama. I can't wait to read the rest of Maggie Cole's books. I highly recommend this second chance romance with a holiday flair.

[Mary (Marysnoveljourney) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥🔥🔥

🤠Cowboy Romance
🎄Second-Chance Romance
🤠Billionaire Heroine
🎄A Bad Boy Bullrider
🤠Brother's Best Friend
🎄Secret Romance
🤠Found Family
🎄Right Person, Wrong Time
🤠First Love
🎄Slow Burn

I absolutely loved Holiday Rider by Maggie Cole! Wyatt and Willow’s story was sweet, spicy,heartbreaking and redeeming all at the same time. They are perfect for each other.

My heart ached for Wyatt and what he endured growing up. The Cartwright’s just brought him right into the fold and I love them even more for that. Willow grows to be a strong, fierce woman, and that is the type of woman that Wyatt needs.

This book glimpses back and forth between the past and present. Wyatt and Willow were in love as teenagers, but when Wyatt leaves and Willow is left behind, their connection is broken. After 7 years he returns home and needs Willow’s help to rebuild his reputation. Wyatt slowly regains Willow’s trust and they realize their love for each other was always there. Add in the drama of the family finding out Willow and Wyatt are not only together currently together but where together when Willow was younger and this book kept my interest the whole way through. I’m looking forward to Jagger’s story next!

Thank you to Maggie Cole and The Author Agency for the ARC of this book.