Lauren Reynolds wanted only two things in life—to run her father’s horse breeding business and Colt Matthews. Fearing Colt would take her position within the family business, she tried to push him far away from her heart.

When life could no longer keep Lauren and Colt apart, their two worlds became one. Every second of every moment, they spent together. Their love bloomed into something neither of them imagined—a bond so strong Lauren and Colt believed nothing would ever stand in their way.

However, life threw a cruel twist into Colt and Lauren’s planned happily ever after. Will fate let them live out the life they dreamed of, or will one of them be left alone, lost and angry?

For this whole series we have seen Lauren Reynolds and Colt Mathews circle around each other, loving each other, but pushing each other away. They were fighting their feelings and fighting each other due to miscommunication, fear, and hurt feelings. But at Luke and Libby's wedding, they finally admit what they want.

I wasn't sure how Colt and I went from totally avoiding each other, to fighting like cats and dogs, to leaving our best friends' wedding to go somewhere so we could be alone. Smiling, I shook my head because I didn't care. I wanted this. I 'd wanted it for so long. I was just too stupid and stubborn to admit it to myself. Libby and Alex had found love and happiness. I wanted that too, and I knew Colt was the only one who would be able to give me both.

The one girl whom I had fallen in love with in high school, who I fought for the last two years to push my feelings away from her, who I had spent countless night dreaming about, was finally in my arms. My plan from this moment on was to love her with everything I had. I was never letting Lauren go.


We see their new found relationship and love blossom quickly. It seems almost too good to be true as they finally seem to be getting everything they wanted. They were almost too sweet, lovey dovey, and definitely explored their new sexual relationship for most of the book. But all along I was just waiting because I knew eventually some big drama had to come.

Colt was such a good guy like his Dad, Gunner. I loved Him. He was totally romantic, thoughtful, protective, and swoony. He was young, but knew how much Lauren meant to him. He also had school, work, his future goals, and football to contend with. But he was a young man who knew how to prioritize and be responsible. 

"You're mine Lauren. My everything."

Lauren was sweet, spunky, smart, and was just coming into her own. She wanted to be taken seriously in her family's breeding business. But she also had a young naive quality about her and her "Laurenisms" or quirky expressions and frequent use of "Oh My Glitter!" made her seem younger to me. 

These two took a long time to find their happy place during the course of this series, but they were very sweet and in a good place through most of this one. They were totally connected and had a pure and true love.

"I feel so safe life this. Like nothing in the world could ever possibly tear us apart when you're holding me"
"I plan on holding you forever."

But they did have some decisions to make and some trials and tribulations to get through. Not everything in life can be planned or conquered easily. And sometimes things can blindside you and threaten all of your hopes and dreams.

When their futures hang in the balance will they find their happily ever after or will their lives be forever changed?

My sweet Lauren. I promise you...I'll spend forever holding you...even if it's only in my memories.

We get to revisit with all of their friends and and family from this series Will, Alex, Libby, Luke, Grace, Taylor, Maegan, and all of the parents from the Wanted series. They all have such a  strong bond and are truly an extended family. I love the rapport and support between them. We get to see some progression in the other couples. And Grace's book Finding You was teased a bit more. 

Fans of Kelly Elliott will enjoy this installment that was less angsty then the others, but still had the humor, steam, tension, sweetness, and emotion. It was told in dual point of view and got more intense and dramatic towards the end.  And this one has been much anticipated since everyone has been waiting for Colt and Lauren to find their way for so long. 

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Colt Mathews and Lauren Reynolds have been friends forever, but after Colt rejected a late night advance from Lauren, they became antagonistic. Gone was their easy friendship and in it’s place was only hurt and frustration.

Once these two sort the miscommunication and hurt that has built up in the other books, they quickly fell into a pretty smooth, sweet, caring relationship. Longtime readers of the series will recognize that this is a pairing we’ve been waiting for and seeing them find happiness so early in the story was both refreshing and fear-inducing. Because while they had an easy start of it, they were sure to face unseen challenges further down the road.

Colt is absolutely a chip off the old block. He learned charm, sincerity, hard work, and loyalty from his father, Gunner. He is juggling school, football, and working for Lauren’s father, Scott. But his feelings for Lauren have been building since childhood, and he knows she is it for him.

Lauren has school and her family’s breeding business, but what she really wants is more responsibility in the breeding. Those horses are her life. She is energetic, and in a lot of ways reminded me of her mom. She too has been developing feelings for Colt since childhood, and many of her favorite memories center around moments where he was there for her.

I’m not sure I’ve ever said this before, but I actually wanted a little more drama from these two. This story was far less drama filled than previous Love Wanted in Texas books which was nice, but at the same time I kept waiting for something to happen. There are a few snags here and there, but nothing that simmers in the background for the entirety of the novel which caused me to skim portions as I waited for some action. Even their parents proved to be little challenge, as no one was surprised by the revelation that they were dating.

The entire Wanted family returns to surround this couple with support, encouragement, and wisdom. The rapport in this extended family makes it easy to fall into each new storyline, picking up new insight and remembering their histories together.

For having been raised surrounded by such loving relationship between their parents, this whole group of young adults sure is afraid of their feelings. Colt and Lauren both mention how scared they are of their relationship. One would think that Gunner, Ellie, Scott, and Jessie would have shown them that love isn’t something to fear through their actions long before the kids could develop a fear of love.

This book settled the uneasiness between Colt and Lauren, and only served to build more anticipation for Meg and Taylor’s stories. Both of those girls are hiding and running from things, and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in store for them.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.

WITHOUT YOU  (Love Wanted in Texas #1)

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Alex and Will have spent months keeping their relationship hidden from their families. Getting caught prematurely causes them to admit their love for each other to their parents. 

One decision made by Alex's father changes her entire world, shattering her plans for the future. Alex always thought Will was the very air she breathed, but life has a way of causing doubts for the one thing she thought was absolute…their love. 

Can Will's promise to Alex be enough for her to hold on to or will she find herself moving down a different path that she never imagined for herself?