Stetson Kirk doesn’t enter a room quietly. You hear him first, boots on dirt, rope snapping tight, the low drawl that settles under your skin and stays there. He’s rodeo bred, rough around the edges, and built from long days, hard rides, and a family legacy that owns this town down to the bone. A man doesn’t chase distractions.
I should be one. I came to the central valley to disappear and to heal. But Stetson is everywhere. In the heat of the arena. In the press of his body. In the way his gaze drags slow and deliberate, like he already knows exactly how I’d sound if I let him get closer. We tell ourselves it’s temporary. Just the season. But small towns notice everything, and secrets don’t stay quiet for long. Every brush of his hand feels like a promise. Every stolen moment feels like a mistake I’m already willing to make again. When the past comes calling, I’ll have to decide if loving a bareback bronc rider is worth the fire he leaves behind. Rope & Ride is a steamy small-town rodeo romance set in the world of Christmas in Kingsburg, featuring family legacy, forbidden chemistry, and a cowboy who knows exactly how dangerous he is and doesn’t slow down.
Rope and Ride is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it! Who doesn’t love a cowboy falling in love with a city girl (who quietly used to be a country girl).
Brielle’s life hasn’t gone at all how she planned. She ended up with a man who controlled everything she did until eventually she knew if she didn’t leave, nothing would change. She ends up back in town and eventually bumps into Stetson casually. She takes a new job and lo and behold, her new client is Stetson😳
A few minor issues with the book, it could do with another round of edits and also some of the story in the beginning overlapped in the sense that Stetson helped her out with repairs at her cottage and then when she meets him again at the rodeo, it’s like it’s the first time she’s seeing him (or at least that’s how I interpreted it). So perhaps just a quick clean up in these areas but didn’t detract from the story too much which I was grateful for. Great ending though🙌
I received an advanced copy and willingly leave my honest review❤️🩹
Meet Brielle and Stetson. She’s a physical therapist. He’s a bronco rider. The energy between these two is top notch. The banter, the push and pull- it sucks you in. The story is well written and flows easily. You just get lost in this story. Spice was 🌶️🌶️ and stars are 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I’m actually feral over this book. Like… someone hand me a cowboy hat and a cold drink because I am NOT OK.
no notes, just vibes and heart palpitations.
Stetson Kirk?? EXCUSE ME??? This man doesn’t just walk into a scene, he arrives like thunder rolling across dry land. You feel him before you even see him and from that point on it’s game over. The boots, the rope, the attitude, the quiet confidence that screams “I know exactly what I’m doing to you” — I was gone. Completely gone.
And Brielle?? I loved her SO much. She’s not just some soft, lost girl. She’s healing, she’s guarded, she’s trying to put herself back together, and then this absolute force of a man keeps showing up in her orbit like fate has a personal vendetta. The push and pull between them had me STRESSED in the best way. Every glance felt loaded. Every touch?? Illegal. I swear I could FEEL the tension through the pages.
This isn’t just insta-love fluff either. It simmers. It builds. It teases you like it knows exactly how to keep you hooked. That “we shouldn’t do this but we absolutely will” energy?? Inject it into my veins. Their chemistry is ridiculous without ever tipping into anything over the top. It’s all in the tension, the restraint, the moments that almost break.
And the setting?? Small-town rodeo life done RIGHT. Dust, sweat, legacy, everyone knowing everyone’s business… it wraps around the story like a second skin. You can practically hear the arena and feel the heat. It makes everything feel bigger. Riskier. Like falling for Stetson isn’t just a bad idea… it’s a whole wildfire waiting to happen.
Also can we talk about the emotional undercurrent?? Because it snuck up on me. Beneath all the heat and tension, there’s this quiet ache about healing, about choosing love when it would be easier to run. And when Brielle’s past starts creeping in?? I was clutching my imaginary pearls.
And Stetson… this man KNOWS he’s dangerous and does absolutely nothing to tone it down. But the way he shows up for her?? The way he sees her?? I melted. Fully. No recovery.
I finished this book with that dazed, slightly unhinged feeling like I’d just been spun around in the dirt and kissed senseless.
If you love: • broody, confident cowboys • small-town secrets that refuse to stay buried • slow-burn tension that turns into full-blown fire • a romance that feels a little reckless and a lot addictive
…yeah. You need this.
I’m still thinking about Stetson and Brielle and honestly I don’t see that changing anytime soon. 🐎🔥
I received an advance copy of this book from the author. This review reflects my honest opinion.
I enjoyed the overall premise of this story, especially the themes of personal growth and healing. The characters were well developed and complemented each other nicely — and honestly, Stetson Kirk is very much the kind of cowboy romance MMC many readers will fall for.
That said, the writing style didn’t fully work for me. I found the flow somewhat confusing at times, with repeated sentences and transitions that made it feel like the timeline jumped around. There were moments where I had to reread sections to understand where the characters were or what was happening, which affected my overall reading experience.
This might be a matter of personal preference, but it made it harder for me to stay fully immersed in the story.
Overall, this is a solid small-town cowboy romance with a strong concept and likable characters, but the writing style made it less enjoyable for me than I had hoped.
This was an ARC read for me, and this is my honest review.
I love a good cowboy romance. I was excited to get started. Cranky bronc rider meets hard core but lost physical therapist sounded like a good start.
Stetson, the cranky but hunky bronc rider is a physical mess trying his best to win the gold buckle when his team brings in a new physical therapy doctor who is supposed to fix him.
In comes Brielle. I love when the female main character is strong willed, or somehow finds that kind of spirit along the way and this book didn’t disappoint. She is running away from a future she finally decided wasn’t for her, and runs smack dab into a cowboy who decides he only has eyes for her!
Cute love story, found family, and happily ever after.
But what did disappointed was the story felt like you were reading backwards and forwards from two different perspectives. It felt jumbled and almost like you were constantly checking the page number to make sure you didn’t go back or skip too far forward.
I love cowboy romances. This book was not like the cookie cutter cowboy romances I read as a teenager. This had characters with depth, a compelling storyline and a MMC that made me drool...
Let's talk about Stetson for a minute. First of all, THAT NAME! Is amazing. You know you're in for a good time right away. Second, he's a rodeo cowboy. Cue the saliva. Third, the scene where he single handedly captured TWO loose bulls? OMG, I was done.
Now let's turn to FMC Brielle. She took back her life after wasting too many years on a jerk of a man. He took control freak to levels I had never read before.
Brielle never thought taking a new job as physical therapist for a small town rodeo would change her life, but then she met Stetson.
Their chemistry is on point, but their romance is a slow burn. So delicious.
Both of these characters overcame a lot in their lives and are the better for it. This book left me clutching my pearls and sighing. So, so good!!!
A little bit cute. A little bit chaotic. A little confusing at times.
The start was solid. Great premise (the ex is a gigantic… you know what…), her father is pretty bad, and she finally starts to take back her power. Once she gets into town and meets Stetson, well… he pretty much falls first, but has no idea what to do about her… He wants her, but in what capacity.
It’s forbidden/off-limits as she’s just been hired as the league’s physical therapist, and he’s the star ride. This small-town ranch romance packs quite a bit in. In some ways, it felt like multiple storylines, and unfortunately, as more is added, it becomes a bit chaotic and messy.
I received an ARC from the author, and this is my honest review.
This book had an interesting story idea, a great setting, and characters that were certainly likable. I really enjoyed following the developing love story, and the side characters added a nice touch to the overall experience.
However the writing style didn’t quite click for me. Some subplots felt underdeveloped, the timeline was a bit jumpy at times, and it occasionally felt like I was missing parts of the narrative. Overall that unfortunately diminished the reading experience and I do think the story idea and characters had a lot of potential and could have made for an even stronger book.
Love the story of Brielle, who left her old life behind. Because she felt trapped. Starting a new life in California. Not knowing how her future is going to turn out. Stetson, the rodeo king. He didn't think, he needed love. Untill he meets Brielle. I love how the story is written around them. How they slowely fall in love. Still trying to find them selfs. She finds the family, she never had. I didn't liked the flow of the story. Sometimes it fell, like the timeline was all over the place. I didn't know what was happening.
Rope and Ride is a fun small‑town cowboy romance with great chemistry between Brielle and Stetson. They fit together so naturally; she’s rebuilding herself after a bad relationship, and he’s the steady, protective presence she can lean on while she heals. Their connection is fiery, and he’ll do anything to keep her safe. I did struggle a bit with the writing style and occasionally felt like I was missing pieces, which had me rereading certain parts. But overall, the story is engaging, and I loved being pulled into the world of Clovis.
I received an ARC copy of this book and am leaving my honest opinion.
I really enjoyed the overall story and the character growth was superb. Brielle’s strength in standing up for what she needs and Stetson giving it to her was so refreshing. Overall a good small town cowboy romance. I love how Brielle found her place, her voice, and her family!
While I enjoyed the story, the timeline got confusing at times, feeling like the timeline jumped around.
This book, wow, what a read. It grabbed me and no matter what I needed to do, I had to keep reading. It moves along at a great pace, has interesting and unique characters and a story that will not disappoint. This book needs to be read, there is no doubt about it. A must read that needs to be at the top of your TBR list.