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!

A Cowboy for Keeps is the third book with Laura Drake’s Chestnut Creek series.

Lorelei West has all but given up on having a family of her own. She spends her days running the cafe in town and taking care of her mother. She wishes she could have more time for fun, or a man, but it’s just not in the cards. Then she receives the shock of her life when she gets the call that her sister has died in a car crash and left a six-month-old daughter to Lorelei’s care. Suddenly, she’s a mom to a grieving baby and balancing all the responsibilities in life that come with that. Then one more wrench is thrown in the works when the brother of the baby’s father shows up and expects to take full custody. Can they work together for the child’s sake? Is this the family Lorelei’s been hoping for?

I’m always a sucker for a cowboy story, so when this title came up for grabs, I was intrigued by the story line. I loved the idea of a woman who’s all but given up on love and a family getting exactly what she’s always dreamed of. I think a lot of people can connect with a character like Lorelei who’s lived most of her life in service to others. Her strength of character while dealing with her mother’s dementia and her absent sister was amazing. And even when she became a mother after the tragic loss of her sister, she still managed to keep everything together.

Reese was the type of cowboy hero I want to read, not only strong and masculine but loyal and caring. I loved that he was willing to take on raising the baby on his own before he knew that Lorelei was doing the same thing. When he shows up, he and Lorelei get off on the wrong foot because he has the bad habit of saying the exact wrong thing to people. I could totally relate since I also have a bad habit of sticking my foot in my mouth. It was endearing to find out that this bad habit was because he felt like he was always in his brother’s shadow.

The scenes with these two trying to work out parenting together were heartwarming and a great way to show them falling in love with Sawyer as well as each other. Watching both Lorelei and Reese work through their self-esteem issues to be good parents was something I think a lot of parents go through, which made the book feel all the more relatable.

My only minor quibble was when Reese and Lorelei got together the passion kicked up quick and it was enjoyable. The author did a good job of building the tension, even getting descriptive of everything up until a certain point and then “boom” the door closed. This was so jarring to me as the reader because there was a lot of descriptive making out and then the author shied away from describing anything more. It was such an odd choice in my opinion that it really brought down a lot of my enjoyment of the last third or so of the book.

Overall, this is a cute book that has some of the best descriptions of parenting I’ve seen in a romance book this year. I am always very critical of descriptions of children in romance novels, but Drake does an amazing job of writing little Sawyer. Fans of Maisey Yates or Carolyn Brown’s contemporary cowboy romances will be interested in this series. If you’re like me and just want a little extra spark to your contemporary cowboy romances I’d suggest A Cowboy to Remember by Rebekah Weatherspoon as a better example of this type of story.

~ Lindsey

This book drew me right in and kept me turning pages just as quickly as possible. The characters have a depth that made them feel real and made me feel invested in their story. I cannot express enough how the exquisite writing brings this story to life. The breathtaking descriptions, the truly insightful inner realizations, the deliciously snarky turn of phrase, all work together to make this a unique reading experience. The author has mastered southern idioms and rural ethics, and it shows on every page. These are not included just to instill a respect for the setting and its people, but they add substantially to the characters' development and growth throughout the story.
Put this one at the top of your TBR list. While this is the first book I've read by this author, it won't be the last. I'm looking forward to reading more by her.

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.

A Cowboy For Keep was my first romance by Laura Drake. I love cowboy romances and this has such a beautiful cover. I really liked the story between Lorilei and Reese. I enjoyed watching their relationship unfold with their love for Sawyer. The writing is very well done and the story has this tiny bit of faith sprinkled in that I appreciated - but it does not take away from the heat of the romance.

I love Sawyer!

Lorelei West had wanted more from life but after unknowingly dating a married man, she was happy managing the Chestnut Creek Café in Unforgiven NM and taking care of her mother. When her little sister and her boyfriend were killed in an accident leaving behind a daughter, Lorelei knew that would raise Sawyer with all the love she had.

Reese St. James didn’t know that his twin brother had a daughter until after the funeral, so he decided to take her back to his ranch. Reese starts to spend time with Lorelei and Sawyer realizing the possibility of a future.

A Cowboy for Keeps is so much more than a baby that nobody knew about when the story started and what makes a family!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An orphaned baby is caught between her maternal aunt who lives a modest life in Unforgiven, New Mexico and her paternal uncle, a rich Texas cowboy. Lorelei West is a stubborn and prideful stepmom, while Reese is eternally living with his foot in his mouth. I was drawn to to Lorelei's and Reese's push-and-pull relationship, but it did get a bit boring after a while as Lorelei started to become more and more of a pain (but Reese, my god, has truly mastered the skill of saying the wrongest thing at the right time).

Brilliant writing elevates this heartbreaking romance!

Reese and Lorelei both are the responsible ones in their families, in contrast to their wild-child siblings. Reese's brother, Carson, and Lorelei's sister, Patsy, were a perfect match and were wildly in love with each other and with their six-month-old daughter, without anyone in either family knowing anything about the baby, Sawyer. Until a tragedy leaves Sawyer an orphan and both Lorelei and Reese are struggling to hang on to what is left of their family.

This is one of the best-written books I've read in a very long time, and I highly recommend it to all romance readers. You've got your unbelievably rich, handsome, alpha cowboy with a heart of gold (even if he consistently says the wrong thing), a spunky, determined young woman who stands up for herself no matter the cost, a community filled with love and support and lots of humor, and a darling baby tying them all together.

I cannot express enough how the exquisite writing brings this story to life. The breathtaking descriptions, the truly insightful inner realizations, the deliciously snarky turn of phrase, all work together to make this a unique reading experience. The author has mastered southern idioms and rural ethics, and it shows on every page. These are not included just to instill a respect for the setting and its people, but they add substantially to the characters' development and growth throughout the story.

This story could've gone down the traditional routes of a custody battle or arranged (rescue) marriage, but the author chose neither, giving us instead a vividly complex emotional dance between two people who appear to have everything the other has always wanted. Reese had his daddy's money, but never knew the true love of a family. Lorelei's life is held together by copious amounts of love while squeezing every dime just to get by. Yet even with these disparities, the story rises above expected stereotypes to give us a character study that transcends the trope's usual handling.

Everything that makes up a beautiful, memorable love story is stitched together perfectly in this amazing story. It's got a permanent place on my Re-Read shelf and Laura Drake is definitely An Author for Keeps. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

I had not read the first two books in this series of three (thusfar). So I can tell you with confidence that it can be read as a standalone. This one follows Lorelei West from the little town of Unforgiven who finds herself in the unexpected role of guardian. Of a tiny baby no less. As you can tell from the title, there's a handsome cowboy in the mix. And a car named Einstein. There is dancing, both literally and figuratively. And carved horses. This book is a very fun and very romantic. I enjoyed the banter between characters. It's a story about family and responsibility, pride and communication, and learning to give and take. I liked the characters, flaws and all, and would recommend this for just about anyone. Thank you to the author, Laura Drake, and NetGalley for the advance reader's copy. Release date 7/28/20.

This book held me captive from the very first page. I fell in love with the characters and the story line. The book was such an incredible read. The author did a fantastic job of making the characters feel real and the story line just touched my heart. Lorelei and Reese were two very different people who just wanted the same thing. I just loved how this story unfolded. I hope this is not the last story in this series because I would enjoy reading more about this small town and the people in it. Thanks Net Galley. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent book. I am looking forward to the next book by Laura Drake. This book was an amazing romance.
If you like a great storyline, then you need to read this book.

This is the first book of the series that I've read. While I loved the story and characters Lorelei was a bit to much. I didn't find her to be very likable.
Lorelei has just found out her sister has died in a auto accident and left behind a baby that she didn't know about. The baby's Father also died in the crash and his twin brother Reese is anxious to see the baby as she's his only living relative.. Reese and Lorelei are attracted to each other but because Reese is rich Lorelei thinks he's going to try and get custody of the baby. Can they have a happy ending?

Loreli lost her sister in an auto accident. She finds out her sister had a baby that she never told her about. Reece lost his twin in the same accident. He then finds out later that there was a baby in the car and his brother was her father. He goes in search of the baby and stumbles upon a world and family that he never knew was possible. These two clash upon meeting. Her temper and his inability to say anything right. Can they make a family?

On one hand you’ve got Lorelei, an independent woman who wants help from no one, while on the other there is Reese, a Texan cowboy; but not quite. He’s got the hat and horse, but that’s about it. Their lives collide when they both experience tragedy and are now caring for their sibling’s child. They but heads about pretty well everything, but they also both completely adore their niece. Will Lorelei’s stubborn steak, and Reese’s pushy ways tear them apart or keep them coming back?

Honestly, I loved this story! It had me right from the beginning and every page after that. Their completely different lives explained their decisions and also shaped their futures. Their everyday life was real, and the author did a great job of keeping me invested in their lives and what happens next.

This was a typical poor girl who is rich in what she needs, and rich guy who is missing what’s important kind of story. But it felt different, and that was because of the depth of their characters. They kept you hooked into the story and rooting for a happy ending.

If you are looking for a great read with characters that come alive, this is a go to. This was the first book by this author for me and it won’t be the last 🤠

Complementary copy given for honest review and opinion from Netgalley. Opinions are my own.
This book is perfect! A baby they didn’t know existed, their niece, put them together. Neither one has a great history with relationships so they really buggered it up along the way but they found their way around roadblocks, evil lawyers and natural disasters!

Laura Drake creates a memorable town in Unforgiven, New Mexico. Complete with quirky characters, a whole lot of love between friends, and a town that pulls together when disaster strikes.

Lorelei becomes an insta-mother when her sister Patsy and her boyfriend die in an automobile accident. Not only had she not spoken to her sister in months, she hadn't know her sister had a six month old baby.

Reese is the only St. James left alive after his brother dies in an accident. The only hope for the future of the St. James family fortune is the baby his brother left behind.

Reese and Lorelei are thrown into a relationship skipping the whole kissing and marriage going straight to the baby carriage. As this uncle and aunt learn to navigate parenthood and custody, they also must navigate their hearts.

A great slow burn, enemies to lover romance that will have you cheering the couple to the very last page.

A Cowboy for Keeps by Laura Drake was a wonderful story. It is well written and this one takes a romance story from a different angle. The two main characters are brought together by two tragic deaths. Lorelei loses her sister, and Reese loses his twin brother in a car accident. Baby Sawyer is brought home with Lorelei and she didn't even know her sister had a baby. Reese finds out about the baby and falls for both Sawyer and Lorelei. I loved the secondary characters and the story line. I enjoyed the book and recommend it!

This is my first ever Laura Drake book and let me tell you i'm going to be reading more of her work.
Things start off real quick with Lorelie getting a call about her sister to then being a mother to her 6 month old niece,Reese on the hand every time he opened his mouth he stuck his boot in it.

If you love you some cowboy romance and you like it when the woman doesn't need saving every time something happens then go pick this one up.

I don't think you need to read this series i order all the characters are pretty easy to figure out

A lovely cowboy romance.
The kind that tugs at your heart strings.
We revisit Lorelei and her fellow townsfolk. Lorelei and her mom get devastating news. She must rush to get her niece, who is 6 months old.
We meet Reese who is baby, Sawyer's, uncle.
It is nice to watch them learn to work together for Sawyer.

A Cowboy For Keeps by Laura Drake is the third book in her Chestnut Creeks series. The first two books are, The Last True Cowboy and Home at Chestnut Creek. This book is Lorelei West's story. I have been looking forward to her story. She manages the Chestnut Creek Cafe and is its owner Carly Beauchamp Davis' good friend. Lorelei has a heart of gold and getting to raise her deceased sister's precious six-month-old little girl, Sawyer is a blessing. Then Sawyer's uncle, Reese St. James comes to town. Sawyer's father, who is also deceased, was Reese's twin brother. Reese wants to raise Sawyer too. This makes for an interesting conflict for this book. I enjoyed reading about the resolution to this conflict.