Heartwarming, fun, witty and engaging romantic journey that is filled with intriguing charters, exciting twist and undeniable passion. I really enjoyed reading this small town romance that had me glued to my e-reader from beginning to end.

Honestly I liked the added bonus story better than I liked Home at Chestnut Creek. I have read other stories by this author but I just didn't care for the main character of Nevada at all but I did like the main male character. This wasn't bad and I did finish it but I had to struggle to finish it because it just didn't grab my attention and keep it. I am giving it two stars because of the bonus story.

Nevada was broken and alone. Fish was looking for something to complete his life. Two lost souls meet in a small town diner. On the run and looking for work and a place to lie low, Nevada comes to a small town where a friend lives. She begins work as a gal of all jobs. Great story, good chemistry, releasing of anger and fear

This is the second installment in the Chestnut Creek series. It was every bit as good as the first one. The main character, Nevada, is a young curmudgeon. She doesn't get close to anyone. She's running from the drug cartel her mother was involved with. Ms. Drakes description of the New Mexico desert is right on the money. She was able to give Nevada and Fish their HEA and still maintained the integrity of the story. I will be eagerly awaiting Lorelei's story in the next installment.

This book was gifted to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.

Nevada is on the run and isn't interested in making ties. As of now she's stopped in a place called Unforgiven, New Mexico and working in a cafe until she goes back on the road. She never expected to like this town and its people and while some can be gossipy and cause problems that's the least of her worries. Now she seems to have an attraction to her coworker Joseph, but they have their own hang up why things can't work and try to fight the feels. On top of that her past might be coming sooner then she thinks and might not be able to stick around.

I thought that this book was pretty good. But tbh for a bit it did drag on for me. I liked the characters and getting to know them. It was interesting seeing a bit into Josephs life and the problems he was dealing with when it came to family issues. He very much like Nevada was running away, it wasn't a life or death situation but he clearly loved his family and it must of been tough to be away. If you like a good contemporary book you'll like this book, but with the added benefit of an extra book to read since this book contains not one but two stories. I was expecting a short story, novella type of book but no its a full novel and there is plenty going on to keep readers interesting. Overall loved it, highly recommend!

I read about Nevada in The Last True Cowboy and I was excited to see that she got her own book. I love how Nevada is this sassy and hard @ss who will do anything to protect those she loves. I really liked how in this story Nevada starts to show her soft side but is not afraid to let go of her hard side either even just for a minute. I like Joseph too, he seem to deal with his own demons and trying to face those as well. I really enjoyed this book it was so fun to read but also so emotional. This book does have sex in it but over all is a decent read. I can't wait to see where the author goes next in the town of Unforgiven and the small town of some crazy characters. if you are looking for fun read you won't regret grabbing this book. It is told in a first person.

Laura Drake is a new to me author. I recieved an advanced digital copy of Home at Chestnut Creek from Netgalley. When I realized it was the second book in a series, I went out and bought the first book. I'm so glad I did! After reading the first book, I immediately read the second.
I'm use to reading western romances set in Texas, so reading one set in New Mexico was different for me. I enjoyed the fact that a character was Navajo. This detail is not something I see in western romances, the diversity. I really enjoyed that, it made me feel good with just that alone in the book. I cant wait to read more from Laura Drake.

ARC for honest review with no compensation received from NetGalley 4.5 stars

Home at Chestnut Creek is book 2 of the Chestnut Creek series by Laura Drake while this is a standalone we meet up with friends from the first book.

Nevada Sweets on the run and comes to Unforgiven, New Mexico to look up her friend Carly, looking for a cook’s job in one of the towns restaurants for a bit before moving on to stay ahead of the drug cartel that is after her...

Joseph “Fishing Eagle” King, a resident of Unforgiven, cook at the restaurant where Nevada gets a job as a dishwasher/bus person offers Nevada his grandmother’s trailer to hang her hat till she moves on as she has no place to live...

Both have past struggles, sparks fly, tensions abound but when trouble comes calling...Fish will do whatever it takes to convince Nevada it’s time to put down roots in Unforgiven, face her past and find a HEA with him...

This book also had a bonus book by Carolyn Brown...great read!

If you love cowboy romances as much as I do this is a series and book you don't want to miss. This author crafts the most amazing characters and stories that keep you glued to the pages. In this one we meet Nevada Sweet, a rolling stone and new to Unforgiven and Chestnut Creek Cafe as well as Joseph "fishing eagle" King, a long time resident and head cook at the cafe. There is an immediate attraction between these two but Joseph's Navajo heritage is deeply ingrained in him and he's always planned on settling down with a Navajo woman. We he fight the attraction or will he end up giving in to his desires?

Highly recommended read.

Absolutely fabulous book! Met both characters in the first book of the series and just knew there was more to both of them! Nevada and Joseph appeared to be very strong people, but both had insecurities in their past. How they help each other overcome them, makes for a wonderful book! Stayed up late reading and hated for it to end!

I had my eye on this series when the first book, The Last True Cowboy, released, but didn't have time to fit it in. I wanted to try a new to me author and her cowboy romance series, but ended up going with this one.

Home at Chestnut Creek picks up the story of prickly, secondary character, Nevada Sweet, from the first book as the heroine and a hero, Joseph Fishing Eagle King, who had his own struggles, but is capable of handling all the defensive, scared, socially awkward mouthy stubbornness that Nevada dishes up in large quantities. Their romance is not easy and it was a good slow burn friends to lovers, but so worth it seeing them grow as individuals and then together as they heal.

As I mentioned, I started with book two. I managed to get up to speed and could read it as a standalone, but at the same time, I recognized that there was some water under the bridge for Carly and Nevada's friendship from the first book and of course, Carly and Austin were the couple from book one.

Nevada is running and hiding for her life after messing with some bad people that are part of her complicated, troubled past. She doesn't want to bring trouble to Carly's doorstep and she very much would rather depend on nothing from nobody, but her temporary stopover in Unforgiven, New Mexico and working in Carly's diner becomes much more than a temporary haven not the least of which is because of Joseph Fishing Eagle King, the diner cook and a Navajo with his own past demons to exorcise.

Fish is cooking at the diner, teaching the Dine children to appreciate their heritage by making sure they learn the language and the ways of their people even while he also has had a long path of learning, knowing he dishonored his heritage for a time. But, he made his grandmother a promise and he will keep it even as the stranger wheedles her way into his life. He saw right through her crusty armor from day one and gets it. A friendship forms and then more which means that he must make a choice as does Nevada since both were determined on other paths.

Home at Chestnut Creek introduces a heroine that is one of those tough nuts to crack and stays that way for a while. She's gotten herself into a bad tangle and comes to a place for help, but she'd rather do anything than act like she needs help or other people. She's like an abused dog who snaps and snarls and looks with suspicion on any attempt at help or kindness. Some folks get really bad breaks in life and have seen and experienced more than their fair share so they develop defense and coping mechanisms. Nevada took some time to unfurl the true person she could be when not backed to a wall and surviving rather than living. It took a while, but her true nature had me smiling and excited for her. There were hints along the way which made me able to keep reading and cheering for her when at first I was struck often by the urge to shake her. It was good to get an alternating point of view between her and Joseph.

Joseph wasn't obviously prickly and snarly like Nevada and he's ahead of her in finding his way so he could both recognize her issues and why she was acting the way she was, patiently handle her carefully, and make a connection with her. He left the reservation and family and heritage for a time and now he is trying to get all that back with better appreciation though it takes a bit for him to understand that he's doing it for the wrong reasons- guilt and self-punishment- at first.

I enjoyed the careful description of the Navajo culture and seeing what they struggle with in modern times. The author took the time to write some good scenes with Joseph and the tribe, his family, and the setting descriptions rang true since I had been through that area a while back and could easily see what the author was describing from the small town to his hogan house and to the reservation in my mind's eye.

The careful friends to lovers romance was there running through the whole story, but naturally their wounded lives made it a slow go, but then there was the trouble coming after Nevada, too. That added a good suspense element because the drug cartel played for keeps and she'd stolen their money and stirred up trouble. Nevada and Joseph are so great together. Sometimes the chemistry is there, but now and then I get a story, like this one, where the author fills it all in and shows the rest of the romance from friendship, to understanding, to working on life's struggles together is all there as well. Joseph wore down her stubbornness because he knew she was worth it and she was game to take on a man from a different way of life and his dreams.

So, all in all, this was a fab hard-fought contemporary western romance that I can definitely recommend even while I can guarantee that I'll be back for more Chestnut Creek series.

Home at Chestnut Creek gets an enthusiastic 5+ STAR rating on Amazon from me!!! I really enjoyed the author's writing style. Like, "she heaves a sigh so big I can feel the breeze." That's not hard to understand at all now is it? It also made me smile and it wasn't overdone.
Loved the main characters to pieces!!! Snarky Nevada was a hoot. Sure she had a wicked, mean tongue but it was also really funny too. Joseph is so right about her having no filter. I have to admit I smiled and laughed right out loud many times. And her rude T-shirt sayings were the Best! One of my favorites has to be, "Who left the bag of idiots open?" It must seem kind of odd that there was so much laughter in a story that also had so much danger and sadness but there it is. Joseph had some interesting insights when it came to Nevada. He really saw her and often thought of her as a wild bird that you had to handle carefully or she flew off. He also realized she had a whole lot of different sides to her and he is intrigued. He is also so patient with her but he also had boundaries that he didn't want her crossing. So he was a bit complex as well in his own way. Joseph has some old wounds and shame that he just isn't facing until he sees how brave Nevada is. Her courage pulls him up short.
There are good secondary people in the story and I have to add that I really enjoyed the Native American elements in the story.
And that quick peek into Lorelei's story (she was in this book) has me thinking, "I'm so looking to read that book too." So I will be looking out for "A Cowboy for Keeps by Lora Drake."

I liked the idea of a Bonus Story that was included. If I was rating it separately on Amazon I would probably give it 4 STARS and that I liked it but with some reservations.
So, here are some of my thoughts about, " Wild Cowboy Ways by Carolyn Brown."
It had some good points and good characters. But maybe it wasn't good to add it to the other book because I fell so far in love with the first book. It made it harder to compete. I guess I would have to say that I had mixed feelings about this one.
It did have good main characters and a good supporting cast of people. Deke was Allie's best friend and often work helper. He sure added a lot to the story. He also added quite a few smiles too.
Allie's mom was so far up her business trying to get Grady and Allie together. And that after a while it got kind of irritating to me. But her sister was so much worse.
Lizzy who is Allie's sister got on my last nerve. It wasn't too bad at first but over time I just wanted it to stop. The controlling, bickering from her was like a self-righteous little kid throwing a tantrum. She wanted Allie with Grady most of all. Grady was creepy and Lizzy just couldn't/wouldn't understand how much Allie disliked him. Lizzy wasn't all bad though and it was good to see her redeeming qualities after all.
Riley, how bad are you? Let me count the ways. He is Allie's ex who like a bad penny keeps trying to show up.
The gossipy community did have some interesting and some good people in it though. Irene is one of the good people in the story. Irene is the grandmother to Allie and her two sisters. She brings humor and sadness as she slides back and forth in her memories. And you never know what to expect coming out of her mouth other than some of it will be brutal honesty. At times she thinks that "Walter" is still living at The Lucky Penny ranch. Blake Dawson has quite the interesting first run in with her at the ranch that he now owns with his partners. Blake has quite the bad boy reputation and he is trying to live a better life. But that old reputation sure is bound and determined to follow him..
There is a good ending to the book and a H.E.A. for our M.C.'s.

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

I was given the chance to read this Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley and I almost passed it up. Boy, am I glad I didn't! This was the best written book!
Ms. Drake tells the story in the first person, with a dual point of view. That seems fairly difficult to do, but she did an outstanding job. The first person seemed to allow for a much more emotional tale, with each character's emotions and thoughts laid right out there for the reader's consumption. The letters that Nevada wrote to her dead mother were just another added layer of emotion.
I'll gladly admit that I love cowboys in books. This was even more appealing, because the "cowboy" was Navajo and trying so hard to stay true to his people, even with his wider life experiences of the military. The romance between Nevada and Joseph was a struggle on both of their parts and that much sweeter for it!
I absolutely loved Ms. Drake's writing style. I've already gone back to order the first book in the series and am looking forward to reading much more from her.

Sometimes I find a story that melts my heart while it offers me the chance to see another culture through the character’s eyes. I absolutely loved HOME AT CHESTNUT CREEK, the second story in Laura Drake’s Chestnut Creek series. This story begins as a reluctant friends-to-lovers romance but it is really so much more than that. There is nothing simple about Nevada and Joseph. They both have intriguing backstories. They both have demons and issues to deal with as they face their past decisions. Joseph is a bit further along on his journey to letting go of the past so he easily recognizes Nevada’s defense moves to keep people away, far, far away. But life is constantly moving and both Nevada and Joseph will have decisions to make – and danger from Nevada’s past to face.

I so badly want to fill up a page talking about HOME AT CHESTNUT CREEK – but if I do then I’ll reveal spoilers that you really should discover on your own as you devour this intriguing romance between Joseph and Nevada. So instead I’ll say that this is a story that grabbed my emotions, all of them, from the very beginning. Nevada isn’t always easy to like, but I was waiting for the person beneath the defensive wall to finally show up – and she was so worth waiting for. Learning of Joseph’s Navajo heritage was fascinating and was a vital part of his journey not only in life but with Nevada. It’s always a treat to run into characters from other books so I was very happy to see characters from THE LAST TRUE COWBOY once again. (if you haven’t read that one yet, you should because it’s a great story).

I was easily caught up in the Chestnut Creek world once again and would not hesitate to recommend this story to any Romance reader no matter their preferred genre.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher 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.*

This was a new author for me. The story was good, but nothing outstanding. Girl on the run stops in small town, gets a job at local cafe, meets boy, and they fall in love. He's native American and she's not, which brings an interesting twist to the plot. The bad guy catches up with her and the new guy saves her. There's a HEA so it all comes together for Fish and Nevada in the end.

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher for my honest review.

Home at Chestnut Creek is the second stand alone in Laura Drake's Chestnut Creek series. I read the first book and it was good, I enjoyed this one much more. We met Nevada Sweet in the first book and I couldn't wait to learn more about who she was behind all her attitude.

Nevada Sweet is on the run from some very bad people. She decides to lie low for a while in Chestnut Creek before she heads back into the wind. However, she didn't plan on a making friends and finding safety and peace in a good-looking Navajo cook. Joseph King is running from his own bad choices from his past and the last thing he wants to do is fall for someone to separate him from his Navajo community even more than he already is. As time passes and their feelings can't be ignored any longer, he has to convince her that he's in this for the long haul even when her past catches up to her.

Joseph and Nevada are both great, strong complex characters. She tries to be so strong and brave all the time but Joseph allows her to breathe and finally relax for once. He brings out her sensitive side and when they come together their passion is as loving and sensual as I anticipated it to be. I also really enjoyed all the Navajo history and culture we learn right alone with Nevada. It made this western romance stand out from the typical cowboy romance.

I have hope the Chestnut Creek series will continue to get better and better with each book in the series. I'm really looking forward to seeing who will find their happy next.

Home At Last. Excellent romance novel, so that alone tells you most of what you need to know up front. That said, this is also Book 2 of a series - which I didn't know when requesting the ARC. But don't let that deter you - yes, there are references to Book 1, so if you're a spoiler purist you will want to read it first. That said, this story stands on its own two feet perfectly fine, for those new to the series who don't care about spoilers. (And again, romance series - is it *really* a spoiler at that point if the lead couple from the first book is seen in Book 2?) On a bit more technical note, this ARC - and it appears the initial production run of the book - contain a full length novel by Carolyn Brown tagged onto the back, at least in the eBook format. So if it looks like it is taking you forever to read this book, don't fret - this particular book ends at about the 46% mark of the total file. Overall an excellent book, and my first from Drake. Very much recommended, and won't be my last from Ms. Drake.

Home at Chestnut Creek by Laura Drake is the second book in the Chestnut Creek series. It can be read as a stand-alone book easily. I highly recommend this book and this author. She has an easy writing style that flows smoothly. The main characters Nevada and Joseph have such a good chemistry. Nevada is what you call a “prickly” girl, but Joseph sees right through her defensive personality. Nevada senses Joseph is conflicted with their attraction and it takes her a while to figure it out. This story had a good balance of romance, humor, and even some suspense that worked for the reader. I really enjoyed reading this story and author and look forward to reading more from Laura Drake. As an added bonus, there is a story at the end by Carolyn Brown that I also loved. A big thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this advanced copy so I could provide my honest review.

Nevada Sweet is running from her old life, she runs toward her friend Carly and the comfort she provides. She doesn’t know if Carly will be able to give her a job or if she’ll have to continue on but it’s worth the time to stop. She heads to her diner and finds not only a new job but a new set of friends to look out for her. In particular “Fish” who doesn’t fit his nickname, which she thinks is stupid.

Joseph “Fishing Eagle” King is Navajo and trying to reclaim and preserve his native culture. When Nevada walks into the diner, she can see she has pain in her past. Slow and steady he works to pull her out of her thick shell and see people can be supportive. He doesn’t think she’ll believe him though but he has patience.

Nevada wants to cook and not bus tables but cooking is Joseph’s job. He offers to let her help him on occasion and she is more than happy to oblige. He offers her a place on his land, his grandmother’s old place, and though it’s no bigger than an apartment, she takes it to have somewhere to call her own. Now if she can only feel safe enough to enjoy it.

Joseph knows Nevada has a war raging inside herself between the caring compassionate Nevada, and the tough as nails Nevada who doesn’t want anything from anyone. He feels he has the patience to work through her doubts that people can be trusted and care for you without wanting anything.

Over time Nevada knows she can trust Joseph and fills him in on her past. Joseph also shares his past with Nevada. Together they realize they both have things from their past that has framed their futures. But they also come to know that together they can work through anything.

I read this, apparently the second book in the series, first without having read book one which featured Carly and Austin. That being said I definitely felt like I was missing a bigger story by not having read the other book first. There was a history with Carly and Austin that I fully couldn’t get in touch with because of that fact. It started off slow for me and took almost ½ way through the book for me to really feel connected to the words on the pages. This is the first book I’ve read by this author so I’m not sure if all books are written in the same style. The ending pages increased my rating for this read to 4 out of 5 stars. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance reader copy without expectation.

Unforgivin, New Mexico. Sounds inviting doesn't it? It's the setting for Home at Chestnut Creek. I think it's a lonely sounding place, aptly named to coincide with the characters. Nevada is a woman on the run who ends up here. She meets resident Joseph. Obviously, something is going to happen between these two eventually. Maybe. Nevada is brash, gruff and closed off to possibilities. Or, is she? Joseph has made some mistakes, but he's living better now. He wants to get in touch more with his Navajo roots. The cultural aspects of this add a richness to the story and are perfectly placed. Both of these characters have personal struggles and are wary of love. As they get to know one another, a bond grows. Will they be courageous enough to imagine they could be more than friends? I enjoyed reading this story. It's lovely, funny, warm hearted and well written. Nevada and Joseph are flawed in realistic ways, and I found myself wanting the best for both of them. The atmosphere and sense of place is spot on. I was sad to read the last page, so I couldn't have asked for more! Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.