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Copper Ridge #6
Last Chance Rebel
The prodigal son of Copper Ridge, Oregon, has finally come home
The man who ruined Rebecca Bear's life just strolled back into it with one heck of an offer. Years ago, Gage West's recklessness left Rebecca scarred inside and out. Now he wants to make amends by gifting her the building that houses her souvenir store. Rebecca won't take Gage's charity, but she's willing to make a deal with the sexy, reclusive cowboy. Yet keeping her enemy close is growing dangerously appealing…
He's the wild West brother, the bad seed of Copper Ridge. That's why Gage needs the absolution Rebecca offers. He just didn't expect to need her. After years of regretting his past, he knows where his future lies—with this strong, irresistible woman who could make a black sheep come home to stay…
The man who ruined Rebecca Bear's life just strolled back into it with one heck of an offer. Years ago, Gage West's recklessness left Rebecca scarred inside and out. Now he wants to make amends by gifting her the building that houses her souvenir store. Rebecca won't take Gage's charity, but she's willing to make a deal with the sexy, reclusive cowboy. Yet keeping her enemy close is growing dangerously appealing…
He's the wild West brother, the bad seed of Copper Ridge. That's why Gage needs the absolution Rebecca offers. He just didn't expect to need her. After years of regretting his past, he knows where his future lies—with this strong, irresistible woman who could make a black sheep come home to stay…
376 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 30, 2016
190 people are currently reading
1371 people want to read
About the author
Maisey Yates
1,178 books3,020 followersNew York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.
She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.
She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
November 17, 2016
My love for this series runs deep.
I can't say I was crazy about every book or even every couple, but it’s been a fun ride.
Gage and Rebecca’s story falls somewhere in the middle. I don’t think it's on par with what I consider to be the strongest book in the series (Tough Luck Hero), but it wasn’t the worst (One Night Charmer) either. It was the humor I’ve come to expect from Maisey Yates that was missing this time around and I couldn't get over it.
I had my heart set on witty banter and some funny moments, so I was kind of thrown off when the story was dark and almost dreary; lifeless in a way.
Gage and Rebecca’s history spans seventeen years and encompasses a horrific accident, physical and emotional scars and abandonment. These two are damaged. Gage's return to Copper Ridge forces Rebecca to face the monster and do something about it.
It wasn’t hard to guess where this story was headed, but that didn't ruin the experience for me in any way. What knocked the story down a notch was the ending. It felt rushed and honestly, their relationship teetered on the very edge of insta-love. The buildup was extremely slow - it took half of the book for anything major to happen between them and then *bam* - they were professing their undying love. Essentially, in a matter of days? Ugh, no. Not happening. There was way too much hate and bitterness for things to be wrapped up that easily.
I honesty think the epilogue might have been the best part of the entire story. Simply because some of my favorite characters from the other books made cameos.
*Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I can't say I was crazy about every book or even every couple, but it’s been a fun ride.
Gage and Rebecca’s story falls somewhere in the middle. I don’t think it's on par with what I consider to be the strongest book in the series (Tough Luck Hero), but it wasn’t the worst (One Night Charmer) either. It was the humor I’ve come to expect from Maisey Yates that was missing this time around and I couldn't get over it.
I had my heart set on witty banter and some funny moments, so I was kind of thrown off when the story was dark and almost dreary; lifeless in a way.
Gage and Rebecca’s history spans seventeen years and encompasses a horrific accident, physical and emotional scars and abandonment. These two are damaged. Gage's return to Copper Ridge forces Rebecca to face the monster and do something about it.
It wasn’t hard to guess where this story was headed, but that didn't ruin the experience for me in any way. What knocked the story down a notch was the ending. It felt rushed and honestly, their relationship teetered on the very edge of insta-love. The buildup was extremely slow - it took half of the book for anything major to happen between them and then *bam* - they were professing their undying love. Essentially, in a matter of days? Ugh, no. Not happening. There was way too much hate and bitterness for things to be wrapped up that easily.
I honesty think the epilogue might have been the best part of the entire story. Simply because some of my favorite characters from the other books made cameos.
*Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2024
Este libro es una recomendación y no me decepcionó.
Tiene el trope de cowboy.
Ella tuvo un accidente cuando era niña que le dejó grandes cicatrices tanto física como emocionalmente y el responsable ha vuelto después de 17 años, llegando a su tienda diciéndole que es el nuevo dueño de la propiedad y se la quiere dar a ella, pero el orgullo es tan grande que no acepta pero decide ir a trabajar a su rancho por todo el dinero que él le dio atraves de los "seguros".
Fue un romance muy bonito medio Slow burn, empiezan con una relación sexual mientras él se va de nuevo pero durante ese tiempo ella se empieza abrir, quitándose un peso de encima que iba cargando de su pasado y al mismo tiempo curando sus heridas y perdonando, juntos a ese proceso también se fue enamorando de él y él de ella.
La verdad me gustó mucho y si tienen el tiempo léanlo.
Tiene el trope de cowboy.
Ella tuvo un accidente cuando era niña que le dejó grandes cicatrices tanto física como emocionalmente y el responsable ha vuelto después de 17 años, llegando a su tienda diciéndole que es el nuevo dueño de la propiedad y se la quiere dar a ella, pero el orgullo es tan grande que no acepta pero decide ir a trabajar a su rancho por todo el dinero que él le dio atraves de los "seguros".
Fue un romance muy bonito medio Slow burn, empiezan con una relación sexual mientras él se va de nuevo pero durante ese tiempo ella se empieza abrir, quitándose un peso de encima que iba cargando de su pasado y al mismo tiempo curando sus heridas y perdonando, juntos a ese proceso también se fue enamorando de él y él de ella.
La verdad me gustó mucho y si tienen el tiempo léanlo.
August 30, 2016
Reviewed by Mandi
“Rebecca has a special friend.”
The wave of heat intensified, and Rebecca felt like she might suffocate beneath her embarrassment. “He’s not a…Don’t call him that.”
“A special friend?” Alison raised an eyebrow.
“Like a special friend…like a penis friend?
I love a grouchy, somber, Maisey Yates hero, and she gives a good one in Gage. When Gage was eighteen he was carefree, and responsibility free, and caused a very bad accident, injuring our heroine, Rebecca. Besides a lot of physical therapy, and her mother abandoning her and her brother, Rebecca is left with some scarring on her face and body. Gage fled town too, but now to everyone’s dismay, he is back in Copper Ridge. Gage left as a spoiled kid, and is back as a man who feels the weight of all of his mistakes. Gage’s father owns many businesses in Copper Ridge, and is very ill, so Gage is in line to take over the reigns (grudgingly) . Since he has been gone for sixteen years, his relationship with his brother and sisters is pretty non-existent. They have managed just fine without him and aren’t thrilled he is back. Worse, Gage’s father owns the property that Rebecca rents for her beloved store. Gage has realized that his father is having money trouble, and he is going to have to sell off some of these properties to pay down the debt. He can’t imagine causing Rebecca any more harm, so he offers to just give her the building, causing her pride to rise up.
“Rebecca,” he said, his voice low, intense. “We need to talk.”
“No, we don’t,” she said, her throat getting tight. “Not if you’re who I think you are. We don’t need to do anything. You need to get the ever-loving hell out of my store before I grab the shotgun I keep under the counter.”
Rebecca thought for years that she received insurance money after the accident, but what she didn’t know is that Gage wrote her a big anonymous check. With this new information, Rebecca is insistent to work for Gage, to earn that money. Gage of course doesn’t want Rebecca owing him anything, but he comes to find out she can be very stubborn.
Maisey Yates does a nice job with balancing the pain and anger that Rebecca faces in life. She has moved on from that accident, but with the scars and the occasional limping, she holds onto resentment regarding Gage.
“Everybody has monsters in their closet when they’re little. You were mine. You are the reason I was in physical therapy. The reason I endured months of recovery. The reason that I had to have more than one surgery to try to restore the skin on parts of my body.”
He titled his head back, as though her words were physical blows. “I know.”
When he walks into her store with his muscles and low voice her anger bubbles up from the past. He ran away and lived his life, and she was left alone to heal. It wasn’t fair and he fully admits it. He owns up to his prior reckless behavior, but at the same time never pities her. He wants to protect her and doesn’t want to cause her anymore pain but he is also awed by her tenacity. They start out very rocky (obviously) but slowly Gage realizes how beautiful she is and how feisty she is and wants to be with her.
I liked that Rebecca fought against her attraction to Gage, because of what happened in the past. But I also liked how their romance plays out.
Gage has to win back his siblings too, and that is not an easy task. They are bitter about him leaving and their reunion felt very realistic to me.
A good combination of angst and sexy romance.
Grade: B
“Rebecca has a special friend.”
The wave of heat intensified, and Rebecca felt like she might suffocate beneath her embarrassment. “He’s not a…Don’t call him that.”
“A special friend?” Alison raised an eyebrow.
“Like a special friend…like a penis friend?
I love a grouchy, somber, Maisey Yates hero, and she gives a good one in Gage. When Gage was eighteen he was carefree, and responsibility free, and caused a very bad accident, injuring our heroine, Rebecca. Besides a lot of physical therapy, and her mother abandoning her and her brother, Rebecca is left with some scarring on her face and body. Gage fled town too, but now to everyone’s dismay, he is back in Copper Ridge. Gage left as a spoiled kid, and is back as a man who feels the weight of all of his mistakes. Gage’s father owns many businesses in Copper Ridge, and is very ill, so Gage is in line to take over the reigns (grudgingly) . Since he has been gone for sixteen years, his relationship with his brother and sisters is pretty non-existent. They have managed just fine without him and aren’t thrilled he is back. Worse, Gage’s father owns the property that Rebecca rents for her beloved store. Gage has realized that his father is having money trouble, and he is going to have to sell off some of these properties to pay down the debt. He can’t imagine causing Rebecca any more harm, so he offers to just give her the building, causing her pride to rise up.
“Rebecca,” he said, his voice low, intense. “We need to talk.”
“No, we don’t,” she said, her throat getting tight. “Not if you’re who I think you are. We don’t need to do anything. You need to get the ever-loving hell out of my store before I grab the shotgun I keep under the counter.”
Rebecca thought for years that she received insurance money after the accident, but what she didn’t know is that Gage wrote her a big anonymous check. With this new information, Rebecca is insistent to work for Gage, to earn that money. Gage of course doesn’t want Rebecca owing him anything, but he comes to find out she can be very stubborn.
Maisey Yates does a nice job with balancing the pain and anger that Rebecca faces in life. She has moved on from that accident, but with the scars and the occasional limping, she holds onto resentment regarding Gage.
“Everybody has monsters in their closet when they’re little. You were mine. You are the reason I was in physical therapy. The reason I endured months of recovery. The reason that I had to have more than one surgery to try to restore the skin on parts of my body.”
He titled his head back, as though her words were physical blows. “I know.”
When he walks into her store with his muscles and low voice her anger bubbles up from the past. He ran away and lived his life, and she was left alone to heal. It wasn’t fair and he fully admits it. He owns up to his prior reckless behavior, but at the same time never pities her. He wants to protect her and doesn’t want to cause her anymore pain but he is also awed by her tenacity. They start out very rocky (obviously) but slowly Gage realizes how beautiful she is and how feisty she is and wants to be with her.
I liked that Rebecca fought against her attraction to Gage, because of what happened in the past. But I also liked how their romance plays out.
Gage has to win back his siblings too, and that is not an easy task. They are bitter about him leaving and their reunion felt very realistic to me.
A good combination of angst and sexy romance.
Grade: B
August 18, 2016
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2b2Jo4z
Yall. This book. Last Chance Rebel was one of those books where I read a couple chapters and literally sat back thinking Holy crap. If Yates can pull this romance off it'll be damn impressive! And pull it off she did. This wasn't an easy read. It wasn't an easy romance. But it was a beautiful story of healing and forgiveness that really touched the heart.
The quick of it is that when he was a teen Gage was reckless and in an instant changed the course of Rebecca's life forever--leaving her deeply scarred both emotionally and physically from a car accident. And then he ran. For 17 years. But he's come home to try and fix everything he broke all those years ago.
These two. Yall. I really wasn't sure how it was going to work out. Rebecca was angry. bitter, and flat out hostile for a good long while. But I couldn't blame her for that and totally got her pissed off bitch attitude. She's spent every day dealing with the fallout of a car crash that left her body ravaged and now having to deal with the man responsible? Yeah. Bad place. But I still loved her. She overcame so much and is just a fighter. And Gage. Well he can be overbearing and arrogant but under it all he's even more broken than she is even if his scars are all on the inside. And I really felt for him. He was a good guy that made a horrible mistake as a kid and has struggled with it since.
I hurt for both of them and ended up loving them together. They really are the last people you'd expect together but it worked somehow. It wasn't easy and they fought and growled at each other but seeing that morph into something different and healing was amazing. They had to fight for their romance and every bit of healing they went through. Realizing that they weren't victim and villain but more than that one moment in their pasts. Gah. Yes, yall.
All in all, I really just didn't think these two could make it but Yates made me a believer. Last Chance Rebel sucked me in and held me completely captivated as two very damaged souls found a way to heal themselves and move on after a tremendously life altering event. Beautiful writing and romance, inspiring characters, hope, love, humor...it has it all. You simply can't go wrong with Yates.
July 22, 2016
3.5 stars
I'm always in the mood for a Maisey Yates book. She's recently been some of my favorite sorbet.
I liked Rebecca and Gage well enough. They have some wicked chemistry and it gets even crazier as the story progresses. I loved seeing the couples from the previous books as well.
The main reason I didn't rate it higher was that the ending seems so so so rushed. There is one massive conflict in the story and it overtakes everything. So it would make sense that it would take some time to work out, right? Nope. They break up at like 90% and the grand gesture comes at 98% and we get a brief page and a half epilogue.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the story and I really liked Rebecca and Gage, but something about the messy fix didn't sit right with me. I wanted more.
**Huge thanks to HQN Books and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
I'm always in the mood for a Maisey Yates book. She's recently been some of my favorite sorbet.
I liked Rebecca and Gage well enough. They have some wicked chemistry and it gets even crazier as the story progresses. I loved seeing the couples from the previous books as well.
The main reason I didn't rate it higher was that the ending seems so so so rushed. There is one massive conflict in the story and it overtakes everything. So it would make sense that it would take some time to work out, right? Nope. They break up at like 90% and the grand gesture comes at 98% and we get a brief page and a half epilogue.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the story and I really liked Rebecca and Gage, but something about the messy fix didn't sit right with me. I wanted more.
**Huge thanks to HQN Books and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
December 27, 2018
I had such high hopes for this one. I didn't even realize it until I finally sat down to read it.
This wasn't bad, just not as good as some of the other Copper Ridge books. This deals with a pretty heavy subject matter with two very broken, emotionally stunted, closed off characters who carry a lot of baggage. So you need patience. LOTS of it. Gage West, the prodigal 'black sheep' son of the West family has finally returned home after being away for 17 years. He's the eldest son who ran away after a horrible accident that involved a little girl named Rebecca Bear. As a reckless teen he went racing with his friends on a highway and hit another car, which left Rebecca with scar tissue on her face and body and a bad leg. They never met or known much of each other until they meet face to face when he returns to town.
Such an interesting twisted angsty premise no?
Now for some reason I thought I had a good picture of Rebecca before reading this and was expecting a sweet natured woman who is full of understanding, forgiveness and open arms for the person who wrecked her life. Don't ask me why. lol But yeah...nope. Not even close. She's all biting sarcasm, bitterness, raging anger with a huge chip on her shoulder. A chip the size of a canyon. But I understood where she was coming from. Was she bitchy and crazy irrational at times? Yes. Was she prideful and hard headed? You bet. But it comes with the territory I guess. Even when I felt like throttling her through half of the book. I kept putting myself in her shoes and the idea of having to deal with the complete mind fuck of facing someone who nearly killed you and ruined your life unintentionally. That's a whole heaping pile of resentment right there for you. Did I agree with all her venomous anger and casting blame? No. But it's understandable.
Like always, Yates did a pretty good job of showing a prickly character's growth and giving them a lot of layers. Rebecca may not be a fun picnic but her strength, self-awareness and self-discovery was successful. The payoff there was good. She may not be my personal favorite and she was hard to get to know or warm up to given the repetitive venomous anger and self-victimizing in the first half but her growth was great. I just wish her epiphany to realizing things should change wasn't wrapped around her attraction to a man. For me personally the author lost me there and made the plot lose it's footing.
Now what wasn't so good? The romance and the hero. I really wanted to like Gage, with all his typical brooding silence and tormented bad boy disposition Yates is so good at. I really really wanted to love him. But all his heavy baggage kept getting tamped down and pushed aside to be dealt with a little too late in here IMO. I just could not get a good bead on this guy. He's a closed up stranger through 90% of the story. I also was waiting and hoping to see more actual interaction and reconciliation with his siblings throughout the book but they barely showed up in here. Which I think was a mistake. A huge one. Gage abandoned his brothers and sisters, he became a total stranger to them, that's pretty big and needed to be fixed. But there wasn't much 'fixing' on the page. And it didn't really speak well of his character and help redeem him on that front. Just saying.
Another thing that I didn't love and feel like did a disservice to the romance? The constant resentment and self-loathing that gets shuffled back and forth between Rebecca and Gage. The first half it was all Rebecca, every other line on every page she's swearing him to hell and reminding him of what he did to her and wanting to punish him. And it was pretty miserable how heavy handed Yates stressed the heroine's self-misery. The second half though Gage is the one bucking and walling up and not wanting to talk. They keep having the same conversation over and over again 10 different ways that at some point I felt they were contradicting themselves and not making sense any more. I honestly stopped caring & tuned out why Gage thought he was 'the villain' and just wanted him to suck it up and move on from it. Yates is usually really great at giving her characters layers and having them self-evaluate (ad nauseam) why things are not working out. But here, it was pretty miserable with all the endless repetitive rehashing of the same things over and over again. Because of this heavy handed approach it all came off a little too over dramatic & overdone. The characters spent way too much time in their own heads dwelling on the same things for a good 80% of the story that I honestly struggled to see how else they connect besides physical lust and their tied history to the accident. I mean Rebecca went from snarling and hurling threats at him to jumping his bones and wanting him. Then Bam! she loves him. I didn't see the connection to go from point a to point b. It was beautiful to see her go from cynical closed off brick wall to a blossoming flower (forgive me for this corny cliche I can't think of anything else right now) who was fearless and stripped down and willing to sacrifice her heart for someone she loves. Her transformation is applaud worthy and believable. What was not so believable or hard to connect to was the chemistry. There was way too much emotional blockage all around in this book where it should have been a pouring dam.
And I have to say for secondary characters, I wasn't really impressed with Rebecca's friends Lane and Allison. It really irritated me how they kept giving lame misguided advice to Rebecca about Gage. Yes girlfriends always have your back but there also needs to be a voice of reason too. Telling her to hold onto a grudge because it's normal and healthy and "forgiveness is a weakness"? Wahuh? WTF? Lane acting horrified that Rebecca is sleeping with an "evil man" got annoying real fast. And to have your best friends keep acting weird and vilify the guy you are sleeping with and never even meeting him once in the book doesn’t really ring well for selling a couple IMO. Just saying. I also found the chemistry between these 3 so dry and forced considering they barely knew anything about Rebecca given how closed off she is yet call her their "best friend". How does that work? That's not how best friends work, Maisey Yates.
And what is it with small town CR books having heroines who runs a business always having 2 best friends who also run businesses on the same street?? It's way too formulaic to me and reminded me so much of Jill Shalvis's Lucky Harbor series. The best friends who gossip always come in pairs of 3. Always. Not saying it's a bad thing per say but honestly? I'm tired of it and was surprised that Yates was pulling it here. But yeah overall, while this wasn't my favorite I'm still a Copper Ridge fan and Maisey Yates fan.
This wasn't bad, just not as good as some of the other Copper Ridge books. This deals with a pretty heavy subject matter with two very broken, emotionally stunted, closed off characters who carry a lot of baggage. So you need patience. LOTS of it. Gage West, the prodigal 'black sheep' son of the West family has finally returned home after being away for 17 years. He's the eldest son who ran away after a horrible accident that involved a little girl named Rebecca Bear. As a reckless teen he went racing with his friends on a highway and hit another car, which left Rebecca with scar tissue on her face and body and a bad leg. They never met or known much of each other until they meet face to face when he returns to town.
Such an interesting twisted angsty premise no?
Now for some reason I thought I had a good picture of Rebecca before reading this and was expecting a sweet natured woman who is full of understanding, forgiveness and open arms for the person who wrecked her life. Don't ask me why. lol But yeah...nope. Not even close. She's all biting sarcasm, bitterness, raging anger with a huge chip on her shoulder. A chip the size of a canyon. But I understood where she was coming from. Was she bitchy and crazy irrational at times? Yes. Was she prideful and hard headed? You bet. But it comes with the territory I guess. Even when I felt like throttling her through half of the book. I kept putting myself in her shoes and the idea of having to deal with the complete mind fuck of facing someone who nearly killed you and ruined your life unintentionally. That's a whole heaping pile of resentment right there for you. Did I agree with all her venomous anger and casting blame? No. But it's understandable.
Like always, Yates did a pretty good job of showing a prickly character's growth and giving them a lot of layers. Rebecca may not be a fun picnic but her strength, self-awareness and self-discovery was successful. The payoff there was good. She may not be my personal favorite and she was hard to get to know or warm up to given the repetitive venomous anger and self-victimizing in the first half but her growth was great. I just wish her epiphany to realizing things should change wasn't wrapped around her attraction to a man. For me personally the author lost me there and made the plot lose it's footing.
Now what wasn't so good? The romance and the hero. I really wanted to like Gage, with all his typical brooding silence and tormented bad boy disposition Yates is so good at. I really really wanted to love him. But all his heavy baggage kept getting tamped down and pushed aside to be dealt with a little too late in here IMO. I just could not get a good bead on this guy. He's a closed up stranger through 90% of the story. I also was waiting and hoping to see more actual interaction and reconciliation with his siblings throughout the book but they barely showed up in here. Which I think was a mistake. A huge one. Gage abandoned his brothers and sisters, he became a total stranger to them, that's pretty big and needed to be fixed. But there wasn't much 'fixing' on the page. And it didn't really speak well of his character and help redeem him on that front. Just saying.
Another thing that I didn't love and feel like did a disservice to the romance? The constant resentment and self-loathing that gets shuffled back and forth between Rebecca and Gage. The first half it was all Rebecca, every other line on every page she's swearing him to hell and reminding him of what he did to her and wanting to punish him. And it was pretty miserable how heavy handed Yates stressed the heroine's self-misery. The second half though Gage is the one bucking and walling up and not wanting to talk. They keep having the same conversation over and over again 10 different ways that at some point I felt they were contradicting themselves and not making sense any more. I honestly stopped caring & tuned out why Gage thought he was 'the villain' and just wanted him to suck it up and move on from it. Yates is usually really great at giving her characters layers and having them self-evaluate (ad nauseam) why things are not working out. But here, it was pretty miserable with all the endless repetitive rehashing of the same things over and over again. Because of this heavy handed approach it all came off a little too over dramatic & overdone. The characters spent way too much time in their own heads dwelling on the same things for a good 80% of the story that I honestly struggled to see how else they connect besides physical lust and their tied history to the accident. I mean Rebecca went from snarling and hurling threats at him to jumping his bones and wanting him. Then Bam! she loves him. I didn't see the connection to go from point a to point b. It was beautiful to see her go from cynical closed off brick wall to a blossoming flower (forgive me for this corny cliche I can't think of anything else right now) who was fearless and stripped down and willing to sacrifice her heart for someone she loves. Her transformation is applaud worthy and believable. What was not so believable or hard to connect to was the chemistry. There was way too much emotional blockage all around in this book where it should have been a pouring dam.
And I have to say for secondary characters, I wasn't really impressed with Rebecca's friends Lane and Allison. It really irritated me how they kept giving lame misguided advice to Rebecca about Gage. Yes girlfriends always have your back but there also needs to be a voice of reason too. Telling her to hold onto a grudge because it's normal and healthy and "forgiveness is a weakness"? Wahuh? WTF? Lane acting horrified that Rebecca is sleeping with an "evil man" got annoying real fast. And to have your best friends keep acting weird and vilify the guy you are sleeping with and never even meeting him once in the book doesn’t really ring well for selling a couple IMO. Just saying. I also found the chemistry between these 3 so dry and forced considering they barely knew anything about Rebecca given how closed off she is yet call her their "best friend". How does that work? That's not how best friends work, Maisey Yates.
And what is it with small town CR books having heroines who runs a business always having 2 best friends who also run businesses on the same street?? It's way too formulaic to me and reminded me so much of Jill Shalvis's Lucky Harbor series. The best friends who gossip always come in pairs of 3. Always. Not saying it's a bad thing per say but honestly? I'm tired of it and was surprised that Yates was pulling it here. But yeah overall, while this wasn't my favorite I'm still a Copper Ridge fan and Maisey Yates fan.
August 31, 2016
So not the book for me. This isn't labeled new adult, as the MCs are 28 and 35. Unfortunately, all the story almost to the bitter (for me) end was about two emo teenagers. And it's not my idea of a woman and a man, they just were totally immature. It was painfully boring to read. Moreover, some discussions were embarrassing juvenile, and they didn't involve the leading characters only, but her friends too.
This isn't broken, this is silly, they way some teenagers are: spoilt. Gage, the hero, is all about himself and what he wants. All shaped as "fixing what he caused". Basically, he never does what's right, but only what's right for himself, whining all around about ... again himself. ("Look how baaad I am").
Rebecca. Rebecca was a little more nuanced. She was all rage, but again not the cleaning rage of an avenging angel, but the useless anger of a teen who feels no one understand her. Plus, after an initial moment (when she seemed to be the avenging angel above mentioned), she really comes out as a teen. She's a virgin, but not of a bed partner (that too), but of life. Again she reads really like 18 going on 13. And with all that life dished at her it sounds fake to boot.
Anyway, many readers loved this, including Mandy of Smexy Books. Just not me.
This isn't broken, this is silly, they way some teenagers are: spoilt. Gage, the hero, is all about himself and what he wants. All shaped as "fixing what he caused". Basically, he never does what's right, but only what's right for himself, whining all around about ... again himself. ("Look how baaad I am").
Rebecca. Rebecca was a little more nuanced. She was all rage, but again not the cleaning rage of an avenging angel, but the useless anger of a teen who feels no one understand her. Plus, after an initial moment (when she seemed to be the avenging angel above mentioned), she really comes out as a teen. She's a virgin, but not of a bed partner (that too), but of life. Again she reads really like 18 going on 13. And with all that life dished at her it sounds fake to boot.
Anyway, many readers loved this, including Mandy of Smexy Books. Just not me.
August 12, 2016
This story is hard hitting and poignant yet thoroughly romantic. It will make you swoon. It will tie your emotions in a knot while also allowing you to laugh at the intrinsic fun in life itself. Yates’ fantastic descriptions shine through bringing the world to life as the plot unfolds page by page.
I get why Rebecca’s angry, but the constant ‘woe is me, you should pity me’ got old. That said, I truly enjoyed getting to know her better as she finally came to accept her life and how it could be, if she’d only let it. I loved seeing her grow & change as she comes to accept herself and those around herself. Gage, on the other hand, was a whole other kettle of fish. His strength yet need to be on his own was a unique mix. He’s one of those characters that takes a while to really figure out but that you can’t help but swoon over at the same time. He just emanates an aura that you can’t miss.
Once again Yates has created a novel that was a whole lot of fun while also being emotionally engaging. The romance and chemistry will keep you hooked while getting to know the characters will leave a lasting impression.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
I get why Rebecca’s angry, but the constant ‘woe is me, you should pity me’ got old. That said, I truly enjoyed getting to know her better as she finally came to accept her life and how it could be, if she’d only let it. I loved seeing her grow & change as she comes to accept herself and those around herself. Gage, on the other hand, was a whole other kettle of fish. His strength yet need to be on his own was a unique mix. He’s one of those characters that takes a while to really figure out but that you can’t help but swoon over at the same time. He just emanates an aura that you can’t miss.
Once again Yates has created a novel that was a whole lot of fun while also being emotionally engaging. The romance and chemistry will keep you hooked while getting to know the characters will leave a lasting impression.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2016
“Because we both deserve to be more than those scars.”
This is a hate-love story. There is a good reason for the heroine to hate the hero. If you have read my reviews of the Copper Ridge series, you know I like it because it has great banter and funny elements. However, Last Chance Rebel is missing the second component. The story is more serious and darker.
In the last book, Colton West's brother, Gage has come back to town after many years of absence. He comes back because his father is in the hospital and he's the one who can make decisions about the ranch and the remaining property. Gage is also back to try to make amends. He was responsible for a car accident when he was younger. A little girl and her mother were hurt. The little girl is now a woman and he wants to make her life a little easier. If only she would let him.
Rebecca Bear has scars all over her body from the accident she was in but none are as deep as the ones she is carrying inside. Her scars have made it easy for her to keep everyone at a distance to prevent them from hurting her. Her mother left Rebecca when she needed her the most leaving her brother Jonathan to take care of her. As an adult, she has learned not to rely on anyone else. She wants nothing to do with Gage West's proposition but she does want to clear her debt with him. She believes him to be a monster but the more she gets to know him the more she starts liking the man he really is.
“Monsters, she decided, should be hideous. They should not be lean, finely honed examples of masculine perfection complete with an utterly offensive yet compelling tattoo on an equally compelling forearm.”
As I said before, the story is complicated. The characters deal with pain, guilt, and duty. I missed not having the funny component but I still like the story.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
September 17, 2016
My Rating:
3.5
Favorite Quotes:
It’s always the handsome ones… If evil men looked like the trolls they were inside, it would be much easier to avoid them.
He didn’t do relationships – he tended to gravitate toward women with empty heads and full bras who just wanted what he did.
I just need to do this. I’m spring cleaning my soul.
My Review:
I struggled while reading this book and was close to a giving up and declaring a DNF, as I do not enjoy constant conflict. However, that is just my personal preference… I read to be entertained. While I enjoyed the underlying plot and found the storyline to be relevant and interesting, I felt the melodrama, tension, and angst to have been over-served. I also had considerable difficulty finding the characters to be likable during much of the first half of the story. I had empathy for them as they were both broken and emotionally stunted, but the repetition of her frequently spewed venomous anger and his inner musings of self-loathing became rather tedious for me. Despite that, I am quite glad I pushed past my personal discomfort and did enjoy the later portion of the book as the characters finally began to blossom and personally evolve, and then steamy bits started showing up. Thankfully, they each experienced their own epiphanies and came together for a sweet and satisfying conclusion, although Ms. Yates certainly made them work for it.
3.5
Favorite Quotes:
It’s always the handsome ones… If evil men looked like the trolls they were inside, it would be much easier to avoid them.
He didn’t do relationships – he tended to gravitate toward women with empty heads and full bras who just wanted what he did.
I just need to do this. I’m spring cleaning my soul.
My Review:
I struggled while reading this book and was close to a giving up and declaring a DNF, as I do not enjoy constant conflict. However, that is just my personal preference… I read to be entertained. While I enjoyed the underlying plot and found the storyline to be relevant and interesting, I felt the melodrama, tension, and angst to have been over-served. I also had considerable difficulty finding the characters to be likable during much of the first half of the story. I had empathy for them as they were both broken and emotionally stunted, but the repetition of her frequently spewed venomous anger and his inner musings of self-loathing became rather tedious for me. Despite that, I am quite glad I pushed past my personal discomfort and did enjoy the later portion of the book as the characters finally began to blossom and personally evolve, and then steamy bits started showing up. Thankfully, they each experienced their own epiphanies and came together for a sweet and satisfying conclusion, although Ms. Yates certainly made them work for it.
Read
September 24, 2016"Yates' characters are masterfully written with a keen eye for establishing emotional depth, which allows readers to invest in the relationship. Rebecca’s adversarial attitude toward Gage adds a genuine conflict to their relationship. The community of Copper Ridge is robust and filled with people readers would like to know and places they’d want to visit, which makes each book like a mini vacation. Perfect for fans of Robyn Carr or JoAnn Ross" (4 1/2 stars TOP PICK! @ RT Book Reviews).
Miniseries: Copper Ridge
Miniseries: Copper Ridge
October 26, 2017
3.75 stars
Great chemistry between the two leads. This was much better than the first Maisey Yates book I read, Slow Burn Cowboy (won as a goodreads giveway, thank you goodreads!). Unlike Slow Burn Cowboy, the writing and storyline in most of this book did not feel forced; I just felt like the ending was wrapped up rather quickly.
One thing that bothered me a bit was that Rebecca had to constantly reassure Gage, it was slightly annoying. The author does do a good job of making you fall in love with the town, and I can see why people like to read series that focus on one town and multiple characters.
Quick read, recommend if you are looking for something less heavy on the drama.
January 7, 2019
Last one I read from Yates was a DNF for me but this one I really enjoyed.
September 12, 2016
I'm not sure what I expected when I started reading this book but the synopsis was eye-catching enough that I knew I had to read it. LAST CHANCE REBEL is an angst-filled and emotional story of healing, growth and love that will break your heart and put it back together. And yes, it's a tear-jerker too.
If life has taught Rebecca Bear anything, it's that she cannot depend on anyone but herself. After being injured in an accident and having her mother abandon her when she needed her most, she has slowly rebuilt her life and Gage West's return to Copper Ridge after seventeen years threatens all her efforts.
Gage's return means he has to face his past but he is not expecting forgiveness or to have the welcome mat rolled out for him. What he also does not expect is that Rebecca would be nothing like he pictured her.
Truth is, for me it was not a very pretty story. It was painful and heart breaking. I can't say that I loved or even like the characters, but I admired them because facing their issues and dealing with them was a hard but cathartic process for them and required them to peel back layers to get to the heart of the issues.
It felt like both Gage and Rebecca had been frozen in time since the accident and needed to grow and deal with their feelings. She's bitter and filled with rage, but she's a fighter and she's created a comfortable life for herself. And if the means to do so was from Gage? Well, she is not willing to be indebted to him.
Gage was a young man who made a terrible mistake and all the time he has spent away did little to heal him. Returning home was what he needed and in addition to facing Rebecca, he also needed to forgive himself and also deal with the rift his leaving had caused within his family.
Kudos to Ms. Yates for pulling off a believable romance between these characters and I think that the ending makes up for all the drama and angst.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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If life has taught Rebecca Bear anything, it's that she cannot depend on anyone but herself. After being injured in an accident and having her mother abandon her when she needed her most, she has slowly rebuilt her life and Gage West's return to Copper Ridge after seventeen years threatens all her efforts.
Gage's return means he has to face his past but he is not expecting forgiveness or to have the welcome mat rolled out for him. What he also does not expect is that Rebecca would be nothing like he pictured her.
Truth is, for me it was not a very pretty story. It was painful and heart breaking. I can't say that I loved or even like the characters, but I admired them because facing their issues and dealing with them was a hard but cathartic process for them and required them to peel back layers to get to the heart of the issues.
It felt like both Gage and Rebecca had been frozen in time since the accident and needed to grow and deal with their feelings. She's bitter and filled with rage, but she's a fighter and she's created a comfortable life for herself. And if the means to do so was from Gage? Well, she is not willing to be indebted to him.
Gage was a young man who made a terrible mistake and all the time he has spent away did little to heal him. Returning home was what he needed and in addition to facing Rebecca, he also needed to forgive himself and also deal with the rift his leaving had caused within his family.
Kudos to Ms. Yates for pulling off a believable romance between these characters and I think that the ending makes up for all the drama and angst.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Want more? Subscribe to my Newsletter on The Sassy Bookster.
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September 1, 2016
3.25 stars
Okay, I did like the complicated background that threw Rebecca and Gage together. The idea of how their lives somewhat intertwined, despite Gage being away from Copper Ridge for the past 17 years just called out to me. However, I wasn't sure about their romance in the end.
I liked Rebecca and how she progressed throughout. Gage, not so much. Their arguments about Gage's guilt and his way of absolution ended up painfully repetitive. I liked this only slightly better than Sierra and Ace's story -- but I guess Colton and Lydia's book is my favorite by miles between the three.
PS: The epilogue is awesome though :)
Okay, I did like the complicated background that threw Rebecca and Gage together. The idea of how their lives somewhat intertwined, despite Gage being away from Copper Ridge for the past 17 years just called out to me. However, I wasn't sure about their romance in the end.
I liked Rebecca and how she progressed throughout. Gage, not so much. Their arguments about Gage's guilt and his way of absolution ended up painfully repetitive. I liked this only slightly better than Sierra and Ace's story -- but I guess Colton and Lydia's book is my favorite by miles between the three.
PS: The epilogue is awesome though :)
July 9, 2016
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Harlequin*
September 20, 2016
Reviewed for Romancing the Readers: http://romancingthereaders.blogspot.com/2016/09/review-giveaway-last-chance-rebel-by.html
At first I wasn't sure if I'd like this story. The plot is sorta 80's in feel. Like a soap opera. Because I've liked other books she has written I read it anyway.
To be honest this isn't one of my favorites of hers. It's not like I didn't somewhat enjoy it, because it wasn't all dis-likable by me. There are parts I really enjoyed. But others that made me think...huh!
The story felt like a mix of soap opera and chick-lit. I can handle the soap opera, not a fan of chick-lit.
I think what Gage did was terrible, how it was handled was even worse. I did like that he finally needed to deal with it and make it up to Rebecca. Of course he did wait a long time. And kudos to her for not forgiving right away. I don't think I would.
Not only does Rebecca have to deal with what Gage did to her (you want to know don' t you) she also had to deal with what her family did too! A lot of hits to a young girl.
I did like how Gage began to forgive himself and Rebecca forgive him. How they worked out their issues was done well.
So there are many good points and not so good in Last Chance Rebel. I'm glad I tried it.
Romancing the Readers Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
ARC received for a honest review
At first I wasn't sure if I'd like this story. The plot is sorta 80's in feel. Like a soap opera. Because I've liked other books she has written I read it anyway.
To be honest this isn't one of my favorites of hers. It's not like I didn't somewhat enjoy it, because it wasn't all dis-likable by me. There are parts I really enjoyed. But others that made me think...huh!
The story felt like a mix of soap opera and chick-lit. I can handle the soap opera, not a fan of chick-lit.
I think what Gage did was terrible, how it was handled was even worse. I did like that he finally needed to deal with it and make it up to Rebecca. Of course he did wait a long time. And kudos to her for not forgiving right away. I don't think I would.
Not only does Rebecca have to deal with what Gage did to her (you want to know don' t you) she also had to deal with what her family did too! A lot of hits to a young girl.
I did like how Gage began to forgive himself and Rebecca forgive him. How they worked out their issues was done well.
So there are many good points and not so good in Last Chance Rebel. I'm glad I tried it.
Romancing the Readers Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
ARC received for a honest review
March 23, 2017
Maisey Yates does write well in fact and her illuminating way of teasing out complicated issues that can only come from family entanglements and unexpected connections forged in tragedy did strike a chord in me. Even so, I’m on the fence with this book not because of the very simple story - essentially a prodigal son returns after years in the wilderness of drifting and anonymous, casual sex to pick up a burden he’d spent years running away from carrying - but because of the characters who form the backbone of the entire story.
In short, this is a case where I liked the female lead, but found her counterpart sorely lacking in comparison.
Generally I thought Gage was a huge idiot and a coward, using every excuse to run under the guise of punishment, never really owning up to anything, not even when confronted with emotions that he can’t handle. Essentially, I found myself faced with an incredibly selfish ‘hero’ who tried to make amends while still doing everything to push people away, then chalked it all up to his daddy and mummy issues, all for a whopping 17 years. If that isn’t a blindingly obvious sign of idiocy and a general lack of self-awareness, I don’t know what is.
Rebecca's growth is in contrast, tremendous, as she moved from anger to acceptance to forgiveness that it awed me in some parts. I loved her kickarse ways and all that she owns up to, even when it comes to facing the difficult decisions head on especially when it came to learning to lean on her friends and her brother more than she’d been already doing. But I did think she postured a little too much about her own re-evaluation of life and love because it was ultimately where the acid test of her relationship with Gage lay. It was obvious throughout (and somewhat heartbreaking to read as well) that Gage had always hidden behind layers she couldn’t breach and her attempts made me pity and admire her both, if that’s even possible. That Gage only hit that realisation about love and sacrifice so late somehow didn’t make him sufficiently worthy of all the precious things Rebecca had to offer.
As a result, it was hard to get into a relationship that felt so unbalanced for most of the story where one side held back everything up until the grand gesture (which also happened to be the abrupt, concluding bit before we slide into a far distant epilogue). But it was also because of the confusing, changing issues that started out with what looked like guilt, which then shifted to be more about yearning for love that his parents never gave. In the end, I couldn't quite make head or tail of just what Gage was so screwed up about. So if this is a book about reparation, forgiveness and equality, I thought everything really came too little, too late.
In short, this is a case where I liked the female lead, but found her counterpart sorely lacking in comparison.
Generally I thought Gage was a huge idiot and a coward, using every excuse to run under the guise of punishment, never really owning up to anything, not even when confronted with emotions that he can’t handle. Essentially, I found myself faced with an incredibly selfish ‘hero’ who tried to make amends while still doing everything to push people away, then chalked it all up to his daddy and mummy issues, all for a whopping 17 years. If that isn’t a blindingly obvious sign of idiocy and a general lack of self-awareness, I don’t know what is.
Rebecca's growth is in contrast, tremendous, as she moved from anger to acceptance to forgiveness that it awed me in some parts. I loved her kickarse ways and all that she owns up to, even when it comes to facing the difficult decisions head on especially when it came to learning to lean on her friends and her brother more than she’d been already doing. But I did think she postured a little too much about her own re-evaluation of life and love because it was ultimately where the acid test of her relationship with Gage lay. It was obvious throughout (and somewhat heartbreaking to read as well) that Gage had always hidden behind layers she couldn’t breach and her attempts made me pity and admire her both, if that’s even possible. That Gage only hit that realisation about love and sacrifice so late somehow didn’t make him sufficiently worthy of all the precious things Rebecca had to offer.
As a result, it was hard to get into a relationship that felt so unbalanced for most of the story where one side held back everything up until the grand gesture (which also happened to be the abrupt, concluding bit before we slide into a far distant epilogue). But it was also because of the confusing, changing issues that started out with what looked like guilt, which then shifted to be more about yearning for love that his parents never gave. In the end, I couldn't quite make head or tail of just what Gage was so screwed up about. So if this is a book about reparation, forgiveness and equality, I thought everything really came too little, too late.
August 17, 2017
3.5 Stars!
Last Chance Rebel was an amazing hate to love story that’s packed full of emotion and was a very enjoyable read.
Gage West is the black sheep of the West family and fled town years ago after his recklessness left Rebecca Bear broken and scarred. Back in town, Gage aims to make amends with those he left behind and he begins with Rebecca by attempting to give her the building that houses her store. However, Rebecca refuses to take his charity, but she is willing to make a deal with the cowboy. What neither of them anticipated was the attraction that would grow between them and soon they’re left trying to figure out if they can leave the past behind for good and move forward together.
Rebecca has spent years trying to forget about the accident that changed her life. She’s worked hard to make a life for herself with her souvenir shop and her home out in the woods. When others attempt to fix things for her or pity her, she has a tendency to push herself too. However, she’s an incredibly strong person and I admire how much she was able to accomplish on her own. I really enjoyed her relationship with her brother, even if he could be a bit too overprotective.
Gage never wanted the same things his father wanted for him which led to a lot of fights, fits of rebellion and ultimately caused him to leave town after his recklessness injured others. Gage is determined to fix the wrongs from his past and at times he can be a bit overbearing in this quest. His relationship with his family isn’t great as he essentially abandoned them over 15 years ago. I did like that he had to work towards a relationship with them and that even by the end of the story, everything isn’t completely fixed.
Rebecca and Gage had great chemistry and a good amount of attraction right from the start. When they finally get together, the scenes are great and I definitely bought it. Obviously there is reluctance on both sides to start anything as they have a number of issues to work through. For the most part, I think they worked things out pretty well until things went a bit wonky near the end of the book. The big conflict takes place almost right at the end of the book and nothing was really resolved and then they’re back together and the book is over.
Most of the character appearances from previous books are the ones more directly connected to the West family. This book definitely contained the least amount of character crossovers, which was a bit of a disappointment as that’s one of my favorite parts of the series.
Overall, while I did enjoy Last Chance Rebel, I wish there had been a bit more time spent working out Rebecca and Gage’s issues. I do recommend the book if you’re a fan of the series or more angsty romance.
Last Chance Rebel was an amazing hate to love story that’s packed full of emotion and was a very enjoyable read.
Gage West is the black sheep of the West family and fled town years ago after his recklessness left Rebecca Bear broken and scarred. Back in town, Gage aims to make amends with those he left behind and he begins with Rebecca by attempting to give her the building that houses her store. However, Rebecca refuses to take his charity, but she is willing to make a deal with the cowboy. What neither of them anticipated was the attraction that would grow between them and soon they’re left trying to figure out if they can leave the past behind for good and move forward together.
Rebecca has spent years trying to forget about the accident that changed her life. She’s worked hard to make a life for herself with her souvenir shop and her home out in the woods. When others attempt to fix things for her or pity her, she has a tendency to push herself too. However, she’s an incredibly strong person and I admire how much she was able to accomplish on her own. I really enjoyed her relationship with her brother, even if he could be a bit too overprotective.
Gage never wanted the same things his father wanted for him which led to a lot of fights, fits of rebellion and ultimately caused him to leave town after his recklessness injured others. Gage is determined to fix the wrongs from his past and at times he can be a bit overbearing in this quest. His relationship with his family isn’t great as he essentially abandoned them over 15 years ago. I did like that he had to work towards a relationship with them and that even by the end of the story, everything isn’t completely fixed.
Rebecca and Gage had great chemistry and a good amount of attraction right from the start. When they finally get together, the scenes are great and I definitely bought it. Obviously there is reluctance on both sides to start anything as they have a number of issues to work through. For the most part, I think they worked things out pretty well until things went a bit wonky near the end of the book. The big conflict takes place almost right at the end of the book and nothing was really resolved and then they’re back together and the book is over.
Most of the character appearances from previous books are the ones more directly connected to the West family. This book definitely contained the least amount of character crossovers, which was a bit of a disappointment as that’s one of my favorite parts of the series.
Overall, while I did enjoy Last Chance Rebel, I wish there had been a bit more time spent working out Rebecca and Gage’s issues. I do recommend the book if you’re a fan of the series or more angsty romance.
September 5, 2016
2.75-3 Stars...to "Last Chance Rebel" Copper Ridge #6 by Maisey Yates.
This was the first book I read by this author. It was pretty long at 384 pages. Sadly, I didn't love it. Because I rarely "not" not finish a book, I admit I skimmed a lot. Even with skipping, it still took me more than two days to finish though. I'm sure it didn't help that I put my Kindle aside and found other things to do more often than not. That said, I'm not saying I won't read this author again. I don't work that way. I know that what pleases others doesn't have to please me so I like to be openminded that just because I don't like one, doesn't mean I won't like another. I will say that Maisey is a passionate writer.
I wanted to like Rebecca but it didn't happen. Gage wasn't very appealing either. Those two didn't like each other and took fighting/bickering to a immature level. It frustrated me how they acted like prepubescent children. Yes, Rebecca had reason to dislike Gage but she was relentless about it for so much of the book.
Gage was selfish and I could not connect with him. He wasn't completely honest about his issues until the end of the book. Even being in his head didn't give me enough.
I did like the premise of the storyline; the blurb is why I added this book. What I had a strong issue with was the fact there were pages and pages of internal monologue between actual dialogue (hence the skimming). I got lost with the direction of the conversation often. For that reason, in my opinion of course, this book could have been shorter. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more had there been more dialogue. I just couldn't connect with the H/h.
Another disappointment for me was the rushed HEA. Gage and Rebecca were complex characters with a ton of emotional baggage. But the 180 degree turn once they got "together" made it look as if the conflict disappeared.
And then it was back!
And then came the resolution!
And then it was over!
The epilogue didn't satisfy me either.
I'm sad that this book was blah for me. I do plan to read another Maisey Yates book because I am openminded and I'm sure I will find her "just right" book for me.
This was the first book I read by this author. It was pretty long at 384 pages. Sadly, I didn't love it. Because I rarely "not" not finish a book, I admit I skimmed a lot. Even with skipping, it still took me more than two days to finish though. I'm sure it didn't help that I put my Kindle aside and found other things to do more often than not. That said, I'm not saying I won't read this author again. I don't work that way. I know that what pleases others doesn't have to please me so I like to be openminded that just because I don't like one, doesn't mean I won't like another. I will say that Maisey is a passionate writer.
I wanted to like Rebecca but it didn't happen. Gage wasn't very appealing either. Those two didn't like each other and took fighting/bickering to a immature level. It frustrated me how they acted like prepubescent children. Yes, Rebecca had reason to dislike Gage but she was relentless about it for so much of the book.
Gage was selfish and I could not connect with him. He wasn't completely honest about his issues until the end of the book. Even being in his head didn't give me enough.
I did like the premise of the storyline; the blurb is why I added this book. What I had a strong issue with was the fact there were pages and pages of internal monologue between actual dialogue (hence the skimming). I got lost with the direction of the conversation often. For that reason, in my opinion of course, this book could have been shorter. I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more had there been more dialogue. I just couldn't connect with the H/h.
Another disappointment for me was the rushed HEA. Gage and Rebecca were complex characters with a ton of emotional baggage. But the 180 degree turn once they got "together" made it look as if the conflict disappeared.
And then it was back!
And then came the resolution!
And then it was over!
The epilogue didn't satisfy me either.
I'm sad that this book was blah for me. I do plan to read another Maisey Yates book because I am openminded and I'm sure I will find her "just right" book for me.
September 16, 2016
I love this series!
Last Chance Rebel has a very different feel to it from the rest of the series, though--it's darker, more somber, and tougher to get into at first. Rebecca is one of the prickliest heroines I've ever read (awesome name aside, of course--;)), definitely the prickliest Maisey Yates heroine I've read to this point. She's got some major issues (deserved, for the most part) and is very, very bitter toward Gage for a big chunk of the book--but she gradually becomes less prickly, less bitter, and before I knew it she actually had me sitting firmly in her corner. I loved that she took responsibility for herself and realized on her own that holding on to grudges and resentment was only hurting her. She didn't need anyone else to "fix" her--which she was saying from the beginning, but by the end, we realized it was true.
Gage is a gruff hero, determined for a lot of the book to cast himself in the role of villain even while he's trying desperately to fix everything he thinks he's responsible for--and a whole lot he isn't. Rebecca might have been carrying the physical scars of their first encounter all those years ago, but his mental ones were just as damaging. He's the one who I wanted to shake some sense into by the end of the story--fortunately, Rebecca did it for me, and what she started his younger brother Colton helped finish. Once he finally got his stubborn butt on board, together they came up with a fantastic epilogue.
Even when they were fighting their attraction with everything they had, Gage and Rebecca had fantastic chemistry together that made reading much of the darker stuff easier to bear. I loved them together, and was ready to set off a few fireworks myself for them by the end.
How soon will book #7 be out? ;)
Rating: 4 /12 stars / A-
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Last Chance Rebel has a very different feel to it from the rest of the series, though--it's darker, more somber, and tougher to get into at first. Rebecca is one of the prickliest heroines I've ever read (awesome name aside, of course--;)), definitely the prickliest Maisey Yates heroine I've read to this point. She's got some major issues (deserved, for the most part) and is very, very bitter toward Gage for a big chunk of the book--but she gradually becomes less prickly, less bitter, and before I knew it she actually had me sitting firmly in her corner. I loved that she took responsibility for herself and realized on her own that holding on to grudges and resentment was only hurting her. She didn't need anyone else to "fix" her--which she was saying from the beginning, but by the end, we realized it was true.
Gage is a gruff hero, determined for a lot of the book to cast himself in the role of villain even while he's trying desperately to fix everything he thinks he's responsible for--and a whole lot he isn't. Rebecca might have been carrying the physical scars of their first encounter all those years ago, but his mental ones were just as damaging. He's the one who I wanted to shake some sense into by the end of the story--fortunately, Rebecca did it for me, and what she started his younger brother Colton helped finish. Once he finally got his stubborn butt on board, together they came up with a fantastic epilogue.
Even when they were fighting their attraction with everything they had, Gage and Rebecca had fantastic chemistry together that made reading much of the darker stuff easier to bear. I loved them together, and was ready to set off a few fireworks myself for them by the end.
How soon will book #7 be out? ;)
Rating: 4 /12 stars / A-
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2016
Gage West was the cause of the accident that changed Rebecca's life 17 years before. Since then, she has battled surgeries, rehabilitation and scars. Now he has returned to town determined to make amends and do the right thing. When I initially read the synopsis for Last Chance Rebel, I thought I was going to get a typical second chance romance. I got much more than that. This is a story about forgiveness and moving on.
Initially, I had a hard time with the romance between Gage and Rebecca. For me, it was hard to buy into a Rebecca sleeping with Gage while she still had so much anger toward him. She had a pretty big chip on her shoulder, but it was kind of understandable. As I read, I realized that it was the romance between the couple that allowed them both to forgive and move on. IN the end, their relationship made sense. I liked the secondary characters. The attitude that Gage's siblings had toward him was pretty believable. but I would have liked to see more of how their interaction with Gage.
Since this is the 6th in the Copper Ridge series, there is some back story that I was missing. But it just makes me want to seek them out and read how those couples got together. So, this book did fairly well as a stand alone.
Initially, I had a hard time with the romance between Gage and Rebecca. For me, it was hard to buy into a Rebecca sleeping with Gage while she still had so much anger toward him. She had a pretty big chip on her shoulder, but it was kind of understandable. As I read, I realized that it was the romance between the couple that allowed them both to forgive and move on. IN the end, their relationship made sense. I liked the secondary characters. The attitude that Gage's siblings had toward him was pretty believable. but I would have liked to see more of how their interaction with Gage.
Since this is the 6th in the Copper Ridge series, there is some back story that I was missing. But it just makes me want to seek them out and read how those couples got together. So, this book did fairly well as a stand alone.
July 27, 2020
The absolute caucasity of writing a protagonist with "brown skin" and the last name "Bear" but never mentioning the words "Native American" or "Indian," or otherwise referencing race/ethnicity in any way. BIPOC are not just white characters with a spray tan and a quirky last name.
Maisey Yates is a terrific writer, but her books are problematic af. She should have left well enough alone and kept on writing her virginity-obssessed, angty whitebread romances. This stab at "diversity" was just an extravagant kick in the pants.
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Maisey Yates is a terrific writer, but her books are problematic af. She should have left well enough alone and kept on writing her virginity-obssessed, angty whitebread romances. This stab at "diversity" was just an extravagant kick in the pants.
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February 26, 2017
I really liked the first half of Yates' latest Copper Ridge series, which features Rebecca Bear, who, at age 11, suffered scarring as a result of a car crash, and Gage West, the eldest Gage sibling, who at 18 was the one driving the car responsible for Rebecca's accident. Gage has returned to Copper Ridge after a 17-year absence to help the family after his father suffers a stroke. Guilt for his past behavior, and the believe that he's a bad person, drive his actions and decisions, including his determination to give Rebecca the deed to the building which houses her gift shop. Tough-as-nails Rebecca is equally determined to refuse any attempts at amends from Gage; when she discovers that an insurance settlement she received at 18 was really from Gage, she insists on working for him in order to repay the debt.
Rebecca is really, really angry. I loved how she didn't back down in the face of Gage's attempts to "fix" her or repay her; she just goes for his emotional jugular every time. That the two find each other physically attractive only makes the anger more biting. The hate/love dynamic is strong here.
But after the two got together, the story bogged down into far too much introspection, and arguments which I had a hard time following. In large part because Gage's issues are about more than his guilt; they're about his relationship with his family, and since we don't see him interacting with either his mother or his father, in the present or in past via flashbacks, it's hard to get emotionally invested in his fears. By the end of the book, he's able to articulate to himself what his hang-ups are; it would have been a lot more satisfying if we could have seen him coming to terms with those hang-ups through his interactions with his parents, not just by proxy by talking with Rebecca or thinking to himself.
I loved Rebecca's character, her anger, her strength, her biting tongue.
Rebecca is really, really angry. I loved how she didn't back down in the face of Gage's attempts to "fix" her or repay her; she just goes for his emotional jugular every time. That the two find each other physically attractive only makes the anger more biting. The hate/love dynamic is strong here.
But after the two got together, the story bogged down into far too much introspection, and arguments which I had a hard time following. In large part because Gage's issues are about more than his guilt; they're about his relationship with his family, and since we don't see him interacting with either his mother or his father, in the present or in past via flashbacks, it's hard to get emotionally invested in his fears. By the end of the book, he's able to articulate to himself what his hang-ups are; it would have been a lot more satisfying if we could have seen him coming to terms with those hang-ups through his interactions with his parents, not just by proxy by talking with Rebecca or thinking to himself.
I loved Rebecca's character, her anger, her strength, her biting tongue.
October 24, 2016
Review posted on Got Fiction?
We're back in Copper Ridge with this latest installment, and boy did I have some high hopes for Gage. See, Gage is the eldest son of the West family, and he was the reason for a car accident that left Rebecca Bear permanently disfigured. He was stupid and young and self-centered. You know, basically a teenage boy ;P But instead of learning and growing up after the accident, he ran.
But he's gotten a message from his dad's attorney that their finances aren't all they seem. Being that he's a grown man now, he figures he's run from his problems long enough. It's time to go home and face the family.
Rebecca was 12 when Gage's car slammed into hers. She's never forgiven him. He's never asked. In fact he's never met her. Until he walks into her store. It turns out that his father owns the building her store is in, and they need to sell off some of their properties. Gage is a wealthy man now, though, and he wants to give Rebecca the store full-out. Rebecca refuses to accept his "charity." She just wants to keep paying rent. She feels that's fair. And she doesn't owe it to Gage to assuage his guilt.
But something keeps pulling the two of them together, and you know they're fighting that chemistry too. Maisey Yates always delivers that sexual tension that we want between the main characters.
It turns out that Rebecca has been using her injuries and scars as a crutch though. She recognizes that she never really gets close to anyone and once she stops hating Gage, she's able to stop hating her injuries. It's emotional and angsty, yet sexy and snarky all at the same time.
I think you guys would really enjoy this book (and to be honest, the whole series!). Grab it and find out if Gage is able to change Rebecca's opinion of him (hint: he does) I like this series a lot, and I like how much Ms. Yates is able to pack into it. Gage caused a lot of damage with his reckless and irresponsible behavior. And not just with Rebecca, but he ran away as a teen. His family is hurting. His little sister was like six when he saw her last, and now she's married, so he's been gone a long time. His little brother took over where Gage left off and is not exactly thrilled he's back. So with all of this hurt and damage, it's amazing that Ms. Yates was able to pack so much into this book, and to do it well. The reader is definitely satisfied with the ending.
You guys should grab one of the Copper Ridge books and curl up for the night. You'll enjoy it!
***ARC courtesy of Harlequin HQN
We're back in Copper Ridge with this latest installment, and boy did I have some high hopes for Gage. See, Gage is the eldest son of the West family, and he was the reason for a car accident that left Rebecca Bear permanently disfigured. He was stupid and young and self-centered. You know, basically a teenage boy ;P But instead of learning and growing up after the accident, he ran.
But he's gotten a message from his dad's attorney that their finances aren't all they seem. Being that he's a grown man now, he figures he's run from his problems long enough. It's time to go home and face the family.
Rebecca was 12 when Gage's car slammed into hers. She's never forgiven him. He's never asked. In fact he's never met her. Until he walks into her store. It turns out that his father owns the building her store is in, and they need to sell off some of their properties. Gage is a wealthy man now, though, and he wants to give Rebecca the store full-out. Rebecca refuses to accept his "charity." She just wants to keep paying rent. She feels that's fair. And she doesn't owe it to Gage to assuage his guilt.
But something keeps pulling the two of them together, and you know they're fighting that chemistry too. Maisey Yates always delivers that sexual tension that we want between the main characters.
It turns out that Rebecca has been using her injuries and scars as a crutch though. She recognizes that she never really gets close to anyone and once she stops hating Gage, she's able to stop hating her injuries. It's emotional and angsty, yet sexy and snarky all at the same time.
I think you guys would really enjoy this book (and to be honest, the whole series!). Grab it and find out if Gage is able to change Rebecca's opinion of him (hint: he does) I like this series a lot, and I like how much Ms. Yates is able to pack into it. Gage caused a lot of damage with his reckless and irresponsible behavior. And not just with Rebecca, but he ran away as a teen. His family is hurting. His little sister was like six when he saw her last, and now she's married, so he's been gone a long time. His little brother took over where Gage left off and is not exactly thrilled he's back. So with all of this hurt and damage, it's amazing that Ms. Yates was able to pack so much into this book, and to do it well. The reader is definitely satisfied with the ending.
You guys should grab one of the Copper Ridge books and curl up for the night. You'll enjoy it!
***ARC courtesy of Harlequin HQN
July 8, 2016
The prodigal son returns to back to Copper Ridge! After six books of mentions of Gage West, I was excited to (finally) meet him. Gage left Copper Ridge 17 years ago for reasons unknown. In the first chapter, we meet Rebecca -- a large reason for his disappearance. Rebecca is a local shop owner, who after a childhood accident is covered in scars both physical and mental. Gage and Rebecca are the holders of each other secrets, pain and guilt. Gage and Rebecca -- and rightfully so -- have great hate for each other. Throughout the book their hate turns to attraction then to intimacy and to healing.
Rebecca is a picture of strength and perseverance. The ways in which she grows as a person throughout the book were inspiring to see. Gage loves Rebecca despite her scars and I LOVED that. Their arguments were realistic, but hard to read through. I felt so much for them. I do wish we saw more interaction between Gage and the rest of the Wests. I wanted more of their interactions!
This was probably the most emotionally charged of the Copper Ridge stories. It was heartbreaking, hard, but rewarding. I am excited for Madison's story.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Rebecca is a picture of strength and perseverance. The ways in which she grows as a person throughout the book were inspiring to see. Gage loves Rebecca despite her scars and I LOVED that. Their arguments were realistic, but hard to read through. I felt so much for them. I do wish we saw more interaction between Gage and the rest of the Wests. I wanted more of their interactions!
This was probably the most emotionally charged of the Copper Ridge stories. It was heartbreaking, hard, but rewarding. I am excited for Madison's story.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
September 23, 2016
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
Rebecca Bear has lived in Copper Ridge her whole life. When she was eleven, she was in an accident that left her scarred and with lifelong injuries and pain. Her mother was paid to keep it quiet. Her mom then left town with the money, leaving her older brother, Jonathon, to raise her. Rebecca is a very angry woman who keeps everyone at arms length. She owns a Trading Post store and lives alone.
Gage, the driver of the vehicle that caused the accident, left town immediately after, never to return, or be heard from. Until 17 years later. He returns because his father has had a stroke and left him in charge of everything until he recovers. Gage has demons of his own to exorcise. He thinks by fixing all his past mistakes he will be able to leave again.
When Gage just shows up in her shop, Rebecca is livid. Somehow, these two spark some heat. Talk about messed up. And yet, it all comes together in the end. This story is an emotional rollercoaster full of angst. The end wrapped up too quickly for me. With all the build up, the torment, anger, conflict, it dissolved too quickly, leaving me wanting more. Hopefully we will see this story continue in the next book. I really want Jonathan to find happiness.
Rebecca Bear has lived in Copper Ridge her whole life. When she was eleven, she was in an accident that left her scarred and with lifelong injuries and pain. Her mother was paid to keep it quiet. Her mom then left town with the money, leaving her older brother, Jonathon, to raise her. Rebecca is a very angry woman who keeps everyone at arms length. She owns a Trading Post store and lives alone.
Gage, the driver of the vehicle that caused the accident, left town immediately after, never to return, or be heard from. Until 17 years later. He returns because his father has had a stroke and left him in charge of everything until he recovers. Gage has demons of his own to exorcise. He thinks by fixing all his past mistakes he will be able to leave again.
When Gage just shows up in her shop, Rebecca is livid. Somehow, these two spark some heat. Talk about messed up. And yet, it all comes together in the end. This story is an emotional rollercoaster full of angst. The end wrapped up too quickly for me. With all the build up, the torment, anger, conflict, it dissolved too quickly, leaving me wanting more. Hopefully we will see this story continue in the next book. I really want Jonathan to find happiness.
September 1, 2016
To right a wrong, we have to come to terms with the action and it's consequences. Seek forgiveness and learn important truths about ourselves. With Last Chance Rebel, Maisey Yates put some of her best work into Gage and Rebecca. My heart felt like it was torn right out of my chest. Living with the physical scars of an incident in her youth, has made Rebecca stronger, self - reliant, less trusting and full of anger and bitterness. Her one sanctuary is her shop of odds and ends. Being there allows her to escape the pain that is her constant companions, until the conductor of her misery reappears. Gage left Copper Ridge, a broken man and returns with a mission. In carrying out his purpose, Gage finds redemption and changes many lives, including his own. Rebecca and Gage were united by tragedy but brought together by hope. I get emotional just thinking about this powerful story.
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August 14, 2016
I was happy to read more about Gage, but overall never got into this story as much as the other ones in this series. I never took to the main girl in the romance, and I never fully bought into Gage's relationship with her -- I liked his backstory enough, but I didn't like the romance for either of them. Still, it was an enjoyable, quick read.
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August 30, 2016Really loved this heroine.
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