Chestnut Springs #1 – An Honest Review of an (Almost) Perfect Cowboy

“If this were my last moment alive, how would I want it to be?”

The protagonists of this country-vibe romance are Rhett, reigning bull-riding champion, and Summer, intern and beloved daughter of Kip Hamilton, Rhett’s agent.

After a bad slip-up involving one of his sponsored products, Rhett—once a living legend for his courage and numerous trophies earned riding furious bulls—is forced to take a break to clean up his image, now tarnished by scandal.

And who better than Summer—tenacious, disciplined, and absolutely determined—to keep an eye on him until the end of the season?

Two simple rules:

Stay away from Summer.

Stay out of trouble.

The second might be doable… but the first? Definitely not.

This first book opens the door to the Chestnut Springs series, set in a small rural town populated by characters connected to the world of cowboys and country life.

🎯 Tropes featured in the novel:

• Cowboy romance

• Forced proximity

• Grumpy x sunshine

• Slow burn

I read this book after months of (fun) pressure. Alice, if you’re reading this—yes, I’m talking about you.

The book was gifted to me by the sweetest Claudia during a really sad time, and that’s exactly why I decided to give it a chance.

For its genre, the novel is well written and easy to read. From the very first pages, it draws you in with the banter between Rhett and Summer and the lively, colorful atmosphere that makes you feel like part of that small-town community.

Since it was my first book featuring a cowboy, I didn’t really know what to expect, but I ended up loving everything about rural life—the trades, the lifestyle—things that are often overlooked or underestimated, especially in Italy.

Even though Rhett is a bull rider (so the focus is more on his job than on country life itself), I found the insight into his profession genuinely interesting.

Summer and Rhett didn’t choose this proximity. Both, for different reasons, were forced to accept it—and their differences, their completely opposite backgrounds (she’s a city girl through and through, he’s a true country boy), turn their relationship into something that almost flirts with the enemies-to-lovers trope… but not quite, since their ultimate goal is the same.

The chemistry between them is undeniable from the start.

And as any good slow burn should be, the tension builds page after page—through tender, sweet moments and others more exasperating.

Forced to spend nearly 24/7 together and to share almost every aspect of their lives for a few months, I found the story’s emotional progression believable.

Having personally experienced situations where the intensity of relationships—whether friendships or romances—was magnified by circumstance, I found it authentic.

The protagonists’ families add real depth to the story.

Rhett’s family is so vibrant and full of life that, despite their differences and struggles, you can’t help but wish you were part of it.

Summer’s family, on the other hand, is more complex and distant.

Confession: I lived for Rhett’s family scenes. One of the main reasons I want to continue the series.

There’s only one thing I didn’t enjoy: the spicy scenes.

Honestly? I found them boring.

I know, I know—if you’ve seen some of my other reads, that might sound ironic—but let’s be honest: five pages? Come on.

I understand the intention—to keep the reader involved, to leave nothing out—but to me, they felt too long and repetitive. Yes, I skipped them.

In conclusion, I really liked the book.

It’s not one of my all-time favorites, but it definitely made me want to explore this genre more and see where the series goes next.

I don’t have similar reads to compare it to, but I think this is an excellent starting point for anyone curious about country romance.

And let’s be honest—having a cowboy like Rhett around doesn’t hurt.