Last Chance Cowboys: The Outlaw

Where the Trail Ends #3

by Anna Schmidt

"A feisty heroine and a hero eager to make everything right. What more could a reader want?"--Leigh Greenwood, USA Today bestselling author of To Love and to Cherish for The Drifter

"'Someone like me?' Is that how you see me, Amanda? As someone people should fear?"
"I don't know what to think," she said. "One minute you seem so dangerous, and the next you're sweet and caring and..."
He took a step closer, his eyes sweeping her face. "And which do you want me to be?" His voice was low; it sent shivers down her spine.
"Both," she whispered, and lifted her face for a kiss.

Amanda Porterfield longs to experience real adventure. So when she's offered a position in bustling Tucson, she leaps at the chance despite unknown dangers--dangers like the mysterious Seth Grover.

As an undercover detective working to stop a gang of outlaws, Seth can't afford the distractions a woman like Amanda inspires. Yet when the fiercely intelligent beauty is thrust into the middle of a heist gone wrong, Seth will fight for a future that may never be theirs...even if it means risking everything he holds dear.

Where the Trail Ends Series:
Last Chance Cowboys: The Drifter (Book 1)
Last Chance Cowboys: The Lawman (Book 2)
Last Chance Cowboys: The Outlaw (Book 3)
Last Chance Cowboys: The Rancher (Book 4)

Praise for Anna Schmidt:
"Readers wanting a good old fashioned Western romance need look no further than this one." --Dear Author for Last Chance Cowboys: The Drifter

Genres: Westerns, Historical, Historical Romance, Western Romance, Western Historical Romance

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 4, 2017

About the author

Anna Schmidt's historical novel, THE WINTERKEEPER, received a Five Star rating from Reader's Favorites. Reviews for the story have been strong including one from the Historical Novel Society that raved: "The storytelling and scene building are masterful and create an immediacy that keeps the reader turning pages. This is a writer who feels words as well as thinking them." Anna is a three-time finalist for the coveted RITA award presented annually by Romance Writers of America. In addition she has been a four-time finalist for the Reviewer’s Choice Award from Romantic Times magazine—an award she has won twice. Her latest novel RENEGADE is the second in her new series: Cowboys and Harvey Girls and is available now. Publisher's Weekly hails the series as: "Easygoing western romance readers will cheer for this good-hearted heroine to achieve all her dreams." Anna splits her time between Wisconsin and Florida, noting that, “I am blessed to have a career that travels well!”

Reviews

[Lori (on hiatus, life is crazy busy)) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun western romance, filled with plenty of action and adventure. Sometimes it's nice to sit back and read about the wild west.
Amanda longs for adventure and a chance to prove that she can take care of herself. When she takes a teaching position in Tucson, she gets more than she bargains for. Seth is an undercover agent hot on the trail of an outlaw gang. He can't afford to be distracted by anything. But when Seth and Amanda's lives seem to always be crossing each other's path, what's a man supposed to do!
I loved these two feisty characters and the way they interact. It made a wild adventure crazy fun!

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Outlaw is a story of intrigue, danger, and romance all in one. Anna Schmidt has written a historical western romance in which she takes me back in time to the Arizona Territory, where things are very much limited for a woman who wants adventure in her life. Amanda Porterfield wants more than her life on the ranch and is given a chance when she goes to Tucson to be a tutor for 2 children. On her own she has to figure out how to get her students engaged to learn and to stay clear of the handsome man who is staying in the room across from hers. She is intrigued by Sam Grover and somewhat attracted to him but knows he’s really not right for her. Somehow she gets tangled up in his investigation and he ends up saving her more times than he wants, and she begins to care for his safety. Falling in love was the last thing on both their minds but there is no denying that there is something there between Amanda and Sam.

Discovering Anna Schmidt has been one of the best finds when it comes to reading historical westerns. She is a gifted storyteller and writes about family, struggles and finding love in the old west. The Last Chance Cowboys series has been a sweeping saga and totally engaging for this fan. The Outlaw had me enthralled from beginning to end and was very hard to put down at bedtime. The author had the right mixture to weave multiple characters and storylines together with a few twists to make this a wonderful story. If you are a fan of westerns grab yourself a copy of The Outlaw. Don’t worry about jumping into a series because this one can be read as a stand-alone.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review.

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup. (live 7/6)
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2qScjEm

The Outlaw was everything I love about Schmidt's book-- a little danger, a little intrigue, characters that feel real and are endearing even in their flaws. The heart and will to endure, flourish and go after what you really want in life. They're just fantastic reads that'll sweep you away and into the lives of the characters she brings to life. Honestly, Schmidt never fails to deliver a knock out romance.

The quick of The Outlaw is that Amanda has been craving adventure and she's finally getting her chance to spread her wings and do something different-- moving to Tuscon and teaching. She might be going into that second bit reluctantly but adventure is calling her something fierce. And the temptation of one of her fellow boarders--who might be on the wrong side of the law-- is just as alluring.

Oh Seth and Amanda. These two were both stubborn as a mule. Head strong, determined, rather exasperating. And I adored them both. Loved how they both tried to do the right thing, cared about people-- even if they sometimes tried to hide that fact-- and went after everything with unrivaled fierceness. I really enjoyed their romance as well. It's a little understated but I loved watching their encounters, how they frazzled and frustrated each other and fit together quite perfectly. There's just a tiny little bit of actual heat, though.

There was a good bit of adventure in this one since Seth's job is hunting down a group of outlaws-- while pretending to be one-- in order to prevent a bank robbery. And it somehow ties in not only his family but also the family that Amanda's working for as a teacher. It was fun watching them figure things out, plot, plan, get one step closer and land two steps back. Things got a little dicey now and again and had me feeling real antsy.

All in all, I loved The Outlaw and eagerly await the next from Schmidt. She just has that perfect blend of romance and adventure and dusty old west towns that completely captivates.

[Angel Hatfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda Porterfield longs to experience real adventure. So when she's offered a position in bustling Tucson, she leaps at the chance despite unknown dangers—dangers like the mysterious Seth Grover. As an undercover detective working to stop a gang of outlaws, Seth can't afford the distractions a woman like Amanda inspires. Yet when the fiercely intelligent beauty is thrust into the middle of a heist gone wrong, Seth will fight for a future that may never be theirs...even if it means risking everything he holds dear.
This was a great adventure. It’s another one where there’s a whole story and the romance is the second story, which doesn’t bother me at all. I liked both characters very much and was happy that they eventually got their HEA. I look forward to reading more from this author.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third book in the Where Trail Ends series follows youngest Porterfield daughter, Amanda, and Seth Grover, an undercover agent for Wells Fargo. Amanda isn't quite sure what she wants with her life. She doesn't really want to stay at the family ranch any longer but doesn't think that there are any opportunities in her home town, so when she's given the chance to work as a governess in Tuscon, she leaps at the chance. Once she gets to Tuscon, she discovers that maybe things were quite what she was told to expect. The children she's going to be teaching are wild and undisciplined, and have no interest in learning from her. The man she's working for is also a brute with no real interest in his child beyond making sure they can enter a boarding school the next year. While the children are difficult, she is intrigued by one of the men she's living with at her boarding house. Seth Grover is in the guise of an outlaw but actually works for Wells Fargo stopping outlaws. He's currently on the tracks of one gang and believes his brother is caught up with them. He doesn't want anything to do with Amanda, he just wants to find his brother and stop the outlaws, but he finds himself drawn to her anyway, and both of them soon begin to realize that they have more connections to Seth's gang than they first believed.

This was another average read in the series. The romance was ok, but I once again wish that there had been more romantic scenes between the leads. Amanda actually has two other men chasing after her as well, and has some scenes with them as well. I didn't mind her boss wanting to get with her because his character actually plays a role in the greater plot, but the other love interest seemed superfluous, and his scenes could have been dropped to give Amanda and Seth more time together.

I had a big issue with the time line in this story. So, this starts a couple of weeks after the end of the second book. As far as I can tell, the first and second book take place over about a year. However, Amanda is suddenly four years older than she was in the first book, and her younger brother is old enough to be wandering about the desert drawing stuff by himself. I'm not really sure what's going on with the time line, but it makes no sense to me.

I also wish that Seth had been given more background. He mentions that there had been a woman he was serious about, but then she betrayed him somehow, and this has affected how he views women/getting into a relationship. However, no explanation is given as to how she betrayed him. When a character has a big issue like this in their past, I think that authors need to explicitly say what happened, so I can really know what happened instead of vaguely hinting at it. It feels unresolved to me if I don't know their past, and if they don't tell their partner about those issues.

There was also no resolution for the kids Amanda was tutoring. It ends with the twins' father being arrested, and one of them is potentially facing criminal charges as well. Yet, they're just shown celebrating Amanda and Seth's wedding with no thought for how they're lives are going to change from this point on. I wish they had been given some kind of resolution.

Will I read the final book when it comes out? Maybe. It depends on how interesting Trey's story sounds. I think Schmidt is a competent writer on the whole, but her stories are more westerns with a strong romantic subplot than a romance set in the west, and I prefer the latter to the former.

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

Heading for the Arizona Territory was Amanda’s chance for adventure. Sure, teaching a couple of youngsters wasn’t the height of adventure, but still she was here in this new, untamed land and she was going to enjoy herself. If the family she was working for was a… bit off. She kept her head down, minded her own business (for the most part) and took in all that this frontier had to offer. Which included the handsome, reclusive and more than a bit dangerous Seth who was also staying at the boarding house.

Seth has been working undercover long enough to fall into the “might be an outlaw” persona with relative ease. He better make it seem his natural self for there was a lot at stake on this job. Which was exactly why he couldn’t risk getting involved with the lovely newest member of the boarding house. If his thoughts turned to Amanda a bit too often, well he was a man and she was one fine woman. But he had to stay in character at all times, and that also meant keeping her safe… and away from the danger that always lurked around him. He hadn’t counted on the mutual attraction that was growing between them – or the fact that she was right in the middle of a snake pile and if she’s not careful she’s going to get more than bit, she could get dead.

I enjoyed Last Chance Cowboys: The Outlaw so much. If you’re in the mood for a bit of mystery, some rough and tumble history, and a romance that was meant to be – then this story and this series is one that should be on your reading radar. Seth and Amanda worked. The “will they, won’t they” push and pull of this couple was both fun and frustrating (in the good kind of way). I liked them, they felt realistic and just enough conflicted to make their romance believable. I’d recommend this story to any Historical or Western Romance reader. I’m betting that you’ll head back to the beginning (if you aren’t following the series) and find out what came before this story in the series. I had fun with this one, and that’s why I read Romance of any genre.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda Porterfield wants to live an independent life on her own away from her parents so she accepts a position to be a governess in Tucson for two teens. She meets the overbearing, widowed father of the two teens and begins to feel uneasy about the position. The father has paid for her to live in a boarding house in Tucson and she is determined to try out this new position regardless of her worried feelings. Seth Grover is a handsome, undercover detective, investigating a band of outlaws while living in the boarding house. He immediately notices the beautiful red-headed Amanda and tries to ignore his feelings. He must keep his mind on his job and not be distracted. This appealing story is so pleasing to read. I found the characters to be likable and realistic and the plot was engaging and animated. I love historical fiction and this story was a great example of romantic "cowboy historical fiction". I would definitely recommend this book to all!

Last Chance Cowboys: The Outlaw by Anna Schmidt will be available July 4, 2017 by Sourcebooks Casablanca. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third of four books in a series; the good news is that it is a stand-alone novel. However, I enjoyed it enough to make sure that I go back and start the series from the beginning.

Amanda Porterfield is bored by life on a ranch and so reluctantly takes a job in Tucson tutoring a pair of 14-year-old twins. She wonders if this sedate occupation will bring her the adventure she craves. In the same boarding house, Amanda has time to look over an interesting character, Seth Grover. Is he an outlaw or on the right side of the law? Externally, it is hard to tell.

I had some difficulty with Amanda being so casual about having sex with Seth. In that day and time, attitudes were strict and I would have expected Amanda to have agonized about it before and after the fact.

The plot moved at a fast clip and the story was interesting. The author kept throwing unexpected wrinkles along the way.

Last Chance Cowboys
1. The Drifter (2015)
2. The Lawman (2016)
** 3. The Outlaw (2017)
4. The Rancher (2018)

[Kara Laufeyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read! Anna Schmidt’s style of writing pulls the reader right into the story. The story focuses first on Amanda, a young lady who is tired of being bored on the family ranch, she wants adventure and she is also inspired by the early phases of the suffragette movement. Seth, who meet a few pages later is a good guy posing as a bad guy. He is tough, smart, adventurous, and brave.
As the story progresses, we meet new characters - some are a little predictable and some are not what we expected. The story focuses romance and adventure. While some scenes are a little cliche, they add to the story. I would recommend this to who likes western romance!

[Jeanette Durkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book! The setting of Arizona was sublime! The imagery brought the book to life. The story line is unique and action packed! There's romance, intrigue and wild west drama! The characters are fantastic! Seth is my favorite! He's a rough and tough guy but compassionate and kind. The ending was a complete surprise!

[Lori Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely well written book with great characters and moved at a fast pace. When I can get lost in that era and feel like I'm right there, then I am reading a great book. My only regret is I didn't read book 1 or 2 yet. Wonderful.

[Bertina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book that I have read in the series and I thought it was a great historical read

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had to read a story about a cowboy.
This is definitely not a standalone.

[Mary Shreffler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amanda and Seth are both in Tuscan and find difficulties and love

[Abby Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a cute, fun read and I definitely would want to read the other books in the series! Good ole cowboy romance

[Valeria PM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Le tenía muchas expectativas a este libro y me quedó debiendo 😞 pero it was okay!

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the characters and their love story.

[Sharil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. It is the first book I've read by this author.

I enjoyed this book, which clipped along at a good pace and was a "fast read". Most of the time, that is how I prefer my books, as long as the wrap up of details at the end isn't too neat, brushing over issues/characters leaving it feeling incomplete.

This book is the third in a series and I hadn't read the first two books. I felt like it must have filled in any necessary background or holes from the previous works and could be read as a "stand alone". In fact, I do not feel compelled to read the prior two books, just the next book in the series. I don't think the author gave too much of the backstory away for the prior books, just that the characters and what had happened to them wasn't portrayed with enough richness or intrigue to draw me back to the beginning.

Overall, I felt the story and characters were a little thin compared to other historical westerns that I've enjoyed more. I am unable to really put my finger on what was missing. Some other favorite author's of mine that write historical westerns are Maggie Osborne, Joan Johnston, Lori Copeland, Jodi Thomas, Jill Marie Landis, Elizabeth Lowell and LaVyrle Spencer.

Occasionally I read contemporary western romance by current authors. Those romances read and feel a little lighter than typical historical westerns. This historical western romance felt like one of those. I guess that most of the time the contemporary stories aren't written in a way that really reach out and grab me and this book was similar in that respect.

I enjoyed the story along the way, but at the end, I am left with a moderate-to-strong desire to read the next book in the series, but it as not as compelling as with other authors and series I have read.

I love to find new authors writing historical western romance and hope that Schmidt will continue. For my tastes, I would love to follow her and see her develop her stories a bit more.

[C bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

netgalley

An excellent read. The best one yet in the series.