I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Another great book from one of my favorite authors. Highly recommend to friends and family.

What to get when you have a grumpy cowboy and a cowgirl who meddles into everyone's lives and they are best friends and coworkers? That's right, soulmates that obviously belong together even when they are the last to realize it. All Rose wants it to set up her older sister but she ends up being the one getting the lesson in chemistry. When Logan bets her that her matchmaking will go awry, he will be the one to teach her a lesson and when she comes to collect on that bet they are both taken down when he kisses her. Kisses lead to so much more and when they are both tangled up in love it will take finding how to learn to find forgiveness to make that love last. I really enjoyed this one and it can truly be read as a standalone.

This heartwarming, fun, and festive read is filled with characters that I fell in love with and throughly enjoyed following along as their friendship turned romantic. Rose and Logan have been close friends for years, ever since their parents died in the same plane crash, despite the fact that Logan is ten years older. When Rose decides to set her sister up with a local from the town it unexpectedly leads to her and Logan igniting an attraction that Logan has held for the past few years. It also helps them to confront the fact that they have baggage they haven’t dealt with relating to the loss of their parents. Logan lost his mother in the crash but his dad has never been in his life and then this Christmas season Logan will have to deal with that choice.

Every time I read a Gold Valley book I proclaim how much I love these characters and it is because Maisey Yates does such an incredible job of fostering an emotional connection between her readers and her characters. I was deeply entrenched in this story and felt like I was right there with characters. This is the eleventh Gold Valley book so there is quite a backstory and plethora of characters to follow along with. Logan and Rose were great main characters and I love the character growth they both had. Not just because of each other but also because of the community of family and friends they have surrounding them. Which is probably my favorite aspect of these stories.

Yates also did a fabulous job of balancing the Christmas and festive atmosphere with a rich and rewarding love story. The elements of the holiday season just added to what was happening between Rose and Logan. Because of his loss, Logan has always been a bit of a Grinch when it comes to the holiday season and it was so heartwarming to see him opening up and wanting to get involved. I also appreciated the fact that Yates made it apparent that although Logan has known Rose since she was a young girl he didn’t start to have feelings for her until she was 19.

If you are looking for a festive romance that you can sink into this week before Christmas then you should definitely pick this one up. I listened to it on Audible and the narrator, Samantha Cook, did a wonderful job conveying the emotions of the characters and probably helped this story come to life for me. So, if you still have some last minute wrapping to do, and can get your hand on this audiobook it will make the time fly by. If not, then just make yourself a nice cup of coffee or hot chocolate and curl up with a blanket and get ready to transport yourself to the wonderful, comforting and remarkable Gold Valley.

The more I read this series, the less I care for it. Yates’s female protagonists are always less than. Why all 3 Daniels' sisters had to be virgins before they met their husbands is absurd. Yes, losing their parents did a number on them, but why did they isolate themselves? Why were the Daniels men allowed to sow their oats but the women had to remain virginal? It’s hard to get past that to enjoy the love stories because the women are coming from a position of weakness. They each had to find their strength. This all just seems so regressive.

Also, what’s with the titles? Is Ryder Daniels really a hero or just a young man who did what was best for his family (Book 10)? Perhaps martyr would be more appropriate. What is a Last Christmas Cowboy (Book 11)? Griffin isn’t a heartbreaker; he’s heartbroken (Book 12).

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from HQN through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

I always enjoy Maisey Yates' books, she has a unique way of writing that keeps the reader invested. The storyline was fun and I liked all the characters.

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.

The Last Christmas Cowboy by Maisey Yates is the eleventh novel in the Gold Valley series. Rose Daniels and Logan Heath have been friends forever—bonded together by a tragedy long ago. When feelings begin to change—will these two be able to navigate themselves into a new type of relationship without getting hurt? If you are looking for a sweet and heartwarming holiday read—this is the book for you.

The Last Christmas Cowboy is book 11 of 12 in the Gold Valley series. We're getting to the end of our cast of characters. I'm sorry to say that I didn't enjoy this couple as much as any of the rest. Rose is the baby of the family but she acts like a toddler most of the time. How can a girl who grew up on a ranch, and works alongside her brothers, be so darn uninformed and kinda silly. Logan, the older man & friend of the family, takes the strong silent type to the max. How they got to an HEA is still a wonder to me.

The Last Christmas Cowboy has just enough similarity to Austen's Emma that I think fans of Austen will enjoy this one as well. To be honest, I can take JA or leave her - I know, I know! but it is what it is - but I do like Maisey Yates, and I love a cowboy romance. I'm a little behind the game with this Christmas romance, but I somehow ended up with quite the TBR of holiday stories and needed a break before plunging back into them. The Last Christmas Cowboy is everything I expect from Yates with likable characters and a fun romance, and of course, cowboys! Did I mention I love cowboys? Anyway, the story is interesting and a pleasant read overall, and I absolutely loved Rose's attitude as well as her response to Logan when the big angsty thing comes to pass. I always wonder when I read similar situations in romance why more heroines don't do that very thing, and finally, I get my wish. And that's all I'm gonna say before I start giving spoilers. So, if you like Yates and holiday romance, read this one!

This story about love, life, family, grief, and finding your soulmate hits all the feels and senses, it enthralls and entertains.
The author writes about the emotions so vividly I noticed myself gripping to each twist and nodding with an agreement; 'that is exactly how it feels' while inhaling each word.
I loved the connection between Rose Daniels and Logan Heath. They had known each other all their lives, they grew up together, they faced the ultimate loss together, they had worked side by side for years, they knew each other as no one else could even imagine. And now, in a new way that rocked their whole existence.
At first, the 'she is virgin and he is ladies man' theme made me sigh deeply but with Rose and Logan's story it fit, it was such a natural part of her assistance and her personality and part of her growing experience, that I soon got over it.
A sensual and emotional tale of loving and living in a large extended family, with palpable deep feels and a-ha-moments, growing and thriving while falling in love, finding your place in life, and flourishing with the newfound happiness... Yet another tale from Maisey Yates that left me completely enamored with the characters and world she creates!
~ Four Spoons with the teaspoon on the side

This was your typical love story between a little sister and her brother's best friend plot. We all have seen them in movies or read about them. The forbidden love of a younger sibling falling for older siblings' best friend. However, it was still a wonderful story.

Rose is our heroine who is looking to play matchmaker so she enlists the help of Logan her older brother's best friend. Some she trusts and has known forever. She has viewed him as a brother for years.

Things change though as she begins to learn what true chemistry is between a man and woman. This soon leads her to see Logan in a whole new light. Logan trying to be the better person pushes her away. Soon however he can no longer resist.

I loved the chemistry between the characters. It was fun watching their relationship change. I also loved that Rose gave her heart to someone so good.

I will say this was the 11th book in this series however I read it with no issues. I am however hooked on Maisey Yates's writing so will be returning to read the previous books.

Maisey Yates' cowboys provide comfort and can break me out of any reading slump. Yates' does a wonderful job of making me want to live in Gold Valley (if such a place even exists).

While some of her tried and true tropes don't jive with me (i.e. young impressionable inexperienced girl falls for - and changes - tough older experienced man who doesn't believe in love) I still will read any Gold Valley or Copper Ridge book she writes.

Don't let the title deceive you, its not truly a Christmas read, but about two people who've experienced a traumatic event together as children and are seeing each other differently now (in the romantic sense) and wrestling with what that means to their friendship. I love how in each book we get caught up with supporting characters who once had their own book, or are about to get one of their own.

Thank you for the opportunity to read on of my auto-read authors.

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.

A wonderful western romance for the holidays. Maisey Yates does it again. This series is like coming home.

The Review

While the notion of reading the eleventh book in a long-running romance series can feel daunting, the author does an amazing job of crafting a narrative that feels both recognizable to longtime readers and wholly new and original to newcomers, creating a story that can work as a standalone novel.

The chemistry and tension between Rose and Logan is definitely heated, and fans of more adult romance won’t be able to get enough of this story. The story does a great job of incorporating both graphic and intimate scenes between the characters and deep, emotionally-driven narratives that delve into the lives of the characters themselves, creating a perfect balance that fans of the romance genre won’t be able to get enough of.

The Verdict

A lengthy, engaging, and intimate modern-day cowboy romance, author Maisey Yates’s “The Last Cowboy Christmas” is a must-read this holiday season! The history these characters share with one another and the approachability for readers both new to the series and well established will both be able to enjoy, this is a heat-inducing and romantic novel that readers can’t help but enjoy, so be sure to grab your copy today!

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.

Another entry in the Gold Valley series this book features Rose and family friend Logan. Rose is a perpetual matchmaker and when she decides that her older sister, Iris, is lonely she plans to fix her up. Logan has been interested in Rose for awhile but she's his best friends sister so he's trying to keep it platonic. Of course eventually this proves to be impossible in this friends to lovers romance. Sweet romance. Recommended.

Unfortunate this just wasn't a hit for me. I wanted to absolutely love it but had a hard time connecting with the characters and the plot. It didn't hold my attention and I found myself skimming more than I ought to. That being said, if you are invested in the series (I've only read on either title) you may enjoy delving into Rose and Logan's story while catching up with the rest of the family. There are definitely moments of chemistry and heart.

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.

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.