Trail Rides & Starry Eyes

“Trail Rides & Starry Eyes” by Katrina Emmel is a sweet contemporary romance following Cassidy Sterling, a Wyoming girl working on her family’s ranch, and Wilder Nash, a Hollywood star who is being represented by Cassidy’s uncle. When Wilder needs to learn to ride horses for his next big role, Cassidy’s uncle sends him to his family’s ranch. Wilder isn’t sure how it’s all going to go, as he has no experience riding and doesn’t know if he’ll be able to pull off the ruse that he’s basically a cowboy already. However, as he spends time on the ranch and gets to know Cassidy, he discovers that figuring out the finer aspects of the role he’s preparing for won’t be nearly as difficult as dealing with the feelings he’s developing for Cassidy.

Silver Stallion Ranch is a perfect backdrop that allows Cassidy and Wilder to get to know each other. While she develops feelings for him that she doesn’t think could ever possibly be reciprocated, Wilder realizes that he is falling for her too. Sharing this with her is harder than it seems, though, as she believes he is so wrapped up in being a movie star that there’s no way he could like someone as simple and non-famous as her.

When they come to terms with the fact that there just might be something between them, there tends to always be interruptions and other distractions that get in the way of them moving forward with getting to know each other and expressing how they feel. Through the help of Wilder’s female co-star, Cassidy’s uncle, and some of Cassidy’s and Wilder’s own doing, they learn that being together might not be as hard as they once thought it may be. The story, while predictable in many ways, is perfect for lovers of contemporary young adult romance.