Scan barcode
A review by melissasbookshelf
The Last Chance Cowboy by Jody Hedlund
5.0
What a fantastic end to a beloved series! Jody Hedlund weaves a powerful story of redemption, second chances, and faith in this romantic, stirring conclusion to the Colorado Cowboys series. Marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes and she really delivers with not only this trope but mistaken identity, false accusation, and a sweet little baby. I’ve loved that with each story in the McQuaid family saga we see this family come together, support each other, and forgive even when circumstances prove most difficult. Throughout the series, Dylan seemed most affected by the losses in his life and instead of turning to his family and faith, he turns to vice. In this story, we see him get his second chance.
Dylan, now the Sheriff of the small town he once called home, has an election coming up with strong competition. He’s determined to rid the town of a group of cattle rustlers and prove to the community that he’s a changed, capable man. He’s completely surprised when a woman shows up with a baby in tow who looks just like him. Wanting to do the right thing, he offers her marriage on the spot and determines to be as good a father as his pa. He doesn’t remember Catherine, but he’s determined to take things slow and win her trust and admiration.
Catherine is running for her life. She witnessed a terrible murder in Chicago after the tragic death of one of her patients and now stands falsely accused of both deaths. Catherine promised the dying mother to deliver her baby to his father in Colorado and sees this as a way to flee from the forces conspiring against her. When she meets Dylan and he offers her marriage right away, she can’t help but think it’s an answer to not only her problems, but her lonely heart. She’s grown to love little baby Austin and can’t help but be enamored by his handsome father. But, when the past comes back to haunt them, will they stay together or be torn apart?
I loved the slow burn romance between Dylan and Catherine. They both grow throughout the story as they learn to love each other. There’s nothing more attractive than a big, strong man caring for a baby and there were so many swoony moments with Dylan and his little son. I loved his small acts of kindness and service to Catherine, and when he calls her “darlin,” it made my heart melt. Dylan continues to struggle with his past and I appreciated how the author didn’t shy away from showing him really being tempted by his former vices. I loved the way his faith helped him be strong and turn away.
Catherine is sweet, caring, and good at what she does. Because of past disappointments in love, she doesn’t think she’s exciting or attractive enough to win Dylan’s heart. I loved the way she grew in confidence as the story progressed. She’s a talented midwife and I enjoyed seeing this aspect of the story. Catherine’s the perfect match for Dylan and they really brought out the best in each other, encouraging each other in their pursuits. With the McQuaids though, danger is never far behind and there’s plenty of action along with the sizzling, heartfelt romance that kept me up late into the night reading.
I’m truly sorry to see this series come to an end and am hoping somewhere along the line we get Astrid’s story. These characters and their struggles are so well written and have become so endearing that it’s going to be hard to let them go. Though this story could definitely be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the entire series. It’ll be that much more enjoyable. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.
Dylan, now the Sheriff of the small town he once called home, has an election coming up with strong competition. He’s determined to rid the town of a group of cattle rustlers and prove to the community that he’s a changed, capable man. He’s completely surprised when a woman shows up with a baby in tow who looks just like him. Wanting to do the right thing, he offers her marriage on the spot and determines to be as good a father as his pa. He doesn’t remember Catherine, but he’s determined to take things slow and win her trust and admiration.
Catherine is running for her life. She witnessed a terrible murder in Chicago after the tragic death of one of her patients and now stands falsely accused of both deaths. Catherine promised the dying mother to deliver her baby to his father in Colorado and sees this as a way to flee from the forces conspiring against her. When she meets Dylan and he offers her marriage right away, she can’t help but think it’s an answer to not only her problems, but her lonely heart. She’s grown to love little baby Austin and can’t help but be enamored by his handsome father. But, when the past comes back to haunt them, will they stay together or be torn apart?
I loved the slow burn romance between Dylan and Catherine. They both grow throughout the story as they learn to love each other. There’s nothing more attractive than a big, strong man caring for a baby and there were so many swoony moments with Dylan and his little son. I loved his small acts of kindness and service to Catherine, and when he calls her “darlin,” it made my heart melt. Dylan continues to struggle with his past and I appreciated how the author didn’t shy away from showing him really being tempted by his former vices. I loved the way his faith helped him be strong and turn away.
Catherine is sweet, caring, and good at what she does. Because of past disappointments in love, she doesn’t think she’s exciting or attractive enough to win Dylan’s heart. I loved the way she grew in confidence as the story progressed. She’s a talented midwife and I enjoyed seeing this aspect of the story. Catherine’s the perfect match for Dylan and they really brought out the best in each other, encouraging each other in their pursuits. With the McQuaids though, danger is never far behind and there’s plenty of action along with the sizzling, heartfelt romance that kept me up late into the night reading.
I’m truly sorry to see this series come to an end and am hoping somewhere along the line we get Astrid’s story. These characters and their struggles are so well written and have become so endearing that it’s going to be hard to let them go. Though this story could definitely be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the entire series. It’ll be that much more enjoyable. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.