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Gold Valley #11
The Last Christmas Cowboy
Sexy, ruig, onbeteugeld... de knapste cowboys vind je in Gold Valley, Oregon! Logan Heath doet niet aan kerst. De feestdagen doen hem alleen maar denken aan de familie die hij is kwijtgeraakt, en hij brengt ze het liefst in zijn eentje door. Maar zijn goede vriendin Rose Daniels denkt daar anders over. Ze lijkt vastbesloten hem te betrekken bij haar plannetje om haar zus aan de man te helpen. Niet dat onschuldige Rose zelf veel ervaring heeft op liefdesgebied, integendeel! Dus is het aan Logan om haar van de nodige uitleg te voorzien. Hij mag de theorie natuurlijk niet in de praktijk brengen - ze is het zusje van zijn beste vriend, dus verboden terrein. Maar ach, een klein kusje onder de mistletoe kan toch geen kwaad?
344 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 2, 2020
165 people are currently reading
463 people want to read
About the author
Maisey Yates
1,162 books2,998 followersNew York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.
She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.
She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
July 17, 2022
This is a Cowboy Romance, and this is the 11th book in the Gold Valley series. I have read several books from this series, and this as became one of my favorite Cowboy romance series. This book was really good. I love getting to meet Rose and Logan more. I am also happy that Sammy and Pansy was in this book a little bit too. One of my favorite characters of this series is Pansy, and her wedding happen in this book. I love not Logan learn to see Christmas in a different light during this book. I wish Sammy's baby was born in this book, but that did not happen. I really love being back in Gold Valley again. This book is character driven and very well written. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin) or author (Maisey Yates) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
December 9, 2020
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE LAST CHRISTMAS COWBOY (A Gold Valley Novel Book #11) by Maisey Yates is the latest contemporary cowboy romance in the Gold Valley series. I always enjoy going back to this series and catching up with the Daniels of Hope Springs Ranch as each deals differently with the tragedy of their pasts and finds their forever love and HEA. This book can easily be read as a standalone.
Rose Daniels is determined to find her oldest sister, Iris, someone to love this Christmas season. She feels Iris gave up a life of her own to help raise her when their parents died. As her scheme evolves, her friend and coworker, Logan warns her she does not understand what she is doing and Iris is going to get hurt. Rose is impulsive and naive and has never been in love, so when her plan takes an unexpected turn, she wants Logan to be the person to teach her what she does not know.
Logan Heath is ten years older that the youngest Daniel and his best friend’s sister. He has kept his attraction to Rose a secret, but now she wants him to teach her about chemistry and he cannot stop after one innocent kiss. Logan has always avoided anything to do with Christmas and believes he cannot love. He feels Rose can do much better even as the two become secret lovers.
Rose wants Logan forever, but can Logan get past the hurt and misunderstandings of his past and let love into his heart this Christmas?
I loved the intimate emotional changes of the hero and heroine in this story. Rose blooms as she confronts her feelings about her deceased parents, her siblings and her newly found womanhood and even as it took Logan longer, his emotional growth was just as important for the HEA. There are explicit sex scenes, but they never felt gratuitous. I enjoyed catching up with all the siblings’ lives. The subplot Christmas wedding of West and Pansy brings the Daltons into the picture and reveals a portion of Logan’s painful past to everyone. All of the secondary characters are fully fleshed, but this story is mainly focused on Logan’s and Rose’s emotional growth and coming together.
I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to returning to Hope Springs Ranch for Iris’ story.
THE LAST CHRISTMAS COWBOY (A Gold Valley Novel Book #11) by Maisey Yates is the latest contemporary cowboy romance in the Gold Valley series. I always enjoy going back to this series and catching up with the Daniels of Hope Springs Ranch as each deals differently with the tragedy of their pasts and finds their forever love and HEA. This book can easily be read as a standalone.
Rose Daniels is determined to find her oldest sister, Iris, someone to love this Christmas season. She feels Iris gave up a life of her own to help raise her when their parents died. As her scheme evolves, her friend and coworker, Logan warns her she does not understand what she is doing and Iris is going to get hurt. Rose is impulsive and naive and has never been in love, so when her plan takes an unexpected turn, she wants Logan to be the person to teach her what she does not know.
Logan Heath is ten years older that the youngest Daniel and his best friend’s sister. He has kept his attraction to Rose a secret, but now she wants him to teach her about chemistry and he cannot stop after one innocent kiss. Logan has always avoided anything to do with Christmas and believes he cannot love. He feels Rose can do much better even as the two become secret lovers.
Rose wants Logan forever, but can Logan get past the hurt and misunderstandings of his past and let love into his heart this Christmas?
I loved the intimate emotional changes of the hero and heroine in this story. Rose blooms as she confronts her feelings about her deceased parents, her siblings and her newly found womanhood and even as it took Logan longer, his emotional growth was just as important for the HEA. There are explicit sex scenes, but they never felt gratuitous. I enjoyed catching up with all the siblings’ lives. The subplot Christmas wedding of West and Pansy brings the Daltons into the picture and reveals a portion of Logan’s painful past to everyone. All of the secondary characters are fully fleshed, but this story is mainly focused on Logan’s and Rose’s emotional growth and coming together.
I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to returning to Hope Springs Ranch for Iris’ story.
July 8, 2020
ARC provided by Edelweiss and Harlequin in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
Rating 4.5
Review to come closer to publication.
Rating 4.5
Review to come closer to publication.
October 9, 2020
I'm a sucker for anything Maisey writes: doesn't matter the series, setting, or characters involved, I am here for it. That being said, I went into this story without reading the synopsis.
I liked Rose. She's impulsive until she makes a decision and then she stands behind it 1000%. I liked that she was willing it admit that she might be a bit naive and how she would reluctantly accept help. Logan is all brooding and gruff with a hint of marshmallow goo inside, but only when it comes to Rose. I did enjoy seeing these two figure out their relationship and chemistry. And of course, it's always good to see the other characters (even if I can barely keep them straight).
Plot wise, it was okay. There's a lot a lot a lot of inner monologue and telling that Rose and Logan know each other so well. I would have liked a bit more showing of their conversations; somehow it didn't seem as fleshed out as I was expecting. I always forget the grief filled backstory this group has and it definitely takes center stage here. Above all, Rose's last stand at the end could easily be one of my favorite scenes ever.
Overall, it was a good addition to the series, but not one that will stand out for me. Regardless, it's not going to stop me from reading any other books that might come out for this series.
**Huge thanks to HQN for providing the arc free of charge**
I liked Rose. She's impulsive until she makes a decision and then she stands behind it 1000%. I liked that she was willing it admit that she might be a bit naive and how she would reluctantly accept help. Logan is all brooding and gruff with a hint of marshmallow goo inside, but only when it comes to Rose. I did enjoy seeing these two figure out their relationship and chemistry. And of course, it's always good to see the other characters (even if I can barely keep them straight).
Plot wise, it was okay. There's a lot a lot a lot of inner monologue and telling that Rose and Logan know each other so well. I would have liked a bit more showing of their conversations; somehow it didn't seem as fleshed out as I was expecting. I always forget the grief filled backstory this group has and it definitely takes center stage here. Above all, Rose's last stand at the end could easily be one of my favorite scenes ever.
Overall, it was a good addition to the series, but not one that will stand out for me. Regardless, it's not going to stop me from reading any other books that might come out for this series.
**Huge thanks to HQN for providing the arc free of charge**
October 14, 2020
3.5
Rose is the youngest of the Daniels siblings. She love working at the family ranch. She and Logan Heath always made a good working team. His mother was friend with her parents and died in the same accident so Rose and Logan grew up together, raised by her oldest siblings. The family tragedy and having them take care of her might be why the young woman became a fixer. Now that every siblings (except for her and the oldest) found their significant other, Rose have this idea that wouldn't quit to find a date for Iris. Logan politely tell her she should mind her own business. So they make a bet. If she's right about the man she picked for her sister, he have to let her set him up. But if she's wrong, he's going to teach her about chemistry. Younger than him, Logan never acted on his feelings for her before, the first reason being that she's off-limits. But now she seems determined to play with fire and he's going to have to be the one to teach her how to get burned😉.
The raising together and she always seen her as an other brother is not something I enjoy in my romance. Now you can trust the author to not makes it awkward or like a taboo romance, but it's just my preference. Having said that, MY still knows how to play with the emotional strings like a maestro, so are you ready for the ride?
Rose is the youngest of the Daniels siblings. She love working at the family ranch. She and Logan Heath always made a good working team. His mother was friend with her parents and died in the same accident so Rose and Logan grew up together, raised by her oldest siblings. The family tragedy and having them take care of her might be why the young woman became a fixer. Now that every siblings (except for her and the oldest) found their significant other, Rose have this idea that wouldn't quit to find a date for Iris. Logan politely tell her she should mind her own business. So they make a bet. If she's right about the man she picked for her sister, he have to let her set him up. But if she's wrong, he's going to teach her about chemistry. Younger than him, Logan never acted on his feelings for her before, the first reason being that she's off-limits. But now she seems determined to play with fire and he's going to have to be the one to teach her how to get burned😉.
The raising together and she always seen her as an other brother is not something I enjoy in my romance. Now you can trust the author to not makes it awkward or like a taboo romance, but it's just my preference. Having said that, MY still knows how to play with the emotional strings like a maestro, so are you ready for the ride?
December 24, 2022
A bit too much angst and miscommunication for me. Iris was my favorite character. I would read her book.
December 24, 2022
I don't recall caring less about two main characters. They somehow managed to lecture each other into an ill-advised relationship that was not well acknowledged by the narrative.
November 9, 2020
4.5 stars
MAJOR Plot spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.
What can I say about this story that I haven’t said a gazillion times before about another book in the Gold Valley series? I adored it. It met my expectations after anticipating this one so long especially after Ryder and Sammy’s story. It had all the great familiar elements that I love about this series. I loved the family dynamics. I loved relationships in her. I loved the cowboy stuff. The storyline was good with lots of very familiar themes that I loved. There were a lot intense moments both in the romance and in stuff both Logan and Rose had to deal with. It was emotional. It was funny. It was entertaining. It was passionate. Just everything that accompanies and expect from Maisey Yates’s cowboy series was in this story. It made it very easy to approve of. There was no doubt this was going to be a win for me.
I do want to talk about something in more detailed terms though, starting with the romance. I was very interesting to see that Logan was the one that had the unrequited love for Rose for the past five years, which a role reversal front his type of trope. It kept growing and growing until it was struggled to be around her and hide his attraction to her. The struggle was real. It was very felt as he battled these feelings for her. It was painful and intense, yet at the same time staying away from her would have been even more painful for him because he just wanted to be around her. She was his light to his darkness. They had a bond that cemented in tragedy because they both lost to their parents to the same accident. Rose and Logan had been there for each other during that time, developing a very close friendship that was really praetorship even though they weren’t physically intimate. They were very much emotionally intimate for a very long time. So, it was hard for him to keep himself in check for those years because he wanted that complete experience of being bonded to her mind, body, and soul because he needed her, wanted her, and loved her. It was quite a journey for him that I enjoyed seeing him going on as well as her when they finally got together completely. Finally he could unleash his desires and fantasies that he had been thinking about the past five years.
Their road was not easy, having to have to contend with so many different things. One big thing was that she was ten years younger than him and also his best friend’s sister. Logan felt that he couldn’t betray his friend especially what his friend did for him all those years ago when Ryder took him in after their parents died. Logan believed that Ryder would never want him to be with his baby sister. That kept running through his head while he was dealing with his feelings and attraction for her.
Secondly, even though they had this tight bond with each other and really there for each other over the years, Rose never went beyond that due to issues of her own. She believed that she couldn’t ask for things that she wanted due to the fact she felt like she was a burden to all around her even Logan. So, she didn’t even go there with her feeling and attraction for Logan until she had that big wake up call with his kiss. Partially it was due to the fact she didn’t want to loose Logan or be vulnerable with him for fear of him seeing how deep she cared about him. Rose focused on others and their needs, instead of herself because feelings and needs for her were scary. It left her raw, but once that kiss came into play she couldn’t hide from it anymore. She came to realize just how important Logan was to her, and he was her dream.
Their sexual tension was just off the charts good, even if Rose didn’t acknowledge what she felt for Logan right away. It was always there between the two of them. Their chemistry was there in ever interaction that they had and every conversation that they had. The connection between them was there the entire time. It was the basis of friendship as well as deep caring for each other. They sparred off each other really nicely. I loved those moments where they were heated yet there was so much more there as well. It showed how passionate of a relationship they would have later on.
The passion between these two was so freaking amazing. The first kiss was just off the charts good because there was so much to it both physically and emotionally. It was like a bomb went off between them. Not only that all that suppressed tension finally was released especially for Logan who had been waiting five years for this moment. He embraced it with his heart, mind and soul. It was a relief that I could feel coming off of him as soon as his lips touched hers. But it was also more complicated because he believed he shouldn’t be doing this with Rose yet needing and wanting it at the same time. I felt that all in that moment. It was done perfectly. Pulse it was really was hot as were the love scenes that followed not too long afterwards. The first time scene was great and they finally got that ultimate connection that they both needed and wanted. They could only do that for each other because they had that love between them. I absolutely loved the second time though because it was emotional, intimate, and really intense because for the first time Rose was taking care of him. The way she tended to his wounds and touched him so gently as she went about soothing his aches and pains in more ways than one was just so superbly done. I loved that scene so much because it was so meaningful and so beyond the physical it showed that they were it for each other. It just showed how much love and care they had for each other. The last scene was good as well. It was more raw and desperate as they clung to each other in the moments of passion. The need was so strong. They needed to soothe that in each other. It was also a very emotional part especially in the aftermath scene where everything came to the surface. Plus it was Christmas Eve so that added another oomph to the scene. It was just another great scene between them.
I loved just like in all Maisey Yates books that love helped heal wounds, and that was especially the case with Logan and Rose. They had some major wounds that they hid beneath the surface yet each of them soothed the other by providing comfort to one another. It was simple things that they did like holding each other or stroking each other’s hair. Talking to each other helped as they got their feelings out in the open. They both had to go through that journey separately yet together at the same time. They had some really beautiful moments that showed they would be there and care for each other always. I loved when he gave her the cameo, and when she made his mother’s cookies. They were just little things yet they made the biggest statement and helped in the process of healing. I loved that. It was so good and satisfying when they finally got their happily ever after.
There was a surprising part of this story in regards to Logan. Even though I figured out pretty quickly who Logan’s father was early on in the Daniels saga, I was surprised that Logan knew. I just wasn’t expecting that. I thought that either someone was going to figure it out or the information would come forth in some way through this book, but Logan knew and kept silent about it. I get why he did not talk about it. I understood where he was coming from. It made me understand his psychology a little bit more and why he did what he did for all those years. When Rose found out about it, she began to understand him more and vowed to keep his confidences because she cared about him so much that she didn’t want to expose him to any type of pain that he didn’t want to face especially concerning that topic. It brought them closer together as well as show her protective side of him at the wedding when confrontations began.
I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t a heart to heart scene between West and Logan at the end or even any of the other siblings after the big blow up happened and Logan came to terms with things. I just wanted to see that moment of connection between West and Logan. Just them have a moment together where they talked about things a little bit and coming to terms what happened when Logan did what he did. I just really wanted to see that moment. See that bond just to start to form there. I get that wasn’t the most important part, but I would have liked to seen it. I would have been more satisfied if a scene like that was included. I get that it was going to take Logan time to get there with West and the Daltons, but I wanted to see a sliver of something.
Overall I did adore this story. I loved that this was an unrequited love, best friend’s little sister, and a friends to lovers all rolled into one. It was quite the journey that Logan and Rose went on together and separately. There were a lot of raw and intense emotions going on as they dealt with family and wounds of the past and each other. It was quite a roller coaster ride for them. I loved that it wasn’t easy. That there was struggle before they could get together. When they did get together after working through some stuff, it made all the more satisfying as they came together and were as intimate as a couple could be. The connection between them had been strong before with their friendship, but it became even stronger when they became a couple. They soothed and healed other. They were there for one another. They took care of each other in the sweetest and hottest way possible. They just really had a good and satisfying relationship that I enjoyed watching grow and develop over the course of the book. It was just very real and raw, and I loved that. It just hit all my major feels in exactly the right places. That was a win for me. I just loved Logan and Rose together, which was the most important thing. I will be definitely rereading this one again sometime in the future.
This was another great addition to this series that seems to get better and better with each book that passes. This one just renewed my love for the series even deeper than it was before. It makes me want more. I can’t wait for Iris’s story next.
MAJOR Plot spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk.
What can I say about this story that I haven’t said a gazillion times before about another book in the Gold Valley series? I adored it. It met my expectations after anticipating this one so long especially after Ryder and Sammy’s story. It had all the great familiar elements that I love about this series. I loved the family dynamics. I loved relationships in her. I loved the cowboy stuff. The storyline was good with lots of very familiar themes that I loved. There were a lot intense moments both in the romance and in stuff both Logan and Rose had to deal with. It was emotional. It was funny. It was entertaining. It was passionate. Just everything that accompanies and expect from Maisey Yates’s cowboy series was in this story. It made it very easy to approve of. There was no doubt this was going to be a win for me.
I do want to talk about something in more detailed terms though, starting with the romance. I was very interesting to see that Logan was the one that had the unrequited love for Rose for the past five years, which a role reversal front his type of trope. It kept growing and growing until it was struggled to be around her and hide his attraction to her. The struggle was real. It was very felt as he battled these feelings for her. It was painful and intense, yet at the same time staying away from her would have been even more painful for him because he just wanted to be around her. She was his light to his darkness. They had a bond that cemented in tragedy because they both lost to their parents to the same accident. Rose and Logan had been there for each other during that time, developing a very close friendship that was really praetorship even though they weren’t physically intimate. They were very much emotionally intimate for a very long time. So, it was hard for him to keep himself in check for those years because he wanted that complete experience of being bonded to her mind, body, and soul because he needed her, wanted her, and loved her. It was quite a journey for him that I enjoyed seeing him going on as well as her when they finally got together completely. Finally he could unleash his desires and fantasies that he had been thinking about the past five years.
Their road was not easy, having to have to contend with so many different things. One big thing was that she was ten years younger than him and also his best friend’s sister. Logan felt that he couldn’t betray his friend especially what his friend did for him all those years ago when Ryder took him in after their parents died. Logan believed that Ryder would never want him to be with his baby sister. That kept running through his head while he was dealing with his feelings and attraction for her.
Secondly, even though they had this tight bond with each other and really there for each other over the years, Rose never went beyond that due to issues of her own. She believed that she couldn’t ask for things that she wanted due to the fact she felt like she was a burden to all around her even Logan. So, she didn’t even go there with her feeling and attraction for Logan until she had that big wake up call with his kiss. Partially it was due to the fact she didn’t want to loose Logan or be vulnerable with him for fear of him seeing how deep she cared about him. Rose focused on others and their needs, instead of herself because feelings and needs for her were scary. It left her raw, but once that kiss came into play she couldn’t hide from it anymore. She came to realize just how important Logan was to her, and he was her dream.
Their sexual tension was just off the charts good, even if Rose didn’t acknowledge what she felt for Logan right away. It was always there between the two of them. Their chemistry was there in ever interaction that they had and every conversation that they had. The connection between them was there the entire time. It was the basis of friendship as well as deep caring for each other. They sparred off each other really nicely. I loved those moments where they were heated yet there was so much more there as well. It showed how passionate of a relationship they would have later on.
The passion between these two was so freaking amazing. The first kiss was just off the charts good because there was so much to it both physically and emotionally. It was like a bomb went off between them. Not only that all that suppressed tension finally was released especially for Logan who had been waiting five years for this moment. He embraced it with his heart, mind and soul. It was a relief that I could feel coming off of him as soon as his lips touched hers. But it was also more complicated because he believed he shouldn’t be doing this with Rose yet needing and wanting it at the same time. I felt that all in that moment. It was done perfectly. Pulse it was really was hot as were the love scenes that followed not too long afterwards. The first time scene was great and they finally got that ultimate connection that they both needed and wanted. They could only do that for each other because they had that love between them. I absolutely loved the second time though because it was emotional, intimate, and really intense because for the first time Rose was taking care of him. The way she tended to his wounds and touched him so gently as she went about soothing his aches and pains in more ways than one was just so superbly done. I loved that scene so much because it was so meaningful and so beyond the physical it showed that they were it for each other. It just showed how much love and care they had for each other. The last scene was good as well. It was more raw and desperate as they clung to each other in the moments of passion. The need was so strong. They needed to soothe that in each other. It was also a very emotional part especially in the aftermath scene where everything came to the surface. Plus it was Christmas Eve so that added another oomph to the scene. It was just another great scene between them.
I loved just like in all Maisey Yates books that love helped heal wounds, and that was especially the case with Logan and Rose. They had some major wounds that they hid beneath the surface yet each of them soothed the other by providing comfort to one another. It was simple things that they did like holding each other or stroking each other’s hair. Talking to each other helped as they got their feelings out in the open. They both had to go through that journey separately yet together at the same time. They had some really beautiful moments that showed they would be there and care for each other always. I loved when he gave her the cameo, and when she made his mother’s cookies. They were just little things yet they made the biggest statement and helped in the process of healing. I loved that. It was so good and satisfying when they finally got their happily ever after.
There was a surprising part of this story in regards to Logan. Even though I figured out pretty quickly who Logan’s father was early on in the Daniels saga, I was surprised that Logan knew. I just wasn’t expecting that. I thought that either someone was going to figure it out or the information would come forth in some way through this book, but Logan knew and kept silent about it. I get why he did not talk about it. I understood where he was coming from. It made me understand his psychology a little bit more and why he did what he did for all those years. When Rose found out about it, she began to understand him more and vowed to keep his confidences because she cared about him so much that she didn’t want to expose him to any type of pain that he didn’t want to face especially concerning that topic. It brought them closer together as well as show her protective side of him at the wedding when confrontations began.
I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t a heart to heart scene between West and Logan at the end or even any of the other siblings after the big blow up happened and Logan came to terms with things. I just wanted to see that moment of connection between West and Logan. Just them have a moment together where they talked about things a little bit and coming to terms what happened when Logan did what he did. I just really wanted to see that moment. See that bond just to start to form there. I get that wasn’t the most important part, but I would have liked to seen it. I would have been more satisfied if a scene like that was included. I get that it was going to take Logan time to get there with West and the Daltons, but I wanted to see a sliver of something.
Overall I did adore this story. I loved that this was an unrequited love, best friend’s little sister, and a friends to lovers all rolled into one. It was quite the journey that Logan and Rose went on together and separately. There were a lot of raw and intense emotions going on as they dealt with family and wounds of the past and each other. It was quite a roller coaster ride for them. I loved that it wasn’t easy. That there was struggle before they could get together. When they did get together after working through some stuff, it made all the more satisfying as they came together and were as intimate as a couple could be. The connection between them had been strong before with their friendship, but it became even stronger when they became a couple. They soothed and healed other. They were there for one another. They took care of each other in the sweetest and hottest way possible. They just really had a good and satisfying relationship that I enjoyed watching grow and develop over the course of the book. It was just very real and raw, and I loved that. It just hit all my major feels in exactly the right places. That was a win for me. I just loved Logan and Rose together, which was the most important thing. I will be definitely rereading this one again sometime in the future.
This was another great addition to this series that seems to get better and better with each book that passes. This one just renewed my love for the series even deeper than it was before. It makes me want more. I can’t wait for Iris’s story next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2020
The Last Christmas Cowboy
A Gold Valley Novel Series #11
Maisey Yates
https://www.facebook.com/MaiseyYates....
Release date 10/13/2020
Publisher HLQ Books
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
Will this brooding Gold Valley cowboy find redemption this Christmas? Cowgirl Rose Daniels is determined to play matchmaker to ensure her beloved sister will meet someone under the mistletoe. She enlists the reluctant help of family friend Logan Heath, but his insistence that she doesn’t understand chemistry is exasperating. Until they share one electrifying moment that shows her exactly what chemistry is all about, and it becomes outrageously, irresistibly intriguing…
Logan hates the holidays. They are a painful reminder of the family he lost and a time of year he always wants to spend on his own. But Rose refuses to let him. Logan’s worked for years to keep his attraction to her under wraps—she’s his best friend’s youngest sister and she couldn’t be more off-limits. He’s the last cowboy that innocent Rose should ever kiss, but this Christmas, maybe Logan will become the only cowboy she’ll ever want.
𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Will their fears built from their past pain keep them apart ...
I have met Rose and Logan in Pansy’s story, since I have been curious about this blend of siblings and cousins. After Ryder and Sammy’s tale, I wondered about Rose and Logan.
Logan is the one who has the most to lost, he is not blood related so if things turned sour, he would be the one to have to leave and he has nothing else than his life to Hope Springs. Why he kept his distance once he realized he didn’t see Rose as a relative but a grown woman who heats his blood. Plus staying in the shadows is safe, it does not engage the heart, so it leaves him free of being hurt. Loosing his mother who was his whole world was hard, more than hard. He so worshipped, he can’t pass over her loss. He is one to give advices but when it is about himself, he runs away his tail between his legs.
Rose is the youngest and by the way the immature one, always sheltered by her elders. Now she wants to give back as she feels they were robbed of their choices because of her.
I am not sure I liked her at first, being a lose tongue does not equal to be mean to others, plus she throws a tantrum when people told her she was wrong, like a kid she pouts and runs away instead of seing reason. She meddles in people’s life even when warned it could lead to hurt, and alas pain is the result.
But when reconsidering thing, she can be a brat, surly, yet she also care for her siblings and fights for them tooth and claw. She is flawed and for that so very human.
And this is the talent of the author, she creates imperfect characters, so much they are perfect.
Both have a lot of growing to do, and strangely it is Rose who matures the soonest, facing her mistakes, she must reflect on what she wants from life. Logan is as hardheaded than her, even a bit more, why he went close to turn his back to everything he has built for the sake of feeling safe, living in limbo. they reach their full arc when they have nothing more to hide and everything to gain or loose.
4.5 stars
I was granted an advance copy by the publisher HLQ Books, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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A Gold Valley Novel Series #11
Maisey Yates
https://www.facebook.com/MaiseyYates....
Release date 10/13/2020
Publisher HLQ Books
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
Will this brooding Gold Valley cowboy find redemption this Christmas? Cowgirl Rose Daniels is determined to play matchmaker to ensure her beloved sister will meet someone under the mistletoe. She enlists the reluctant help of family friend Logan Heath, but his insistence that she doesn’t understand chemistry is exasperating. Until they share one electrifying moment that shows her exactly what chemistry is all about, and it becomes outrageously, irresistibly intriguing…
Logan hates the holidays. They are a painful reminder of the family he lost and a time of year he always wants to spend on his own. But Rose refuses to let him. Logan’s worked for years to keep his attraction to her under wraps—she’s his best friend’s youngest sister and she couldn’t be more off-limits. He’s the last cowboy that innocent Rose should ever kiss, but this Christmas, maybe Logan will become the only cowboy she’ll ever want.
𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Will their fears built from their past pain keep them apart ...
I have met Rose and Logan in Pansy’s story, since I have been curious about this blend of siblings and cousins. After Ryder and Sammy’s tale, I wondered about Rose and Logan.
Logan is the one who has the most to lost, he is not blood related so if things turned sour, he would be the one to have to leave and he has nothing else than his life to Hope Springs. Why he kept his distance once he realized he didn’t see Rose as a relative but a grown woman who heats his blood. Plus staying in the shadows is safe, it does not engage the heart, so it leaves him free of being hurt. Loosing his mother who was his whole world was hard, more than hard. He so worshipped, he can’t pass over her loss. He is one to give advices but when it is about himself, he runs away his tail between his legs.
Rose is the youngest and by the way the immature one, always sheltered by her elders. Now she wants to give back as she feels they were robbed of their choices because of her.
I am not sure I liked her at first, being a lose tongue does not equal to be mean to others, plus she throws a tantrum when people told her she was wrong, like a kid she pouts and runs away instead of seing reason. She meddles in people’s life even when warned it could lead to hurt, and alas pain is the result.
But when reconsidering thing, she can be a brat, surly, yet she also care for her siblings and fights for them tooth and claw. She is flawed and for that so very human.
And this is the talent of the author, she creates imperfect characters, so much they are perfect.
Both have a lot of growing to do, and strangely it is Rose who matures the soonest, facing her mistakes, she must reflect on what she wants from life. Logan is as hardheaded than her, even a bit more, why he went close to turn his back to everything he has built for the sake of feeling safe, living in limbo. they reach their full arc when they have nothing more to hide and everything to gain or loose.
4.5 stars
I was granted an advance copy by the publisher HLQ Books, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
October 12, 2020
The Last Christmas Cowboy is the eleventh book in Maisey Yates' Gold Valley series, a series I've been addicted to since it began, and Ms. Yates has pulled out all the emotional stops in this novel, which is, perhaps, the most angst-laden novel in the series so far, and which had me in tears more than once. It gets a tearful yet happy 5 stars from this reader.
This is Rose and Logan's story. We've met Rose before, and because of the family situations at Hope Springs Ranch, every character in this novel was brought together by tragedy. Rose was just a small child when their parents died in a plane crash en route to an Alaskan vacation. Her older siblings, Ryder and Iris, raised her, and she has always felt that she could never pay them back for the sacrifices they made on her behalf, but in this novel, she focuses her attention on Iris, realizing how alone she has always been, and so Rose decides to find her a good man to date, ignoring the fact that she herself hasn't dated either, and at the age of 23, has been spending all her time and energies helping Logan with all the chores running a ranch requires.
Logan Heath is one of the most intriguing and troubled characters on the ranch. His father, Hank Dalton, was a rodeo star, a notorious love 'em and leave 'em cowboy, who practically had a woman in every town, and who didn't seem at all concerned about birth control and condoms. As this series has progressed, some of his illegitimate offspring have begun to turn up in Gold Valley. Hank's wife usually paid off the women who showed up on their doorstep pregnant with Hank's babies, which is exactly what happened to Logan's mother, who loved Hank and had no idea he was married when she slept with him. That piece of news devastated her, the money she took from Hank's wife to support herself and her unborn child haunted her, and left her alone to raise Logan as a single parent. Her untimely death occurred when Logan was 16, and because he always felt like a burden to his brokenhearted, struggling mother, whom he loved with all his heart, and whose death he blamed himself for, he grew to hate Hank for his mother's broken heart and for ignoring him.
After his mother's death, he came to live at Hope Springs ranch at age 16, becoming a co-owner, and working along with his best friend Ryder. He was a decade older than Ryder's little sister, Rose, whom he treated like his little sister for years, at least until 5 years ago, when Rose was 18, a beautiful young woman who loved the ranch as much as Logan did, and was the one who worked most closely with him. Suddenly, he came to desire Rose, but felt he didn't deserve her, and was, afraid of Ryder's reaction if he ever touched Ryder's baby sister. But Rose is no longer a child, and she wants to learn about men, has always had a thing for Logan, and when she finally decides to do something about it, in the form of a bet, she loses, and they soon become more than friends, although Logan believes that relationships and family are not for him. His late mother was his only family, and he doesn't feel he will ever want another one. He's about learn a lot of truths about Rose, Ryder, his kinship with their family, and even his own.
While there isn't a lot of forward momentum or action in this novel, it is perhaps the most deeply intimate novel in the series. Written in alternating narration, a literary device I've come to love, we get a chance to walk around inside the minds and hearts of Logan and Rose-- get to understand their motivations, their brokenness, their emotional pain, and their most private feelings, and, because Maisey Yates is so incredibly good at what she does, we even get to examine our own issues, our own fears, and our own life choices.
While this novel can be read as a standalone, I strongly recommend reading this series in the order it was written to fully understand the family dynamic, how they've survived and overcome stumbling blocks, family tragedy, and to marvel at the skill with which Ms. Yates has drawn us into their lives, their trials and tribulations on their way to love and happiness. In this reader's opinion, this novel is perhaps the best one in this series, and I can't wait to read Iris' story, which apparently will be next. Quite simply, this was an excellent read, and I highly recommend it.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
This is Rose and Logan's story. We've met Rose before, and because of the family situations at Hope Springs Ranch, every character in this novel was brought together by tragedy. Rose was just a small child when their parents died in a plane crash en route to an Alaskan vacation. Her older siblings, Ryder and Iris, raised her, and she has always felt that she could never pay them back for the sacrifices they made on her behalf, but in this novel, she focuses her attention on Iris, realizing how alone she has always been, and so Rose decides to find her a good man to date, ignoring the fact that she herself hasn't dated either, and at the age of 23, has been spending all her time and energies helping Logan with all the chores running a ranch requires.
Logan Heath is one of the most intriguing and troubled characters on the ranch. His father, Hank Dalton, was a rodeo star, a notorious love 'em and leave 'em cowboy, who practically had a woman in every town, and who didn't seem at all concerned about birth control and condoms. As this series has progressed, some of his illegitimate offspring have begun to turn up in Gold Valley. Hank's wife usually paid off the women who showed up on their doorstep pregnant with Hank's babies, which is exactly what happened to Logan's mother, who loved Hank and had no idea he was married when she slept with him. That piece of news devastated her, the money she took from Hank's wife to support herself and her unborn child haunted her, and left her alone to raise Logan as a single parent. Her untimely death occurred when Logan was 16, and because he always felt like a burden to his brokenhearted, struggling mother, whom he loved with all his heart, and whose death he blamed himself for, he grew to hate Hank for his mother's broken heart and for ignoring him.
After his mother's death, he came to live at Hope Springs ranch at age 16, becoming a co-owner, and working along with his best friend Ryder. He was a decade older than Ryder's little sister, Rose, whom he treated like his little sister for years, at least until 5 years ago, when Rose was 18, a beautiful young woman who loved the ranch as much as Logan did, and was the one who worked most closely with him. Suddenly, he came to desire Rose, but felt he didn't deserve her, and was, afraid of Ryder's reaction if he ever touched Ryder's baby sister. But Rose is no longer a child, and she wants to learn about men, has always had a thing for Logan, and when she finally decides to do something about it, in the form of a bet, she loses, and they soon become more than friends, although Logan believes that relationships and family are not for him. His late mother was his only family, and he doesn't feel he will ever want another one. He's about learn a lot of truths about Rose, Ryder, his kinship with their family, and even his own.
While there isn't a lot of forward momentum or action in this novel, it is perhaps the most deeply intimate novel in the series. Written in alternating narration, a literary device I've come to love, we get a chance to walk around inside the minds and hearts of Logan and Rose-- get to understand their motivations, their brokenness, their emotional pain, and their most private feelings, and, because Maisey Yates is so incredibly good at what she does, we even get to examine our own issues, our own fears, and our own life choices.
While this novel can be read as a standalone, I strongly recommend reading this series in the order it was written to fully understand the family dynamic, how they've survived and overcome stumbling blocks, family tragedy, and to marvel at the skill with which Ms. Yates has drawn us into their lives, their trials and tribulations on their way to love and happiness. In this reader's opinion, this novel is perhaps the best one in this series, and I can't wait to read Iris' story, which apparently will be next. Quite simply, this was an excellent read, and I highly recommend it.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
October 20, 2020
Loved this age gap romance! Rose is strong, and can go toe to toe with the older, loveable Logan. He wants to do right by the people he works for, but he and rose are like magnets. This story is wrapped up in a beautiful Christmas package, and it made my heart swoon! Definitely pick this one up!
November 30, 2020
While this is the eleventh book in the Gold Valley series by Maisey Yates, there isn’t too much of a procession of previous characters, and there isn’t really an overarching series plot arc to follow either, so I don’t think it’ll really matter if you haven’t read any of the other books in the series - I haven’t, and I followed along pretty well.
This book shares quite a few plot beats with Jane Austen’s Emma, particularly in the first half, as Rose tries to matchmake, only to find herself the target of affections both desired and otherwise. Logan is the Knightley figure, the older not-actually-related friend who she has always considered a brother - until she suddenly starts looking at him differently. Ten years older, having known her since she was six, Logan has been valiantly suppressing his interest in Rose since she came of age, but she brings things to a head between them and he can’t resist.
There’s a refreshingly different take at the black moment here - I could absolutely predict what Logan was going to do, telling Rose that he didn’t love her to try and push her away ‘for her own good’ but Rose’s reaction was fabulous. Instead of taking his words at face value and running away to cry into her pillow, she stood there and told him she saw through his nonsense, verbally dissected him with devastating accuracy and basically told him that if he managed to pull his head out of his rear end, he knew where to find her. It was brilliant, and perfectly fitting with Rose’s take-no-prisoners, straightforward character.
I was disappointed that Logan seemed to then need to also have a conversation with Rose’s older brother Ryder in order to get his head straight. Rose told him the truth about himself, and he needed to be self-honest enough to admit and accept it without needing affirmation from another man. It made me think less of Logan as a character - and I admit that the ten-year age difference between him and Rose already had me feeling pretty put off him. Rose’s naivety also felt overdone - this is a girl who is the archetypal tomboy, yes, the girl who works as a ranch hand - but she’s also a girl who went to a mainstream American high school, a pretty girl who, apparently, was never asked out by boys. I just felt my suspension of disbelief straining a bit at that one, I’m afraid. Rose isn’t stupid and she’s not all that sheltered, so her ignorance of anything to do with the opposite sex - at all - just didn’t feel realistic.
There was plenty to enjoy here despite the book playing off some tropes I’m not keen on - Friends to Lovers and Older Brother’s Best Friend, for example. The Austen references were cleverly done and not heavy-handed, and I definitely liked the subversion of the black moment with Rose’s directness in calling Logan on his own character failings. The way she put the problem back on him to deal with was absolutely delightful. Overall, I’ll give it four stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
This book shares quite a few plot beats with Jane Austen’s Emma, particularly in the first half, as Rose tries to matchmake, only to find herself the target of affections both desired and otherwise. Logan is the Knightley figure, the older not-actually-related friend who she has always considered a brother - until she suddenly starts looking at him differently. Ten years older, having known her since she was six, Logan has been valiantly suppressing his interest in Rose since she came of age, but she brings things to a head between them and he can’t resist.
There’s a refreshingly different take at the black moment here - I could absolutely predict what Logan was going to do, telling Rose that he didn’t love her to try and push her away ‘for her own good’ but Rose’s reaction was fabulous. Instead of taking his words at face value and running away to cry into her pillow, she stood there and told him she saw through his nonsense, verbally dissected him with devastating accuracy and basically told him that if he managed to pull his head out of his rear end, he knew where to find her. It was brilliant, and perfectly fitting with Rose’s take-no-prisoners, straightforward character.
I was disappointed that Logan seemed to then need to also have a conversation with Rose’s older brother Ryder in order to get his head straight. Rose told him the truth about himself, and he needed to be self-honest enough to admit and accept it without needing affirmation from another man. It made me think less of Logan as a character - and I admit that the ten-year age difference between him and Rose already had me feeling pretty put off him. Rose’s naivety also felt overdone - this is a girl who is the archetypal tomboy, yes, the girl who works as a ranch hand - but she’s also a girl who went to a mainstream American high school, a pretty girl who, apparently, was never asked out by boys. I just felt my suspension of disbelief straining a bit at that one, I’m afraid. Rose isn’t stupid and she’s not all that sheltered, so her ignorance of anything to do with the opposite sex - at all - just didn’t feel realistic.
There was plenty to enjoy here despite the book playing off some tropes I’m not keen on - Friends to Lovers and Older Brother’s Best Friend, for example. The Austen references were cleverly done and not heavy-handed, and I definitely liked the subversion of the black moment with Rose’s directness in calling Logan on his own character failings. The way she put the problem back on him to deal with was absolutely delightful. Overall, I’ll give it four stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
December 22, 2020
This is a contemporary romance, complete with a cowgirl and cowboy as the main characters! It is a story packed with family drama, expectations, dreams, fears and romance skilfully mixed with coping with the loss of parental figures and feelings of guilt.
Following the untimely deaths of her parents and his mother, Rose Daniels and Logan Heath have grown up together on the family ranch, raised by Rose's oldest brother. However, Logan's feelings for Rose are anything but brotherly and Rose is just too naive to realise it. He's determined to resist the temptation she puts in his way as they work together every day on the ranch but after a touch and a kiss, neither is sure they'll be able to resist their attraction! If they can't resist, just how will Rose's siblings, especially her older brother who is Logan's best friend, react? To find out, you'll just have to read it for yourself!
Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.
Following the untimely deaths of her parents and his mother, Rose Daniels and Logan Heath have grown up together on the family ranch, raised by Rose's oldest brother. However, Logan's feelings for Rose are anything but brotherly and Rose is just too naive to realise it. He's determined to resist the temptation she puts in his way as they work together every day on the ranch but after a touch and a kiss, neither is sure they'll be able to resist their attraction! If they can't resist, just how will Rose's siblings, especially her older brother who is Logan's best friend, react? To find out, you'll just have to read it for yourself!
Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.
December 26, 2022
I read this as part of a Christmas buddy read for Book Lovers Club. We read one chapter per day, which was fortunate because one chapter is the maximum I could tolerate in a day.
I found the main themes of this book to be based in purity culture and promotion of patriarchal norms which is decidedly not my jazz. But if those are themes that appeal to you, maybe you’ll enjoy this book.
Overall, I found the characters to be very emotionally immature and in need of therapy much more than a relationship.
I still want to believe that people who live in rural America and on ranches/farms are capable of both doing and being better than this.
I found the main themes of this book to be based in purity culture and promotion of patriarchal norms which is decidedly not my jazz. But if those are themes that appeal to you, maybe you’ll enjoy this book.
Overall, I found the characters to be very emotionally immature and in need of therapy much more than a relationship.
I still want to believe that people who live in rural America and on ranches/farms are capable of both doing and being better than this.
November 21, 2020
I loved Rose and Logan's story. Good from start to finish. Great storyline and characters.
December 18, 2020
Yee-naw.
November 19, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. Characters were so real.
October 30, 2020
The best book I've read in a long time but work kept interfering with my reading time.
November 12, 2020
Love this series. Can't wait to read Iris's story.
October 11, 2020
Deeply emotional, family-focused romance
After watching two of her siblings find their soul mates, Rose is determined to help her remaining single sibling, Iris, find her match. Helping her is Logan, the decade-older cowboy that she works alongside every day. Only Logan has his own demons, not the least of which is his entirely inappropriate attraction to the too-young Rose, an attraction that is insanely complicated by her investigation into what makes for a good match and how to find the perfect suitor for Iris.
This story goes so much deeper than just the storyline details. Rose's reasons for wanting to see Iris settled, Logan's reasons for denying the obvious attraction between himself and Rose, Iris's feelings about being set up, Rose's tender balance between wanting a mature relationship with Logan and her need to explore more of her world before settling down, all of these issues are fairly addressed and interwoven into a complex, compelling story about what makes up a family and how those dynamics can change over time.
The depiction of Logan's battle between his self-restraint and his desire was exquisitely portrayed. You could almost see the devil and the angel on his shoulders, arguing each side. But once this man's restraint is unleashed, whew! Things get very hot, very quickly! These two are truly meant for each other, and watching them fall in love was pure joy.
I loved the way Ryder, Logan's best friend and Rose's older brother, handled the entire situation when it came to his attention. The stunning issue of Logan's long-buried family history added a whole new dimension to all the relationships, and getting to see the entire Daniels family was absolutely delightful. Highly recommended. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
After watching two of her siblings find their soul mates, Rose is determined to help her remaining single sibling, Iris, find her match. Helping her is Logan, the decade-older cowboy that she works alongside every day. Only Logan has his own demons, not the least of which is his entirely inappropriate attraction to the too-young Rose, an attraction that is insanely complicated by her investigation into what makes for a good match and how to find the perfect suitor for Iris.
This story goes so much deeper than just the storyline details. Rose's reasons for wanting to see Iris settled, Logan's reasons for denying the obvious attraction between himself and Rose, Iris's feelings about being set up, Rose's tender balance between wanting a mature relationship with Logan and her need to explore more of her world before settling down, all of these issues are fairly addressed and interwoven into a complex, compelling story about what makes up a family and how those dynamics can change over time.
The depiction of Logan's battle between his self-restraint and his desire was exquisitely portrayed. You could almost see the devil and the angel on his shoulders, arguing each side. But once this man's restraint is unleashed, whew! Things get very hot, very quickly! These two are truly meant for each other, and watching them fall in love was pure joy.
I loved the way Ryder, Logan's best friend and Rose's older brother, handled the entire situation when it came to his attention. The stunning issue of Logan's long-buried family history added a whole new dimension to all the relationships, and getting to see the entire Daniels family was absolutely delightful. Highly recommended. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
December 27, 2020
This is the 11th book in the Gold Valley series, that I have dipped in and out of over the last couple of years. I do not have problems following the story, but sometimes it takes a bit to figure out who is who and who is related to who as I have not read them in order. This is a cowboy romance, with family and friendship being an integral part of the story. The Daniels family are central to this series. They have suffered tragedy in the past and as each story ends, one of them finds their happily ever after. In this book Rose is determined to find a man for her older sister Iris. Rose feels that Iris is alone because she was so busy raising her. Things do not always work out the way she plans and she ends up making a bet with Logan, a man that has lived with her family for years and is almost like a brother. Logan believes the man Rose is trying to set Iris up is interested in Rose, she does not believe it. Well, she loses the bet and what she gets for that loss, changes both her and Logan's lives. This is a character driven story with the various siblings and friends moving in and out of the events. There are some rather descriptive love scenes in this story that I skimmed. There was some angst in this one as there is whenever someone has a lot of baggage. Logan has to forgive not only himself but some others so that he can move forward. Rose is very naive and young, which made for some interesting scenes in the story. This was an enjoyable story, but not the best I have read in this series. I was gifted a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
October 18, 2020
Best book i read this year. thank Maisey Yates.
December 6, 2020
Its Christmas time and Rose wants to help make it a less lonely one for her sister who had pretty much put her life on hold to raise her. Logan know this wont end well but both of them make a deal if it works out Rose can also be Logan's match match maker, if she looses he'll teach her what chemistry really means. Christmas season is a tough time for Logan who lost the only parent he's ever known and still dealing with the guilt and this thing with Rose is a bit of a distraction knowing dang well anything they decide together is off limits.
I really enjoyed this book. Rose clearly loved her family and was well meaning. She just wanted to see her sister happy watching as others around her are finding their other and she's still young she isnt interested settling down. Logan was around Rose thought he ups and down seeing her family as his family and knows nothing can happen between the two. I loved seeing that attraction and chemistry between the two. I loved seeing how they saw one another and thought it was pretty cute. I loved seeing how they were perfect for each other, helping out when needed and how well suited they were. It was just such a nice book I really enjoyed it.
I really enjoyed this book. Rose clearly loved her family and was well meaning. She just wanted to see her sister happy watching as others around her are finding their other and she's still young she isnt interested settling down. Logan was around Rose thought he ups and down seeing her family as his family and knows nothing can happen between the two. I loved seeing that attraction and chemistry between the two. I loved seeing how they saw one another and thought it was pretty cute. I loved seeing how they were perfect for each other, helping out when needed and how well suited they were. It was just such a nice book I really enjoyed it.
October 14, 2020
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
The Last Christmas Cowboy by Maisy Yates is a holiday romance with an age gape and the best friends little sister/ friends to lovers trope.
I don't know if it's because this is the third Christmas romance I have read this week and I subconsciously compared it to the others but I struggled to finish this book. Our two main characters do so much internal dialogue that it was exhausting. I got to the point I started to skim and didn't miss out on anything. The storyline wasn't bad but as a whole it dragged. The highlight for me were the one on one times between the couple. When they were actually communicating with words and not in their head. Also, the intimacy scenes were on fire, detailed and steamy.
Overall The Last Christmas Cowboy was a decent story but I don't think I was in the mood for it. I do want to read more in this series though/ There's one sister left who very much deserves her happily ever after.
The Last Christmas Cowboy by Maisy Yates is a holiday romance with an age gape and the best friends little sister/ friends to lovers trope.
I don't know if it's because this is the third Christmas romance I have read this week and I subconsciously compared it to the others but I struggled to finish this book. Our two main characters do so much internal dialogue that it was exhausting. I got to the point I started to skim and didn't miss out on anything. The storyline wasn't bad but as a whole it dragged. The highlight for me were the one on one times between the couple. When they were actually communicating with words and not in their head. Also, the intimacy scenes were on fire, detailed and steamy.
Overall The Last Christmas Cowboy was a decent story but I don't think I was in the mood for it. I do want to read more in this series though/ There's one sister left who very much deserves her happily ever after.
October 16, 2020
This is a new author for me and I really enjoyed her book!! Rose is the youngest child and this story is about how she has to deal with the loss of her parents years ago as well as realizing that what she hasn’t been looking for just may be in front of her this whole time!! Getting to step into this book is exciting with the farm life, family and of course some hunky cowboys. This Christmas inspired read is perfect for creating your own season of love!#TheLastChristmasCowboy
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October 2, 2020Categories
Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance, Western Romance
Miniseries
A Gold Valley Novel
Contemporary Romance, Historical Romance, Western Romance
Miniseries
A Gold Valley Novel
December 14, 2020
I’ve been a Maisy Yates fan for years now, She was one of the earliest authors I discovered when I began reading the contemporary romance genre. I believe I’ve since read every book she’s published. I fell in love with her stories set in small ranching and farming communities. Which is why it pains me to write a less than glowing review.
Yate’s stories have always been angsty. Her characters have always had more than their share of emotional baggage to work through which is revealed in their internal and external dialogue revealing their deepest thoughts and feelings. I believe in one review a while ago I referred to her as the Queen of Angst. My problem with Yate’s latest offerings centered around the Daniel’s family in her Hope Springs Ranch subseries of her Gold Valley series is twofold. They’re so moody and dark in their tone that they make me feel moody and dark. Even this story which is based around Christmas, unlike most authors Christmas offerings is unrelentingly dark and moody and angsty. Where’s the holiday cheer? You have to wait for it until the very end of the story when it arrives in abundance. My second problem is of late Ms. Yates seems to have her characters repeat themselves, a lot! To the point it reminded me of being back in college trying to stuff words into an assignment that needed to be so many words or pages long turning something that could have been told with 5,000 words into 10,000 words. I lost count of how many times in just the first few chapters that Rose Daniels our lead female character told us she felt guilty and felt the need to fix her siblings lives, to earn their love and her place on the ranch because they sacrificed so much to take care of her, the youngest in the family after their parents and aunt and uncle died in a tragic plane crash when she was only six years old. Or how many times our male lead Logan Heath told us he had developed very unbrotherly feelings for Rosie who had always been like a little sister to him that he always wanted to protect. And then there’s the fact that in many ways this relationship reads much like the last book in which Ryder Daniels the oldest Daniels sibling struggles with his feelings for his best friend (now his wife) Sammy for whom he’d also taken on a similar friend- protector’s role since she’d come to live with them at sixteen to escape her abusive father, shortly after their parent’s died.
I don’t want to leave the impression I hated this book. I’ll admit that early on it was a struggle for me to stick with it for the reasons I’ve noted. But there’s a lot of good stuff in here too. For me, once Rose loses her virginity the story seemed to pick up speed and held my interest more. And it wasn’t because that’s when the steamy sex scenes begin. The best part of the story was watching Rose mature. To realize as Logan had told her, there’s so much she doesn’t know she doesn’t even know how much she doesn’t know. The early twenties where 23-year-old Rose is at are a tough age for most. An age where you’re an adult but you’re still struggling to fully understand what that means. An age where you are still figuring out who you are while you continue to grow and change. And that’s exactly what Rose does in this book. It’s not just her sexual awakening which she convinces Logan to help her explore. The Daniels sisters are all late bloomers holding onto their V-card into their twenties. In oldest sister Iris’s case, into her thirties. I do hope Yates allows poor Iris to find love in the next book and doesn’t delay her happily ever after until her two rodeo cousins find theirs. She’s such a loving stoic character she deserves to find her happiness. Rose in this story is forced to take a deeper look at who she is and what she wants and what her role in the family is. Something she’s desperately avoided by focusing her energies on trying to fix what she perceives are her siblings problems. Because looking too closely shows her what she’s really afraid of. Forces her to confront the pain of losing both her parents which she feels guilty for even feeling because her older siblings did so much for her in their absence. But only then with the help of conversations with Logan and Pansy and Iris does she begin to understand herself and where she fits into her world. The most interesting part of the story is as Rose starts to get her self-image in order, begins to understand herself and what she needs out of life she becomes the teacher and Logan becomes the student. The scene in the book where she metaphorically strips herself bare in front of Logan and her words do the same to him is classic Maisy Yates at her best.
Logan carries more emotional baggage than Rose. His late mother who raised him as a single mom was his whole world. He feels guilty for how much he believes she sacrificed of her own dreams to take care of him. He feels guilty for his role in her taking that fateful trip with her friends the Daniels that led to her untimely death. While he feels grateful for the love and support of the Daniels as he became a part of their family after their parents deaths, because he’s not related by blood, he doesn’t ever feel like he’s really a full member of the family. And the lusty desires he’s had for his best friends youngest sister Rose for the past five years only adds to his feelings of guilt. Logan desperately and unreasonably hold on to so much guilt he has convinced himself he can never have the things that make him happy because he doesn’t deserve to be happy.. And one of those things is Rose. Logan’s character did upset me at one point in this book. After hearing so often how he lusted after Rose but wouldn’t go there, with pressure from Rose he does. But afterwards when Rose tells him it was a one time thing and they should go back to what they were before he cashed her V-card as they’d agreed to, he pushes for more sex with her because as he tells her “he’s been lusting after her for five long years and once is not enough.” I’m sure Rose would have come knocking at his cabin door eventually anyway but him pushing her for more sex when he had no intention of it becoming more than sex felt wrong to me.
This is a good book but even for Yates I think it could have been a bit brighter and cheery for a holiday story. Maybe throw in a few lighter, happier moments amongst the deeper feelings and thoughts. In the end even though Logan’s “Ah Ha” moment nearly gave me emotional whiplash Logan and Rose definitely got their happily ever after in spades.
Yate’s stories have always been angsty. Her characters have always had more than their share of emotional baggage to work through which is revealed in their internal and external dialogue revealing their deepest thoughts and feelings. I believe in one review a while ago I referred to her as the Queen of Angst. My problem with Yate’s latest offerings centered around the Daniel’s family in her Hope Springs Ranch subseries of her Gold Valley series is twofold. They’re so moody and dark in their tone that they make me feel moody and dark. Even this story which is based around Christmas, unlike most authors Christmas offerings is unrelentingly dark and moody and angsty. Where’s the holiday cheer? You have to wait for it until the very end of the story when it arrives in abundance. My second problem is of late Ms. Yates seems to have her characters repeat themselves, a lot! To the point it reminded me of being back in college trying to stuff words into an assignment that needed to be so many words or pages long turning something that could have been told with 5,000 words into 10,000 words. I lost count of how many times in just the first few chapters that Rose Daniels our lead female character told us she felt guilty and felt the need to fix her siblings lives, to earn their love and her place on the ranch because they sacrificed so much to take care of her, the youngest in the family after their parents and aunt and uncle died in a tragic plane crash when she was only six years old. Or how many times our male lead Logan Heath told us he had developed very unbrotherly feelings for Rosie who had always been like a little sister to him that he always wanted to protect. And then there’s the fact that in many ways this relationship reads much like the last book in which Ryder Daniels the oldest Daniels sibling struggles with his feelings for his best friend (now his wife) Sammy for whom he’d also taken on a similar friend- protector’s role since she’d come to live with them at sixteen to escape her abusive father, shortly after their parent’s died.
I don’t want to leave the impression I hated this book. I’ll admit that early on it was a struggle for me to stick with it for the reasons I’ve noted. But there’s a lot of good stuff in here too. For me, once Rose loses her virginity the story seemed to pick up speed and held my interest more. And it wasn’t because that’s when the steamy sex scenes begin. The best part of the story was watching Rose mature. To realize as Logan had told her, there’s so much she doesn’t know she doesn’t even know how much she doesn’t know. The early twenties where 23-year-old Rose is at are a tough age for most. An age where you’re an adult but you’re still struggling to fully understand what that means. An age where you are still figuring out who you are while you continue to grow and change. And that’s exactly what Rose does in this book. It’s not just her sexual awakening which she convinces Logan to help her explore. The Daniels sisters are all late bloomers holding onto their V-card into their twenties. In oldest sister Iris’s case, into her thirties. I do hope Yates allows poor Iris to find love in the next book and doesn’t delay her happily ever after until her two rodeo cousins find theirs. She’s such a loving stoic character she deserves to find her happiness. Rose in this story is forced to take a deeper look at who she is and what she wants and what her role in the family is. Something she’s desperately avoided by focusing her energies on trying to fix what she perceives are her siblings problems. Because looking too closely shows her what she’s really afraid of. Forces her to confront the pain of losing both her parents which she feels guilty for even feeling because her older siblings did so much for her in their absence. But only then with the help of conversations with Logan and Pansy and Iris does she begin to understand herself and where she fits into her world. The most interesting part of the story is as Rose starts to get her self-image in order, begins to understand herself and what she needs out of life she becomes the teacher and Logan becomes the student. The scene in the book where she metaphorically strips herself bare in front of Logan and her words do the same to him is classic Maisy Yates at her best.
Logan carries more emotional baggage than Rose. His late mother who raised him as a single mom was his whole world. He feels guilty for how much he believes she sacrificed of her own dreams to take care of him. He feels guilty for his role in her taking that fateful trip with her friends the Daniels that led to her untimely death. While he feels grateful for the love and support of the Daniels as he became a part of their family after their parents deaths, because he’s not related by blood, he doesn’t ever feel like he’s really a full member of the family. And the lusty desires he’s had for his best friends youngest sister Rose for the past five years only adds to his feelings of guilt. Logan desperately and unreasonably hold on to so much guilt he has convinced himself he can never have the things that make him happy because he doesn’t deserve to be happy.. And one of those things is Rose. Logan’s character did upset me at one point in this book. After hearing so often how he lusted after Rose but wouldn’t go there, with pressure from Rose he does. But afterwards when Rose tells him it was a one time thing and they should go back to what they were before he cashed her V-card as they’d agreed to, he pushes for more sex with her because as he tells her “he’s been lusting after her for five long years and once is not enough.” I’m sure Rose would have come knocking at his cabin door eventually anyway but him pushing her for more sex when he had no intention of it becoming more than sex felt wrong to me.
This is a good book but even for Yates I think it could have been a bit brighter and cheery for a holiday story. Maybe throw in a few lighter, happier moments amongst the deeper feelings and thoughts. In the end even though Logan’s “Ah Ha” moment nearly gave me emotional whiplash Logan and Rose definitely got their happily ever after in spades.
December 12, 2020
One of my sweet reads. Having read many books by this author, I liked how the cowboy story went ahead. I didn't remember reading any of the earlier books - this was book 11- I still found the story interesting.
Rose and Logan were great characters where they played well into the friends-to-lovers trope. I didn't like the introspection that the characters came with, but I still enjoyed reading about them. Romance during Christmas time always led to the added sparkle.
Hence I thought I enjoyed the story more. 3.5 stars
Rose and Logan were great characters where they played well into the friends-to-lovers trope. I didn't like the introspection that the characters came with, but I still enjoyed reading about them. Romance during Christmas time always led to the added sparkle.
Hence I thought I enjoyed the story more. 3.5 stars
December 17, 2022
ARC was originally provided by Edelweiss and the publisher.
I ended up listening to a digital audiobook from my local library.
And with the strike and HQN falling under the HC umbrella … that’s all I’m going to say about that for now.
I ended up listening to a digital audiobook from my local library.
And with the strike and HQN falling under the HC umbrella … that’s all I’m going to say about that for now.
December 6, 2020
v predictable but honestly delivers on what's promised.
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