Trail Rides and Starry Eyes

A swoony, sweet YA rural romance between a rancher and the Hollywood hotshot she’s tasked with turning into a cowboy—perfect for fans of Kasie West, Erin Hahn, and Kristy Boyce!

Sixteen-year-old Cassidy Sterling can’t imagine life beyond her family’s Wyoming ranch. Her days are filled with colt breaking, cattle rustling, and an online Intro to Astronomy class. Seventeen-year-old Wilder Nash also has his sights set on the stars—the ones on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A teen heartthrob, he’s now he’s ready for the big time. To land a lead role as a cowboy in a prime-time mini-series, he must convince the casting director he’s an experienced horseman. The problem? He’s all hat and no cowboy.

With less than a month to learn to ride, Wilder heads to Silver Stallion Ranch.

Cassidy’s quiet life is disrupted when Wilder arrives. As he mucks out stalls and grooms horses, Wilder begins to see there’s more to life than his looks. And Cassidy starts imagining a future beyond the ranch. The growing spark between them threatens to ignite into something more, but Cassidy must decide if she’s brave enough to take the reins of her own life. Meanwhile, Wilder faces a choice: the glamorous life of a star or a simpler life under the stars.

Reviews

"Alternating narration from Emmel delightfully wrangles disarming repartee, farm animal hijinks, tight plotting, and an intimate western setting into a swoony love story"

Publishers Weekly

"An appealing blend of love story and coming-of-age themes. A swoony romance with a well-developed sense of a place."

Kirkus Reviews

"Life on a ranch is authentically portrayed, and the family conflict adds a layer that will resonate with teens...A fun, summer novel for readers who love animals and romance."

School Library Journal

Awards & Accolades

Rights