Member Reviews
3.5 Stars
Amanda Kittredge is tired of her four bossy brothers telling her what to do. She decides to rebel in several ways including moving out of the ranch, working at a seedy bar, and approaching the man she has had a lifelong crush on to teach her the ways of men, especially the physical kind. Unsurprisingly, her brothers are not fans of Amanda’s rebellion and do what they can to reign her in, but she is not having it.
Brady grew up on the ranch next to Amanda’s, so their families go way back including the fact that his best friend is her brother, Riley. He knows exactly what Riley will do if he finds out about the kind of illicit relationship that she proposes. In a small town like Cold River, everyone knows the business of the other residents or they make the effort to try and find out any secrets. Brady has his own issues being the youngest of three who are working to keep their ranch going while learning to live with his two older brothers and settle their differences. They are all wounded by the machinations and awful behavior of their late horrible father.
The ten year age gap between Amanda and Brady does not help his conscience or her ability to get folks to listen to what she wants and needs. Much is made of the fact that Brady was around for a diaper change when she was a baby which kind of squicks me out since it is brought up several times. Brady and his brothers give stubborn a whole new level in their dealings with each other;, also in Brady and Amanda’s situation as well. Amanda spends a lot of her time trying not to blow her stack at all the barriers the men in her life put up.
This is third book in the Cold River Ranch series. I enjoyed the first two books quite a bit and though this one is well written and some important issues are resolved, I am not as much an admirer of Brady though I enjoyed Amanda’s side of the story. Fans of the series will enjoy the progress of the story and seeing characters from the previous books.
Pleasantly surprised with this book! I enjoyed the characters and the storyline. The only thing that would have made me happier in reading this book would be an epilogue. I definitely would read more stories from this author. In addition, I’d recommend this book to fellow readers.
*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
“A little education between friends”
I really enjoyed this series and The Last Real Cowboy is probably my favorite. The series centers around three brothers who had a terrible childhood. Their father pitted them against one another growing up and they are now having to learn how to work together and be a family. They each struggle to rein in their temper with each other, each refusing to behave like their father.
The Last Real Cowboy is the youngest brother’s story. He is the brother who escaped the ranch for city life which he has been mocked for. Brady falls for his best friends’ little sister who has crushed on him forever. They are both the youngest of their family, not taken seriously, and are pretty much ignored. The story shows their growth by standing up for themselves. Even though Amanda is young, I enjoyed her character. She’s frustrated with being known as the little Kittredge girl, a child, no matter how old she was. One of my favorite things about her was how she pushed Brady’s and her brother’s buttons. I also enjoyed Brady’s character. He struggles with betraying his best friend. He finally gets his brothers to recognize him and his opinions. The Last Real Cowboy really brought to a conclusion the brothers facing their demons and finding happiness. They also move on from their father’s ghost and have become a functioning family that is growing with the next generation. This is a book about love, friendship and family, and how much our pasts influence our futures. Great book with wonderfully developed characters and plot, drama, heat, and humor. A good strong western romance read.
Reviewed by Comfy Chair Books/Lisa Reigel (November 25, 2019)
Plain and simple, I loved this book! It is the third in the Cold River Ranch series. I really like the characters, Amanda and Brady, separately but together they are off the charts amazing. This is perfect as a standalone or while enjoying all three books. I hope Caitlin Crews continues this series with the Kittredge boys, Amanda's stubborn older brothers.
Amanda Kittredge is fed up with her four older brothers trying to force her to stay their little sister. To make her point, she not only moves out but gets a job tending bar at the seediest bar in town. Then her brother Riley asks Brady Everett, her longtime crush, to watch out for her. The problem is that Brady has realized that little Amanda is all grown up. Brady has issues of his own to deal with and his own troublesome brothers. With love and determination, the two of them can work everything out.
I really liked the first two books in this series so I had high hopes for this one. Sadly this book did not work for me. I usually enjoy falling for my brother's best friend stories but this one starts with Brady being so disinterested in Amanda that he thinks she is still in high school. She is 22. It isn't until he sees her in a revealing tank top that he truly notices her. And that is about at charming as their relationship gets. Her brothers are one dimensional overprotective Neanderthals and she is fighting for independence. He still dealing with his family drama and earning his brothers' trust. They sneak around. I found it all incredibly boring. I am still excited to see what Crews will write next but I had a hard time finishing this one.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you so much to the publishers for sending this to me!!! First, I want to compliment the cover designer. How gorgeous is that man?! And with those colors? *swoons*
I’m happy to report that the inside is just a good! This is another swoon worthy romance from Caitlin Crews and her ranch boys. I will say I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first two but her witty and beautiful writing style was still there! I love this world and all the side characters. I also adore the good girl-bad boy trope and so I knew I would really enjoy Amanda and Brady! They had such great chemistry even though at times it felt a bit off. I like a good age gap romance but the “little girl” comments just didn’t really work for me especially with the constant highlight of the age difference. But I did like how strong Amanda was and how she wouldn’t take crap from anyone!
I’m looking forward to reading more from this author and this series!!
This is the first time I have read a book by this author but it won't be the last. I liked the characters and story line. It had humor, romance,lots of alpha sexy cowboys and fun. This is a quick easy read that kept my interest from first to last.
The latest book in this series.
Amanda has had a sheltered life, protected by her elder brothers whether she likes it or not. Now she wants to start living on her own terms so moves out, and approaches to Brady to help her - will he help her or be loyal to his best friend who is one of her elder brothers.
Brady has his own issues to deal with, so do they stand a chance together?
I loved this book! The whole series is good. I like how she writes about the vulnerability of Brady and that Amanda stands up for him. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the book as much as I do.
If I could give it more stars I would. What a exceptional story. I loved the characters, all of them. The beautiful love story that came out of being friends was amazing . Then the story is wrapped up so beautifully at the end. Excellent read!
I read the story between Gray and Abby, but to me, the story of Brady and Amanda is better. Maybe it's because the story wasn't as dark and heavy, maybe it's because there was less of Amos, or maybe it's because Amanda was a little, okay...a lot more feisty than Abby. I liked Amanda standing up for herself against 4 brothers who think they're just protecting her, but really are stifling her growth into adulthood.
This is the first story I’ve read by this author and I really enjoyed it. The characters are so real. Amanda is so spunky. She gave me more than one laugh. She stands up for what she thinks and doesn’t care the size of the person she informs her opinions to. Brady may be ten years older the Amanda but that doesn’t stop her from crushing on him. The crushing goes from a crush to falling in love with him. He is a broken soul in his own way. His relationship or lack of, with his family is heart breaking. Even though his is a successful businessman his opinion of himself is so sad. It’s really uplifting to picture Amanda standing up for him and bringing him around. I wish I had found this author earlier. I would have enjoyed this series if I had started with the first book. It’s not necessary but since the characters are in this book I would have liked the background. I’m planning on reading the first two in the series next. I absolutely recommend this book.
Hot, sexy, action-packed! I loved seeing a strong woman stand up for herself and those she loves. Caitlin rocked it with this one.
Such a great story about two people destined for each other if some hard variables (her over protective older brothers) can be dealt with carefully.
What I really liked about the story is how the individual stories of the main characters, Brady and Amanda, swirl and converge around their joint story of a rocky romance. Both characters have stresses from their lives that play out as they find and hold each other.
I voluntarily read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine and unbiased
A quick enjoyable read
Great story and characters
LOVED THIS BOOK!
Brady has always seem different than his brothers and his father. When he graduated high school, he couldn't wait to take his college scholarship and leave the town and farm behind. Years later when his father dies, his older brother asks him to come home and help on the farm for a year, before he decides if he wants to sell it or not. The problem Brady has is that his brothers never take his ideas seriously, and enjoy mocking him for doing something different with his life.
Amanda has grown up on her family farm with her parents and four older, overprotective brothers. At the age of 22 she is ready to finally start experiencing life, but everyone still views her as a little girl. When Amanda boldly makes some changes in her life she decides that the biggest change of all is to finally give in to her attraction to Brady, her brother's best friend.
Can Amanda and Brady overcome their pasts, their over bearing families, and the way they are viewed in their small town to finally find the happy ever after they both want and deserve? This is a book about love, friendship and family, and how much our pasts influence our futures. Great book with wonderfully developed characters and plot. Highly recommend.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I received this book as an ARC for a honest and voluntary review. I liked the synopsis of this book on NetGalley so I requested it. However the book didn't hold my interest. It was too wordy, chapters devoted to explaining how Amanda hated living with her parents and always watched by her brothers. Same with Brady chapters explaining why he didn't want to be at the family ranch for a year. Maybe because my norm these days are fast paced romantic suspense, but it dragged for me. I read a majority of it out on a road trip, or I'd still be working on this book
A great story overall, and felt it got better and better as it went along. Started a little slow for me. but picked up after awhile. Amanda has always been looked at as the little kid, and with 4 overpowering brothers she never had any boys hanging around. Her brother Riley's best friend Brady though, was her biggest crush, although he never saw her as anything but a kid. When she started working at the local bar, and wearing skin tight clothes, Brady started to get a new perspective. Both had issues, and both were helpful to each other. Liked it, and would recommend this book and author.
A sweet western romance.
Amanda Kittridge has always adored Brady Everett. He treated her like his little sister, much to her chagrin...but now she's done. Tired of her four older brothers chasing away any possible suitors, not only does she move out, but she's taken a part time job as a bartender, and moved above the bar. The Coyote being not only a rough bar, but one notorious for 'friendly' barmaids, whose job description entailed showing lots of skin.
Finding Amanda there in a tight tank top and tight jeans, brought everything he had refused to see into clear focus. Her brother Riley insisted he watch over her..as his best friend, not knowing what he asked of Brady.
He fought the attraction, she didn't and the result was a tumultuous affair. She knew she was in love. He denied it to himself, until he had to face it.
This cowboy tale has it all, first love, humor, steam, envy, family love and dysfunction, and a happy ever after.
I requested and received a NetGalley Arc.