Blog Tour: Review & Interview - The Last Real Cowboy by Caitlin Crews

Today, we have a fun interview with Caitlin Crews, author of The Last Real Cowboy.  Enjoy the interview after my thoughts on the book!

Author:Caitlin Crews
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: January 2020

In Cold River, sometimes forbidden love is the sweetest of them all… 

Perennial good girl Amanda Kittredge knows that her longtime crush on Brady Everett was never really supposed to go anywhere. But when Brady comes home to Cold River during Amanda’s first attempt at independence, well, who better to teach her about rebellion than her older brother’s bad-boy best friend?

Brady’s plans did not include being forced to work the family homestead for a year—and yet, here he is. And, to make matters worse, his best friend’s innocent little sister is making a menace of herself in the most grown-up, tempting ways. When Amanda begs Brady to teach her about men, he knows he should refuse. But could Brady’s greatest temptation be his salvation?

My thoughts:

The Last Real Cowboy is the third book in the Cold River series.  This is Brady and Amanda's story.  If you are a fan of the best friend's little sister trope, then you'll love this one.  I always like when the characters have known each other since childhood.  It makes the slide into love that much more believable.  There is an age difference between these two, but it really didn't bother me that much.  I liked their relationship and was rooting for them.  I did also like seeing the changing relationship between Brady and his brothers over the past three books.  Their ability to finally move past the awfulness of their childhood was really great to see.   The one thing that did drive me crazy was Amanda's brothers.  Their over protectiveness was a bit over the top for me.  If I was Amanda, I would have moved further away than to downtown.  But then, I have little patience for that sort of thing.  Despite that one, I definitely recommend this addition to the series. 

Enjoy our interview with author Caitlin Crews!

Kari & Autumn: What inspired you to become a writer?

Caitlin: I don’t remember starting to write, or deciding I should… my earliest memories are of writing books—though back then I also thought I should draw pictures in them, which was less successful. I guess I’m always been in love with stories and storytelling!

Kari & Autumn: Where do you come up with the ideas for your books?

Caitlin:  Ideas are the fun part.  They come sneaking in when I least expect it—when I overhear a conversation and fill in the details to my own satisfaction, when I think what if, when I hear a song, visit a new place, read a great story I wish I could tell differently.  And I love stories about hope and redemption and love, so I love taking all those ideas and turning them into romances.

Kari & Autumn: What exciting projects are waiting in the wings?

Caitlin:  I write a lot as both me and my other name, Megan Crane, and the best way to keep up with all my releases is to visit my website: www.caitlincrews.com.

What’s exciting about The Last Real Cowboy is that while Brady’s story marks the end of the Everett brothers’ stories, his heroine, Amanda Kittredge, has four big brothers whose stories are coming. The first one will be out later this year!

Kari & Autumn: Who is your favorite literary character and why?

Caitlin:  I will always love Anastasia Krupnik, who helped me survive elementary school.

Kari & Autumn: Just for fun, if you could be any animal, what would it be and why?

Caitlin:  A wombat— because is there anything cuter on this earth???

  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

USA Today bestselling, RITA-nominated, and critically-acclaimed author Caitlin Crews has written over one hundred books, including Harlequin Presents, Harlequin Dare, and Cold River cowboys. She’s won fans with the romance, women’s fiction, chick lit, and work-for-hire young adult novels she’s written as Megan Crane (including the futuristic, dystopian Viking romance Edge series). These days her focus is on contemporary romance in all its forms, from small town heat to international glamor, cowboys to bikers to military men and beyond. She’s taught creative writing classes in places like UCLA Extension’s prestigious Writers’ Program, gives assorted workshops on the writing process, and attempts to make use of the MA and PhD in English Literature she received from the University of York in York, England. She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with a husband who draws comics and animation storyboards, and their menagerie of ridiculous animals.

2 in 1 Review: A True Cowboy Christmas & Cold Heart, Warm Cowboy by Caitlin Crews

Publisher: St. Martins Press
Publication Date: October 2018

Gray Everett has a heart of gold but that doesn't mean he believes in the magic of Christmas. He's got plenty else to worry about this holiday season, what with keeping his cattle ranch in the family and out of the hands of hungry real-estate investors looking to make a down-and-dirty deal. That, plus being a parent to his young and motherless daughter, equals a man who will not rest until he achieves his mission. Now, all Gray needs is the help of his lifelong neighbor. . .who happens to have grown into a lovely, spirited woman.

For Abby Douglas, the chance to join forces with Gray is nothing less than a Christmas miracle. Much as the down-to-earth farmer's daughter has tried to deny it, Abby's been in love with stern, smoking-hot Gray her whole life. So when Gray proposes a marriage of convenience as a way to combine land--and work together toward a common cause—Abby can't refuse. But how can she convince Gray that sometimes life offers a man a second chance for a reason. . .and that their growing trust and mutual passion may be leading to true and lasting love?

A True Cowboy Christmas is the first book in the Cold River Ranch series.  It's a sweet marriage of convenience story that will warm your heart.  This is Gray and Abby's story.  Throughout the story, I kept thinking, "You poor clueless  man" about Gray.  You can't help but love his clueless heart though. It's clear his intentions are pure, if misguided.  I was rooting for Abby to help him see that he could love her and have a happy and real marriage, not just a practical one.  Both Abby and Gray had the most horrible parents on planet earth, it's no wonder they had issues.  I definitely recommend this one.

Publisher: St. Martins Press
Publication Date: July 2019

Ty Everett ran off to the rodeo when he turned eighteen and has been riding bulls ever since…until his last fall causes partial amnesia and he must return to Cold River Ranch to figure out what comes next. But how can he pick his next move when he can’t remember how he got here in the first place—much less the beautiful woman who appears at the ranch, claims she knows him, and warms his cold heart for the first time since he woke up in the hospital?

Rodeo Queen Hannah Monroe gave up her crown for Ty Everett, and her innocence. What she wants from Ty now is a divorce. But Ty can’t remember her—or their secret wedding, or even the son she never meant to hide from him—and Hannah is torn. How can she leave the man she can’t forget and still loves despite herself? And even if she’s willing to start over, what will happen when the truth comes out?

Of the two books, this was my least favorite.  I was disappointed that, again, we have a character with bad parents.  Well, Hannah's mother wasn't that bad, but she wasn't exactly a role model for teaching her daughter to trust anyone. However, her father was not in the picture either.  This one is Ty and Hananh's story.  I wasn't a fan of the amnesia trope here.  I predicted what would happen in the end and found my eyes rolling a bit. I've never been a fan of the hidden baby trope either.  I also thought that the writing was a bit repetitive.  I kind of got tired of being reminded how crappy of a father Amos was to Ty and his brothers.  There were a few other examples of this as well.  It's not a bad addition to the story, it was just OK for me.