Cover Image: The Last Chance Cowboy

The Last Chance Cowboy

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Jody Hedlund brings her wonderful series to a close and I loved every minute of it. She is such a good author and equally at home in many genres. I am a huge fan and her very first book sits on my shelves. We get Dylan McQuaid’s story here, and see all the other family members in cameos. The story grabs you from the beginning and doesn’t let go till the end. Recommended.

My thanks to Bethany House for a copy of this book. The opinion here is my own.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for the ARC of this book.

This was the first romance book that I’ve ever read set in this time period. I wasn’t sure if I would like a western romance, but I am happy to say that I loved it!

Besides the time period, I haven’t read many Christian romance books, but this is something that I wanted to read more of this year.

While this is book 5 in the series, I was able to read it without having read the previous books. I now want to go back and read those books though because I want to learn more about those characters.

The Last Chance Cowboy was cute, romantic, and I loved how Christianity was weaved throughout the story.

Dylan was such a wholesome character, and I love how he wanted to continue bettering himself. He was constantly fighting temptation, but he trusted God to help him overcome it. I also really admired how he treated Catherine and didn’t push himself off onto her even though they were married. He took an unexpected situation and made the best out of it.

Catherine was very sweet and naïve. I did get frustrated with her at times for keeping her secrets from Dylan. I could understand why she felt the need to, but she had to know that she couldn’t run away from her problems forever.

Besides the main characters, I did like several of the side characters. The amount of support that the town gave Dylan and Catherine was wonderful to see.

One character that stood out to me was Trudy because she was very observant. She noticed that Catherine didn’t know how to cook and that she had a lot of worries, and she supported her through them.

One quote that stood out to me was from Trudy when talking to Catherine. She said, “We women have to stop defining ourselves by lining ourselves up against other women. Instead, we need to define ourselves the way our Creator does.” (p. 240)

This quote really spoke to me because I often find myself comparing myself to other women even though I know I shouldn’t. It can be so easy to see what others have that you don’t and think less of them or yourself. This was a good reminder to focus on how God sees me and not how I see myself.

It’s so nice to read a story of redemption and full of hope. So many romances I read are so worldly, so it was also nice to see how a Godly man should act and what a Godly marriage should look like. Overall, I would recommend this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

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This one was definitely my favorite in the series!!! I know I’m being redundant but anyone who knows me knows I love redemption arcs!! Throughout the previous books we see how Dylan struggles and turns from God and I loved watching him turn back to God again. There were so many ways I related to Catherine, one of which is wondering what her purpose is and how she can serve God. Coincidentally the lesson in youth group tonight was about our purpose. The other being comparing herself to others and finding herself lacking. This book really seemed to point out how caught up we can be in ourselves rather than on God. The family bond was also something I really loved!! I have a close knit family and sometimes I take that for granted. The McQuaid family had gone through so much but they stuck together through it all.
I received a complementary copy from the author and Bethany House, all opinions are my own.

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Jody Hedlund sure knows how to spin a story! Full of unexpected twists and turns. A story of love, unforgiveness, and selflessness.

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This was a clean romance, a sweet story involving a marriage of convenience between a midwife and a sheriff. Set in 1871, it contains cowboys, danger, redemption, second chances, love and faith.

It is the last in a series, but you do not have to have read any of the others in order to enjoy and follow this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

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The fifth the the Colorado Cowboys series features Dylan, the prodigal son and his struggle to become a better man. When Catherine shows up with his infant son, his past catches up with him. But Catherine also has a past that threatens to ruin her. Loved Catherine's devotion to midwifery but the length of her deception was too much. Enjoyable.

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The Last Chance Cowboy #5 Colorado Cowboys by Jody Hedlund

Fairplay, Colorado 1871
Midwife Catherine Remington secretly flees Chicago, Illinois after witnessing a shooting, taking a dying patient’s newborn infant with her to deliver to his father. Sheriff Dylan McQuaid is a changed man and never dreamed his past would follow him home when Catherine shows up with his son. He misunderstands who Catherine is and marries her. Catherine soon realizes what happened but her heart doesn’t want to leave the baby-- or his father. Danger follows her to Fairplay and puts not only her in danger but her husband and his son as well. I enjoyed reading Catherine, Dylan and precious Austin’s story. A sweet story full of cowboys, conflicts and misunderstandings, sorrows, heartbreak, danger, forgiveness and redemption, second chances, surprises, family love and faith, learning to trust others and God. I loved the spiritual elements in the story. A great ending to Colorado Cowboys series.

~I received a copy of the book from the author/publisher and an e-book copy from the author/publisher via NetGalley (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~

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The last of the McQuaid brothers finds his way toward Happily Ever After in the fifth book of Jody Hedlund's Colorado Cowboys series. Dylan McQuaid has long been the black sheep of the family, leaving a long line of questionable choices, gambling debts, and alcoholism in his wake. After a being freed from his gambling debt and being offered the role of Sheriff in the up-and-coming town of Fairplay, Colorado, Dylan believes he is finally on the right path forward and can finally leave his past in the past. That is, until a charming young woman shows up with a baby she insists is his son.

Determined to do the right thing, Dylan proposes marriage and Catherine agrees, but all is not as it seems.

I'm a sucker for marriage of convenience stories and this one did not disappoint! Catherine is a very likable, relatable character and her growth alongside Dylan makes for a beautiful and satisfying story.

Thank you to Jody Hedlund, Bethany House Fiction, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy. I was not required to leave a positive review and all opinions are my own.

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Jody Hedlund’s Colorado Cowboy series comes to a close with Dylan’s story in The Last Chance Cowboy. I could not have asked for a more perfect ending for Dylan (or the rest of the McQuaid crew)!

Throughout the entire series, Dylan has been in one hot mess after another. Now that he has his own story, we find that he is redeemed and trying to live his life right. He is charming and charismatic and has a way of drawing people in, which is especially helpful when you are the sheriff. Now enter Catherine. She arrives in Fairplay to deliver Dylan’s infant son, and not only does she see firsthand that he is indeed charming, but she also sees a possible solution to her current predicament.

I love marriage of convenience stories, especially when Jody Hedlund writes them. You can be guaranteed clean heat, passion in spades, and lots of charm and wooing. Dylan’s “darlin” had my heart melting.

Catherine adds an interesting layer as a midwife on the run. The town is not quite such what to think, but everyone can see she is perfect for Dylan. As Dylan and Catherine learn to live together, all issues come to a head, and we see why the McQuaid crew is so wonderful. Family and friends are true and genuine blessings and Hedlund captures this perfectly in this book.

I cannot recommend this one highly enough! You can enjoy as a standalone, but it will be such a richer read if you have read the rest of the series. The character development progresses along the way and all the backstories come together beautifully.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

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The series finale of Colorado Cowboys and quite honestly the most thrilling intense and page turning!! I finished it in only a few days time which for my busy schedule says a lot, Dylan and Catherine's story was very unique, much like every McQuaid sibling's story. It was quite obvious in the previous titles of the series that Dylan was quite the rebel, aloof and living a reckless life. But once we reach his story he has grown and come to realize he has been living a life that isn't pleasing to God and wants to change for the better. Catherine had her own battles right from the very first chapter, I loved her honest, calm and simple projection as a character, though found myself scolding her so many times for not doing the right thing and telling the truth at the right time. Still, enjoyed the ride, sad to see the end of the series, a good little family to read about.
I was given this title to read via the author and netgalley, this review is entirely my own honest opinion on the book.

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This touching narrative wraps up the wonderful Colorado Cowboys series. Dylan’s story is all I had hoped it would be and more. As the prodigal son, Dylan bears a lot of guilt and regret for past actions and struggles to prove to his family and the community that he is a changed man. I love Catherine’s devotion as a midwife and how she helps Dylan rebuild his life. The plot moves at a steady pace with twists and surprises. As always, Ms. Hedlund’s characters, primary and secondary, jump off the page and into your heart. The romance, though threatened by deceit, is heartwarming and sweet. I greatly appreciate the faith lessons regarding redemption, forgiveness, and doing the right thing. It was delightful to reconnect with the other members of the McQuaid family and catch up on their lives. I truly enjoyed this very satisfying ending to an awesome series and highly recommend it and the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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This is the fifth and final book in Jody Hedlund’s Colorado Cowboys series. It really helps if you read the books in order before this one so that you’re familiar with the stories of the other McQuaid brothers (Wyatt, Flynn & Brody), as well as sister Ivy. That way you’ll understand many of the characters that show up again in this book, as well as Dylan’s past.

As with other Jody Hedlund books, I had a hard time putting this down! I was glad I didn’t have a lot of other things I had to do, and it was a rainy day, so I could sit by the fire and just read, read, read! There’s lots of secrets, deception, and guilt going on in more than one of the characters – some are willing to come clean, and others try to cover up their problems by accusing someone else. There are good insights on forgiveness – both the person forgiving him/herself, and others forgiving that person – as well as on doing the right thing, resolving issues God’s way, and trusting that God will work things out.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. #TheLastChanceCowboy#NetGalley

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While I’m sad to see Jody Hedlund’s Colorado Cowboys series come to a close, I’ve loved the time we’ve gotten with the McQuaid brothers and their loves and lives. The Last Chance Cowboy is a good wrap up of the series, with plenty of cameos by beloved characters, as well as a sweet romance between Catherine and Dylan. It was so interesting to read about Catherine’s work as a midwife, especially in the 19th century; I’m glad that played a big role in the story. I’m hoping we’re not totally saying goodbye to all of these characters, as Jody has recently announced a Colorado Cowgirls series releasing later this year! Definitely don’t miss her stories, each uniquely full of romance, humor, and history. 4.5/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Oh my goodness, this was just an amazing ending! I have been eagerly waiting for the next books to release in this series each year and it did not disappoint. The Last Chance Cowboy is the fifth and final book in Jody Hedlund’s Colorado Cowboys series.
Dylan needed his own book and boy was it good! Poor Dylan, he had made a lot of mistakes and he had a lot that he needed to work on. Dylan had to learn from his past, amend his mistakes, and give everything to God. I adored getting to read about Dylan and learn more about him. He was learning. It was so sweet to read about him falling for Catherine and Austin. He wanted to be a good father and husband but he had to learn to trust that God was in control even when life felt crazy.
Catherine was another great character! She was so sweet and she fell for Austin at first glance, loving him as her own. Catherine was so interesting to read about and it was sweet to see her falling for Dylan. She didn’t have the best opinion of him but as she learned more about him, she saw past her prejudices. Catherine was running from her problems but she had to learn to face them. Catherine had to learn to trust Dylan and to rest in God’s plan.
I loved getting to read about Catherine and Dylan falling in love! They were so cute together! It was sweet to read about them interacting, Dylan was such a sweetheart. I also adored Austin and read about them coming together to care for him. The side characters were fun, I just loved Trudy and Stu, it was fun to have an older no nonsense couple. Seeing the family again was wonderful and I love how Hedlund is able to weave faith into her stories so well.
I would definitely recommend The Last Chance Cowboy! I am so sad to see this series end, but I believe Hedlund did a great job. The Last Chance Cowboy needs to be on your TBR. It is a clean historical christian romance, I would recommend it to those who are at least 13 years old.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

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