I truly enjoyed this one. Not your typical second chance romance but an intriguing story nonetheless. It's full of lots of cowboy and small town goodness along with intriguing characters that keep you wanting more. For years in Forgiven NM it's been Carly and Austin together. Yet after all this time there still isn't a ring on her finger. Austin goes from one rodeo to the next secure in the knowledge that Carly will be there waiting for him. Well Carly's had enough! After calling it quits with Austin Carly decides she needs to get out and have a little fun for a change. That one night will change the course of Carly's life forever!

I definitely recommend this one.

BEAUTIFULLY EMOTIONAL...Laura Drake writes an incredible book in The Last True Cowboy! The story of Carly Sue Beauchamp and Austin Davis is one of young love, growing up - growing apart and finding each other. The twists in this book will leave a lump in your throat the size of the Grand Canyon, yet the humor is endearing. I'm always up for a good Cowboy book - this though is so much more.

I feel this book is about growing up and it takes you through this journey of two immature people. I have to say I was not a fan of this book. The characters are in there late 20's and act like they are just out of high school instead. I found them annoying and whinny. I really enjoyed reading the small part about Nevada she had this story I would have liked to read more about. I think I enjoyed reading more about the other characters than the main characters. I will say that there was a small part in the back in of the book that has you by the heart for sure. There is some language and lots of talks of tough subjects but over all it was a fairly basic read. 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

The Last True Cowboy is the first book in her newest series and this is my first try out with Laura Drake and I enjoyed this book. But it did have some issues that I had problems with, not to detract too much of my enjoyment of the story but what keeps this story from a higher rating. I did like the way that this story was written in many ways though and Forever did a great job with the cover art for this one because its delicious.

Carly Beauchamp and Austin Davis have been together for many years since they were children really. Its always been Austin and Carly. They had made plans for marriage and kids and a home together one day. But Austin’s dreams of being on the rodeo circuit has been most challenging and after years of telling Carly “one more year” then we can get married has put Carly’s wall up. She loves Austin but she has been waiting years for their relationship to be the priority but its always his career that is more important than her. And she is tired and frustrated. So she breaks it off with him, and even though no one believes that the relationship is over, Carly doesn’t know how it could ever work because Austin isn’t ever willing to put her first in the relationship. So on a whim she drives down to the nearest big city and goes to a bar for a distraction from the pain she is feeling. And before she knows it she is drinking with a stranger and wakes up after having sex with him that she doesn’t remember. She goes home and hopes that there are no consequences including diseases. But some weeks pass and she finds out that she is pregnant with a stranger as the father and she has no clue what her future will be like now or how angry Austin will be or if they could ever have a future together.

The Last True Cowboy is a story about making mistakes and learning from them. The first half of the book I really struggled with the story. I am not sure if it was the plot line, or the mistakes that Austin or Carly make or if it was the actual engagement of the story but I had a hard time getting into this one until we hit the 50% mark and then things really get going and I was so into it. I am glad that I stuck with this one because the second half was fantastic and I would have missed out on a wonderful love story here. I did find seeing Austin and Carly reconnect so great and seeing them work through their mistakes and problems together and be a family together. Seeing them learning the ability to forgive was very rewarding because we see how much they learn as partners the power to let go of mistakes and focus on the future together.

Overall I found The Last True Cowboy to be a heartwarming and favorful western romance that you will get some great kicks out of!!

This is a amazing book! This is Carly and Austin’s story, they fell in love young. They broke up due to Austin having insecurities about life after the rodeo. Carly took a trip to the City which changed there future. Or was there future about to be reinvented?

Austin Davis has two loves in his life, his longtime girlfriend Carly Beauchamp, and his rodeo career. From the moment they met in kindergarten Carly and Austin knew they'd always be in one another's lives, they connected instantly, and from that point on they were two peas in a pod. Then one day their friendship blossomed into love, the two of them were insuperable, that is until Austin joined the rodeo circuit.

His second love soon became his first love, and it kept him away for months at a time, Carly often feeling like she no longer mattered to him. They had dreams of marriage, children, and a happy future together, and all of a sudden Carly felt like she was the only one who cared about those dreams. But she did what she thought was right at the time, and waited for him, held out hope that his career would lose it's appeal and he'd return home to marry her. But after almost ten years spent waiting for her cowboy and being told "one more year," Carly has decided it is time to put herself first for once and put her dreams ahead of his. Leaving him was the hardest thing she has ever had to do, but it was necessary for her own happiness. But it also lead her to make a careless mistake, one that could change everything...and cement a permanent end to their relationship.

The Last True Cowboy takes you to the town of Unforgiven and welcomes you into the lives of it's very lively and quirky residents, and shines a bright light on the couple that is the current talk of the town. Austin and Carly are no strangers to town gossip, they were once the couple everyone envied and boasted about, their achievements making them town royalty of sorts. But now they are drawing attention and spawning rumors because of their mistakes and the unraveling of their relationship. But as with all small towns, they come with a good support system, and in this particular situation one that is determined to help these two find their way back to on another. Following these two on their journey was good for my heart, many times they had me rooting them on, and holding out hope that love would prevail. I really enjoyed this first offering in the Chesnut Creek series, it came with wonderful characters that felt like family, and a heartwarming story with loads of feels to squeeze the heart in all the right places! Highly recommend!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

This was my first read by this author and although I've heard many good things about her books, this one just didn't work for me. The story between Austin and Carly who grew up together in a small town, with everyone just knowing they were meant to be together forever. Except Carly. Austin was on the rodeo circuit and constantly put Carly off by saying one more year. At 29 years old, I'd say I'd had enough. In fact the idea that Carly didn't cut out earlier was beyond me. The two main characters didn't do a whole lot to make me like them, the dialogue was a little redundant including Carly's internal dialogue. Austin's reaction toward Carly when he came home was petty considering.
The best part of the book was when she took off to help a friend on her food truck and met the abrasive Nevada Sweet. Now there's a book I'll read. With relish.
The book wasn't for me, but I'm sure will be well liked by others and I do look forward to Nevada's story.

arc from NetGalley and Publisher for an honest review

When I read the synopsis of The Last True Cowboy, I thought I was going to get a sweet cowboy second chance romance. Things did not turn out quite how I expected. Yes, it was a second chance romance in a small town with cowboy/rodeo goodness, but it ended up being a bit less sweet and lighthearted than I anticipated. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it did surprise me the way the story unfolded.

Carly and Austin are childhood sweethearts and have been together since they were teens. Normally, this is my absolute kryptonite, but as much as I liked them, I didn't love them. I understand that growing up and maturing was a huge part of both of their character arcs, but they acted so immaturely and selfishly for so long that I ended up not feeling as invested in them. They did not behave like 29 year olds to me. Mistakes are definitely made on both sides, but the major plot twist/surprise started off so shady that I really thought there was foul play involved. I understand that Carly was hurting and wanted to prove that she was her own person and cut loose, but her reaction the next morning had warning bells going off in my mind. Yes, those situations occur, and it's probably just me, but perhaps if the author hadn't written it the way that she did, I wouldn't have felt so uneasy. As the story progresses, it's made clear that it really was a lapse in judgement/common sense by Carly, and that might make this plot twist a big turn off for some readers.

I thought the author did a great job showing the evolution of Carly and Austin. I appreciated that they both recognized that they needed to grow up, figure out what they wanted, and that it was possible that their adult selves wouldn't actually work romantically. The overall message of loving all the pieces of someone (the good, the bad, and the ugly) and that love should be an equal partnership (not a lead and a sidekick) was simple, but very powerful.

I enjoyed the colorful and quirky residents of Unforgiven, NM, Nana, Papaw, and of course feisty Nevada Sweet. Her T-shirts were the best and added some humor to the heavier moments. I did find the book overly detailed at times and the pacing felt a little too slow. I didn't understand half the sayings and terms, so I guess I'm more like city girl Nevada in this case. The epilogue brought everything full circle though and left me with a smile on my face.

*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book*

The story here was sweet enough, but just a bit too cliched for me. I enjoy romance novels and recognize that the storyline is generally the same in most of them. Therefore, I to really enjoy one I want good character development and enough of a twist on the romance tropes to make it a little unique. For me this book had neither of those things. I didn't particularly like or sympathize with either of the two main characters and the tropes were cliche.

The Last True Cowboy is a heartwarming, second chance story of two young people in love who grow apart and lose their way and the journey they each take separately to mature and find a new future together. This is the first book I have read by Drake and I do not believe it will be my last. This is a beautifully written love story that contains relatable, flawed characters and a believable storyline full of funny antics, family, friends, love, drama, and romance. It is about soulmates, dreams, second chances, mistakes, growing up and self-discovery and includes plenty of laughs and tears as well as family drama along the way. Austin and Carley are great characters and I enjoyed watching them both grow and mature and their journey back to each other. It was a wonderful read.

*I received an ARC via NetGalley and am providing my honest review.

Wow! This is about growing up emotionally and while the title may indicate cowboy, it's just as much if not more about the cowgirl. Written with a lot of heart I think, with ups and downs, actions, consequences. It will check your box of feelings. Not the most fast-paced read, but the end is sigh worthy for Carly and Austin.
A journey of finding your true self isn't always pretty or easily accepted and I believe Laura Drake penned a very enlightening journey here.
I received an ARC thru Net galley and am giving my honest review

Holy smokes this book is stunning and utterly perfection! I absolutely loved this book more then you can imagine.

Carly and Austin have a love story you dream of, they fall in love as kids and it blossoms into something much more as adults. I felt so connected to this book with every twist and turn it is such a beautiful read!

I have to say that this book was beyond romantic. Carly and Austin have been together since first grade. They started off as friends and as they grew older they became so much more. This book took us on a journey. It showed us that even if you love someone to their very core it takes a lot of work to make that relationship work. Each person will stubble off the path of love sometimes because they take each other for granted but other times because we become lost. I cannot say enough about this book. From the moment I picked it up I was engrossed with this town and these characters. The story that Laura Drake shared with us will forever be in my heart. I cannot wait to see what happens next in this small town. I am for sure going to go back and read more by this author. Thanks Net Galley. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

Carly and Austin have been tied at the hips since kindergarten and it’s only a matter of time before they say “I do”. But as the years pass, Austin is still saying one more year on the rodeo circuit, and Carly loses hope for the ring, the family, and Austin. She seriously calls it quits this time (while everyone else thought ‘here we go again’) and when no one takes her seriously, she decides to take matters into her own hands, with painful consequences.

Carly and Austin were almost 30 years old, but their immaturity had me thinking they were written to be more like 18-20. Both were selfish and their expectations were ridiculous, but...that was the beauty of the story. Their second chance romance evolved from the immaturity and conceit of youth and morphed into the expectations of adulthood and responsibility. It wasn’t easy and required heavy, long term decisions, but I liked how Carly and Austin’s journey forced them to relearn one another with new insight.

This is the first time I’ve read Laura Drake and I was pleasantly surprised! I liked her writing style and characterization. The story had quite the colorful cast, and though the story meandered a little, the end result was satisfying.

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

I love discovering new to me authors and am so excited to add Laura Drake to the list of authors whose backlist titles I will be exploring. Carly and Austin have been in love forever. Everyone in their small town things that their marriage is a foregone conclusion. Carly used to think so too but as the years keeps passing she is starting to feel like less of a priority to Austin. Carly decides it is time for her to find out who she is on her own. Things do not quite go as she planned

I love how Drake took her time with this story and really allowed her characters to learn and grow. Nothing felt rushed or forced. The story was layered and full of warmth and humor alongside the deeper emotional issues. A well rounded cast of supporting characters added depth without distraction. Definitely a book I would recommend.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first time I have read a book by Laura Drake and honestly I am not sure if I will try any others. I had to force myself to keep reading this one and even though it has an HEA I still didn't care for it that much.
I found it to be a heartbreaking story of high school romance gone wrong with the lead characters both being incredibly immature and selfish at the ages of 29.
Not my taste in books plus the title of the story really has nothing to do with it except for the main character being a cowboy.

The Last True Cowboy is so original in comparison to other romances on the shelf today and I found myself devouring this gem!! Laura Drake is going to be a new author that I make sure I read everything she publishes because this book is top notch! I loved it so much!!!!

THE LAST TRUE COWBOY by Laura Drake is a wonderful second chance romance, set in a small town. Carly and Austin are childhood sweethearts that break up after many years together. Carly has waited for 9 years to get married while Austin follows the rodeo. Events take place that threatens their dream of being together. They have to start over before they can move on.

So Carly and Austin have been together for a long time, so long that the whole town sees them as one unit. They are not married but everyone knows that they will be together. Carly is tired of waiting, all of her friends are married and onto their 2nd or 3rd children while she is still living with her grandparents waiting for Austin to come home and start their lives together. When Austin comes back and tells her yet again to wait another year she is done. She has had it and they are over.
Austin assumes that Carly will forgive him, once he is ready to come back so it comes as a huge shock when Carly tells him that everything has changed. Austin feels betrayed and even Carly feels like she did something wrong even though technically she didn’t, but she did do something that had lasting effects on her life. Austin has to decide if he loves Carly enough to accept and love the changes in her.
All of Carly's friends and family were very supportive. I love her grandparents, they were amazingly understanding and loving. I also liked Austin's family. His brother was helpful and also needed help to get his own wife and children back.

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.

Carly and Austin have been together since Kindergarten now she is in her late 20's and Austin has been promising her for 9 years he would settle down and he comes to her and says one more year. She decides that is it and so she dumps him.

Unfortunately she lives in a tiny town and no one will let her forget Austin so she makes a big mistake. This mistake ends up making her lose Austin and to be honest I was rooting for her never giving him a second chance. He was a huge jerk about it.

This story was well writing, its my first by this author. I really loved Carly, she is pretty wonderful. Austin was a huge ass in this story and thats me being nice. But I guess the ehart wants what it wants and thats how this story was.