Book review: Big Sky Summer (Parable, Montana #4) by Linda Lael Miller

Available now!
With his father's rodeo legacy to continue and a prosperous spread to run, Walker Parrish has no time to dwell on wrecked relationships. But country-western sweetheart Casey Elder is out of the spotlight and back in Parable, Montana. And Walker can't ignore that his "act now, think later" passion for Casey has had consequences. Two teenage consequences! 

Keeping her children's paternity under wraps has always been part of Casey's plan to give them normal, uncomplicated lives. Now the best way to hold her family together seems to be to let Walker be a part of it-as her husband of convenience. Or will some secrets-like Casey's desire to be the rancher's wife in every way-unravel, with unforeseen results?

This is book 4 in the continuing Parable, Montana series. If you have been following the series you are probably like me and have been waiting for Walker and Casey's story. Thank goodness Walker has a lot of patience where Casey is concerned because it's been a long long time to a happy ending for these two and upon reading their story you might not be sure there will be one. Both seem to half one foot in and one foot out on their relationship. Casey's kept her two kids paternity under wraps for almost 15 years. Walker knew but when along with it thinking it was for the best but was kept around as a family friend. I didn't agree with this idea for the book but it is what it so i decided to sit back and see how it panned out. I was actually pretty happy with how it's handled. Each of the two kids had different reactions to the news when told and then the fall out. They marry which was odd for the convenience of showing the public they are a family unit. Behind it all though Walker and Casey both made mistakes with each other and had issues from their pasts mixing in with those decisions. Finally though they figure out what's important and how they feel and it all comes together of course. I like the way it ended up and i adored Walker. The man is just about a saint with patience and understanding.  4 out of 5 stars for Big Sky Summer by Linda Lael Miller.

Find out more about this series on the Linda Lael Miller website here www.lindalaelmiller.com

Book review: Big Sky Mountain by Linda Lael Miller

With his rugged good looks, vast wealth and family name, hell-raiser Hutch Carmody is still the golden boy of Parable, Montana. But he's done some growing up—making peace with his illegitimate half brother and inheriting half of Whisper Creek Ranch, which should have been all his. These days, Hutch knows there are some things money can't buy: like the heart of loving, ladylike divorcée Kendra Shepherd.


Kendra's quiet mansion reminds her of what she wants most—a devoted husband and the pitter-patter of little feet. She can't get Hutch Carmody out of her mind. But a rough-and-tumble cowboy like Hutch, coming home for family dinner? Seems crazy! Then again, crazier dreams have become reality under the vast Montana sky.

This is book 2 in Linda Lael Miller's latest  cowboy series. This book is about former lovers Hutch Carmody and Kendra Sheperd.  We get introduced to them in book 1 Big Sky Country. They have a past and their relationship ended after a series of miscommunication and trust issues. Kendra ended up married to another man and Hutch was left broken hearted. Kendra always thought that he didn't love her because he didn't fight for her. It all ended badly for Kendra when the man she married left her and then she found out he had a baby with another woman while married to her. He dies but not before asking Kendra to find and adopt the girl which of course she does. Both Hutch and Kendra have issues from when they were kids that gave them problems with trust. This is what led to their relationship falling apart. Now both are trying to face those demons. This story is about Hutch and Kendra both finding their way to each other. I loved how Kendra takes Madison in and adopts her and Hutch loves her right away too and accepts her even knowing who her dad was. Hutch got me pretty quick. For all his faults the man has a big heart and he lets it show. The beginning of this book was actually kind of boring for me and didn't really pick up til after i got about 1/4 of the way through. From then on I enjoyed it. I look forward to seeing how the next book in the series plays out with Sheiff Boone Taylor and his neighbor Tara Kendall ( city girl turned chicken farmer) . We've been getting peeks at them in both books so far. Looks like it will be a fun and interesting book. Linda always gets some of the best covers for her cowboys and this one definitely follows suit. 4 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick stars for Big Sky Mountain by Linda Lael Miller.

Find out more about this book and Linda Lael Miller other work on her website here www.lindalaelmiller.com

Win Debra Kayn's Rodeo Rebel and enter her big contest!

Contest time!
This contest is from Debra Kayn but see all the way at the bottom for your chance to win a kindle copy of Rodeo Rebel from Modokker Book Picks!







For the next month, I’ll be running a contest. I want to get my book, Rodeo Rebel, to the top 100 at either Amazon or Barnes & Noble.


If Rodeo Rebel hits the top 100, I’m giving away a kickass pair of cowgirl boots PLUS a cowgirl hat to one lucky winner…delivered to your front door.(Red Corral Picasso Cowgirl boots valued at $209.99 + Bullhide Winston Straw Cowgirl hat valued at $39.99 for a total prize worth $249.98)


How do you enter?

It’s easy!
All you have to do is tweet the contest, blog about the contest, Facebook the contest, or buy Rodeo Rebel. No purchase is necessary. If you’d like to tweet every day, you can still earn 25 points a day into the contest. If you want to copy and paste this contest on your own blog, you’ll earn 25 points. You can even like me on Facebook for 10 points. There’s lots of different ways to get your name entered. Check out the Rafflecopter widget at http://www.debrakayn.com/2012/07/contest-if-rodeo-rebel-makes-it-to-top.html for full details on how to earn points, and go spread some love for Rodeo Rebel.

That’s not all!

If I make it into the top 25 in category romance on Amazon, I’ll also give away a cowgirl hat to one lucky winner.(Bullhide Winston Straw Cowgirl hat valued at $39.99) Florentine McDougal, my heroine in Rodeo Rebel, wears a lucky cowgirl hat when she rides. Wouldn’t you like one too?

Here’s the catch. You’ll have to get the word out about Rodeo Rebel. If I don’t get into the top 100, I’ll be giving away a $25 dollar gift certificate to a store of your choice as a consolation prize. So, it’s important to spread the word if you want a chance to deck yourself out in new boots and new hat. The more friends you get involved, the higher Rodeo Rebel will climb on the charts.

Here’s an example tweet!

If #RodeoRebel hits the top 100, @DebraKayn is giving away cowgirl boots + hat! http://www.debrakayn.com/ @EntangledPub Please RT!

Curious about the book?

Check out Rodeo Rebel at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Rodeo-Rebel-Sisters-McDougal-ebook/dp/B008BW9FQE/ref=sr_1_5_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1339843464&sr=1-5&keywords=rodeo+rebel

Check out Rodeo Rebel at Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rodeo-rebel-debra-kayn/1111591750?ean=2940014704991
Contest ends 8/8/2012
 
That's it for Debra Kayn's contest. Follow the info above or you can find it on her website as well here www.debrakayn.com
 
As for my giveaway. Modokker Book Picks is gifting a commenter with a ebook copy of Rodeo Rebel. This is for kindle users only. You can download the kindle app for this to your smart phone if you don't have a kindle.  Just comment and let me know if you've ever read a Debra Kayn book and which one it was. If you haven't read her tell me your thoughts on cowboys. Love em or leave em??? lol Don't forget to leave me your email address so i can tell you that you've won and gift you the ebook later. This giveaway ends Friday July 13th. Get one extra entry if you tweet this post or share it on Facebook. Just leave the link to it in your comment so i can count it. BTW all posts here have a convenient button below the post just to do this easily. Add @DebraKayn and/or @Modokker and Debra and i will see them too.
 
Remember these are two different giveaways. Hit up Debra's website for her big contest after you comment on mine for the kindle ebook prize.
Thanks!!
Lisa AKA Modokker

Book Review: Rodeo Rebel (Sisters of McDougal Ranch book 4)by Debra Kayn

Available now!

When widower and land baron Cole Reardon acquired the Turner Grain Corporation, he didn't know the company sponsored a bull rider. He refuses to support thrill-seekers dumb enough to get on the back of a crazed animal. He’s not willing to risk his fortune and livelihood when he has his daughter's well-being to consider. Not even when the bull rider is the sexiest woman he's ever seen.


Bull rider Florentine McDougal plans to turn pro after the season championship, fulfilling her lifelong dream of succeeding in a man’s world. That is, until Cole Reardon shows up and threatens to break his sponsorship contract with her. Now everything she’s worked for is less than eight seconds away from being destroyed.

Cole distracts Florentine with his sexy mouth and unreasonable demands, and he's not going to compromise his integrity. But she's not going to let him loose until she has pro status. And neither will come away from this dust-up unscathed.

This is the 4th book in the Sisters of McDougal ranch series. I've been following the series since book one and enjoying them all. You read a lot of book series where the guys are who the series is about, but not many that feature the women.  It's fun to see this series then about a group of sisters and their ranch and the men who come into their lives. If you've followed along with the series you know that Florentine is the bull rider. She's been working hard for years to get into the PBRA and be a professional bull rider. It's a goal she set at the age of 17 when she struck out on her own. Finally she is so very close. Into her life walks Cole Reardon. He just bought the grainery that has been sponsoring her. He wants out of the contract. He can't condone what he thinks is reckless behavior.  Thing is she does something to him and he's torn about what he feels about her. He's also got a little girl, Sarah,  who lost her mama when her reckless behavior got her killed when she was a baby. He's got to protect her and he can't promote something as crazy reckless as bull riding. When Florentine injures herself getting thrown off a bull though Cole just can't seem to leave her on her own no matter how much she protests. He and his daughter end up staying at McDougal Ranch for Margot's wedding and their annual fireworks. Cole struggles with his feelings for Florentine and his need to protect his daughter and his heart. What a exciting struggle it is too. This i think might be my favorite of the series so far. I wonder if I have said that before?? lol There's something about Cole and Florentine's chemistry. He's a sweetheart of man but his heart was crushed when his first wife was killed and he was afraid to death of getting hurt again or having his daughter hurt. Florentine was a risk he wasn't sure he wanted to take even if his heart wanted her.  Loved it and can't wait to see what the happens with the sisters next!  5 out of 5 Modokker Book pick stars for Rodeo Rebel by Debra Kayn.

This book is available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble and is lendable from both. Find out more about Debra Kayn and this series and read excerpts for all 4 books on her website here www.debrakayn.com

Amazon www.amazon.com/Rodeo-Rebel
Barnes and Noble www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rodeo-rebel