Susan's Review of A Cowboy for Keeps by Laura Drake--Chestnut Creek 3

An arrogant cowboy meets a headstrong woman determined to take custody of his niece, only to realize that she may be the family he was always searching for.

There's not much that could rattle a cowboy like Reese St. James. But when his twin brother dies in a car accident, Reese is stunned to discover he has a six-month old niece, Sawyer. Wanting to make up for lost time, Reese heads down to Unforgiven, New Mexico, to bring her home. He doesn't plan on Sawyer's guardian giving him any trouble, but the intriguing, independent woman is turning out to be more than he bargained for.

Lorelei West had given up hope of having a family of her own until her sister's tragic death brought little Sawyer into her life. And now there's no way she's going to let Reese take her away. Lorelei knows hotshot, good-looking cowboys like him -- she's dated enough of them -- and she intends to stand her ground. Yet the more time Reese and Lorelei spend together, the harder it is to deny the attraction building between them. But opening their hearts to a baby is one thing -- can they also open their hearts to the possibility of a happily-ever-after?

review

I love it when I discover a new author! Laura Drake pairs a strong, independent, café manager Lorelei West with ruggedly handsome rancher Reese St. James in A Cowboy for Keeps. The result? A well-paced, poignant, friends to lovers romance.

Both Reese and Lorelei had given up having a family of their own until a tragic accident leaves their six- month old niece an orphan. Lorelei travels to a small town in New Mexico to pick up the child and brings her home. When Reese discovers he is an uncle, he immediately drives to New Mexico. He shows up at the café asking for Lorelei. His sole purpose?—to see Sawyer.

The tension between Lorelei and Reese drew me into the story immediately. She is worried that Reese will use his wealth and family connections to obtain custody of Sawyer. Reese is concerned she won’t let him see his niece. Their first conversation does not do well as Reese blurts out his thoughts without thinking. Lorelei invites Reese to her home and wonders if he can see past the peeling paint, leaky roof and outdated kitchen and realize that Sawyer is adored by her family. Reese becomes immersed in the Wests day to day life. Loved when the overconfident cowboy changes a stinky diaper for the first time, does yard work and charms Lorelei’s mother (who calls him the Meals on Wheels boy) and her companion Sarah. Reese understands that the Wests are a family—they care and support each other unconditionally-something that he did not experience growing up.

Loved the author’s descriptive voice in this novel. I could picture Nevada behind the stove at the Chestnut Creek café, hear the hilarious conversations between Moss and Manny and see the fireworks sparkle between Lorelei and Reese at the Fourth of July celebration.

Lorelei and Reese’s love for Sawyer brings them together. I adored the couple’s slow burn love story as it unfolded during the novel. Both Lorelei and Reese had insecurities that they needed to resolve. They needed to believe in each other and in their love for Sawyer before they could take a leap of faith and fall in love. I adored both characters. I was drawn to Lorelei because she thought romance and a family of her own had passed her by. Reese charmed his way into my heart because he loved Sawyer and Lorelei and wants to become a better person for them.

The tension between Reese and Lorelei drew me into the story but, their emotional journey-grief, acceptance and love-kept me reading. A Cowboy for Keeps is a wonderful small town novel filled with engaging characters and an emotional storyline that tugs at your heart strings. Pick up a copy and enjoy this fabulous story!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by the publisher

Laura Drake grew up in the suburbs outside Detroit. A tomboy, she’s always loved the outdoors and adventure. In 1980 she and her sister packed everything they owned into Pintos and moved to California. There she met and married a motorcycling, bleed-maroon Texas Aggie and her love affair with the West began.
In 2014, Laura realized a lifelong dream of becoming a Texan, and is currently working on her accent. She gave up the corporate CFO gig to write full time. She’s a wife, grandmother, and motorcycle chick in the remaining waking hours.