A Cowboy for Keeps

Laura Drake

Jul 2020 · Sold by Forever

About this ebook

From a "fabulous new voice in romantic fiction" (NYT bestselling author Lael Miller): 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?

Ratings and reviews

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.

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.

Wow - what a read! 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. The story is the classic of a girl who has nothing , yet has what's really important, and a guy who has everything, but nothing that matters. When their niece is orphaned, they both step in, with all of the drama and angst that follows. What's different, however, is the author's voice. She has created compelling characters and made them come alive on the page. I was completely immersed in their story and wanting them to get their HEA ending. 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.

About the author

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.