[QCrit] ONLY ONE BARN, Adult Contemporary Romance, 80k, Attempt #1

Hello PubTips! This is the first novel I've queried, and I know contemporary romance is tough right now 😬 I've been sending out queries in batches (just for my own sanity) for about six weeks and have had two requests and a dozen or so rejections, with a couple dozen still open. I'm debating whether to expand my query list and am excited for any feedback!

ONLY ONE BARN is a dual-POV contemporary romance novel complete at 80,000 words and set in the glamorous yet unforgiving world of professional show jumping, where two longtime rivals—and onetime lovers—reluctantly team up to save their careers. It will appeal to readers who enjoyed the forced proximity and second-chance romance of Jessica Joyce’s The Ex Vows and the shared industry focus like in Yulin Kuang’s How to End a Love Story. It’s Emma Lord’s For the Record but for horse girls instead of music nerds. [Sometimes I also comp TJR's "Carrie Soto Is Back if it were a romance" but idk about that one]

Sarah Moore chose her career over love three years ago and doesn’t—can’t—regret it. All that matters is her 15-year plan to become one of the best show jumpers in the world. But after a disastrous Olympic appearance slashes her trademark self-confidence and dings her reputation, Sarah arrives for the winter show season in Florida desperate to convince everyone, including herself, that she’s still got what it takes.

Miles Walker’s family barn is on the verge of financial ruin, and he’s struggling to live up to the storied legacy of his late parents. His last-ditch effort to prove himself and save it all? One final show season in Florida, where the only thing more impressive than the prize money is the caliber of the competitors. Especially the one who unceremoniously dumped him three years ago.

When Sarah offers Miles a place to stay at her barn in exchange for his help in winning a team competition that could secure her dream job, at first it’s their mutual worst nightmare. But Miles thrives with a rival to chase and learn from, and Sarah rediscovers how Miles fuels her spark like no one else. As the clock ticks down on their eight weeks together, they only grow closer while she fights to prove herself to the benefactors that control her career and he scrambles to save the family business before his best friend and business partner can find out. But they’ll only come out on top—in and out of the show ring—if Miles can unearth the vulnerability to go after what he really wants and Sarah can learn to trust herself, even if it means straying from her precious plan.

[brief bio & thanks]

First 300:

It had been over five months since the Olympics—25 weeks to be exact, if anyone was counting—but I still felt like everyone’s eyes were on me, waiting for me to screw up again.

Rational? No. But my lower back was tacky and damp with nervous sweat anyway, even though today was just the pre-show inspection. There weren’t many opportunities for me to screw up. And while there was a decent throng of spectators clustered around the fence, excited for a close-up look at the horses, it wasn’t anywhere near what the crowds would be for the competition on Saturday night, in the massive outdoor arena under the lights.

Next to me, Alexis made a disapproving noise under her breath and used the soft cloth tucked in her waistband to rub at an imaginary speck of dirt on Valley’s neck.

“She looks perfect,” I said, which was an understatement. I could practically see my reflection in Valley’s burnished golden coat, which Alexis had groomed to a blinding shine. Valley had a broad stripe of white on her nose and four stockings on her legs, like she’d stepped in white paint up to the knee, and I’d never seen the markings so bright and clean. “Take a breath.”

“It’s your first show together in almost half a year, Sarah!” she protested as she reached around me to wipe away a stray trail of drool on Valley’s mouth. She gave Valley’s cheek a fond pat and cooed at her under her breath. “The dynamic duo is back, it’s so exciting.”

My adjective of choice would be in the realm of nerve-racking or stressful, but I forced a smile anyway. Alexis didn’t need to know that I was more nervous than any professional had the right to be for a run-of-the-mill competition.