Will he break a promise or break her heart?Colt Vance owes everything he is to the Martin family, which is why he’s stayed far, far away for years. But now that Fritz Martin has asked him a favor, he’s back in Last Stand facing the one temptation he can’t ever give into: his mentor’s middle daughter.Sadie Martin doesn’t like Colt Vance, or so she’s told herself for years. He’s far too charming … years. He’s far too charming and has her father wrapped around his finger. But Sadie doesn’t have a choice except to work with Colt to save her beloved goat farm.
Working together tests Colt’s resolve when it comes to his attraction to Sadie, and Sadie comes to realize she doesn’t just enjoy Colt’s company, she craves it. But Colt can’t break the promise he made to Fritz years ago. Can one tenacious farm girl convince this stubborn cowboy love is always the answer to any problem?
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Thought it was really good
Another Last Stand book. I have read others for this town. I felt like I had read this one … but not. Unsure. But, if so, it was good even as a second read… or there is a lot of overlap with the other daughters/sons of this family. The father’s thinking for keeping them apart is not what I expected. Daughter’s female angst is common theme. Unusual reaction for adopted son. Made it somewhat interesting.
Loved this story.
Colt Vance and Sadie Martin have been dancing around each other for years. Colt was taken in my Sadie’s parents and removed from an abusive home to grow and heal. He owed everything to this family. He had made a promise to Fritz, Sadie’s father years ago, to stay away from his daughters. But, Colt has loved Sadie from a distance for years. They were always bickering and fighting but only because he was concerned to let his guard down around her. He had left Last Stand years ago to make his fortune and to make Fritz Martin proud of the man he had become. But, he had returned to Last Stand at Fritz’s request. They were in danger of losing their family farm and Colt could provide some needed cash to prevent that. Fritz wanted to make Colt a partner but not to let Sadie know of the financial crisis that the farm had been in.
Sadie hated Colt. Actually, she probably loved him but he would never see her as a woman. He would always be his “Squirt”. She was angry that her father trusted Colt more than he trusted her. She knew the farm was in trouble but her dad wouldn’t let her see the books to see how bad it was. He always seem to treat Colt like the son he never had. He never seemed to treat his daughters with that same respect and love. She was having a hard time being around Colt and not seeing the young boy who had survived such loss and abuse. She began to see that Colt couldn’t see his worth. She was determined to make him see the wonderful man he was, even if it killed her.
I really liked this story very much. There was one somewhat graphic sex scene. There weren’t a lot of details, which I was grateful for. The story was easy to read and the characters were well developed. I felt like a part of the Martin family and could identify with the emotions expressed.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
Homecoming for the Cowboy is the first title in the Bad Boys of Last Stand series, and in the past, I’ve generally enjoyed Ms. Helm’s novels, but while this title and series concept sounded good, and was a fairly enjoyable read, I had some issues with it from the beginning, and, in the end, the best I could give this novel is a 3-star rating, it was just an okay read.
My first issue is the title. Colt Vance is the leading male character in this novel, and he’s certainly not a cowboy. He left the town of Last Stand and the Martin Family Goat Farm 10 years earlier, and made his fortune beginning with a large win at a local casino, which he turned into a successful business, building, renovating and eventually flipping houses–hardly a cowboy enterprise, although it is mentioned later in the novel that he eventually he had plans to raise cattle on the land he inherited from his violently abusive, alcoholic father, land which adjoins the Goat Farm. I’m thinking that “Colt’s Homecoming” would have been a better title choice.
Fritz Martin, current owner of the goat farm, and his now deceased wife, took in Colt and two other troubled and abused teenage boys–and the boys bonded as brothers under their care. The Martins treated all 3 boys as family, but Fritz took the boys aside early on and made them promise to work hard, be honest with him, and finally, to stay away from his three daughters. It was a promise Colt took very seriously, because as soon as he realized his attraction to one of them, Sadie, the middle daughter, Colt packed up, moved away and stayed gone for a decade. He would have stayed gone for good had he not heard from Fritz, and when he learned that Fritz and the farm were deeply in debt and in danger of losing the land that had been in his family for generations, Colt, now wealthy, offered to lend Fritz the money he needed, but, unbeknownst to anyone other than Sadie, Fritz had heart-related issues, and so he accepted Colt’s money on the condition that he and Colt would become 50/50 partners in the ranch–but how was Colt going to do that and stay away from Sadie?
Sadie is a born and bred farm girl at heart. It was her idea was to turn her goat milk and cheese operation into a tourist destination to save the farm, but her father would never show her the books or admit to their dire financial status, didn’t tell her how much money Colt has invested in the farm, and she and Colt had had an ongoing adversarial snark battle going on from the day he arrived at the Morgan’s as an angry, difficult, abused and troubled teenager. Sadie always felt that while she knew her father loved her and her sisters, he had a much better relationship with the 3 angst-ridden boys his wife brought home, and had, in fact, promised his wife on her deathbed, that he would raise and love the boys as she did. He kept that promise. What neither her father nor Colt knew was that Sadie was attracted to Colt, although being so sheltered and spending all her time with her goats, she didn’t date, and had only had sex once in order to lose her virginity. Since it wasn’t a great experience for her, she couldn’t have cared less about repeating it, but then handsome, charming, Colt arrived and suddenly she didn’t understand what she was feeling for him, and vacillated from annoyance with his being there, outrage at now being forced to work with him, distrust of his motives for returning, irritation at his charm and good looks, and she took a long time to recognize that she had been and still was attracted to him–but what about Colt’s promise to steer clear of the Martin daughters?
Both main characters had a lot of issues with self-esteem, Colt always felt indebted to Fritz Martin, and also had been made to feel so worthless by his own father that he couldn’t accept that he was respected, and considered a full member of the Martin family, and worthy of their love. Sadie too had issues with self-esteem, and is completely oblivious to her own good looks, and her work ethic–all she knows is that she loves the farm and her goats, and hates the changes that are happening all around her since Colt’s return.
So far, I liked the premise and promise of this novel, but sadly, it got bogged down with far too much time spent on the internal dialogues of Sadie and Colt, so bogged down, in fact, that it became both irritating and boring, and I kept waiting for some forward momentum, which was a very long time coming. There were so many missed opportunities to deepen and address Sadie and Colt’s issues by making them interact in believable, adult ways, but it takes almost the entire novel for that to happen, and for this reader, it seemed like too little, too late. It’s not a bad read, but it’s not a great one.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tule Publishing via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
This was a wonderful story. The first in the series and I look forward to more. Colt Vance comes to live with the Martin family as a young boy along with two other boys. The Martins already had three young daughters. The boys were brought up like sons but Sadie always felt like the boys received preferential treatment. Colt comes home after being away for years. Fritz Martin needs help with the farm which has fallen on hard times. Colt brings in much needed cash. Fritz just has two stipulations: 1) the name of the farm remains the same and 2) to remind Colt of a promise to leave his girls alone. Sadie and Colt have always butted heads together. Colt has loved Sadie for so long that he had to leave Last Stand and the farm to be away from her. Sadie just had a hard time with Colt coming home as she knew her father would confide more with him than her. Colt and Sadie have a road ahead of them to get to their HEA. There were some very poignant moments and some very funny ones. I cheered for Pen (one of Sadie’s sisters) in one scene with Colt that I just wanted to highlight and mark the page for any future reference. She delivered an eloquent speech that was absolutely wonderful.
This book delivered a charming story that was so hard to put down. This was the second book from Tule that I have read that takes place in Last Stand, Texas. I so look forward to many more in this fictional town especially from this author and the rest of the Martin family.
I adored the POV format. Seeing Colt’s thoughts really helped me to fully understand where he was coming from. I was able to identify with his character so much better.
I highly recommend this story to anyone.
Loved this heartwarming, sexy, fun, witty and engaging romantic journey, filled with lots of small town goodness, family drama, forbidden romance and undeniable passion that will no longer be ignored…. was a excellent read from beginning to end and was very entertaining the entire adventure.
Yes!! A true Texas town has a goat farm! Last Stand, Texas is living up to what life is really like in the Texas Hill Country. Each one of the books I have read based in this wonderful fictional town has me wanting more and more. I live in North Texas myself so it makes these books extra special, like coming home in a way. Homecoming for the Cowboy was a great overnight read for me. A family takes in 3 foster boys and adopts them. When the mom passes away the boys each promise the dad Fritz that they will never date any of the girls. In order to keep that promise one of the boys moves away. Colt loves Sadie. Colt made a name for himself while he was away and when he came back he come back with money to help re-built the goat farm. Only thing is Sadie is there and they have to work side by side. Oh the the chemistry that pops! I am so looking forward to more from this series and of course Last Stand, TX.
Homecoming for the Cowboy is a book that starts a new series. It is a little bit of a taboo story because Colt has hots for Sadie, a girl he was raised with and some could consider as a sister. Because Colt made a promise to his father figure -Fritz the person who took him and thinks of him as his boy- that he would not have anything with one his daughters. That is why he stays away until Fritz needs his help. It is hard for Cole to be near Sadie a not to act on his feelings. Little that he know is that Sadie is attracted to him as well. Will they be strong enough to fight for their love or will be wish for approval best stronger. Story that is full on family drama and having many secrets. Both Colt and Sadie are well developed and have amazing chemistry. We can see that the series will be interesting and that others boy and girls were hiding their feelings as well so I am waiting the next book with anticipitation.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly
Good start to the new series. Colt is one of three boys with troubled childhoods that Fritz Martin and his wife Susannah took into their home and raised along with their three daughters. Colt was grateful for the opportunity and determined to prove his worth. He eventually left the farm and made a name and a fortune for himself in real estate. When Fritz asked Colt to come home and help save the farm, he did so, but with deep reservations. As a teen, Colt promised Fritz he would “stay away from his daughters.” That promise became harder to keep, as Colt was drawn to Sadie until he left the farm to avoid the temptation. Now he’s back and afraid that he won’t be able to keep his long-ago promise.
Sadie is Fritz’s middle daughter and the one most like him. She loves the farm and her goats and her father. She is the one that Fritz has depended on to “do the right thing,” i.e. follow his lead and instructions. She knows the farm is in trouble, but she can’t get a straight answer from her father, and her ideas to help are ignored. Fritz’s antiquated ideas on the roles of women and men frustrate her to no end. When Colt suddenly returns to partner with Fritz, Sadie is furious. She and Colt have butted heads since they’ve known each other and she wants nothing to do with him.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Colt and Sadie. Colt has a head start because he already knows he has feelings for her. Sadie is disturbed by the feelings that Colt’s return stirs up in her and initially increases her antagonism toward him. It doesn’t take long for her to realize that she’s going to have to adjust her attitude to have a successful work relationship with him. Once she lets go of the anger, she discovers that all those roiled up emotions were caused by her attraction to him. There are obstacles to overcome, mainly Colt’s belief that he isn’t worthy of her and his reluctance to break his promise. I loved Sadie’s reaction to that promise and her determination to confront Fritz with their intentions. An unexpected complication arose and caused some more angst on Colt’s part. I ached for Colt and his belief that he is at fault and loved Sadie’s efforts to break through his walls. Though Fritz eventually sees the light, I’m not entirely convinced that he’s changed. I liked the ending though it felt a little anti-climactic after all the problems that came before it.
Wonderful characters.
This is a sweet, romantic read. There are many wonderful characters in this emotional character driven storyline.Sadie and Colt grew up together. Although, he had feelings for her, he kept his promise to her father and didn’t act on them. Years later he goes home to help out and he is still drawn to Sadie. Will he be able to keep his feelings to himself or will he finally go after the woman he loves? This is a wonderful read and I would recommend it
Wow…what an emotionally charged love story. The story of Sadie Martin and Colt Vance will definitely keep you turning the pages but will also pull at your emotional strings. Fantastic book!
4.5 stars
This is a super-fast read that is full of emotion. Colt and Sadie are both on such a tight rope when it comes to their feeling for each other. Both in such denial about their attraction and what that attraction means…to them and to their family.
Colt had a really hard time of it growing up, until Sadie’s parents took him in as a teen. The fact that Sadie’s dad and deceased mom looked upon Colt as a son (although there’s a 6-year age difference so they weren’t really raised as siblings) puts another level of reticence to the couple. It also gives Colt a huge chip on his shoulder and a very murky understanding of what unconditional love really is.
Sadie has always done what she could to not make waves. Of the three sisters, she was the one her dad could rely on to “do the right thing”. In other words, do what he wanted. She’s a tough cookie and knows her own mind, but her dad still has some antiquated thoughts on roles of men and women that can grate. She’ll fight him on things she’s passionate about, but still end up backing down in the end.
These two gave me so many butterflies in their “will they or won’t they” tug of war. I was rooting for them to finally both choose their own happiness instead of worrying about those around them so much. And I adored their thoughts of being upfront with everyone once they gave into those feelings. Cole and Sadie both have a lot of respect for the family and wanted to do things the right way.
The one character I really couldn’t get behind is the dad, Fritz. He made me so angry so many times. Even when he somewhat explains himself, I’m not fully satisfied with his reasoning. The man had it rough having to raise these kids after his wife died and he was deeply grieving. He was not really a bad father. In fact, he was a pretty great father. But his staunch stance on certain things and his disregard to what his actions were doing to Sadie (and often times the rest of the family) put him on my bad side.
I have a feeling this is going to be an interesting series to read. We still have 2 more sisters and 2 more foster brothers to have their stories told. Maybe they’ll share HEAs like Sadie and Colt. I can’t wait to find out.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
This review can also be found at https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.com/2019/05/16/homecoming-for-the-cowboy-bad-boys-of-last-stand-arc-review/
This story is a love story with a lot of sass. The author has a way of pulling on your heart strings for sure in the book. Colt being so strong and pigheaded yet also very open and vulnerable. Sadie can we talk about what a hard head she is, yet she too had this soft side to her. I loved the little girls and even though it was small the author had a way of letting their little personality shine through. I can’t wait to read more about this family what what they are up to next. There is a sex scene not very graphic and like one curse word, other then that this book was a very sweet love story . It was also a quick read and I found myself not wanting to put it down.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a review and have given my honest opinion.
Homecoming for the Cowboy is the first book in Nicole Helm’s new Bad Boys of Last Stand series. Colt Vance has made a name, and a small fortune, flipping homes all over Texas. When his foster father, Fritz Martin, asks for his help, Colt returns to Last Stand, although he fears his inability in keeping a long ago promise to Fritz when he does.
Fritz’ middle daughter Sadie is the one who has taken an interest in running the Martin Family Farm and has risen to the role. Younger sister Mackenzie rides rodeo. Older sister Penelope is a young widow with three daughters of her own. And it is precisely because of Sadie’s role in the everyday operation of the farm and her ideas for bringing them back into the black that Colt has his fears. The reason he has stayed away so long is because of his strong attraction to Sadie. But perhaps it will be all right since Sadie seems to regard him as an annoyance. If he doesn’t help fund the repairs and changes the farm needs, the family he loves so dearly will certainly lose their legacy.
As part of the move back to Last Stand, Colt has purchased the adjacent property, the old Vance spread where he has nothing but bad memories. Perhaps it will be cathartic to tear down the old place and create a house of his own. And perhaps Colt will find his own self worth in the process.
In a story of a couple, Fritz and Susannah, who bring three troubled young men into their home, raising them alongside their three younger daughters, this new series has introduced us to an elder Fritz, the memory of Susannah, the three daughters, and the boys the Martin’s took in, protected, and gave a fresh opportunity. These are endearing characters in a stark landscape. I did enjoy this book and do recommend it! I look forward to the rest of the series.
Enjoyed it
Back to Last Stand, Texas.
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: Bad Boys of Last Stand
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue
I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from NetGalley.
A huge THANK YOU to Tule Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me the privilege to read this wonderful book. I have found another great author to follow and continue reading.
Homecoming for the Cowboy (A Bad Boys of Last Stand Romance)
Nicole Helm
Due to work constraints this book took forever to read, ok 3 weeks which for me is forever, so I never had the opportunity to get lost in it (something I absolutely love to do) I do think though if you have the time you could easily find yourself lost in Sadie & Colts story.
Colt came into Sadie Martins life years ago when her mother brought 3 troubled boys into the family. Over time she’d convinced herself that her father Fritz preferred his 3 “pseudo” sons to his 3 actual daughters simply because they were girls. Her resentment for Colt grew with every word of praise her father said about his boys. She was as capable as any man to run the farm and simply wanted her father to see it.
Colt was determined to rid himself of the horrible life he left behind until Sadies mother took him and 2 others in. Never believing he was good enough for anything or anyone, he worked tirelessly to make something of himself. Believing after years of abuse that he was poison to all he touched he stayed away from them for 10 years.
But when the Martin family farm hits financial trouble and Fritz Martin asks for his help, Colt finds himself back home and face to face with Sadie Martin. She was the water to his oil, and just as beautiful as ever. He hated how much he wanted her, and knew because of a promise he made Fritz all those years ago that she was a large part of the reason he’d been gone for so long.
Sadie detested Colt, he was without a doubt her dads favourite, the golden child who’d left the farm and become rich & successful with property flipping. So successful in fact that her father had just asked him to invest & become partners in the farm.
This is a cute little love/loathe romance that has many emotional levels, well written and a great HEA.
The 1st book of Helms I’ve read and will happily read more in the future. I’m looking forward to what I hope will be Ethan & Pens story in book 2 of the series Christmas for the Deputy.
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