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Cold River Ranch #3
The Last Real Cowboy
In Cold River, sometimes forbidden love is the sweetest of them all...
Perennial good girl Amanda Kittredge knows that her longtime crush on Brady Everett was never really supposed to go anywhere. But when Brady comes home to Cold River during Amanda's first attempt at independence, well, who better to teach her about rebellion than her older brother's bad-boy best friend?
Brady's plans did not include being forced to work the family homestead for a year--and yet, here he is. And, to make matters worse, his best friend's innocent little sister is making a menace of herself in the most grown-up, tempting ways. When Amanda begs Brady to teach her about men, he knows he should refuse. But could Brady's greatest temptation be his salvation?
Perennial good girl Amanda Kittredge knows that her longtime crush on Brady Everett was never really supposed to go anywhere. But when Brady comes home to Cold River during Amanda's first attempt at independence, well, who better to teach her about rebellion than her older brother's bad-boy best friend?
Brady's plans did not include being forced to work the family homestead for a year--and yet, here he is. And, to make matters worse, his best friend's innocent little sister is making a menace of herself in the most grown-up, tempting ways. When Amanda begs Brady to teach her about men, he knows he should refuse. But could Brady's greatest temptation be his salvation?
374 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 28, 2020
40 people are currently reading
1131 people want to read
About the author
Caitlin Crews
1,105 books595 followersCaitlin Crews discovered her first romance novel at the age of twelve, in a bargain bin at the local five and dime. It involved swashbuckling pirates, grand adventures, a heroine with rustling skirts and a mind of her own, and a seriously mouthwatering and masterful hero. The book (the title of which remains lost in the mists of time) made a serious impression. Caitlin was immediately smitten with romances and romance heroes, to the detriment of her middle school social life. And so began her life-long love affair with romance novels, many of which she insists on keeping near her at all times, thus creating a fire hazard of love wherever she lives.
Caitlin has made her home in places as far-flung as York, England and Atlanta, Georgia. She was raised near New York City, and fell in love with London on her first visit when she was a teenager. She has backpacked in Zimbabwe, been on safari in Botswana, and visited tiny villages in Namibia. She has, while visiting the place in question, declared her intention to live in Prague, Dublin, Paris, Athens, Nice, the Greek Islands, Rome, Venice, and/or any of the Hawaiian islands. Writing about exotic places seems like the next best thing to actually moving there.
She currently lives in Oregon with her animator/comic book artist husband and their menagerie of ridiculous animals.
Caitlin has made her home in places as far-flung as York, England and Atlanta, Georgia. She was raised near New York City, and fell in love with London on her first visit when she was a teenager. She has backpacked in Zimbabwe, been on safari in Botswana, and visited tiny villages in Namibia. She has, while visiting the place in question, declared her intention to live in Prague, Dublin, Paris, Athens, Nice, the Greek Islands, Rome, Venice, and/or any of the Hawaiian islands. Writing about exotic places seems like the next best thing to actually moving there.
She currently lives in Oregon with her animator/comic book artist husband and their menagerie of ridiculous animals.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews
January 20, 2020
The Last Real Cowboy by Caitlin Crews
Cold River Ranch series, book 3. It can be read as a stand-alone contemporary romance, however reading the prior books will provide better knowledge and background of Brady’s brothers.
This was a difficult read. Brady doesn’t see his own worth and through much of the narrative he talks about letting Amanda go because she deserves the best in life. It’s depressing and sad. And wow, Ty may have had his own HEA in a prior book as did Gray, but I hated how nasty and unaware they both were with Brady. Several times, I wanted to either give up, or rail at all the brothers to grow up and let the past go. Or at least to give Brady a chance. Fortunately I pushed through and continued reading. Finally, someone stood up to everyone’s bias and shook things up. I won’t include spoilers, but it was strong and selfless and needed.
In the end, it was emotionally fulfilling and a much appreciated HEA.
Brady is not Amanda’s brother and he suddenly wakes up to the fact that she’s an adult when seeing her bartending in the local dive bar.
Amanda has always loved Brady and now that he’s noticed she’s an adult, she asks for exactly what she wants from him.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
Cold River Ranch series, book 3. It can be read as a stand-alone contemporary romance, however reading the prior books will provide better knowledge and background of Brady’s brothers.
This was a difficult read. Brady doesn’t see his own worth and through much of the narrative he talks about letting Amanda go because she deserves the best in life. It’s depressing and sad. And wow, Ty may have had his own HEA in a prior book as did Gray, but I hated how nasty and unaware they both were with Brady. Several times, I wanted to either give up, or rail at all the brothers to grow up and let the past go. Or at least to give Brady a chance. Fortunately I pushed through and continued reading. Finally, someone stood up to everyone’s bias and shook things up. I won’t include spoilers, but it was strong and selfless and needed.
In the end, it was emotionally fulfilling and a much appreciated HEA.
Brady is not Amanda’s brother and he suddenly wakes up to the fact that she’s an adult when seeing her bartending in the local dive bar.
Amanda has always loved Brady and now that he’s noticed she’s an adult, she asks for exactly what she wants from him.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
January 31, 2020
This is book three in the Cold River Ranch series which focuses on the lives of Gray, Ty, and Brady Everett after their abusive alcoholic father dies. I started from the second book and really enjoyed all the drama that surrounded Ty, a rodeo champion who had a bad accident and lost his memory, and Hanna Monroe, a sparkly rodeo queen. All books in this series can be read as standalones, so I will try to avoid giving any spoilers, apart from this one: the last one is absolutely the best!
Like his older brothers, Brady Everett had a very unhapy childhood. His mother Bettina left with no explanation and planted a seed of doubt deep in his soul. Was it something he did? Was he so unworthy of mother's love? What kind of woman leaves her children to fend off a mean, manipulative man like their father who found his own particular way to show contempt at everything Brady did. When Brady got a full college scholarship, he just laughed it off. When Brady sent to checks to help financially, his father tore them in pieces. It was as if Brady didn't merit his love or attention. Not surprisingly, Brady decided to stay in Denver after graduation and make his life there. When Amos died and Gray and Ty needed Brady's help, he came back home running. This was what he had been waiting for for years, but it isn't easy to change attitudes and relationships that have been ingrained for such long time. The brothers continue treating Brady as a teenager and dismiss his ideas on how to modernize the ranch to ensure its future prosperity.
His best friend and neighbour Riley Kittredge asks to keep an eye on his 22-year-old sister Amanda to make sure she doesn't attract wrong kind of attention or get in trouble in the dodgy bar where she has just started working as a barmaid. It does seem like a reasonable request. After all, Brady and Riley once changed Amanda's diapers. The only problem is Amanda has grown up intoa very attractive young woman and suddenly Brady is aware of it.
Amanda is the baby of her family. The youngest child and the only girl in her family, she has been sheltered and protected...and denied any kind of independent experience. Tired of everybody thinking she is a twelve year old child, Amanda gets a job which comes with a little apartment and moves out to her brothers' dismay. Amanda wants to live her own life and make her own mistakes, and that includes falling in love and dating. The man she has her sights on is her brother's best friend...Brady. Charming, reliable, good-looking, and safe. A perfect man to teach her things she only heard of.
Brady's dilemma is clear. Amanda is his best friend's little sister, so by definition she is off-limits...unless his intentions are serious. But Brady himself isn't sure whether he is going to stay or leave for Denver.
If you find Amanda and Brady's age difference (ten years) slightly problematic, they do have something in common- both have an eerily similar experience of being ignored and undervalued by their older siblings. Brady knows he needs to work out his feelings towards his father, the ranch and his brothers- his character is very well-rounded. But Amanda just comes across as very young and naive for a twenty-two year old, even taking into account the fact that her brothers are indeed overbearing and patronizing.
I loved the advice Amanda gets from her friends, including Abby and Hannah Everett, who let her show that there are many factors to take in consideration in romantic matters. The important thing for Amanda is to make her own choices, whether they turn out right or wrong. But is Brady the right man for her, will their relationship, based on chemistry and undeniable attraction, become a solid foundation for anything more than just a fling?
I loved the small town setting and all the descriptions of nature and people who live and work in harmony with it. A very satisfying conclusion to a great romantic series with unique characters and complex family dynamics. I will be looking forward to reading any future novels written by Caitlin Crews.
Thank you to Edelweiss and St.Martin's paperbacks for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Like his older brothers, Brady Everett had a very unhapy childhood. His mother Bettina left with no explanation and planted a seed of doubt deep in his soul. Was it something he did? Was he so unworthy of mother's love? What kind of woman leaves her children to fend off a mean, manipulative man like their father who found his own particular way to show contempt at everything Brady did. When Brady got a full college scholarship, he just laughed it off. When Brady sent to checks to help financially, his father tore them in pieces. It was as if Brady didn't merit his love or attention. Not surprisingly, Brady decided to stay in Denver after graduation and make his life there. When Amos died and Gray and Ty needed Brady's help, he came back home running. This was what he had been waiting for for years, but it isn't easy to change attitudes and relationships that have been ingrained for such long time. The brothers continue treating Brady as a teenager and dismiss his ideas on how to modernize the ranch to ensure its future prosperity.
His best friend and neighbour Riley Kittredge asks to keep an eye on his 22-year-old sister Amanda to make sure she doesn't attract wrong kind of attention or get in trouble in the dodgy bar where she has just started working as a barmaid. It does seem like a reasonable request. After all, Brady and Riley once changed Amanda's diapers. The only problem is Amanda has grown up intoa very attractive young woman and suddenly Brady is aware of it.
Amanda is the baby of her family. The youngest child and the only girl in her family, she has been sheltered and protected...and denied any kind of independent experience. Tired of everybody thinking she is a twelve year old child, Amanda gets a job which comes with a little apartment and moves out to her brothers' dismay. Amanda wants to live her own life and make her own mistakes, and that includes falling in love and dating. The man she has her sights on is her brother's best friend...Brady. Charming, reliable, good-looking, and safe. A perfect man to teach her things she only heard of.
Brady's dilemma is clear. Amanda is his best friend's little sister, so by definition she is off-limits...unless his intentions are serious. But Brady himself isn't sure whether he is going to stay or leave for Denver.
If you find Amanda and Brady's age difference (ten years) slightly problematic, they do have something in common- both have an eerily similar experience of being ignored and undervalued by their older siblings. Brady knows he needs to work out his feelings towards his father, the ranch and his brothers- his character is very well-rounded. But Amanda just comes across as very young and naive for a twenty-two year old, even taking into account the fact that her brothers are indeed overbearing and patronizing.
I loved the advice Amanda gets from her friends, including Abby and Hannah Everett, who let her show that there are many factors to take in consideration in romantic matters. The important thing for Amanda is to make her own choices, whether they turn out right or wrong. But is Brady the right man for her, will their relationship, based on chemistry and undeniable attraction, become a solid foundation for anything more than just a fling?
I loved the small town setting and all the descriptions of nature and people who live and work in harmony with it. A very satisfying conclusion to a great romantic series with unique characters and complex family dynamics. I will be looking forward to reading any future novels written by Caitlin Crews.
Thank you to Edelweiss and St.Martin's paperbacks for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
December 19, 2019
Just love Brady.. great story!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Crews has developed and created an amazing character in Brady. I was excited to see what she was going to bring to the table for him. And bring to the table she certainly did. He is an awesome character! I just love him!
Amanda is young. Very young. And he is best friends with her brother. This tends to be a problem since Amanda is also a virgin. I know you know where I am going with this one!
This story gave me so many feels. The trust issue was huge with Brady but he and Amanda were just so amazing together. The compelling nature of their relationship was steaming hot and the intensity was just pulling them together.
But small towns and family feuds were just a few issues that stood in their way. However, love will find a way and it was so swoon worthy! Sigh.
Nothing like a cowboy and sweet love to put you in a great mood with a happy heart and Crews knows how to make that happen! And that cover… Oh yummmm!
For a fabulous and passionate read, check out The Last Real Cowboy by Caitlin Crews and the rest of the books in the series. All are easily read as a stand-alone.
* copy received for review consideration
Full Review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-last-rea...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Crews has developed and created an amazing character in Brady. I was excited to see what she was going to bring to the table for him. And bring to the table she certainly did. He is an awesome character! I just love him!
Amanda is young. Very young. And he is best friends with her brother. This tends to be a problem since Amanda is also a virgin. I know you know where I am going with this one!
This story gave me so many feels. The trust issue was huge with Brady but he and Amanda were just so amazing together. The compelling nature of their relationship was steaming hot and the intensity was just pulling them together.
But small towns and family feuds were just a few issues that stood in their way. However, love will find a way and it was so swoon worthy! Sigh.
Nothing like a cowboy and sweet love to put you in a great mood with a happy heart and Crews knows how to make that happen! And that cover… Oh yummmm!
For a fabulous and passionate read, check out The Last Real Cowboy by Caitlin Crews and the rest of the books in the series. All are easily read as a stand-alone.
* copy received for review consideration
Full Review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-last-rea...
October 21, 2019
ARC provided by Edelweiss and Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Rating 3.5
Review to come.
Rating 3.5
Review to come.
January 27, 2020
The Last Real Cowboy was highly anticipated and it delivered in a BIG way. Brady Everett is the youngest of theEverett siblings and has been the butt end of his brother’s teasing all his life and broke away as soon as he could. Now he’s back and fulfilling his obligation of working the ranch for a year and he hopes he can convince his brothers to see things his way and sell. What he didn’t expect was to see his best friend’s little sister not so little anymore.
Amanda Kittredge was a complex character and needed to break out of a mold and start to do things her way. With four older brothers who only see her as their baby sister, she moved out, got a job at a seedy bar, and caused one big ruckus. Now she wants to do one last thing and she needs a certain someone to help her with it. She’s secretly had a crush on her brother’s friend, Brady Everett, and hopes he is willing to teach her how to attract a man. The deal of friends with benefits works for a while but then things turn sideways. Sideways doesn’t completely describe how she fell in love with Brady over the month they were together but somehow, she did and that was against their agreement. She just needs to show him that what they have is for a lifetime and their age difference doesn’t matter to her.
I love a story that I can sink my teeth into this one was a feast. Both hero and heroine were fighting preconceptions about themselves and it took some time for both to get their own families and each other, to see them for more than just the baby of the family. The author gave equal attention to developing both Brady and Amanda and didn’t skimp on details as it took the whole course of the book. I’m in awe of the author’s writing talent because she layered it gently and in doses. She took the last Everett sibling and made it all about all the brothers, and how their past drove their present life and how they each had to come to terms with their father and move beyond. A highlight of the story was how Brady took care of the kitchen table. It showed how much he wanted to change and move forward. Brady realized how much Amanda meant to him and how he was going to make it right for both of them to have their happy ending.
The Last Real Cowboy was my favorite in the series and completely blew me away with the detail she gave to each of the main characters. She explored their feelings and let the story gradually unfold one layer at a time. I’m all in with Caitlin Crews and look forward to more stories.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
Amanda Kittredge was a complex character and needed to break out of a mold and start to do things her way. With four older brothers who only see her as their baby sister, she moved out, got a job at a seedy bar, and caused one big ruckus. Now she wants to do one last thing and she needs a certain someone to help her with it. She’s secretly had a crush on her brother’s friend, Brady Everett, and hopes he is willing to teach her how to attract a man. The deal of friends with benefits works for a while but then things turn sideways. Sideways doesn’t completely describe how she fell in love with Brady over the month they were together but somehow, she did and that was against their agreement. She just needs to show him that what they have is for a lifetime and their age difference doesn’t matter to her.
I love a story that I can sink my teeth into this one was a feast. Both hero and heroine were fighting preconceptions about themselves and it took some time for both to get their own families and each other, to see them for more than just the baby of the family. The author gave equal attention to developing both Brady and Amanda and didn’t skimp on details as it took the whole course of the book. I’m in awe of the author’s writing talent because she layered it gently and in doses. She took the last Everett sibling and made it all about all the brothers, and how their past drove their present life and how they each had to come to terms with their father and move beyond. A highlight of the story was how Brady took care of the kitchen table. It showed how much he wanted to change and move forward. Brady realized how much Amanda meant to him and how he was going to make it right for both of them to have their happy ending.
The Last Real Cowboy was my favorite in the series and completely blew me away with the detail she gave to each of the main characters. She explored their feelings and let the story gradually unfold one layer at a time. I’m all in with Caitlin Crews and look forward to more stories.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
August 18, 2020
Unfortunately, I just couldn't really fall in love with this book the way I was hoping to. I haven't read the first two books in the series so I can't comparise them to one another. This was also my first read by this author.
The promise of the story is something I really like (the MC shedding her roots and deciding to live a little as well as getting familiar with her sexuality), but the execution aka writing just wasn't my thing I guess. It felt repetitive at times and a bit chaotic. A lot of the time, I also didn't really like most of the characters, which is normally something I really need; loveable characters. So for me, the promise of this book was good and interesting but the execution just wasn't entirely my thing and I just wasn't able to really lose myself in this book and love it.
I did like it how Amanda, the MC, decided she was finally going to decided how she wanted to live and stayed strong in her beliefs. I thought Brady on his own was a really interesting character, but I just didn't like it how it started with him also not listening to Amanda and wanting to decide what she would and wouldn't do - especially seeing he should know how it feels with the family situation of himself; how he's the younger one, the one who went away for a while and did things differently than his family wanted, for which they treat him poorly. I just didn't feel like he was a good match for her at first because he basically thought and acted the same way that Amanda's family did; she's not old and wise enough to decide things for her own which bummed me out. Of course, things change... but the 'taste' of that first part in the book just lingered with me I guess.
There were some small parts I enjoyed, but overall this just wasn't what I was hoping to get out of this reading experience. If you're interested in this synopsis I'd definitely recommend to check it out and maybe pick it up, seeing every reader experiences a book differently. I've come across many many positive reviews for this one, so I'd suggest you'd find out for yourself how you're going to feel about it!
I received an ARC of this book by the published & Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The promise of the story is something I really like (the MC shedding her roots and deciding to live a little as well as getting familiar with her sexuality), but the execution aka writing just wasn't my thing I guess. It felt repetitive at times and a bit chaotic. A lot of the time, I also didn't really like most of the characters, which is normally something I really need; loveable characters. So for me, the promise of this book was good and interesting but the execution just wasn't entirely my thing and I just wasn't able to really lose myself in this book and love it.
I did like it how Amanda, the MC, decided she was finally going to decided how she wanted to live and stayed strong in her beliefs. I thought Brady on his own was a really interesting character, but I just didn't like it how it started with him also not listening to Amanda and wanting to decide what she would and wouldn't do - especially seeing he should know how it feels with the family situation of himself; how he's the younger one, the one who went away for a while and did things differently than his family wanted, for which they treat him poorly. I just didn't feel like he was a good match for her at first because he basically thought and acted the same way that Amanda's family did; she's not old and wise enough to decide things for her own which bummed me out. Of course, things change... but the 'taste' of that first part in the book just lingered with me I guess.
There were some small parts I enjoyed, but overall this just wasn't what I was hoping to get out of this reading experience. If you're interested in this synopsis I'd definitely recommend to check it out and maybe pick it up, seeing every reader experiences a book differently. I've come across many many positive reviews for this one, so I'd suggest you'd find out for yourself how you're going to feel about it!
I received an ARC of this book by the published & Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 29, 2019
Loved this book. The wallflower and her cowboy.
Amanda is ready to brake out of her shell. It’s time for Amanda to move out of her comfort zone and find her own place in the world. The first step is to move out of the family home. Step two get the love life she always wanted. Can the simple girl get the man?
Brady has his own family situation to sort out but when Amanda asks for his help. A deep feeling surfaced. He wants what she’s offering but feels its wrong to take it. He’s a friend of her brothers. She’s sweet and innocent. She could be a reason for him to stay.
I really enjoyed this book. Amanda is a sweet character and she heats Brady’s world up. I liked the family background story and the way their romance sparks one step at a time.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley. This can be read as a standalone but it’s book 3 in a family of brothers.
Amanda is ready to brake out of her shell. It’s time for Amanda to move out of her comfort zone and find her own place in the world. The first step is to move out of the family home. Step two get the love life she always wanted. Can the simple girl get the man?
Brady has his own family situation to sort out but when Amanda asks for his help. A deep feeling surfaced. He wants what she’s offering but feels its wrong to take it. He’s a friend of her brothers. She’s sweet and innocent. She could be a reason for him to stay.
I really enjoyed this book. Amanda is a sweet character and she heats Brady’s world up. I liked the family background story and the way their romance sparks one step at a time.
*I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley. This can be read as a standalone but it’s book 3 in a family of brothers.
December 18, 2019
I do love a good romance, especially when it is a little forbidden because, the heart wants what the heart wants, right? THE LAST REAL COWBOY by Caitlin Crews has that forbidden thing down pat, maybe a little too much for the twenty-first century.
Amanda was the sheltered only daughter/sister and at twenty-two, takes a stand, she was moving out, going to find love and make mistakes, on her own. No more overbearing, over-controlling brothers, no more men afraid to date her. She is all grown up and people are still not recognizing she isn’t a kid anymore, not even Brady, ten years her senior, best friends with one of her brothers and rebel in his own household. So why was she surprised when Brady became her surrogate brother and quashed every attempt she made to be “all grown up?” Was there something more he was feeling besides brotherly love or the “teacher” she asked him to be?
I know I’m in the minority here, but the sparks between Brady and Amanda just didn’t hit me as electric, they didn’t sizzle. Amanda’s maturity level was pretty low for her age, but fit perfectly with the sheltered life she led. Hello? This isn’t the dark ages and while it was perfectly okay for her brothers to shop around for love, she couldn’t? There ARE fabulous parts to this tale, but on the whole, I just felt it missed the mark for me and was a so-so read with characters that overreacted, more like apes than cowboys.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from St. Martin's Publishing Group! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Series: Cold River Ranch - Book 3
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (January 28, 2020)
Publication Date: January 28, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Cowboy Romance
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Amanda was the sheltered only daughter/sister and at twenty-two, takes a stand, she was moving out, going to find love and make mistakes, on her own. No more overbearing, over-controlling brothers, no more men afraid to date her. She is all grown up and people are still not recognizing she isn’t a kid anymore, not even Brady, ten years her senior, best friends with one of her brothers and rebel in his own household. So why was she surprised when Brady became her surrogate brother and quashed every attempt she made to be “all grown up?” Was there something more he was feeling besides brotherly love or the “teacher” she asked him to be?
I know I’m in the minority here, but the sparks between Brady and Amanda just didn’t hit me as electric, they didn’t sizzle. Amanda’s maturity level was pretty low for her age, but fit perfectly with the sheltered life she led. Hello? This isn’t the dark ages and while it was perfectly okay for her brothers to shop around for love, she couldn’t? There ARE fabulous parts to this tale, but on the whole, I just felt it missed the mark for me and was a so-so read with characters that overreacted, more like apes than cowboys.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from St. Martin's Publishing Group! This is my honest and voluntary review.
Series: Cold River Ranch - Book 3
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (January 28, 2020)
Publication Date: January 28, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Cowboy Romance
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
January 26, 2020
The Last Real Cowboy is book three in the Cold River Ranch series by Caitlin Crews. Even though it is the third book, it can still be read as a standalone. While the first two couples from the previous books are sprinkled into the story, it definitely did not take away from my enjoyment reading about Amanda and Brady. Although, I am definitely going to have to go back and read the first two books because these Everett brothers are smokin hot! Where is a fan when you need one!
Amanda Kittredge has had enough of being treated like the baby in her family. With four older brothers watching her every move, let's just say, it is very hard for her to date or have any independence at all for that matter. So, Amanda sets out on her own for the first time. She is twenty-two years old and wants to finally live and make mistakes and have regrets like any normal woman. Enter in bad boy Brady Everett, Amanda’s brother’s best friend, and Amanda has her sights set on him being the first of many new adventures.
Brady Everett is being forced to work the family land for a period of one year, a task he is none too happy about. To top it all off, he is asked to babysit Amanda and make sure she stays out of trouble. But, when he finally realizes Amanda is no longer the little girl in pigtails, he becomes the “trouble” he is supposed to be protecting her from.
I have always loved the brother’s best friend trope and having now read The Last Real Cowboy I can see why. I wouldn’t necessarily say its a taboo kind of trope, but it does make things a little more interesting. It is kind of like the forbidden fruit. You know you are not supposed to eat it, but you can’t help yourself anyway. When Amanda propositions Brady to teach her about men, He knows he should resist, but Amanda is quite determined with or without his help. So, what does any man do under these circumstances? Pray her brother’s don’t find out!
I really loved Amanda and although she does come across as a bit naive because of her upbringing, she is actually pretty smart for being so young. It was really nice to see her blossom with Brady and to be there for him in ways he doesn’t even realize. Her growth through the story and near towards the end really shows how passionate she is with the people she loves and how she will stick up for Brady when she feels no one else is.
Brady is just really hot and also quite damaged. He didn’t have the best life growing up with a cold father, so when he reached eighteen years old, he ran far away from his problems and only came back when he was forced to give a year working on the homestead along with his brothers. Brady really was the standout character for me and I couldn’t help feeling sympathy for him because he really didn’t know the man he was capable of being and I could see the fear he had in regards to turning out like his father. Brady wants to do the right thing, but can’t help himself giving in to Amanda’s demands for help in learning about men even though he knows he should stay far away.
Although I really did enjoy Brady and Amanda’s story, there was a little bit of a hiccup for me when it was reiterated over and over again that Amanda was “little Amanda,” “like a sister,” and a “little girl.” I understand why it was done, but maybe a tad bit less of it would have been better for me. Don’t get me wrong, the love story was sweet and tender and I wholeheartedly enjoyed it, but a teeny bit less on the “young” factor would have had me squirming just a little teeny bit less.
I am really hoping Amanda’s brothers will ge their own story! I think I am a little in love with all of them! Yes, I will definitely need a fan..oh hell just make it an air conditioner blasted on high!
Amanda Kittredge has had enough of being treated like the baby in her family. With four older brothers watching her every move, let's just say, it is very hard for her to date or have any independence at all for that matter. So, Amanda sets out on her own for the first time. She is twenty-two years old and wants to finally live and make mistakes and have regrets like any normal woman. Enter in bad boy Brady Everett, Amanda’s brother’s best friend, and Amanda has her sights set on him being the first of many new adventures.
Brady Everett is being forced to work the family land for a period of one year, a task he is none too happy about. To top it all off, he is asked to babysit Amanda and make sure she stays out of trouble. But, when he finally realizes Amanda is no longer the little girl in pigtails, he becomes the “trouble” he is supposed to be protecting her from.
I have always loved the brother’s best friend trope and having now read The Last Real Cowboy I can see why. I wouldn’t necessarily say its a taboo kind of trope, but it does make things a little more interesting. It is kind of like the forbidden fruit. You know you are not supposed to eat it, but you can’t help yourself anyway. When Amanda propositions Brady to teach her about men, He knows he should resist, but Amanda is quite determined with or without his help. So, what does any man do under these circumstances? Pray her brother’s don’t find out!
I really loved Amanda and although she does come across as a bit naive because of her upbringing, she is actually pretty smart for being so young. It was really nice to see her blossom with Brady and to be there for him in ways he doesn’t even realize. Her growth through the story and near towards the end really shows how passionate she is with the people she loves and how she will stick up for Brady when she feels no one else is.
Brady is just really hot and also quite damaged. He didn’t have the best life growing up with a cold father, so when he reached eighteen years old, he ran far away from his problems and only came back when he was forced to give a year working on the homestead along with his brothers. Brady really was the standout character for me and I couldn’t help feeling sympathy for him because he really didn’t know the man he was capable of being and I could see the fear he had in regards to turning out like his father. Brady wants to do the right thing, but can’t help himself giving in to Amanda’s demands for help in learning about men even though he knows he should stay far away.
Although I really did enjoy Brady and Amanda’s story, there was a little bit of a hiccup for me when it was reiterated over and over again that Amanda was “little Amanda,” “like a sister,” and a “little girl.” I understand why it was done, but maybe a tad bit less of it would have been better for me. Don’t get me wrong, the love story was sweet and tender and I wholeheartedly enjoyed it, but a teeny bit less on the “young” factor would have had me squirming just a little teeny bit less.
I am really hoping Amanda’s brothers will ge their own story! I think I am a little in love with all of them! Yes, I will definitely need a fan..oh hell just make it an air conditioner blasted on high!
February 8, 2020
Amanda Kittredge has had a crush on Brady Everett, her brothers best friend for years but he just like everyone else in town still sees her as a twelve year old kid not as the twenty-two year old woman she is. Well, that all changes when she decides to move out and make some changes in her life.
Read my full review along with an Author Q&A HERE
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books**
You can see this and other Reviews I have written along with various cover reveals, excerpts, and giveaways here Nadine's Obsessed with Books
Read my full review along with an Author Q&A HERE
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books**
You can see this and other Reviews I have written along with various cover reveals, excerpts, and giveaways here Nadine's Obsessed with Books
November 29, 2020
This is book 3 in the Cold River Ranch series by Caitlin Crews and I want to say that I am glad that I am finished with this book. This has to be my least favorite installment because their characters were not written very well. Now let's not get ahead of ourselves, let me tell you about the story first before I give you the lowdown about this story. Brady Everett is the youngest of the bunch and after their father passes away, Brady is back to pick up the pieces. Brady has agreed to work on the ranch for a year before deciding what to do with his share of the Everett land. One of the major disadvantages of living in a small town is not being seen as a twelve year old when you are 22! Amanda just wants to be seen as adult and to be independent away from her overbearing brothers and their protective grasp. Amanda has been watching Brady since forever and she just wants him to see her as a woman. Will Brady ever see her as a woman and not his best friend's pesky little sister?
Amanda is a virgin and she only wants one man to have it and that is Brady. Brady knows that this is a bad idea, but he can't resist this feisty, beautiful girl who has grown into a full fledge woman. While Brady and Amanda heat up the sheets, Brady's brothers are building their families and treats Brady like an outsider. Riley, Amanda older brother, asked Brady to look out for Amanda after she decides to move out on her own to have independence and she also gets a job at a risky bar in town. Feelings start to form and Brady is genuinely afraid that he will end up like his father, not able to hold on to a relationship and a violent drunk. The entirety of the book is them messing around while Amanda develops genuine feelings and while Brady fights his inner demons.
The overall story was okay and it really did not make me feel anything. There was so much monologue and I honestly had no idea what the characters looked like. I felt like I barely knew the characters and I was not rooting for them at all, which is horrible for the main couple in the story. This installment, like the others, are solely dedicated to the father, even though we never met him. I did not feel the chemistry between the characters and I was more intrigued by Riley and his ex wife more than anything else. I feel that Amanda had more character development than Brady and she was strong and I loved how she stood up to her brothers and Brady's as well. Brady as the hero did not carry this story, which is unfortunate. The ending felt a little rushed and I was glad when I was finished with the story.
As I said before, this story was okay and I wouldn't rush to read it. I will give this story 3 stars at best. I was more interested in Riley's love story than Brady and Amanda's. I believe that their story will be soon released and I will take a chance and read their story because it intrigued me.
Amanda is a virgin and she only wants one man to have it and that is Brady. Brady knows that this is a bad idea, but he can't resist this feisty, beautiful girl who has grown into a full fledge woman. While Brady and Amanda heat up the sheets, Brady's brothers are building their families and treats Brady like an outsider. Riley, Amanda older brother, asked Brady to look out for Amanda after she decides to move out on her own to have independence and she also gets a job at a risky bar in town. Feelings start to form and Brady is genuinely afraid that he will end up like his father, not able to hold on to a relationship and a violent drunk. The entirety of the book is them messing around while Amanda develops genuine feelings and while Brady fights his inner demons.
The overall story was okay and it really did not make me feel anything. There was so much monologue and I honestly had no idea what the characters looked like. I felt like I barely knew the characters and I was not rooting for them at all, which is horrible for the main couple in the story. This installment, like the others, are solely dedicated to the father, even though we never met him. I did not feel the chemistry between the characters and I was more intrigued by Riley and his ex wife more than anything else. I feel that Amanda had more character development than Brady and she was strong and I loved how she stood up to her brothers and Brady's as well. Brady as the hero did not carry this story, which is unfortunate. The ending felt a little rushed and I was glad when I was finished with the story.
As I said before, this story was okay and I wouldn't rush to read it. I will give this story 3 stars at best. I was more interested in Riley's love story than Brady and Amanda's. I believe that their story will be soon released and I will take a chance and read their story because it intrigued me.
November 11, 2021
This is the final book about the Everett Brothers, this is Brady Everett's story if you read either of the previous books this is the brother they call Denver. This book can be read as a standalone as can the other books in the series but I would suggest you read them in order that way you have a better understanding of the family dynamics and how each of the brothers eventually found their own HEAs.
I have to say that the abuse each of the brothers lived through was terrible, dealing with the fact that your mother just up and leaves you is a hard pill to swallow but to know that she left you defenseless against your alcoholic father is downright devastating, and Amos was a mean drunk and these boys felt the brunt of that meanness on a daily basis.
Amanda Kittredge has had a crush on Brady Everett, her brothers best friend, for years but he just like everyone else in town still sees her as a twelve year old kid not as the twenty-two year old woman she is. Well, that all changes when she decides to move out and make some changes in her life.
I loved Amanda and her go get them attitude that finally broke out. She needed to make some changes in her life and she did just that. She was tired of being treated like a little kid and who could blame her, she graduated high school four years earlier and she was still being asked how school was!
If you enjoy cowboy/western romances, romances that have an age gap (there is ten years between Brady and Amanda), or the siblings best friend trope then I would recommend this book to you.
Happy Reading!!!
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books**
I have to say that the abuse each of the brothers lived through was terrible, dealing with the fact that your mother just up and leaves you is a hard pill to swallow but to know that she left you defenseless against your alcoholic father is downright devastating, and Amos was a mean drunk and these boys felt the brunt of that meanness on a daily basis.
Amanda Kittredge has had a crush on Brady Everett, her brothers best friend, for years but he just like everyone else in town still sees her as a twelve year old kid not as the twenty-two year old woman she is. Well, that all changes when she decides to move out and make some changes in her life.
I loved Amanda and her go get them attitude that finally broke out. She needed to make some changes in her life and she did just that. She was tired of being treated like a little kid and who could blame her, she graduated high school four years earlier and she was still being asked how school was!
If you enjoy cowboy/western romances, romances that have an age gap (there is ten years between Brady and Amanda), or the siblings best friend trope then I would recommend this book to you.
Happy Reading!!!
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books**
March 13, 2020
Really love Caitlin Crews' cowboys! Highly recommend a visit to Cold River to wait out the Covid 19 pandemic.
February 18, 2020
ARC REVIEW
Cold River Ranch #3, The third book, the third Everett brother and hopefully not the last book of the series especially not after introducing Amanda's brothers. This was an enjoyable book and much like the first it starts with unrequited love. Amanda has been in love with her oldest brothers best friend as long as she can remember, but half the time it's like he doesn't see her and the other times he treats her like she's still in school. Brady has done his best to try and ignore Amanda, she's always been hands off. The Kittredge family has been more a family to him than his own, and lusting after his best friends little sister is a big no no; until it's not.
Brady has a lot issues he was the book smart brother who left as soon as he was able because while loved the ranch he hated his father. His father made him feel like the red-headed step child and pushed to the point his brothers alienate him too. His promised year working on the ranch has been spent trying to convince his brothers that his college degree doesn't make him ranch dumb.
Amanda is the youngest the only girl with four older brothers, four very overstepping, overbearing, over protective brothers. So much so that at the age of 22 she's only been on three dates no one is brave enough to stand up to the Kittredge boys and to the Kittredge boys no one is good enough for their baby sister. Fed up of being treated like a child to everyone around her she makes the decision to start living her life no matter what her brothers do or say. She moves out of her parents house and gets second job at the low class bar on the skirts of town and rents one of the rooms above it. Her parents are supportive her brother's on the other hand. Brady was just supposed to watch out for her make sure no one tries anything but then Amanda asks him to teach her all about sex.
Overall it's a great read. I feel like it can be read as a stand alone, I missed reading the second one and didn't feel lost at all. I loved the bonding between the brothers and truths finally coming to light. I mentally applauded Amanda for standing up for herself and her relationship with Brady.
Cold River Ranch #3, The third book, the third Everett brother and hopefully not the last book of the series especially not after introducing Amanda's brothers. This was an enjoyable book and much like the first it starts with unrequited love. Amanda has been in love with her oldest brothers best friend as long as she can remember, but half the time it's like he doesn't see her and the other times he treats her like she's still in school. Brady has done his best to try and ignore Amanda, she's always been hands off. The Kittredge family has been more a family to him than his own, and lusting after his best friends little sister is a big no no; until it's not.
Brady has a lot issues he was the book smart brother who left as soon as he was able because while loved the ranch he hated his father. His father made him feel like the red-headed step child and pushed to the point his brothers alienate him too. His promised year working on the ranch has been spent trying to convince his brothers that his college degree doesn't make him ranch dumb.
Amanda is the youngest the only girl with four older brothers, four very overstepping, overbearing, over protective brothers. So much so that at the age of 22 she's only been on three dates no one is brave enough to stand up to the Kittredge boys and to the Kittredge boys no one is good enough for their baby sister. Fed up of being treated like a child to everyone around her she makes the decision to start living her life no matter what her brothers do or say. She moves out of her parents house and gets second job at the low class bar on the skirts of town and rents one of the rooms above it. Her parents are supportive her brother's on the other hand. Brady was just supposed to watch out for her make sure no one tries anything but then Amanda asks him to teach her all about sex.
Overall it's a great read. I feel like it can be read as a stand alone, I missed reading the second one and didn't feel lost at all. I loved the bonding between the brothers and truths finally coming to light. I mentally applauded Amanda for standing up for herself and her relationship with Brady.
January 28, 2020
I do love a story with a cowboy. And who doesn't like a little forbidden love. That being said, the forbidden in this story seemed out of place when she is 22. I get she has been sheltered and her big brothers kept everyone away, but Brady not noticing her being a grown women until she was wearing a low cut tank top seemed a little odd. I did love how she loved him forever and I did love how in the end he fought for her. I didn't think they had the best chemistry. I did love how in the end she also stood up to his family even when she thought they never would be a couple. I think the best part of this book wasn't the H and h relationship, it was Brady and his brothers finally putting the past aside and becoming brothers again. 3 1/2 stars for me.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Netgalley.
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Netgalley.
October 28, 2023
The Last Real Cowboy is the third book in Caitlin Crews’ Cold River Ranch series, set in Cold River, Colorado. It’s a best friend’s sibling trope romance with two of the local ranching families, the Everetts (of Cold River Ranch) and the Kittredges (of Kittredge Ranch) center stage while Brady Everett discovers that Amanda Kittredge isn’t a teenager anymore.
At twenty-two, Amanda Kittredge is all grown up and desperate to get out from under the thumb of her older brothers Zack, Riley and Jensen. She also wishes that Riley’s best friend Brady would notice her, and not just think of her as Riley’s little sister. She’s been noticing him ever since she was a teenager but he continues to treat her as if she’s still in high school. In fact, he tends to lump her in with his niece Becca who is sixteen. Well, she’s had enough, and to prove it, she decides to move out of the ranch and take an evening job at the Coyote, the seedier of the two bars in town. She already works at a coffee shop full time, and she’s been saving money so that she can move out. And she’s rented the apartment above the Coyote too. Her brothers are furious but unable to do anything about it.
No-one is more stunned to see Amanda tending bar at the Coyote than Brady. The bar is his hideout from his two brothers, Gray and Ty, with whom he has inherited the ranch after his emotionally abusive father died the previous year. It’s not that he doesn’t get along with his brothers most of the time, just that they have different ideas about what to do with the ranch and Brady, who’d spent the last several years as a businessman in Denver, has struggled with bad memories during the time he’s been back. The Coyote is where Brady usually picks up women (sometimes even the bartenders themselves) but the last thing he expects is to see is Amanda, dressed up like a hot bartender (because she is in fact a hot bartender) and his world gets turned upside down.
Things get more complicated when Riley expects Brady to keep an eye on Amanda and warn off any men that might approach her at the Coyote, while Amanda, seeing that Brady is finally aware of her as a woman, takes this opportunity to convince him that he should be the one to teach her about sex, since with all her protective older brothers she’s never gotten the chance to even date anyone. And Brady, despite the knowledge that he’s betraying Riley’s faith in him, can’t resist Amanda, leading to a secret, passionate affair. But he’s not planning to stick around and he knows Amanda deserves better than him and that once he’s gone, she’ll find the right person to be with. But what if he decides not to leave?
For more of this review please visit All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
At twenty-two, Amanda Kittredge is all grown up and desperate to get out from under the thumb of her older brothers Zack, Riley and Jensen. She also wishes that Riley’s best friend Brady would notice her, and not just think of her as Riley’s little sister. She’s been noticing him ever since she was a teenager but he continues to treat her as if she’s still in high school. In fact, he tends to lump her in with his niece Becca who is sixteen. Well, she’s had enough, and to prove it, she decides to move out of the ranch and take an evening job at the Coyote, the seedier of the two bars in town. She already works at a coffee shop full time, and she’s been saving money so that she can move out. And she’s rented the apartment above the Coyote too. Her brothers are furious but unable to do anything about it.
No-one is more stunned to see Amanda tending bar at the Coyote than Brady. The bar is his hideout from his two brothers, Gray and Ty, with whom he has inherited the ranch after his emotionally abusive father died the previous year. It’s not that he doesn’t get along with his brothers most of the time, just that they have different ideas about what to do with the ranch and Brady, who’d spent the last several years as a businessman in Denver, has struggled with bad memories during the time he’s been back. The Coyote is where Brady usually picks up women (sometimes even the bartenders themselves) but the last thing he expects is to see is Amanda, dressed up like a hot bartender (because she is in fact a hot bartender) and his world gets turned upside down.
Things get more complicated when Riley expects Brady to keep an eye on Amanda and warn off any men that might approach her at the Coyote, while Amanda, seeing that Brady is finally aware of her as a woman, takes this opportunity to convince him that he should be the one to teach her about sex, since with all her protective older brothers she’s never gotten the chance to even date anyone. And Brady, despite the knowledge that he’s betraying Riley’s faith in him, can’t resist Amanda, leading to a secret, passionate affair. But he’s not planning to stick around and he knows Amanda deserves better than him and that once he’s gone, she’ll find the right person to be with. But what if he decides not to leave?
For more of this review please visit All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
January 28, 2020
This is the second book I have read in this series. These books can be read as stand alone novels. You will fall for the Everett brothers. They make appearances in the various books. So, your favorites are in the books as well as new characters that you will fall in love with.
Amanda had me from the beginning. She was up against the odds with all of her brothers. Who needs a guard dog when you have brothers. Example: when Amanda took a job at the bar and her brothers came to give the "stink eye" to all the guys who even thought about talking or looking at Amanda.
It is a good thing that Brady had Amanda's heart in his best interest. He sure did not win brownie points in the beginning. He still thought of Amanda as his friend's little sister. However, it was really more of a way to keep his feelings at bay. That all went up in smoke when he and Amanda hooked up. Romance readers will enjoy reading this book as will fans of this series. Author, Caitlin Crews roped my heart and feelings with her latest offering in the Cold River Ranch series!
Amanda had me from the beginning. She was up against the odds with all of her brothers. Who needs a guard dog when you have brothers. Example: when Amanda took a job at the bar and her brothers came to give the "stink eye" to all the guys who even thought about talking or looking at Amanda.
It is a good thing that Brady had Amanda's heart in his best interest. He sure did not win brownie points in the beginning. He still thought of Amanda as his friend's little sister. However, it was really more of a way to keep his feelings at bay. That all went up in smoke when he and Amanda hooked up. Romance readers will enjoy reading this book as will fans of this series. Author, Caitlin Crews roped my heart and feelings with her latest offering in the Cold River Ranch series!
January 27, 2020
I liked the story over all it was cute but I felt like both Amanda and Brady whined a lot yet both wanted to be seen as adults. Eventually Amanda grew some balls and was a total spit fire no one wanted to mess with. Brady’s family could describe every dysfunctional family out there perfectly. They all are healing and looking to find where they fit after their dad died and there was no love loss there. I think both Amanda and Brady’s brothers could be one in the same all protective and a pain in the read end. The sexual tension though out was not lacking at all, there is sex in this book so may not be suitable for all readers. Cute story over all but does also seem to drag here and there. I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a review and have given my honest opinion
December 30, 2019
I am in the minority group here. I didn't like Amanda and felt that she needed to mature. Yes she was sheltered but she is now 22. and I am glad she decided it was time for a change, but I didn't feel she and Brady had that chemistry. Brady grossed me out, here he is thinking that Amanda was underage yet wanted her,ew. I never did get the best friend brother thing so we can't have a relationship but it must happen since so many, I mean so many authors seem to write about this. All in all there were times the story was not bad, but would I recommend probably not there are other good books out there.
Rcvd and ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions
Rcvd and ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions
December 21, 2019
This is the first book by Caitlin Crews that I have read. I wish that I had read the first few in the series, because I felt like I was missing some plot points that had to do with the main characters’ families. Nonetheless, I read the whole book and made do. It was well written and I thought the characters were very well developed. I did find it slightly long-winded at times, which is why I am giving it 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
February 6, 2020
What a great wrap up to this series!
Brady and Amanda's story was awesome! This was less angsty than the previous books, but there were still some tense moments where my heart broke for both of them. The way Brady and his brothers Gray and Ty finally laid to rest their past was perfect. And so was that last chapter :)
Brady and Amanda's story was awesome! This was less angsty than the previous books, but there were still some tense moments where my heart broke for both of them. The way Brady and his brothers Gray and Ty finally laid to rest their past was perfect. And so was that last chapter :)
January 31, 2020
Too long, too sedate...
January 28, 2020
Cute read. It was a little out of my wheelhouse, but I still enjoyed it. I did not read the previous books so this was read as a stand alone.
**Goodreads win**
**Goodreads win**
November 18, 2019
The is a great series. Amanda Kittredge has to overcome moving out of her family home and convincing her brothers' best friend Brady Everett that she is right for him. So what if he is a decade older! ENJOY!!! "A copy of this book was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion." I HAVE READ ALL PRIOR COLD RIVER RANCH books but this one stands alone nicely too.
January 30, 2020
Highly entertaining, sexy, fun, action packed and emotionally thrilling hometown adventure filled with engaging charters, witty dialog, heart racing twists and undeniable passion. Was a great read from beginning to end. Really loving Cold River Ranch.
January 28, 2020
Amanda is a sheltered sister and daughter to a ranching family in their small town. She decides that at 22 that no one sees her as more than little sister of Kittredge family she has had enough. Being sent to the kids table at family gathering was the last straw. Amanda packs her bags, moves out and gets a job at the seediest bar in town. To top it off, she decides to live in the apartment above said “seedy” bar.
Brady is home to help work on the family farm. Not happy about his 1 year commitment to the farm, he seeks refuge at the seedy bar Amanda is now working. Being the best friend to Amanda’s brother, Brady has never noticed the woman Amanda has become until he walks into that bar and sees Amanda in her work attire.
Amanda’s brother asks Brady to look after Amanda. But Amanda has other plans, she wants Brady to teach her the ways of men and all that entails. Ten years older than Amanda, Brady finds himself swept away by the firecracker that was hiding under everyone’s noses.
Passionate and explosive read, The Last Real Cowboy takes the slow burn to inferno levels. The plot moves quickly and engages the reader in both Brady’s and Amanda’s struggles to be seen as the people they’ve become and not just the preconceptions cast on them from family and friends.
I received this ARC copy of The Last Real Cowboy from St. Martin's Press. This is my honest and voluntary review. The Last Real Cowboy is set for publication Jan. 28, 2020.
My Rating: 4 stars
Written by: Caitlin Crews
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (January 28, 2020)
ISBN-10: 1250295270
ISBN-13: 978-1250295279
Genre: Western Contemporary Romance
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Real-Cowb...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...
Itunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-l...
Brady is home to help work on the family farm. Not happy about his 1 year commitment to the farm, he seeks refuge at the seedy bar Amanda is now working. Being the best friend to Amanda’s brother, Brady has never noticed the woman Amanda has become until he walks into that bar and sees Amanda in her work attire.
Amanda’s brother asks Brady to look after Amanda. But Amanda has other plans, she wants Brady to teach her the ways of men and all that entails. Ten years older than Amanda, Brady finds himself swept away by the firecracker that was hiding under everyone’s noses.
Passionate and explosive read, The Last Real Cowboy takes the slow burn to inferno levels. The plot moves quickly and engages the reader in both Brady’s and Amanda’s struggles to be seen as the people they’ve become and not just the preconceptions cast on them from family and friends.
I received this ARC copy of The Last Real Cowboy from St. Martin's Press. This is my honest and voluntary review. The Last Real Cowboy is set for publication Jan. 28, 2020.
My Rating: 4 stars
Written by: Caitlin Crews
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (January 28, 2020)
ISBN-10: 1250295270
ISBN-13: 978-1250295279
Genre: Western Contemporary Romance
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Last-Real-Cowb...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-...
Itunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-l...
January 23, 2020
I've been following this trilogy since its inception, and have been patiently waiting for Brady's story. I'm happy to say it was worth the wait, it's my favorite among the three novels in the Cold River Ranch series, and it gets 5 stars from this reader.
The series follows the three Everett brothers, whose father was a mean, abusive drunk. When he died almost a year before the start of this novel, he left his ranch to his three sons, Gray, Ty and Brady. Gray, with ranching in his blood, was the only one who didn't leave as soon as he was able. Ty got out and spent years on the rodeo circuit, avoiding the ranch, and Brady, the youngest, graduated from high school, earned a scholarship and went to college, drawing no small amount of ire, animosity, and taunts from his father. After college, he went to Denver and became a successful financial wunderkind, and would have been happy to never return to the ranch, but Gray couldn't work the ranch alone. Ty was badly injured at the rodeo, lost much of his memory, and had to return to the ranch to recuperate, but Brady didn't want to be there at all. The ranch held no warm memories for him. He'd suggested diversifying, Gray had always refused, and his alternative suggestion was to sell the ranch, split the proceeds, and go their separate ways, but Gray asked him to set aside his business and return to the ranch for one year, and Brady finally agreed, putting his life on hold, but that didn't mean that he was happy about it, or that his brothers appreciated the sacrifice he was making.
The neighboring Kittridge ranch had been at odds with the Everetts for years, a several generations old feud keeping them separate and apart. Amanda Kittridge is the youngest and only daughter, over-protected by her four overhearing big brothers--Jensen, Zack, Connor and Riley. She's never been kissed, has been on only 2 dates and has had a crush on Brady Everett for years, and at age 22, she is still viewed as a child by her brothers and she's sick to death of it. So she decides to make her move, getting a job working a the Coyote Bar, the worst and roughest dive bar in town, and with the job comes the apartment upstairs. No matter how her brothers try to rein her in, she's not moving back home, not changing jobs, and is no longer being their obedient little sister. Her brothers start showing up the bar to keep an eye on her and to discourage anyone who tries to flirt with her, and one night, Riley is there with his best friend, Brady Everett, who is 10 years older that Amanda, used to babysit her and even at one time changed her diaper. Yet, when he spots Amanda behind the bar in a tank top and tight jeans, he suddenly realizes she's not a child anymore but an attractive, sexy, young woman, although the last thing he wants to do is let on to her brothers that he's interested.
When Amanda finally tells her brothers to get out and leave her alone, Riley asks Brady to keep an eye on her--a double-edged sword because Riley doesn't really want to guard her, he'd rather bed her, but he's not looking for a serious, committed relationship, he's looking for a one-night stand, and he knows that if he pursues Amanda, 10 years his junior, her brothers will kill him, so when he makes no overt moves towards Amanda, she's gutsy enough to tell him she wants him to be the one to deflower her and teach her about sex. They agree on this conditional arrangement, but as romance readers know, things are about to change in a major way--and do they ever.
The chemistry between Brady and Amanda is scorching, and Ms. Crews has written what is perhaps the sexiest deflowering scene it's been my pleasure to read in years. The fact that these two have to hide their relationship from everyone in this small town, and especially from Amanda's brothers doesn't help matters any, nor does Brady's belief that there's too much of his father in him to ever willingly commit to a long-term, serious relationship. When Amanda confesses to Brady that she's in love with him, he's ready to end it all, but Amanda is no longer content to let that happen, and when Riley discovers the two of them having a not very platonic kiss, he punches Brady in the eye, Amanda and Brady's secret is no longer a secret, Amanda won't accept that Brady wants to end their relationship, and what follows is one huge, emotional upheaval not only for Amanda and Brady, but for all the Everetts and Kittridges too.
With Brady's plan to leave the ranch after fulfilling his one-year commitment to Gray to live and work there, his best friend Riley and his 3 brothers wanting to kill him for his dalliance with their baby sister, prepare for some fireworks, some serious confrontations with Gray after years of putting up with his disdain for his younger brother, and some serious attempts to mend fences, free themselves from the damage they all suffered under Amos Everett's cruelty, and some deep soul-searching for all concerned.
The Last Real Cowboy is as good as it gets in a contemporary western romance. It's filled with three-dimensional characters that have real issues and real depth, and it's written with a deep understanding of family dynamics, and how the sins and flaws of one generation can strongly affect the next generation. This is an excellent series, and this is my favorite novel in it. I suggest and recommend that you read this series in the order it was written to better understand the history, the characters, the ill-will, and misunderstandings that influence and impact on these well-drawn, well-developed and interesting characters.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
The series follows the three Everett brothers, whose father was a mean, abusive drunk. When he died almost a year before the start of this novel, he left his ranch to his three sons, Gray, Ty and Brady. Gray, with ranching in his blood, was the only one who didn't leave as soon as he was able. Ty got out and spent years on the rodeo circuit, avoiding the ranch, and Brady, the youngest, graduated from high school, earned a scholarship and went to college, drawing no small amount of ire, animosity, and taunts from his father. After college, he went to Denver and became a successful financial wunderkind, and would have been happy to never return to the ranch, but Gray couldn't work the ranch alone. Ty was badly injured at the rodeo, lost much of his memory, and had to return to the ranch to recuperate, but Brady didn't want to be there at all. The ranch held no warm memories for him. He'd suggested diversifying, Gray had always refused, and his alternative suggestion was to sell the ranch, split the proceeds, and go their separate ways, but Gray asked him to set aside his business and return to the ranch for one year, and Brady finally agreed, putting his life on hold, but that didn't mean that he was happy about it, or that his brothers appreciated the sacrifice he was making.
The neighboring Kittridge ranch had been at odds with the Everetts for years, a several generations old feud keeping them separate and apart. Amanda Kittridge is the youngest and only daughter, over-protected by her four overhearing big brothers--Jensen, Zack, Connor and Riley. She's never been kissed, has been on only 2 dates and has had a crush on Brady Everett for years, and at age 22, she is still viewed as a child by her brothers and she's sick to death of it. So she decides to make her move, getting a job working a the Coyote Bar, the worst and roughest dive bar in town, and with the job comes the apartment upstairs. No matter how her brothers try to rein her in, she's not moving back home, not changing jobs, and is no longer being their obedient little sister. Her brothers start showing up the bar to keep an eye on her and to discourage anyone who tries to flirt with her, and one night, Riley is there with his best friend, Brady Everett, who is 10 years older that Amanda, used to babysit her and even at one time changed her diaper. Yet, when he spots Amanda behind the bar in a tank top and tight jeans, he suddenly realizes she's not a child anymore but an attractive, sexy, young woman, although the last thing he wants to do is let on to her brothers that he's interested.
When Amanda finally tells her brothers to get out and leave her alone, Riley asks Brady to keep an eye on her--a double-edged sword because Riley doesn't really want to guard her, he'd rather bed her, but he's not looking for a serious, committed relationship, he's looking for a one-night stand, and he knows that if he pursues Amanda, 10 years his junior, her brothers will kill him, so when he makes no overt moves towards Amanda, she's gutsy enough to tell him she wants him to be the one to deflower her and teach her about sex. They agree on this conditional arrangement, but as romance readers know, things are about to change in a major way--and do they ever.
The chemistry between Brady and Amanda is scorching, and Ms. Crews has written what is perhaps the sexiest deflowering scene it's been my pleasure to read in years. The fact that these two have to hide their relationship from everyone in this small town, and especially from Amanda's brothers doesn't help matters any, nor does Brady's belief that there's too much of his father in him to ever willingly commit to a long-term, serious relationship. When Amanda confesses to Brady that she's in love with him, he's ready to end it all, but Amanda is no longer content to let that happen, and when Riley discovers the two of them having a not very platonic kiss, he punches Brady in the eye, Amanda and Brady's secret is no longer a secret, Amanda won't accept that Brady wants to end their relationship, and what follows is one huge, emotional upheaval not only for Amanda and Brady, but for all the Everetts and Kittridges too.
With Brady's plan to leave the ranch after fulfilling his one-year commitment to Gray to live and work there, his best friend Riley and his 3 brothers wanting to kill him for his dalliance with their baby sister, prepare for some fireworks, some serious confrontations with Gray after years of putting up with his disdain for his younger brother, and some serious attempts to mend fences, free themselves from the damage they all suffered under Amos Everett's cruelty, and some deep soul-searching for all concerned.
The Last Real Cowboy is as good as it gets in a contemporary western romance. It's filled with three-dimensional characters that have real issues and real depth, and it's written with a deep understanding of family dynamics, and how the sins and flaws of one generation can strongly affect the next generation. This is an excellent series, and this is my favorite novel in it. I suggest and recommend that you read this series in the order it was written to better understand the history, the characters, the ill-will, and misunderstandings that influence and impact on these well-drawn, well-developed and interesting characters.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
January 4, 2020
“I’m ten years older than you.”Emotionally tortured cowboy and sheltered best friend's virgin little sister are some of my favorite tropes. Unfortunately, Brady and Amanda's secret relationship, while at times sweet and steamy, suffered from too much internal monologue and not enough doing.
“I know how old you are. Cradle robber.”
For a sheltered virgin, Amanda was remarkably determined and feisty in the face of four overly protective brothers who lost their collective minds when she took a bartending job in a seedy local bar. I loved that Amanda not only stood up to her brothers but also constantly called Brady out for his patronizing big brotherly protector shtick:
“It turns out your brothers were right to be worried, because look at what’s happening. Every minute you spend near me, you lose a little more of your innocence.”The problem was that Brady was stuck in his own head for most of the story. Brady was so busy internalizing about his dead father's emotional abuse and his two brothers' inability to take him seriously that he hardly had time to realize that Amanda was a fully grown, fully desirable woman waiting for him.
“It’s mine,” she replied. “If I want to lose it or hold it close to me forever, that’s my choice. Not theirs. And frankly? Not yours either.”
Amanda was basically infantilized by everyone from her brothers to Brady himself. It was frankly gross that everyone commented about how Brady had changed Amanda's diapers. Her brothers' determination to keep her sheltered bordered on obsessive, particularly her brother Riley (Brady's best friend). Riley kept accusing Brady of betraying him, which was just too melodramatic for me.
In the end, Brady's old fashioned goal to "court" Amanda was cute and sweet, if not patronizing since Amanda saw no need to be courted. Likewise, Brady's campaign to get her brothers' blessings was well-intentioned but again, unnecessary. The only grand gesture that really mattered, imo, was his actual private ILY declaration to Amanda.
Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed this eARC generously provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
January 20, 2020
What an amazing, fantastic love story!
On the surface this looks like a typical brother's-best-friend romance, but that's just the frame that wraps around a delightful, emotionally-charged story about families and history and growing up in a small town. The writing throughout this story is simply exquisite, perfectly capturing the essence of country life as well as the intricacies of falling in love with someone you've known your whole life.
"But this was a small town. Every interaction was packed full of all the things everybody knew, but didn’t say. All that history and rumor crammed into a perfectly polite hi."
The story starts when Brady finally (finally!) notices that Amanda, the one girl who is absolutely, unequivocally, emphatically off-limits, has grown up into quite an attractive and compelling young woman. But, he's ten years older, is best friends with the scariest of her four older and very watchful brothers, and is smart enough to fear for his very life just by admiring her in her revealing tank top. He tries to keep his distance, but when Amanda makes her own scandalous intentions clear, Brady simply doesn't stand a chance of walking away physically or emotionally intact.
There are layers upon layers of angst in this story. Brady is still dealing with the changing family dynamics after his father's recent death, while Amanda is struggling to find her place in the sun while being overshadowed by her protective family.
“If you let other people dictate your life,” Kat asked softly, “how can you ever be sure you’re the one living it?”
Though it's a standalone romance for Brady and Amanda, a lot of the emotional impact involves his relationship with his two older brothers, Gray and Ty, whose relationships were detailed in the previous books.
"Brady thought change was the future. Gray thought it was the enemy. And as long as Gray kept thinking it was the enemy, he was bound and determined to think Brady was too."
As the last Everett family story, we finally get the closure and reconciliation that's been slowing building among the three brothers. The climax was both brutally cathartic and quietly triumphant; a moment in time that won't soon be forgotten.
It's rare to find a book so well-written, with so much sigh-worthy insight as well as laugh-out-loud humor. Brady is such a well-developed character, a man so torn up by his perceptions that even when he breaks Amanda's heart, the reader feels the depth of his pain and knows that Amanda does, too. Their HEA was romantic and very satisfying. This is one of my top-ten reads ever, and I wholeheartedly recommend it. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
On the surface this looks like a typical brother's-best-friend romance, but that's just the frame that wraps around a delightful, emotionally-charged story about families and history and growing up in a small town. The writing throughout this story is simply exquisite, perfectly capturing the essence of country life as well as the intricacies of falling in love with someone you've known your whole life.
"But this was a small town. Every interaction was packed full of all the things everybody knew, but didn’t say. All that history and rumor crammed into a perfectly polite hi."
The story starts when Brady finally (finally!) notices that Amanda, the one girl who is absolutely, unequivocally, emphatically off-limits, has grown up into quite an attractive and compelling young woman. But, he's ten years older, is best friends with the scariest of her four older and very watchful brothers, and is smart enough to fear for his very life just by admiring her in her revealing tank top. He tries to keep his distance, but when Amanda makes her own scandalous intentions clear, Brady simply doesn't stand a chance of walking away physically or emotionally intact.
There are layers upon layers of angst in this story. Brady is still dealing with the changing family dynamics after his father's recent death, while Amanda is struggling to find her place in the sun while being overshadowed by her protective family.
“If you let other people dictate your life,” Kat asked softly, “how can you ever be sure you’re the one living it?”
Though it's a standalone romance for Brady and Amanda, a lot of the emotional impact involves his relationship with his two older brothers, Gray and Ty, whose relationships were detailed in the previous books.
"Brady thought change was the future. Gray thought it was the enemy. And as long as Gray kept thinking it was the enemy, he was bound and determined to think Brady was too."
As the last Everett family story, we finally get the closure and reconciliation that's been slowing building among the three brothers. The climax was both brutally cathartic and quietly triumphant; a moment in time that won't soon be forgotten.
It's rare to find a book so well-written, with so much sigh-worthy insight as well as laugh-out-loud humor. Brady is such a well-developed character, a man so torn up by his perceptions that even when he breaks Amanda's heart, the reader feels the depth of his pain and knows that Amanda does, too. Their HEA was romantic and very satisfying. This is one of my top-ten reads ever, and I wholeheartedly recommend it. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
February 17, 2020
En mi fase de querer leer libros con vaqueros comencé la serie de Cold River Ranch. En ese primer libro conocemos a la familia Everett después de que murió su padre. Son tres hermanos, Gray, Ty y Brady y los 3 tienen muchos demonios después de haber vivido con ese abusivo y tóxico padre. Los 3 son dueños de Cold River Ranch, un rancho de ganado que ha estado en la familia por generaciones. Ty y Brady quieren vender pero Gray los convence de que se queden un año a trabajar la tierra y si después de ese año aún quieren vender, respetará su decisión.
No leí el segundo libro, no lo solicité de Netgalley, pero no dudé tanto en iniciar el tercero. Generalmente se pueden leer separados pero siento que no tendría tanto impacto si no conociera un poco de historia detrás de estos personajes y las razones por las que están tan dañados. Después de leer The Last Real Cowboy siento que no me perdí de tanto con no leer Cold Heart, Warm Cowboy.
Ahora sí, déjenme hablarles de Brady Everett y Amanda Kittredge. Brady, a diferencia de sus dos hermanos, fue a la universidad, razón por la cual Amos, su padre, siempre se burló de él. Brady creció sintiéndose menospreciado y no ayuda que sus hermanos no lo tomen en cuenta. Brady ha logrado destacarse en el mundo de las finanzas por sus buenas decisiones y asertividad pero en Cold River Ranch eso no importa y sus hermanos se lo hacen saber a cada rato.
La situación de Amanda es parecida. Es la menor y la única mujer de la familia Kittredge así que todos la tratan como si tuviera 10 años. Sus 4 hermanos mayores no dejan ni que le dé el aire y cuando Amanda por fin decide salirse de la casa y trabajar en el peorcito de los bares del pueblo, se arma la revolución. Brady es como 10 años mayor que Amanda así que al principio la sigue viendo como una niña pequeña y no ayuda que uno de los hermanos de ella sea su mejor amigo.
De hecho no me encantó que la atracción de Brady hacia Amanda haya aparecido de la nada. Se conocen de toda la vida pero un momento Amanda no es más que la hermanita menor de su mejor amigo y al siguiente ya no puede dejar de pensar en ella. Y el mayor problema fue que aun cuando andaba de lujurioso con ella seguía viéndola como una chiquilla inexperta de la vida. Amanda lo que quería era cometer errores y aprender pero a nadie le importaba lo que ella quisiera.
Creo que es un mal de algunos libros románticos de vaqueros el que el protagonista masculino no se cree suficiente para la protagonista, cree que va a terminar hiriéndola y sin importarle lo que ella opine, termina con ella con el argumento de que “es lo mejor”. Esto sucede aquí pero afortunadamente no dura mucho gracias a que Amanda no le permite a Brady hacer lo que quiera, eso hizo que apreciara más a esta chica. Y hablando de cosas que me gustaron creo que mis partes favoritas del libro fue ver la relación entre los hermanos. En serio que están dañados esos tres! Su padre los dejó heridos y poco a poco tienen que ir sanando y me gustó ver el camino que recorrieron.
Ya se terminaron los hermanos Everett pero siento que la autora podría seguirle con los Kittredge, se ve que por ahí también hay historias que descubrir. Ya veremos si podemos seguir en el pueblo de Cold River.
No leí el segundo libro, no lo solicité de Netgalley, pero no dudé tanto en iniciar el tercero. Generalmente se pueden leer separados pero siento que no tendría tanto impacto si no conociera un poco de historia detrás de estos personajes y las razones por las que están tan dañados. Después de leer The Last Real Cowboy siento que no me perdí de tanto con no leer Cold Heart, Warm Cowboy.
Ahora sí, déjenme hablarles de Brady Everett y Amanda Kittredge. Brady, a diferencia de sus dos hermanos, fue a la universidad, razón por la cual Amos, su padre, siempre se burló de él. Brady creció sintiéndose menospreciado y no ayuda que sus hermanos no lo tomen en cuenta. Brady ha logrado destacarse en el mundo de las finanzas por sus buenas decisiones y asertividad pero en Cold River Ranch eso no importa y sus hermanos se lo hacen saber a cada rato.
La situación de Amanda es parecida. Es la menor y la única mujer de la familia Kittredge así que todos la tratan como si tuviera 10 años. Sus 4 hermanos mayores no dejan ni que le dé el aire y cuando Amanda por fin decide salirse de la casa y trabajar en el peorcito de los bares del pueblo, se arma la revolución. Brady es como 10 años mayor que Amanda así que al principio la sigue viendo como una niña pequeña y no ayuda que uno de los hermanos de ella sea su mejor amigo.
De hecho no me encantó que la atracción de Brady hacia Amanda haya aparecido de la nada. Se conocen de toda la vida pero un momento Amanda no es más que la hermanita menor de su mejor amigo y al siguiente ya no puede dejar de pensar en ella. Y el mayor problema fue que aun cuando andaba de lujurioso con ella seguía viéndola como una chiquilla inexperta de la vida. Amanda lo que quería era cometer errores y aprender pero a nadie le importaba lo que ella quisiera.
Creo que es un mal de algunos libros románticos de vaqueros el que el protagonista masculino no se cree suficiente para la protagonista, cree que va a terminar hiriéndola y sin importarle lo que ella opine, termina con ella con el argumento de que “es lo mejor”. Esto sucede aquí pero afortunadamente no dura mucho gracias a que Amanda no le permite a Brady hacer lo que quiera, eso hizo que apreciara más a esta chica. Y hablando de cosas que me gustaron creo que mis partes favoritas del libro fue ver la relación entre los hermanos. En serio que están dañados esos tres! Su padre los dejó heridos y poco a poco tienen que ir sanando y me gustó ver el camino que recorrieron.
Ya se terminaron los hermanos Everett pero siento que la autora podría seguirle con los Kittredge, se ve que por ahí también hay historias que descubrir. Ya veremos si podemos seguir en el pueblo de Cold River.
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