REVIEW: Homebound by Meredith Trapp

Homebound by Meredith Trapp: After years on the road as a pro hockey player, Wyatt returns to the small Texas town he once called home, this time as a single dad, with nothing but a duffel bag, a baby girl named Vienna and unfinished business with the woman he never forgot. Too bad the girl he left behind has now turned into a fiery woman that has not forgotten being ditched by him for fame and stardom.

Dakota is fierce, fearless and far too busy breaking barriers as a female bull rider to entertain the idea of her old flame trying to worm his way back into her heart. The only problem being when Wyatt walks back into her life, she’s forced to face the truth: he still makes her heart race faster than any rodeo… As sparks fly and guarded hearts begin to thaw, Wyatt and Dakota find themselves drawn into a slow burn reckoning of love, loyalty and second chances. But the past doesn’t let go easily and neither does the fear of getting hurt again. Can these two really rebuild something stronger than before, especially with the entire town watching their every step?

Homebound was just the book for me,  I loved absolutely everything about this steamy cute, second chance, small town, sports romance and add in the fact that our hero is a single dad on a mission to win back the heart of his childhood sweetheart and I was sold! Now I will be honest there were a few minor things that I found that could have been fleshed out a bit better, such as the pace especially in the first half of the book, as well as I had expected Dakota to be a more experienced bull rider than she came across. Though these two issues were so minor it really didn’t bother me all that much in the grand scheme of the novel.

Dakota was actually a really great leading lady in the sense she was a strong, determined woman trying to make it in the largely male dominated world of bull riding. Though when it came to love and letting Wyatt back in, our girl was a bit stubborn. I think this made getting to see her gradually opening up to Wyatt all the more rewarding, especially seeing as she was generally very reserved with her feelings. I will say that I did really liked getting to see her bond with Vienna, this was actually really cute. Now on to our hero, simply put I loved Wyatt. I mean how can you not love this guy? He was rocking the hot dad vibes and he knew how to work his charm to get his girl in the end. If seeing his devotion and limitless love and care for his daughter wasn’t enough to melt your heart, then seeing how patient and supportive he was with Dakota will definitely melt your heart. All in all I really loved Wyatt’s character, he was supportive of Dakota and took on his unplanned role as a father with grace and ease and he was simply a great guy.

“You’re not some damn flower… you’re a cactus, darlin’, prickly enough to thrive in a desert of doubt.”

The connection between Dakota and Wyatt was just slow burn perfection! These two were made to be together but the wrong time, wrong place, wrong person situation hit them hard in the past but this did not stop our Wyatt from holding a candle for Dakota and I was so here for it! I loved how his long time pinning for her not only added to the slow burn angst of this book but also added a layer of extra feelings. I loved the fact that they didn’t just fall in love, they naturally formed a family unit. Wyatt supported Dakota’s bull riding dreams while Dakota steps into parenthood alongside him.

Homebound was just the cutest second chance, single dad romance that you will find. I loved the slow burn element to this book and the fact that Dakota and Wyatt were destined to be together regardless of the challenges life sent their way. If you are looking for a steamy cute small town romance then this is so definitely a book you need to check out! Also how cute is the cover!!

Book Info:

Publication: June 17, 2025 | Atria/Emily Bestler Books | Boundless Players #2

She’s Texas’s toughest bull rider, and he’s determined to win her heart.

Dakota and Wyatt. Storm and sunshine. Growing up, they were as inseparable as a pair of cowboy boots. The best of friends—or so Dakota thought. Every summer, Wyatt would come home to his family’s flower farm in Granite Falls, Texas, and they’d stargaze in the fields, pinkies brushing, laughter rumbling with the cicadas, until one summer… he never came back.

Dakota Cutler hasn’t heard a peep from Wyatt Patterson in over three years, and a lot has changed. He’s the hockey world’s golden-boy, and she’s developed a reputation as “The Cowboy Killer” for riding bulls and leaving men with broken hearts. After a string of one-night stands, the last thing Dakota needs is a distraction, but when her oldest childhood friend waltzes back into town, begging to move into her barn with the most adorable baby girl on his hip, everything changes.

Wyatt Patterson’s back to get the girl he’s been obsessing over for years, and he’s doing everything to get her to see him as more than a friend—two-stepping at the Troubadour, jumping into Cibolo Creek, even rendezvousing in outdoor showers. All Dakota wants is to keep her distance from her ex-best friend, but when she learns the truth behind why Wyatt left, it turns out the scorching Texas sun might not be the only thing that burns them this summer.