YEEHAW. I am in my cowboy era. I absolutely adored Leila and August, and their story together. I just love this world that Sara Richardson has created and it makes me just want more. Nobody does cowboy romances like she does.

A story of young love and two people finding their way back to each other. The problem is Gia just wants help with the family's vineyard and is protecting her heart. She wants nothing to do with August but his knowledge of helping with the wine business, for her he broke her once he will not break her again. Sounds good but Nonna and Poppa have a different look on things. A wonderful story with good characters.

Hello,

Apologies for the late notice, but I have decided not to review this title.

While I am certain it's obvious by now, I wanted to also clear this off NetGalley, so it's not showing as open for either of us.

I look forward to continuing to work with you in 2023 and beyond.

Laura

A*R*C for honest review with no compensation Received from NetGalley and Forever 4.5 stars

Last Dance with a Cowboy is book 3 in the Silverado Lake series by Sara Richardson. Next up is August Harding and Leila Valentino.

Sweethearts til August left her behind 15 years ago…now she has to work with August in the hopes of saving her family’s Colorado winery.

Secrets, pretending, strong feelings, tight community and more…read on to see if they get a second chance…

2.5 stars rounded up because I loved Leila's grandparents and the townspeople. They were a hoot!

I knew a little bit about August from the previous books in the series and was curious to learn more about his story and why he kept his distance from his family's ranch, so of course I jumped at the chance to read this title when it became available.

August and Leila's story had a little bit of everything. It was sweet and charming, yet utterly frustrating and even a little predictable. There were also places were the story dragged, especially during August and Leila's inner musings. Although I liked August and Leila just fine and could understand where they were each coming from, I couldn't help but want to shake some sense into them.

Ultimately, I think that the story needed to focus more on August and Leila reconnecting after so many years apart. Although they entered into this fake engagement, there was too much talk about past and current lies and the vineyard's future and not enough time getting to know the people they had become after the experiences that shaped them and kept them apart. I get that these elements had to be explored, but not to the detriment of the second chance romance that was alluded to in the blurb. August and Leila were apart for 15 years and needed a bit more time getting to know each other again for me to believe this relationship was viable.
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Last Dance With a Cowboy, by Sara Richardson, is the story of what happens when Leila Valentino returns home to Silverado Lake CO and the family vineyards and winery after graduate school. Raised by their grandparents, Leila and her brother Sam, are dedicated to Nonna and Poppa and rescuing the family business.

When Nonna received her cancer diagnosis and went through chemo, radiation, and surgery to regain her health, the business slid and financially they are not doing well. It, too, needed an infusion. Unfortunately, Leila entered into a partnership with Forrest Kincaid of The Kincaid conglomerate of vineyards and wines. Forrest is all about take overs and is never happy with his holdings. Each acquisition only seems to make him want more. This seems to doom her to losing the business.

August Harding is Forrest’s right hand man. However, a decade or so ago he was Leila’s best beau. When August’s dad died suddenly, August went to a very dark place. He dropped out of college, severed his home ties, and was on an alcohol driven downward spiral when Forrest found him in a bar. Forrest guided the distraught young man, trained him in the wine business, helped him finish college, and provided him with a home, a vehicle, and met all his needs as long as he performs for the company. August had developed the same uncaring world view as Forrest until he was sent to drive Valentino Bella’s out of business and into their fold.

When August returns to Silverado Lake and meets with Leila the story really unfolds. Emotions run high. Memories resurface. And there may be more than just a few rounds of fireworks. This is a lovely second chance story with richly crafted characters in a picturesque setting. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

This checked off everything I look for in a book. Was not disappointed. Really enjoyed this book. I will read more from this author. Must read. GIVE ME COWBOY ANYDAY!!

I enjoyed Sara Richardson’s One Night With A Cowboy, the second book in the Silverado Lake series. It was one of my favorite reads in 2021. The Harding family dynamics, the gorgeous setting and the close knit community of Silverado Lake appealed to me. Last Dance with A Cowboy is the third book in the series—it’s August Harding’s story. Enjoyed every word in this well- plotted character driven novel!
Leila Valentino realizes that her family’s vineyard is on the verge of declaring bankruptcy. She reaches out to Kingston Wineries and brokers a secret deal with them. She has 3 months to increase the wineries profit margin or Kingston takes over. Leila’s family loyalty and determination to succeed made her a likeable, relatable character.
Auggie Harding is handsome cowboy who is not afraid of using his good looks and charming personality to climb the corporate ladder at Kingston Wineries. He has brokered many acquisitions for the company and views it as a game—a role to play. Forrest Kingston dangles a huge promotion in front of August to supervise the vineyard takeover - knowing that Auggie and Leila have a history.

Sara Richardson choice to reunite Auggie and Leila worked for me. Fifteen years have passed since they went their separate ways but, the chemistry between the couple bubbled like a glass of champagne. Ms. Richardson is able to blend emotion, conflict and passion perfectly in this novel. I was drawn to their story—the history, the passion, the love for the ranch and the vineyard- and rooted for Auggie and Leila.
Last Dance With A Cowboy has all of the story elements I look for in a novel- dynamic characters, descriptive prose, conflict and romance. Auggie and Leila’s story will tug at your heartstrings-- the themes of forgiveness, acceptance and love are woven perfectly throughout this novel. The secondary characters add depth and humor to the storyline. I adored Nonna and Poppa—their love for each other, their family, friends and vineyard is the cornerstone of the novel. I was glad to catch up with Ryan, one of my favorite characters from One Night With A Cowboy, and to meet Leila’s brother Sam. I am hoping Sam will be featured in an upcoming book.

If you enjoy novels by RaeAnne Thayne, Cindy Kirk and Robyn Carr—than this is the book for you!

LAST DANCE WITH A COWBOY is the third book in the SILVERADO LAKE series set in Colorado with breathtaking mountain views, a small town with a tight knit community, and a struggling family winery. This is Leila’s and August’s story.

Theirs is a second-chance romance. They dated in their teens and planned to marry after he returned from college, but August never came back. Not only that, he never called or told her why. Even his family that lives on the ranch next door to the vineyard don’t see much of him. When he returns to help the floundering vineyard, the idea of a fake engagement is born to keep Leila’s grandparents from finding out what’s really going on at their struggling vineyard.

The story started off slowly for me but picked up steam once Leila and August started communicating. There is a depth to the story and the characters, and it’s an emotional story with a lovely setting and passionate romance.

The bonus novella of SUNRISE RANCH (THE CANYON #2.75) by Carolyn Brown is included and is a totally enjoyable story. I now have to read the other books in the series! This is a quick-paced read at only eighty-seven pages, but a lot was packed into it. Bonnie is set to inherit her late father’s ranch, never having known him. She should have split it with her two half-sisters that meet at the funeral, but they didn’t fulfill the terms set forth in the will and gave up their shares, though they both still live in the area. I loved watching their relationship grow as sisters, and also how Bonnie and Rusty have to get around their constant bickering to realize they have feelings for each other. The story plays out nicely with a lovingly portrayed happily ever after.

This one has a winery - well a couple but mostly one and a CO at that so it had me at that but I must say out of the series this one felt a bit flat for me. We even get a fake engagement which I always just love but it was also a second chance that just let me wanting more sparks- it also had a long timeline that we lost weeks as they didn't even talk to each other- which I didn't like. I enjoyed it but I just wanted more from it as I have just loved the author's others. But its still fun and again wine and more wine! Also small town that comes together which is always nice.



3.5 stars

Thanks to Forever for a copy of this one

August and Leila were the “it couple”, soulmates in high school, but that all changed with August’s dad died and his grief left him spiraling. August was already in college, promised to come back to Leila, but after the funereal he left without a word and shattered her heart.

August is back working for the company that wants to take over her family’s winery. Leila proposes a fake engagement as the reason for August’s return to keep the winery’s dire financial circumstances from her grandparents.

I have to say I was pretty ticked at August. I know losing a parent is so very hard, but come on, if you’re basically soulmates, you leave and never say anything? Seeing Leila again, August finally realizes all the heartache he heaped on her and his family. He’d never properly faced his grief or the hurt his actions caused, but being forced to come back gave him the opportunity to make amends. Realizing exactly what he lost made August determined to do anything to keep her from losing the vineyard, anything to make her happy.

Even after fifteen years apart, the emotions between August and Leila are high and their connection is palpable. I felt Leila’s pain and thought she was completely justified keeping him at arm’s length at first. Working closely together while faking their engagement made it impossible to resist each other, though and I loved seeing them overcome all the hurt and embrace their second chance for love!

4 star

I was pulled right into this story. The story has laughs, pain, secrets, second chances, and heartbreak.

If you have not read the below I would recommend reading those books(s) first
First Kiss with a Cowboy (Silverado Lake #1)
One Night with a Cowboy (Silverado Lake #2)

This is Leila and August’s story. These two have a history. They were together until he walked away and left her behind. Now years later he is back and needs something from her. She comes up with a plan and he agrees but when they never counted on was all those feelings from before returning. Only this time they are stronger than ever. Can they build a future? Or was the past all they really ever had?


I recommend this book.

Last Dance with a Cowboy is actually less cowboy type story than actually winemaking/vineyard, which is not a bad thing and actually I ended up leaning something about growing grapes.

The characters are loving and sweet, the real standouts are Nonna and Poppa - the grandparents of Leila and the owners of the vineyard. Their love and devotion and marriage are just true standouts and i wish I could know them and go to Italy with them.

It is a sweet book and a quick read.

Lady Ophelia Darby may be the overindulged daughter of a powerful marquess, accepted in the highest circles of the ton despite her unconventional ways, but lately she’s been singing in seedy clubs by night as Lady Starlight. She’s protected by mentioning the name of Devlin Byrne, the obscenely wealthy and widely feared scoundrel and gaming club owner. Having learned a long-kept secret of her father’s, Ophelia uses her disguise to find answers, and Devlin is the only man who can help her unearth the information she seeks.

Despite all his wealth and the ability to ruin any nobleman should he so choose; Devlin Byrne will always be relegated to the very fringes of society. No one suspects that he’s built his wealth and reputation with the sole purpose of making Ophelia his, not even Ophelia.

Devlin is most assuredly dangerous, but as Ophelia begins to trust him with more and more of her own heart, she must choose between the life she’s known and one of permanent scandal.

(You may chance some inadvertent, mild spoilers here as I get my thoughts out.) I’m a total sucker for a protective alpha hero and Devlin delivered that and then some. He had the dark, tortured side that made him slightly dangerous, but unlike most heroes I tend to read that have this trait, he also had loving parents who modeled a loving marriage to him as a child. He's also not a rake and he has no shame in admitting his limited experience. These things made Devlin very unique, and I think it earns him a place as one of my favorite heroes of all time. In fact, that’s the reason this book made me nervous at times given how slow Ophelia was to admit her feelings for Devlin and how much she truly seemed to value her position in society. At times, Ophelia comes off sounding just as snobbish and imperious as her parents and that worried me, but other times she’s shrewd and nonjudgmental, then she’d turn back around and once again be a typical aristocrat willing to play games and toy with Devlin’s emotions. This mercuriality in her behavior made me very nervous about Devlin’s heart in Ophelia’s keeping, but she did improve and show immense character growth and I have to give her credit for that and for not backing down from the challenges he placed before her, even when she struggled with wanting to be a dutiful daughter and not break the rules. I kept thinking Devlin deserved more after he shaped his entire life with the goal of marrying Ophelia. Thankfully, she did come through in the end and I was very happy with how their relationship turned out.

What did disappoint me rather a lot was Ophelia’s family and how they are handled in the end. First off, Effie was consistently terrible to Ophelia, condescending and judgmental, not to mention bossy, controlling, and immature, and while Ophelia did put her in her place a time or two, it did no good. Effie continued to be a terrible person under the guise of doing what she felt was best for Ophelia, and she never experienced any sort of backlash or negative effect from it. I have the same complaint of Ophelia’s parents really. They were horrible to her and to Devlin and then somehow every issue they raised against the match just floated away in a very quick resolution in the end. Maybe this is petty, but I wanted to see some comeuppance or at least poetic justice or something for the parents and/or at least Effie and I was left unsatisfied on that score. Overall, her parents were ridiculous, and I really couldn't buy into the supposed closeness of their relationship.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of this book was that we had a case in which both the hero and the heroine are fighting to be together, and they won’t take no for an answer. I think many characters talk a good game, especially when we have a class difference trope in play, but something has to happen to either elevate or lower one of the characters and even out that difference in order for them to come together in the end (i.e., the low-born, self-made hero will be awarded a title for some reason). I was so happy that didn’t happen here and instead we got Devlin and Ophelia both making sacrifices in their own way to be together, and neither experiencing a moment of regret over it. I loved that they prioritized each other and the happy future they knew they wanted together, and they just went for it. That’s what made this novel work for me and that’s why I think, though it's not perfect, it is special.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Leila Valentino is trying to keep her families business afloat and made a deal with a business who will give her time to bring this up or claim it as for their own. Leila hopes that she can fix things before it gets to that point. August, Leila's ex, works for that company and is sent to make sure things turn out as planned. Imagine Leila surprise when August shows up as a rep for that company. Not willing to let her family know what's really going on she lets her family know August is back as a fiancé and a whole mess of complications ensue.

Its clear that things are going to get complicated and messy just from knowing what this book is about and I'm here for the drama of it all. I was curious to see how things would progress with the old feelings they once had and knowing that keeping business and pleasure is going to be hard since those feelings didn't die and eventually someone is going to lose. I did enjoy that bit of romance that was going on with the two though. But with them slowly and surely getting closer to one another I was wondering when the ball would drop and when would the boss man who wants that area would make an appearance and I was not disappointed. Can't say much more about this book without saying too much other then this was a pretty great book and I really enjoyed it.

Last Dance with a Cowboy is the third title in the Silverado Lake series, and while I was completely caught up in the first two books in this series August and Leila just didn’t have the same intensity for me. Perhaps because I found very little actual romance going on between them. Yes, they have a history. But this second chance romance is really based on a lie, and that type of base for everlasting love doesn’t always turn out as hoped for.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the book yet for different reasons than the second chance romance possibility. I adored Leila’s grandparents. Theirs is what I imagine a lifelong true love story really is all about. I simply love the small town and its residents who know what they know, have no qualms about speaking their minds and still can open their arms and hearts to a returning man who left them all behind.

I understood August’s pain to a point. I accepted Leila’s anger and, I’d even say bewilderment at his leaving her behind. Yet, one lie doesn’t always have the outcome expected, even when told with the best intentions. There are questions that I wanted answers to, events lightly mentioned that might have made me more tolerant of that lie if I understood them. I just… I enjoyed Last Dance with a Cowboy but something was missing, for me, to let me fall completely into this world again. It’s still a good story, just not what I was expecting… but then that happens sometimes.

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

The love story of August and Gia is at center stage. What a cute and easy read! This book was nothing revolutionary, but it was one of those quick and heart-warming reads. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for a copy of this book for an honest review.

This is a second chance story. When August broke Leila's heart years ago she figured she was done with him forever. However she needs his help to hold onto her grandparents winery. I hated how August left Leila after his father died, how he ghosted her and yet years later tried to show her he was in it for the long haul. This was a nice addition to the series.

Leila Valentino is trying to keep her grandparent’s vineyard afloat while she makes some much-needed changes. It has been in financial trouble before, but now is worse than ever after having to pay her grandmother’s medical bills. It seems the only way out of debt is to partner with Kingston Wines. The only problem is who shows up on her doorstep to manage the winery, August Harding, the one man who broke her heart. As Leila does not want to bother her grandparents with how bad things really are, she tells them that she and August are back together and that is why he will be around the vineyard so often. Will her plan backfire? Will she be able to save her legacy in the short time she has left in the contract?

This is the third book in the Silverado Lake series, and I really enjoyed Leila and August’s story of second chances and new beginnings. I loved Leila grandparents and August’s family and how they were a part of the story too. If you love stories that heal old wounds, beautiful vineyards and a handsome cowboy, this story is for you. Thanks so much to Forever Publishing for my advanced readers copy that I voluntarily read and reviewed.

Cowboy is the third book in the Silverado Lake series. This is a wonderful story about love, loss. and second chances. I read it in one setting. The book pulls you in on page one. Great story.