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.

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.

Irresistible Force, Meet Immovable Object. This is a fun story of a rich-yet-still-driven cowboy meeting up with a barely-keeping-things-together woman in the midst of a massive tragedy... and each finding out that they really don't understand the other's motivations. Like, at all. So sparks fly. Repeatedly. And then things get a bit more... intimate. If you like the romance genre at all, you're going to like this book. It hits all the points you're expecting and does so with excellent flair. If you're not quite as sold on the genre, give this one a chance. Drake does an excellent job of keeping things much more real than others of this type. Overall, a very fun read and very much recommended.

Wow I have not yet read the first 2 books in this series, but reading Ms Laura's books I am never disappointed!! Reese and Lorelei meet in one of the worst ways ever and yet after a bumpy ride finally find their HEA!!

Lorelei West has her hands full with managing the Chestnut Creek Cafe and looking after her mother who has dementia. She also wishes that her sister Patsy, who is out chasing cowboys, would come home, but she's come to realize that is probably not in the cards. Lorelei is happy with her life, however there are times she wishes things could be different. She wants her own family, but she's at an age that that may be out of the question. When she receives news that her sister has been killed in a car crash her whole world comes to a stop. Then she learns that her sister left behind a six-month old little girl that she had no idea existed.

Reese St. James is the co-owner of a huge ranch in Texas. He always means well, but he has a tendency to come across as arrogant, pushy and he often says things in a way that can be misconstrued. He's always lived in the shadow of his twin brother, who was much more like their father, therefore, Reese was always the one on the outside looking in. When Reese learns of his brother's death and that there is a niece he didn't know about, his first order of business is to make sure the little girl is taken care of.

When Lorelei and Reese meet, they realize they both want to parent little Sawyer, but it's going to be complicated, especially with Lorelei living in New Mexico and Reese in Texas. Lorelei makes it clear that money isn't the most important thing and so she and Reese butt heads a bit over that. As these two figure out how to co-parent the little girl, they also learn to trust one another and eventually they realize that being a family might be the best course of action. But can they make it work?

This was a sweet, small-town romance that showcased both love and loss. I enjoyed the journey that Laura Drake took us on to get to this couples HEA.

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

The author has taken you or us the readers back to Unforgiven the small town in New Mexico with the café which is owned by Carly, Nevada with her toned-down heavy metal music in the back cooking and Lorelei West the manager. Now she has enough problems with her mother at home with her alchemizes and just every problem that comes up or down with their home. Her new problem is not really a problem but a huge surprise with a dose of heartache. Her sister Pasty was killed in a car accident and has left a six-month-old that she knew nothing about. Now not only grieving she is also figuring out how to take care of an infant.
Later her next trouble comes in the form of a Texas cowboy who is the bother of the father of the baby and who also was killed in the car accident. The biggest difference is that he has money and she feels threatened by him, his money, and at times just about life. She is still working on her self esteem which is way low because of a former relationship so her way of dealing is by pushing people away. This is what she does with him.
Reese St. James is also dealing with issues he has from a deceased father and a living attorney who started out as his father’s and now is only causing him trouble and grief. Wanting to get to know his niece he has to also get to know Lorelei, which is a hit and miss at times. Both of these characters say and do things to each other that they don’t mean to but it is what happens when you keep so much of your feelings and emotions bottled up. Each character is taken through a transformation through this story and the author does a wonderful job going to great lengths with each character and showing their love for the baby as the bridge that will bring them together or at least get them to grow.
Read this wonderful story about life love, family, and caring about the people that you have grown up or around with especially in a small town for they are all of your family. A really good book with good characters.

#ACowboyForKeeps#Net Galley
I did not know that this was part of a series but I will find and read the others.This is my e book by Laura Drake but it will not be my last.
The Story starts off with a tragic accident that leaves a six month old baby without parents. Lorelei West life changes with one phone call co ding out her sister is dead but she has a niece Sawyer. Lorelei drops everything to go pick up her niece. Reese St James shows up and tells Loelei that his brother who was killed in the accident was the babies father. Lorelei is fighting with to keep her niece but she fears Reese the uncle who has money will do whatever possible to get her. They both want what's best for the baby. Will they work together to keep Sawyer safe and loved? Will they become a family ? A wonderful story about love,family and friendship. Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this q