A Cowboy for Keeps

This was all just so real! Loved getting back to Unforgiven, NM, to see what’s going on.
Did not expect the first few pages to knock me on my keister. I found out I can be sadly happy or happily sad, and it does get intense. All written very well to express every emotion each one is feelin’.
Lorelei and Reece both feel the devastating loss of their siblings, but there’s a true miracle in Sawyer, the sweet little baby left orphaned. The one they knew nothing about, but fell in love with immediately.
These two mains couldn’t be more opposite in the way they were raised, but they both felt displaced in their own families, and each secretly yearned for a family they never thought they would get. The dialogue between these two could go from one extreme to the other with pride, feet, and just plain stubbornness gettin’ in the way. Reece had about as much finesse as the bull in the china shop when it came to wanting only good things for Lorelei and Sawyer. Lorelei has an overload of misplaced pride because of gettin’ burned wbw, and to her detriment, can’t distinguish between good deeds or being taken for a fool again. Her trust meter is very rusty.
It was a great journey to feel a part of with ups and downs, a bit of humor, heat, and drama all loaded in very nicely!
An HEA that made me do the happy sigh! A great stand alone read, but part of an exceptional series of Chestnut Creek!

I’ve been looking forward to this third installment of Laura Drake’s Chestnut Creek series, and it does not disappoint. In it, we return to the town of Unforgiven and its cast of lovable quirky characters, this time to cheer on Reese and Lorelei in a Cinderella tale with too many complications to count. The setting is vivid, our hero and heroine are just flawed enough to be believable, and the writing sparkles. I loved the chance to cheer this couple on to their heartfelt happy ending.

Laura Drake creates wonderfully flawed characters, and this love story between two damaged souls is no exception. Both Lorelei and Reese are headstrong, both are struggling with their everyday lives, both are weighted down with personal demons from the past. At the beginning they share only grief and fierce love for the little niece neither knew existed, but for her sake, they have to find common ground and trust.

I fell hard for Reese, the cowboy who had failed to become a cowboy; the guy who has everything money could buy, but is utterly alone in a huge mausoleum of a mansion. He’s also clueless about women, and Lorelei is opinionated about men, which leads to whip-smart and often hysterical banter, despite the heartache. As always, the diners of Chestnut Creek Cafe provide non-stop entertainment, and yet … outside forces ramp up tension and suspense in unexpected ways.

I adore the Chestnut Creek series and hope this isn’t my last trip to Unforgiven, New Mexico.

‘A Cowboy for Keeps‘ is the third title in the ‘Chestnut Creek‘ series, and proves that something amazing can come out of tragic events… if hearts are open and risks are willing to be taken.

When a tragic car accident steals little Sawyer’s mom and dad away this adorable little one still has an aunt and uncle who adore her and want the best for their niece. Trouble is, they can’t seem to decide exactly what that is since Lorelei isn’t willing to give over custody of Sawyer, and Reese isn’t willing to walk away from his niece. Even though the sparks fly fast and furiously between them Reese can’t seem to say a thing he means right or in a way that’s acceptable to Lorelei – and she has titanium enforced walls around herself so thick that nothing and no one is getting through to her heart easily. Two unlikely people to fall for each other, one adorable, much loved baby who could unite them all as a loving family… if the grown-ups would co-operate!

I enjoyed returning to the ‘Chesnut Creek‘ world and fell in love with Reese who always seems to suffer from foot-in-mouth disease and adored little Sawyer. I’ll admit that it took longer to warm up to Lorelei. The chemistry was strong between them yet… I grew tired of the constant fault finding, the almost on purpose misunderstanding of what Reese was saying, the denial of the attraction between them. The fact is that I don’t have to love every character to completely love a story and ‘A Cowboy for Keeps‘ is proof of that. I believe it’s going to be each individual reader’s reaction to Lorelei that will tip this story one way or the other for them. She’s strong, independent, and always right… even when she’s wrong. Or at least, that’s my opinion but you should make up your own mind about this couple.

If you enjoy a good romance with unlikely people about to have their worlds turned upside down, and will always fall hard for a sweet baby, along with some quirky, enjoyable secondary characters then ‘A Cowboy for Keeps‘ would be perfect for you.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

A Cowboy for Keeps is the third book in Laura Drake’s Chestnut Creek series. Lorelei West lived in the shadow of her shiny rodeo star sister, Patsy, while she held down a simple job in their hometown of Unforgiven, New Mexico, and monitored their mother’s post stroke care. At 37, Lorelei felt that most of her options for a future family were past, that is until Patsy and her boyfriend are killed in a tragic auto accident and she is left as the guardian for a six month old little girl she didn’t know existed until the call from the Las Cruces police.

Reese St. James has been left behind at the family oil and cattle ranch along the Rio Grande in Texas while his brother, Carson, fills his dreams as a rodeo star. Reese is shocked when he learns of his brother’s death, and complete surprise when he learns he has a niece and an heir for the St. James legacy. What surprises him even more is when his money and standing means nothing to the little girl’s New Mexico guardian.

In a touching tale that begins with deep loss and travels to rebirth, Ms. Drake has developed a beautiful story of strength, courage, and the adaptability seen when one finds a path that suits them so much better than a lonely existence. Although not a smooth trek, it is a touching story of the heart. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

I don’t know where Laura Drake has been hiding because she’s a new author for me, and A Cowboy for Keeps is the third novel in her Chestnut Creek series, but this sweet, poignant, charming, enemies-to-lovers romance novel, which never made me feel lost, has made me a fan, and it gets 4.5 stars from this reader.

Lorelei West, manages the Chestnut Creek Cafe in Unforgiven, New Mexico, a town left behind when the interstate passed them by, the railroad line was closed, and no one seemed too interested in travelling Route 66 anymore. For the locals in this town, where everyone knows everyone, including their private lives, the cafe is gossip central, and Lorelei, has never been married, is quite independent, still lives in the run-down, generations-old, family farmhouse with her mother, whose stroke left her somewhat mentally compromised, and her mother’s caregiver, Mrs. Wheelwright, and at age 37, she has given up on the idea of marriage and children. Years earlier, the man she gave her heart to, and was ready to marry, turned out to be not only a liar, but a cheating husband too. She considers herself plain, beige, and boring, having grown up in the shadow of her younger sister Patsy, who left Unforgiven as soon as she was able to follow the rodeo. Patsy was not only pretty and charming, but she also had a glittery, fun personality that drew people, especially men, to her, and it’s been quite a while since she’s been home, or even in touch by phone or text. Lorelei loves her job, but still struggles to make ends meet, and as a result, her car is old, her assets bare, and the family home is suffering from age and neglect with peeling paint, old appliance, and a leaky roof, but what it does have is warmth, tradition, and love.

When Lorelei gets word that her beloved sister has been in a fatal car accident, that news is hard to take, but she’s shocked to learn that her sister’s 6-month-old daughter, Sawyer, the result of a pregnancy and birth she knew nothing about, was the only survivor, and Lorelei rushes to claim custody of her, thrilled to have a chance to keep and raise her sister’s baby, and finally have the child she always dreamed of having. She has no idea who fathered Sawyer, or even if her sister was married, but whoever that man was, she learns that he also died in the car crash.

Reese St. James’ life couldn’t be more different than Lorelei’s. He’s one of two sons born to a family of great wealth from oil and cattle ranching on their over 400,000 acre spread in Texas. He grew up in an ostentatious mansion, with his brother, Carson, who, unlike Reeese, was born to be a rancher and who was his father’s favorite son. Their mother’s untimely death left their overbearing, insensitive father, a changed, harsh, and broken man–without her, Reese became the butt of his father’s scorn, and when forced to get on the back of a rank bull at age 14, to prove he wasn’t a sissy, was thrown and brutally stomped upon, leaving him unable to father children. His brother, Carson, a cowboy through and through, also left home for the rodeo life, leaving Reese to see to the ranch and live in their huge, cold and empty family home, but that’s all about to change, as soon as he learns that Carson has been killed in a car accident, and that Carson had fathered a daughter, 6-month-old, Sawyer–who Reese sees as his only chance of having and raising a child, and he’s soon hot on the trail of his little niece. Reese too hasn’t had luck in love. The woman he planned to marry inadvertently made it clear that she was only after Reese for his money, so he dropped her and hasn’t had more than a few short encounters since then.

Ms. Drake has crafted a wonderful story born of tragedy, and created two finely drawn characters who only want what’s best for their little orphaned niece, but who, because of the vast differences in their lives and financial circumstances, soon become combatants for custody of the baby. Lorelei sees Reese as a threat, and treats him as such. All Reese wants is a chance to meet his little niece, get to know her, and be a part of her life. When he sees Lorelei’s run-down home, he believes his millions will give Sawyer a better life, but there is no way Lorelei is giving up custody of Sawyer, and the tension and eventual attraction between these two strong-willed characters is what drives this highly emotional story forward. Lorelei is driven by her pride and independence, and Reese seems to think his money will solve all her problems, a sentiment she completely and adamantly rejects–repeatedly, but she cannot in all good conscience deny Reese a chance to bond with little Sawyer, and he slowly integrates himself into the West family, but his home is in Texas, and the West family is in New Mexico, so how will it end?

I thoroughly enjoyed the slow build-up of this enemies-to-lovers romance, but as things heat up between Lorelei and Reese, I felt somewhat cheated when their relationship turned steamy and then the author left most of the action between these two strong-willed characters behind closed doors. I think that readers of contemporary romance these days have come to expect something a bit more graphic than this author provided. My other issues are that it’s made clear early on that Lorelei is aware that she is 5 years older than Reese, yet the two characters never even discuss it, nor is the fact that when these two finally do have sex, Reese, a man who can’t father children, immediately dons a condom, even though he’s aware that Lorelei has been celibate and has avoided men for almost a decade. Shouldn’t one of them asked the other if that condom was necessary? I’m all for safe sex and self-protection, but I believe the matter should have been discussed rather than assumed, since it left me wondering if Reese was protecting Lorelei or protecting himself from Lorelei.

Additionally, the supporting characters in this novel added a welcome touch of wry humor, from the two old codgers who befriended Reese at the cafe counter, to Nevada, the no holds barred cook and her penchant for take no prisoners tee shirts, to Lorelei’s mom, whose memory wasn’t what it once was and who kept referring to Reese, who brought expensive steaks over for their dinner one night, as the Meals-in-Wheels guy. I must also mention the hilarity of Reese’s first experience with changing Sawyer’s dirty diaper, which was laugh out loud funny. And finally, there’s baby Sawyer, an adorable toddler who not only charmed Reese, Lorelei, and everyone who met her, but who charmed the heck out of this reader as well.

All in all, this was an excellent and deeply moving read, and I can’t wait to read the two Chestnut Creek novels that preceded it, because clearly Laura Drake is a writer to watch and follow, and I’m happy to be able to recommend her and this novel.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

What a good emotional story. Both Reese and Lorelei were strong main characters, written with depth. I enjoyed them both. Even when no matter how hard he tried Reese manages to open his mouth and inserts his foot. He even admits he’s not good with words. How likable is that? It didn’t take long to begin to cheer for him, especially when you see how wounded and alone he has been.
Lorelei has wounds of her own. And being around Reese just seems to bring out the worst in her. She spends a lot of time saying, “I’m sorry.” She knows she’s been snippy and unfair. And that really grinds her. She has such a heavy load of responsibilities but to her Sawyer is a joyful one. One of those responsibilities is her mother who she dearly loves. A mother who is often confused by the stroke she suffered.
There is also humor in the story especially in the way both Reese and Lorelei talk with Sawyer.
The community where Lorelei lives is like a loving family. It might be a gossipy one but it holds some interesting people. They add a lot to the story.
You know there is going to be plenty of misunderstandings between the M.C.’s. But towards the end there is also at least one person who stirs things up too.
It ends with a H.E.A. and a solid enjoyable Epilogue.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Laura Drake sure knows how to write a good cowboy romance, even if the character doesn’t really consider himself a cowboy. His whole life,Reese has fought being the cowboy his father wanted him to be. He also doesn’t think he’ll ever be a father, but when his brother dies and leaves a daughter, he’s determined to step up. Lorelei, the baby’s aunt/now mother has other ideas. Lorelei is a very strong, not to be pushed around woman. She loves very strongly. That love just might extend to Reese if he’d just keep his fool mouth shut and stop throwing his money around to try to fix things for her. She doesn’t need a man–but she sure might want him.
This was a quick, easy read that leaves you happy.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

Overall I enjoyed this small town romance. I had a hard time connecting with Lorelei but respected how she took care of her family. Once she let him in, she and Reese made a good pair. Liked how the secondary characters rounded out the story.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.

Let me start off that in the end this book really turned out way better then I expected and I end up liking it in the end for sure. Now that being said this book is told in a first person point of view. The author did include both characters so that was a plus that most authors who write FPV don’t do. I however felt that in the beginning of the book both Reese and Lorelei came off as very whinny which at first came as a turn off, but hang in there it gets better. The storyline was really good and I did feel it go to the heart for sure. There is adult situations in this book so it may not be suitable for all. I did read the first books two of this series so it was nice catching up with Austin, Carly, Nevada and Fish, I still have to say Nevada is one of my favorite characters thus far in this series but in this book Carly took a very close second, they both are friends every girl needs in there life someone who will always have your back no matter what. Yall over all I would totally re-read this book it was worth it. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.”