ARC Review: "One Last Rodeo" by Emma Lucy (Willow Ridge #3) ★★★★★

ARC Review: One Last Rodeo by Emma Lucy (Willow Ridge #3)

This second chance small-town romance between a bull rider and single mother is insanely adorable and incredibly profound! Full of the perfect balance of chemistry, spice, found family and healing, this really made for a wonderful read and is one of my favourites for this year. 🤠

I wonder what the stars think as they watch us dance. Did they know back in his truck bed all those years ago that we’d be torn apart? Did they twinkle above us unfettered because they also knew we’d find our way back to each other eventually? That they kept our secret knowing our fates would always be intertwined, and they’d watch us dance in the silence of the night once again.

[Contains some spoilers]

PLOT SUMMARY
In senior year at Willow Ridge High, popular quarterback and aspiring bull rider Sawyer Nash notices wallflower and choir singer Honey Goldman hiding a bruise from her abusive father. Having suffered at the hands of his own father, he is compelled to help her and offers to give her concealer for it. In exchange for his kindness, Honey offers to tutor him to improve his grades so he won’t be off the football team. They then become close friends, both understanding the other’s situation. He even ensures she won’t stay at home missing prom. But then things get closer, and Honey ends things as she leaves for college in North Carolina.

Nine years later, 27-year-old Sawyer is now a Professional Bull Riders World Champion and is at the Willow Ridge Rodeo. As he is heading to the ring, he bumps into a little boy called Noah who is the son of none other than single mother Honey, who has finally returned to Willow Ridge. After a horrific accident with a bull, he is confined for six months of healing to his family ranch which he doesn’t know what to do with now his father has passed.

When Honey’s apartment is flooded, Sawyer picks up her son from school for her. Noah, who seldom speaks to anyone, is a fan of cowboys and rodeos which mean they form a great bond, and he brings Noah out of his shell. and offers them his house to stay in. With this comes the risk of more proximity and the resurfacing of feelings from nine years ago.

There are various obstacles: Sawyer’s casual lifestyle alongside his fear of abandonment and unworthiness; Honey’s life revolving around Noah, and her ex-husband’s dislike of where their child is being raised. Is a second chance a chance worth taking? Or will one of them run from the other again?

‘It’s been nine years, Sawyer.’ My voice trembles out with my breath. ‘How can you possibly remember?’
‘Yeah, Blue. Nine years of replaying that night in my head every day. Ain’t easy to forget the feeling of heaven.’

This is told in a dual timeline from the first-person present-tense POV of Honey and Sawyer.

OVERALL OPINIONS
ㅤ🏡👨🏼‍👩🏼‍👦🏼🐂introduction🐂👨🏼‍👩🏼‍👦🏼🏡 This isn’t my first rodeo, as I’m on to my second bull rider book this year (the first was Elsie Silver’s Flawless). I’d seen Emma Lucy’s previous books on the go (couldn’t miss nor fail to appreciate the Live Ranch Love) but hadn’t dug in. While I am a little late as this is the third and final book of the Willow Ridge series, I’m so glad I did. Because what a read this was! I actually was going to take a bit longer to read it but it got to the point I couldn’t put it down. And it is a lovely standalone that I could dive into without knowing much about what happened in the previous books as the plots of those were supplied quickly when Wyatt and Duke are on the scene. Listening to “Again” by Brooks & Dunn on loop as I read this.

ㅤ🏡👨🏼‍👩🏼‍👦🏼🐂the second chance element🐂👨🏼‍👩🏼‍👦🏼🏡
Now, from what I can see based on the overall star ratings and opinions, Emma Lucy’s first story felt a bit flat and the second one seemed improved to many people. I would of course need to read them both to confirm this, but I do think this one will delight those who were disappointed by the previous two. The main reason for this is presumably experience – not only in Lucy’s writing but in her own love life, as she too had a second chance there.

As someone who is herself living her own second chance, I can honestly say Emma Lucy really explored, through the excellent dual timeline, all the emotions: of meeting someone who understands you more than anyone, of losing that someone, of finding them again years later after thinking they were lost for good, of discovering they have bettered themselves, of the way memories come back (and mostly never left). And for me, it’s even more emotional considering I am also 27 years old.

The inclusion of Noah is a very essential plot point: he is the epitome of a second chance. Not only is he the one who brings the two of them together by literally bumping into Sawyer and driving their second chance from the beginning, Honey gets the chance to give him a better childhood than she ever did, and he reminds Sawyer so much of how her mother was in high school and so he has the chance to make amends through him and encourages him to come out his shell more than his real dad Gray ever did. Also, Noah is in turn someone who allows Sawyer to get the second chance of experiencing a healthy family dynamic and being a part of something, which was especially heartfelt. And Noah brings a new purpose and idea for the ranch which gives it a second chance to thrive. There were so many times my heart burst for him because he was just so cute!

I almost falter, my fingers struggling on the strings for split second, as they all begin to dance, Noah seeming completely unbothered by the crowds because all his attention is on the cowboy holding his hands. The cowboy who could never be tamed but now dances with my six-year-old son in front of the whole town, unashamed.

So yes, I did get emotional more than once reading this. Mostly, thanks to Noah. Particularly when he thanks Sawyer for being his friend. And when he calls Sawyer dad. And telling Sawyer it was okay to cry because cowboys cry too. And especially Chapter 34. I was literally like STOP IT!

ㅤ🏡👨🏼‍👩🏼‍👦🏼🐂a ropin’ good time🐂👨🏼‍👩🏼‍👦🏼🏡
There was a bit of everything. There was a bit of humour, like Kentucky the cow who knows how to play fetch and some funny things Wyatt says. There was a lot of amazing spice, that was really hot and I enjoyed immensely – big shout out to the kitchen counter scene, when she got to be in control (changing the conventionality of spice scenes), his hand clamping her mouth moments, the “hold the headboard” (I see you, ACOTAR Cassian!) and the “good girl” things this man said (save a horse, ride a cowboy)! Admittedly, something I did like and appreciate was the more closed-door narrative for when they are in senior year. Since they are younger in the story, it makes so much sense and reflects the innocence and sensuality of it well.

But the main thing about this story is its depth.

Honey and Sawyer’s relationship is a very profound story, and with a very heavy but necessary backstory, as they have both suffered at the hands of their fathers. I think their abuse was a good choice of plotline and such a crucial element to Sawyer’s character, especially. Without it, you wouldn’t have his central conflict, his own fears that he will be a disappointment and everyone will leave him, like his own mother; nor would you have his three alcoholic drinks rule (where after three drinks he gets non-alcoholic drinks so he doesn’t become an alcoholic like him); nor a major turning point where he has tried not to be like his father but ends up snapping at Noah to the extent that he reminds himself of him. There is also the matter of Honey, who feels like all she’ll do is hold Sawyer back from his dreams, who was very shy in school and becomes more and more confident when she is around Sawyer, just like her son. It was beautiful to see their character development.

Sawyer’s arm is tucked around me the whole time, making no effort to pretend we’re just friends like we said we would. But I secretly love it. Love the way he claims me as soon as I sit down, fingers toying with my hair and dress whenever he can. Like his life depends upon being able to touch me.

A lot of memorable scenes between them: one such example is the moment where it is revealed he covered up his scars with kiss tattoos, to represent where she kissed them nine years ago. That was really unexpected and something I will never forget.

ㅤ🏡👨🏼‍👩🏼‍👦🏼🐂healthy masculinity🐂👨🏼‍👩🏼‍👦🏼🏡 I also liked how every sort of relationship dynamic was covered: friendship, romance, family. Honey and her mother May have a very deep history and bond because of what they have been through together, and Honey befriending Rory was lovely to see as they both relate to being outsiders in the town who find it tricky to make real friends at their age.

There were a lot of very important conversations and moments, but a very important moment I think was near the end of the book between the men: Sawyer, Wyatt and Duke – even Wolfman. This was a display of healthy masculinity and such a realistic moment, where Sawyer’s friends all admitted they should have checked in more often with each other instead of assuming they were okay, and revealed they went to therapy for various things. And Sawyer is shocked because he had no idea, and then they ask him what’s wrong with him, and it was such a nourishing conversation that I hope more men are doing as they don’t open up as much as they should. I was very impressed with how that was handled!

One by one I look at my friends—men I’ve always seen as strong and admirable, men whose lives I’ve wished on too many nights I could’ve had instead of mine, and realise that they’re all dealing with their own shit too. But it doesn’t make them any less of a man. In fact, I’m almost more envious of them now for being able to admit they needed help and that they’re not ashamed of it.
There’s a moment of silence where I just nod, appreciating them sharing their experiences without pushing it onto me.

ㅤ🏡👨🏼‍👩🏼‍👦🏼🐂full of bull🐂👨🏼‍👩🏼‍👦🏼🏡
There were a few times I wasn’t keen on the narrative. For one thing, I think a lot of plot elements were revealed too soon, for example Noah’s name choice. There could have been more mystery to and surrounding that, so instead of in Chapter 1 having “It’s just a coincidence, it doesn’t mean anything, I have to tell myself. That she wouldn’t name him after something so private between us. Especially after the way she left…” I would have stopped it at “I have to tell myself” and kept the other bit until later so I’m left questioning who the original Noah is/was or what the name means to them. The same thing happens in Chapter 2. “it’s been nine years, he probably doesn’t remember the names we made up.” This takes all the intrigue out of Noah, essentially.

Though there were so so many things I loved about Sawyer (which I cover in my Character section) there were times I disliked Sawyer. His arriving with flowers for instance felt too performative and I didn’t like how he practically ambushed Honey to take her to coffee. And then the way he flirted with and looked at Briar in the café when he was about to ask Honey to try things again was sending mixed signals.

But Honey wasn’t perfect either. I really hated when she took that moment away from Sawyer with her son. While a little understandable and meant well, she shouldn’t have assumed that he didn’t want to be called dad – talk about it and then decide what to do. Because she made Sawyer feel he was unworthy and that annoyed me greatly. The miscommunication of it killed me, but thank goodness for Sawyer deciding to say how he really felt about it after. I did think that he was going to be more bitter about the situation, rightfully so, when he wanted to proudly declare she was his and then that happened with Noah calling him dad and she says he’s just her friend. Arguably, I’d have preferred Sawyer to call Honey out about that instead of brushing it off.

Most of the aspects I thought would be an obstacle or area of conflict didn’t end up as a piece of conflict at all when I thought that might have been explored. Like Briar or one or other of their fathers or the rodeo itself. The rodeo aspect surprised me most of all, since I would say most of the time the bull riding is the problem in romance novels because it is such a dangerous sport. Especially with what nearly happened to her boy and what she saw happen to Sawyer. I daresay it is refreshing that Honey wasn’t like that and that she is supportive but it is odd that she doesn’t feel worried for Sawyer or anything, considering their lifestyles. And would she truly want Noah growing up to do that and potentially injuring himself too? Should there not be a discussion about this?

ㅤ🏡👨🏼‍👩🏼‍👦🏼🐂to conclude🐂👨🏼‍👩🏼‍👦🏼🏡
I could actually go on and on about this novel –I had so many chunks highlighted, I probably nearly had the whole book lit up!– but I think I should stop there. I loved so many aspects and even the negative things I can easily overlook.

<< Positives >>
🠚 Can be read as a standalone.
🠚 Characters from other books appear.
🠚 Excellent use of dual timeline.
🠚 Rory and Honey’s friendship.
🠚 The SPICE! Enough said.
🠚 Closed-door scenes matched high school setting/age.
🠚 Strong character development and profound depth.
🠚 Refreshing representation of healthy masculinity.
🠚 The amount of consent.
🠚 Some wholesome moments, like the scene where they draw on the walls to draw over the bad memories (similar to the tattoo concept), and Honey singing whilst watching Sawyer and Noah dance.
🠚 Many emotional moments, especially with Noah.
🠚 Miscommunication (one of my least fav tropes) did not last long.

<< Negatives >>
🠚 Key plot mysteries were revealed too early.
🠚 Potential sources of conflict were never explored, such as dangerous rodeo riding.
🠚 Sawyer’s grand gestures felt performative and pushy.
🠚 Honey unfairly interrupted Sawyer’s moment with Noah.
🠚 More could have been explored with Beau character, friend of Sawyer’s father, who was only in Chapter 5.
🠚 More could have been explored with the school now that Honey works there
🠚 Inclusion of random character Parker as obstacle, though jealous Sawyer was needed.
🠚 Seems a little far-fetched that Honey has a bad stomach and Sawyer instantly deduces period cramps because really now – it could be anything from IBS to cramps to trapped wind to something she ate.
🠚 Too much of a parallel in having both fathers abusive.
🠚 Sawyer was too forgiving in some situations where Honey should have communicated.
🠚 Sawyer having the “Daddy” name kink gave me the ick.
🠚 Profound declarations while bonking (the “love you”s, and “marry me”s) didn’t work for me.

CHARACTERS
-ˋˏ ꒰ Honey꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ I like that the behaviours she used to do but tensed up afterwards, like rolling her eyes, is something she now does naturally. But she is also like me, her emotions are very easy to read. She is so smart, I really like that she calls Sawyer’s character Noah Stetson like the hat. She has been through so much and it’s lovely to see how much she has worked on herself, come a long way since her 18-year-old self. She handles so much on her own that it is nice that she is able to take more of a backseat thanks to Sawyer’s help.

-ˋˏ ꒰ Sawyer꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ This man. THIS. MAN. I have a whole list of things because gosh, his acts of service are through the roof and not just for Honey but for Noah too! Especially with Noah, putting him at ease by buying ranch toys and letting him help and playing pretend rodeo with him – but gosh, the level of devotion he has to Honey! Making Honey’s room blue, respecting the boundaries on touch, offering to help when she is ill, making enough warm milk for the three of them, getting her a corsage to match her eyes, spoiling her with boots that she likes, organising things so Honey can sing at the bar. He set the bar high! Something I really loved was that he thinks that “her anxiety deserves the same space and consideration as anyone else’s”, what a considerate man (bare minimum but what a role model). He has been through so much, he’s working on his fear of his scars being seen (both literally and figuratively). I hated that he still feels he needs to better himself when he is literally perfect.

FAV QUOTES
• ‘Wh—why?’ I plead. Why would he offer something so generous? He doesn’t owe me anything. Really, I owe him a favour now he’s looked after Noah. I probably owe him a lot more after how we left things in senior year… | ‘Because.’ He shrugs, ambushing me with a soft expression that finishes his argument: Because of the same reasons you sat in my hospital room late at night after my fall when you didn’t have to come. Because he’ll always own a piece of my soul.
• I swallow as I look back up, finding Honey’s eyes sparkling and locked intensely on our joined hands. Everything about her visibly softens and it hits me with a bigger high than ever before. Screw the smiles and the laughter—I want to make her feel safe. Over and over again.
• Honey reaches up to stroke Noah’s back, but her baby blues are locked on me, sparkling. I know that when the sun is up again, we’ll be back to purposefully making space between us, to pretending that the past is stuck there forever. But for the first time in a long time, I rather like the darkness in this house, because it’s where I found the light in Honey again. The light that once kept me going. The light I don’t think I’ll stop chasing.
• ‘when you’re not feeling whole, I’ll give you my strength. Just like you give me yours.’ | Sawyer nods and tightens his hold on me. ‘I’d be honoured to just have a fraction of you, Blue.’
• His fingers pulse against my hip and then he whispers in my ear, ‘Your body deserves to be worshipped, Blue.’
• ‘Just so you know, Blue. I ain’t ever felt freedom like I do with you.’
• With the realisation that maybe I left the deepest scars on him. That even after all these years, I’ve been with him. When I’ve been checking up on his bull-riding career, I’ve already unknowingly been at every single event, the memory of me carried through the ink.
• The need to win, for fame, for glory—none of it comes close to the need for Honey Goldman. And I’m struggling to fight it. Have been since she moved in. Since I first laid eyes on her again.
• I shouldn’t be able to stay on the back of a bucking bull as long as I do, but I still do it. I defy the odds. I fight against the fear that tries to stop me. And I’ll fight against hers too. If that’s what it takes.
• ‘I know that I don’t seem steady. I know how I’ve lived my life doesn’t fit the picture you’re painting for yourself but forget the man I’ve been. Forget everything, Blue. What kind of man do you need? Let me be him.’
• Her hand comes down to cup my jaw. ‘You’re not tarnished, Sawyer. You just need a little polishing—some love and care—to bring out your real shine.’
• ‘And here I was thinking you weren’t a rule breaker, Blue.’ | ‘Can’t help it when it comes to you,’ she murmurs back. ‘Never have.’
• ‘You don’t understand what this means to me.’ | ‘But I do,’ Honey responds, nuzzling her face into my chest further, while her fingers toy with the back of my hair softly, soothingly. Because she understands me. She always has. I’m so goddamn lucky the world threw her back in my path.
• I might not share the same faith Honey does, but if there was ever an argument for heaven existing, it’s her—her pure soul, her divine kindness, her angelic beauty.
• ‘What’s mine is yours—my home, my ranch, my heart.’

══════════ ⋆★⋆ ══════════

I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review and I’d like to thank Emma Lucy, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.

“One Last Rodeo” is out now!