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 River (Swoon-Worthy Cowboys #3) by Linda Lael Miller

Available now! 
Sheriff Boone Taylor has his job, friends, a run-down but decent ranch, two faithful dogs and a good horse. He doesn't want romance-the widowed Montanan has loved and lost enough for a lifetime. But when a city woman buys the spread next door, Boone's peace and quiet are in serious jeopardy. 

With a marriage and a career painfully behind her, Tara Kendall is determined to start over in Parable. Reinventing herself and living a girlhood dream is worth the hard work. Sure, she might need help from her handsome, wary neighbor. But life along Big Sky River is full of surprises...like falling for a cowboy-lawman who just might start to believe in second chances.

This was my favorite of the 3 books in this series. Boone and Tara had terrible things happen to them. Both have struggled with those things and tried to come to terms with their lives. When Tara bought the chicken farm next door a place that used to belong to Boone's family they didn't seem to be able to get a long. After a couple things happening brings Boone's to little boys home to him from his sisters and Tara's ex-step daughters for a visit each starts to see that they don't really know that much about each other. Suddenly they realize that they are attracted to each other. This book is tear worthy and should make your heart melt too. I loved the both characters and hurt for them both. I was excited to see how the story laid itself out and cheered for them. 4 out of 5 stars for Big Sky River by Linda Lael Miller. 

Find out more here www.lindalaelmiller.com

Book review: An Outlaw's Christmas (McKettricks) By Linda Lael Miller

Available Now!
With his wild heart, Sawyer McKettrick isn’t ready to settle down on the Triple M family ranch in Arizona. So he heads to Blue River, Texas, to seek a job as marshal. But in a blinding snowstorm he’s injured—and collapses into the arms of a prim and proper lady in calico.

The shirtless, bandaged stranger recuperating in teacher Piper St. James’s room behind the schoolhouse says he’s a McKettrick, but he looks like an outlaw. As they wait out the storm, the handsome loner has Piper remembering long-ago dreams of marriage and motherhood. But for how long is Sawyer willing to call Blue River home?

As the gray skies clear, Piper’s one holiday wish just might bring two lonely hearts together forever.

I'm a big fan of Linda Lael Miller's McKettrick series. The original books are probably still my favorites. This one is more in that time frame than her latest books in the series. Set in in 1915 the main two McKettricks in this book are Sawyer McKettrick and Clay McKettrick(A Lawman's Christmas) sons of Jeb and Kade McKettrick from the original books in this series. It was fun to go back and kind of visit those books. There are some surprise appearances at the end of the book that i was so happy to see. 

Poor Piper like all books set in what i call way back when she as a school teacher was compromised by doing a good deed and saving Sawyer's life. If she was a man i wouldn't have mattered but back then apparently if you stayed in the same house ( even if it's a school house) with a man who wasn't your husband you were a fallen woman. Never mind the man was half dead from a gun shot wound and had no idea what was going on for hours. Piper had been a orphan and raised with her cousin Dara who was married to Clay McKettrick and convinced Piper to move out to where they lived in Blue River Texas. She took on the job of school teacher but had decided to save her every penny and move back where she came from. All that ends when she finds Sawyer in the snow and drags him in the school house in a blinding snowstorm. Her reputation is ruined the minute she does this but she could not possibly leave him there to die. Sawyer was a body guard of shorts and got tangled up with his boss's wife.  He left before things got complicated but the his boss wants him dead. That's why he finds himself shot 5 minutes after getting into town.Which perpetuates the idea he might be a outlaw to Piper when she find him and he's also carrying a gun. I enjoyed this book. You have some danger from the shooter but you have your romance between Sawyer and Piper as they get to know each other. Piper struggles to find herself and her purpose and her place as a married woman. Loved the characters and like i said the surprise at the end. Well worth reading if you love a good western romance but more so if your a fan of the original books in the McKettricks series. 4 out of 5 Modokker Book Picks for An Outlaw's Christmas by Linda Lael Miller.

Find out more about Linda Lael Miller here on her website 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

What about your comfort read?

Do you have a comfort read? Your go to book or author that you  turn to when you just aren't in the mood mentally to read a new unknown book?? Do you get out a comfort read when you don't feel good. Keep a pile by your bed?? Are any of those books read so much they are kind of getting a wee bit tattered? Um YES! Too all of it. Right now between reading other new stuff I am reading Saving Grace by Julie Garwood. I confess she is my #1 comfort read author. ANYTHING she's written works for me. I have probably read all her books at least 30 times a piece. Each one. They never get old for me. Some of the authors depending on what i feel i need are Jill Shalvis ( like your surprised) Susan Mallery, Linda Lael Miller (cowboys sigh) Christine Feehan (paranormal) Roxanne St Claire ( again surprised? not) and Cindy Gerard both for Romantic Suspense. These are are authors where i own the majority of their books in paperback and there is a considerable pile by my bed. I put them away every now and then but tend to start dragging them back out again right away. lol How about you? What do you look for in a comfort read??? What makes you feel better?

Book review: Big Sky Country (Swoon Worthy Cowboys book 1) by Linda Lael Miller

Releases May 29th

The illegitimate son of a wealthy rancher, Sheriff Slade Barlow grew up in a trailer hitched to the Curly-Burly hair salon his mother runs. He was never acknowledged by his father…until now. Suddenly, Slade has inherited half of Whisper Creek Ranch, one of the most prosperous in Parable, Montana. That doesn't sit well with his half brother, Hutch, who grew up with all the rights of a Carmody—including the affections of Joslyn Kirk, homecoming queen, rodeo queen, beauty queen, whom Slade has never forgotten.


But Joslyn is barely holding her head up these days as she works to pay back everyone her crooked stepfather cheated. With a town to protect, plus a rebellious teenage stepdaughter, Slade has his hands full. But someone has to convince Joslyn that she's responsible only for her own actions—such as her effect on this lawman's guarded heart.

Seems like it's been a while since a new Linda Lael Miller came out. This is book 1 of her new series. I am a sucker for cowboys and Linda Lael Miller writes some darn good cowboy romances. Back in high school Slade Barlow was the poor boy, the outsider and unclaimed child of a very rich man (John Carmody).Slade and his mom had to struggle to survive. Joslyn on the other had was a rich kid who had everything. Big house fancy car when she turned 16 popular and dating Slade half brother Hutch. Slade always had a thing for Joslyn but at the time she only had eyes for Hutch. Years later Slade is now the sheriff and his father has passed away but finally claims him in his will  leaving him half of his huge ranch to him and half to Hutch. The two brothers have never gotten along and now it's either figure out a truce or things get even more difficult. Joslyn is back too. She left town years ago when it was discovered her step dad was running a scam and bilked friends and family out of a lot of money. He's died in prison now but Joslyn has felt guilt over the whole thing for years even though she was a kid and it wasn't her fault. She has worked for years for a way to repay all his victims. Finally feeling like she's done that. People have been getting checks and they don't realize it's actually come from her. To that end she's pretty much broke. She comes home for closure and to be with her friend Kendra who is having a hard time personally right now.  You've got the thing going on between Joslyn and Slade, Hutch and Slade banging on each other over the ranch and the mystery with Kendra and the man she was married to and the attraction between her and Hutch.  Throw in Slade's 16 year old ex step daughter who comes to stay with him and there is a lot going on. You only gets bits and pieces of some things that will be eventually  addressed I'm sure in the next couple of books. It's a fun book but not in my opinion as good and some of Linda Lael Miller's other books. I just didn't feel as excited as i have reading some of her previous books. I'm hoping book two will come out stronger and i can get that feeling back. 3 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick stars for Big Sky Country by Linda Lael Miller.

Find out more about this book and Linda Lael Miller's other work here.www.lindalaelmiller.com

Book Review: A Lawman's Christmas (McKettrick's) by Linda Lael Miller

I received a ebook copy of this book through netgalley for my honest opinion and review.

If you are a fan of the McKettrick series by Linda Lael Miller you are in luck! This is a new book that goes with the series and features Clay McKettrick. Clay is the son of Jeb and Chloe McKettrick from Second Hand Bride.



A Lawman's Christmas
Linda Lael Miller
9/27/2011

amazon.com
barnesandnoble.com
indiebound.org
booksamillion.com


Love comes home for the holidays in a brand-new McKettrick tale from New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller

The sudden death of the town marshal leaves Blue River, Texas, without a lawman…and twenty-five-year-old Dara Rose Nolan without a husband. As winter approaches and her meager seamstress income dwindles, she has three options. Yet she won’t give up her two young daughters, refuses to join the fallen women of the Bitter Gulch Saloon and can’t fathom condemning herself to another loveless marriage. Unfortunately she must decide—soon—because there’s a new marshal in town, and she’s living under his roof.

With the heart of a cowboy, Clay McKettrick plans to start a ranch and finally settle down. He isn’t interested in uprooting Dara Rose and her children, but he is interested in giving her protection, friendship—and passion. And when they say “I do” to a marriage of convenience, the temporary lawman’s Christmas wish is to make Dara Rose his permanent wife…

This is a sweet little book of only 256 pages but packed full of that McKettrick spirit. Clay McKettrick wanted a ranch of his own. He had plans to build a small house and barn and start his own ranch in Blue River Texas. For now he took the job as Blue River's town marshal while he waited for spring to start building. Dara Rose Nolan was already twice married and widowed and her last husband was the last town marshal who died in a embarrassing way. She was living in the marshal's house on borrowed time and knew it.  Dara Rose had  two small girls ages 5 and 6 Harriet and Edrina that are just as cute and funny as can be. Clay arrives in town and meets Edrina right away and they click and Clay already gets a soft spot for her.  He meets Dara Rose then and decides that she needs the house more than he does and tells her he'll stay at the jail for now. Unfortunately the town council decides if he isn't going to live there they need to sell it. They already have someone in mind and that someone has been after Dara Rose to put her kids in a orphanage and come and marry him and mind his home.  Clay comes to the rescue of course.

You'll just love these characters. It didn't take me long at all to like Clay and the girls are adorable. Dara Rose is a bit prickly but she is hiding some secrets and protecting her hearts and her girls. She can't help it. This i awesome little Christmas love story McKettrick style. I give a Lawman for Christmas 4 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick stars. To read more about Linda Lael Miller and her other Cowboy books check out her website. www.lindalaelmiller.com

Book Review: The Creed Legacy by author Linda Lael Miller

I received a copy of this book from netgalley.com for my honest opinion and review.

This is the third installment in the latest group of the Montana Creeds series by Linda Lael Miller. Luckily for me Linda Lael Miller loves to write about cowboys and i love to read about them. This contemporary cowboy romance has just what you need if you crave a sexy Creed, some serious and humorous moments with a happy ending. All cowboy stories should have one of those right? Brody is one of twin brothers who were estranged from each other over the course of the past 10 years. In Creed's Honor which came out yesterday  in stores and online we got Connor's story and in that one Brody and Connor got past their difference and started mending their relationship. The Creed Legacy due out June 28th is Brody's story finally. We got all these hints in the first two books as to what happened in Brody's past. Now he has to confront those painful memories if he wants a relationship with Carolyn. Carolyn has her own demons to deal with from her past if she is ever going to trust anyone again with her heart.

Book Blurb
Rough-and-tumble rodeo cowboy Brody Creed likes life on the move. Until a chance encounter with his long-estranged twin brother brings him “home,” for the first time in years. Suddenly Brody is in Creed territory—a rootless bad boy among family with deep ties to the land and each other. He’s half-ready to bolt when he meets a copper-haired beauty more restless than he is.


Carolyn Simmons is living a temporary life in Lonesome Bend, waiting to light out for the glamour of a metropolis. Then she falls for gorgeous Brody Creed, the opposite of everything she wants. But taming his wild heart might just become everything they both need…


The blurb is a little deceiving i think. Brody is back and building a house and barn on what used to be Tricia McCall's land. He swears he's there to stay now. Carolyn has been house sitting in and around Lonesome Bend for a long time and years ago she and Brody has a bit of a fling for a week or so when suddenly he disappeared only leaving a lame note and drunken phone call later. She had trusted Brody and trusting was not something she's ever done easily and he broke her heart. Brody has a secret though and that's why he ran because he felt he had to. They both have to find a way to let go of all those bad memories and be truthful with each other if they want to be together, There is a serious side to this book but plenty of hot and funny moments  mixed in to balance it all out. The few things that annoyed me some was the talk of the skirt Carolyn was making. It was described several times but i kept getting a gaudy picture in my mind. Brody's reaction to it was funny cause no man would pay that much attention to a skirt. Talk of the skirt was overdone. After reading the latest three books in this series Brody is my favorite of the three. Kind of thought he was a jerk in the first one but i bet that was the intent in that one. lol  To read more about this book and Linda Lael Miller other books please visit her website by clicking www.lindalaelmiller.com. I give The Creed Lagacy by author Linda Lael Miller 4 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick Stars. If i hadn't started it late at night this would've been on of those read in one sitting book for me.

Book review: Creed's Honor by author Linda Lael Miller

Note i received this book through netgalley.com for my honest opinion and review.
Creed's Honor due out May 31, 2011

I've been a fan of Linda Lael Miller's for quite some time. I think it started when i read one of the McKettrick books with the four original brothers Holt, Rafe, Kade and Jeb (love those names). After i finished those i started looking at the rest of her books and have enjoyed quite a few. She is the very best at writing cowboys i think. Creed's Honor is the 2nd in her latest cowboy trilogy. If you've read Linda at all you know this is not her first trilogy of book on the wonderful Creed men. One of the things i like about her books is they inter-relate is some way fashion or form and i love those glimpses you get to past character from other books. A Creed in Stone Creek is the first in this series and i reviewed in here on the blog here. In that one we met Steven Creed cousin the Creed twin brothers Connor and Brody. We get to see a little of Steven and his now wife Melissa with his new family in Creed's Honor. In this book we get to focus on Connor Creed. Connor and his twin brother Brody parted ways years ago over a incident with a girl. Connor is the responsible brother and stayed in Lonesome Bend Colorado to run the family ranch while his twin just runs wild. No one really is sure where Brody's been or what he's been doing.

Creed's Honor

Connor Creed knows exactly who he is: a hard-working rancher carrying on his uncle’s legacy in Lonesome Bend, Colorado. Maybe a small-town cowboy’s life isn’t his dream, but he owes the man who took him in as a kid. Until the identical twin brother he’s been estranged from for years reenters his life.


Connor struggles with identity issues as he gets to know his wilder brother. And then he meets Tricia McCall, a beautiful woman who knows a thing or two about living someone else’s dreams. Together, they just might find their own dreams right here in Lonesome Bend…

I liked Steven well enough but i think so far Connor is my favorite in this series. Connor Creed is the responsible twin and runs the family ranch. He seems pretty content with his life even though something is missing. Tricia McCall has put her life on hold to come to Lonesome Bend to sell her fathers property a old Drive in and lodge or sorts. He saved the land and businesses for her thinking they would be worth alot of money someday and he'd have left her something worthwhile. No one seems to want to buy the property though until Connor twin brother Brody arrives and announces he's sticking around for good and bids on the property. Connor and Tricia slowly get close and you wonder if Tricia's going to stick around for Connor or leave once the property is sold. I like how in this and the first book in the series you get the seeds to the next book. In this one you get a peak here and there into the third book "The Creed Legacy" Brody's book.  Lovin the cowboys! Check out this book and all the books related to this series here on Linda Lael Miller's website. I give Creed's Honor 4 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick stars. Another great bowboy romance for Linda lael Miller.

Been MIA.

Sorry everyone my computer caught itself a really nasty virus last weekend and it was in the shop since last Monday. I'm back and just posted my review of Vivian Arend's newest release Silent Storm which is out today in ebook format. If my luck holds I'll be posting my reviews of The Guy Next Door that came out in February with novellas from Lori Foster, Susan Donovan and Victoria Dahl. Also this week my review of The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis and Creeds Honor the next book from Linda Lael Miller which comes out May 31st! Love the cowboys don't you?? Stay tuned for more later this week.

Lisa aka Modokker

Look Book Series review by author Linda Lael Miller

Linda Lael Miller has been one of my favorite authors for a few years now. She is on my auto buy list as a matter of fact. Most of her stories are about hot cowboys but not all. The Look Book series is more of romantic suspense. There are 3 books in this series.















The First book Don't Look Now starts the series and introduces you to the main characters Clare Westbrook and Tony Sonterra ( he is referred to in the mostly just as Sonterra) Clare in a hard working Lawyer who had a tough up bringing that's made her a little cynical and Tony is a tough as nail cop who likes to tangle with Clare. Below is the back cover blurb for Don't Look Now

When hard-working attorney Clare Westbrook learns that her ambulance-chasing boss has been murdered, she's shocked-but not exactly surprised. Harvey Kredd was known for his less-than-ethical business dealings, and even his acts of generosity were tinged with greed; Clare, working at Kredd and Associates to pay off the law school loan Harvey had granted her several years before, knows she's got no choice: indentured servitude, twenty-first-century style.


But Harvey's death doesn't let Clare out of her contract with the firm; instead it brings her a new, odious multimillionaire client, and Tony Sonterra, homicide detective and local heartthrob, who's not above using a murder investigation to get back into Clare's life. Jump-starting her affair with Tony is the last thing Clare needs-she's got enough on her plate raising her niece, Emma, without throwing a bull-headed cop into the mix.

Then Clare gets the news that may convince her Tony is exactly what she needs: Emma's father has been released from prison, and he's intent on seeing his daughter. Though she could never persuade the police to believe her, Clare is convinced that James Arren murdered her sister.

Clare is determined to find evidence that will put James Arren away for good, but Tony is just as determined to keep her safe, after another murder-clearly meant to target Clare-rocks the law firm. With no real leads, too many suspects, and a growing chain of menacing violence, Clare finds that teaming up with the devil she knows is her only option-one that's just too attractive to resist.

Now the back cover blurb for the 2nd book in this series Never Look Back

Devoted defense lawyer Clare Westbrook, used to working for others, can now call the shots on her own terms. A multi-million-dollar inheritance from the father she never knew has allowed her to start her own practice. And with her teenage niece, Emma, whom she's raised as a daughter, on a school trip to Europe, Clare has been able to focus on turning a storefront in a tough Phoenix neighborhood into the legal firm of her dreams and offering her services to the troubled community. But just as she opens for business, explosive shots take out her street-level windows-and nearly take her life. Someone clearly has targeted Clare, though she doesn't know who or why. All she knows is she must surrender to Tony Sonterra's protection is she wants to survive . . .


Sonterra has designs on a career move to the FBI-and on rekindling his scorching, no-strings-attached affair with Clare. But can the man who sparks her passion be trusted with her life? Or is someone using Clare, the one person Tony has dared to get close to, to get to him?

The last book in the series of course is One Last Look and here is that blurb.

Carrying her lover Tony Sonterra's child, Clare Westbrook has finally buried her commitment phobia and said "yes" to Tony's marriage proposal. So why is fear running through her veins and haunting her dreams? Sonterra is fired up to leave Phoenix for small-town Arizona, to target a lethal desert crime ring. Clare's willing to stand by her man, but he won't be the only one flirting with danger on the job: as a special investigator for the D.A.'s office, Clare is plunged into a race to find a missing child whose mother was murdered. And on a case this hot, the promise of Clare's bright future could vanish in the blink of an eye...


This book in this series came out in the years 2003, 2004 and 2006 so it's not a new series but there is nothing wrong with reading older books that have been out a while. I read whatever i want whether it old or new and like to talk about it in the hopes of getting others to go back and read these books. Many are reissued with new covers (been seeing this alot lately) or you can find them at the library , used book store or trading sites such as paperbackswap where i find some of mine. Many are coming out in ebook form as well for you folks buying ereaders these days.

Back to my review lol I really enjoyed this series there is alot of suspense and it's a bit hard to guess who is the bad guy. What irked me just a bit is that Clare is always in danger about every 5 minutes it seems. Tony is this hot smart cop that knows a thing or two about protecting someone but will Clare ask for help? Oh hell no she's independent.  Clare has a niece she has custody in these books. She's about 13 years old and in my opinion kind of a spoiled brat who gets her way and is kind of mouthy. By far Tony is my favorite character. Thankfully we get a few glimpses of Clare being vulnerable but not many. I wondered how her being pregnant ( spoiler but hey it's in the blurb for book 3 so there) is going to be handled. Still someone is out to kill her. lol I was bothered by a few things but that obviously didn't keep me from reading all 3 books. Give number one a shot and see what you think. It's good to try different genre out but i think i like Linda's cowboy stories best yet. I did enjoy the Mojo Sheepshenk books though if you want to try those. To read more about Linda Lael Miller's books please click here to reach her website and see what she has coming out and view her back list. I give the Look Book series 3 and 1/2 Modokker Book Pick Stars. Not her best work but i still enjoyed it.

Review: A Creed in Stone Creek by author Linda Lael Miller

I've been a big Linda Lael Miller fan for quite a while. I've read lots and lots of her books. I'm a big fan of the whole McKettricks/O'Ballivan/Creed series. A Creed in Stone Creek is the first in another set of 3 books this time from the Creed family. Below is a bit of a back of the book blurb.

When single attorney Steven Creed becomes the guardian of an orphaned five-year-old boy, he trades his big-city law firm for a ranch near his McKettrick kin in the close-knit community of Stone Creek, Arizona. Taking care of little Matt and fixing up his run-down ranch house with its old barn loosens something tightly wound inside him. But when Steven takes on the pro bono defense of a local teen, he meets his match in the opposing counsel—beautiful, by-the-book county prosecutor Melissa O’Ballivan. It’ll take one grieving little boy, a sweet adopted dog and a woman who never expected to win any man’s heart to make this Creed in Stone Creek know he’s truly found home.




I really enjoyed this book but something for me was missing. Thinking about it i wish we'd have seen more of Tess and Tom romance. They barely get a first date in which gets ruined and then at the end of the book.... Ok better now say it's a giveaway but i wanted more with the two of them. Perhaps they'll be more in the next book.  i really loved both Steven Creed and Melissa O'Ballivan's characters. Especially Steven but Linda Lael Miller always does a good job with the characters. Matt is a little 5 year old boy that Steven adopts after his parents both die. He was best friend with both parents. I mean come on that's a awe moment right there that he takes on the boy with no reservations. You've got to love him for that but it's how he deals with the sweet little boy that will get you. Both Melissa and Steven have things from their pasts to deal with in order to have a relationship. Broken hearts and all that. I'm not sure what else was missing for me in this book but it wasn't quite as good as her others. I can't pinpoint the cause of that feeling.  The next two book are about Steven's cousin Brody and Connor Creed who at this point in Steven book have a hate hate relationship. We'll see what that's about in the next book due out in May 2011. To find out about all the other books in this series ( there are many) you can go to Linda Lael Miller's website by click here. That should take you to a list of her books by series. Hunt around and you can find excerpts to her other books as well as this one or you can just click here to read a excerpt to A Creed in Stone Creek. Unfortunately I'm going to have to give A Creed in Stone Creek 3 and 1/2 Modokker Book Pick stars. This might be one of those series you have to warm up to. I'm hoping Connor's book will be better.
Creed's Honor (The Creed Cowboys)

Book review: McKettricks of Texas :Austin by author Linda Lael Miller

It's been a while since i've posted but in my defense it's been crazy busy at my house. My oldest graduated from High School in June. We threw him a party and we did college orientation. The month ended with 4th of July weekend of course and here i am. Doesn't mean i didn't squeeze in any reading. I can always squeeze some in here and there. The book i just finished is the third in a series by Linda Lael Miller on the McKettricks of Texas. This one was about Austin the youngest of the McKettrick brothers in this series.  The two oldest brothers have hooked up with sisters. The Remington sisters. There are 3 sisters and the youngest, Paige used to date Austin. He broke her young heart years ago because he was scared of how serious she was and didn't know how to handle it. He got caught red handed cheating on her. Years later Paige is a nurse and he is doing the rodeo circuit. In Tate's book he gets thrown off Buzzsaw  one mean ole bull and almost gets himself killed. In this book he decides he needs to face the bull down and ride it one more time. He does and gets the points to win. Later his older brothers track him down at a bar and confront him for doing something so foolish considering his previous injuries. He says he's fine but moments later he collapses and ends up in the hospital. Guess who the older McKettricks hire to be a nurse for him? Oh yes Paige. This move on at a slow and steady pace from there. Here is a little snippet about Austin's book.

McKettricks of Texas: Austin


World champion rodeo star Austin McKettrick finally got bested by an angry bull. His career over, his love life a mess, the lone maverick has nowhere to go when the hospital releases him. Except back home to Blue River and the Silver Spur ranch. But his overachieving brothers won’t allow this cowboy to brood in peace. They’ve even hired a nurse to speed along his recovery. Paige Remington’s bossy brand of TLC is driving him crazy. As is her beautiful face, sexy figure and silky black hair.

Paige has lost count of the times Austin has tried to fire her, but this determined nurse is not going anywhere until he’s healed, body and heart.


Austin’s brothers are laying bets that Paige’s place in his life just might become permanent.

If you've read the first two books in this series i believe you can see how this is going to end and even if you haven't you can. it's kind of predictable but i like it just the same. This was a great series that i'm sorry has ended. Can't wait to see what Linda Lael Miller writes next. You can find out more about this book and her other books by going to her website by clicking here. Where you can also read a excerpt from Austin's book as well as the first two. I give The McKettricks of Texas 5 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick stars. Wonderful fun read with a bit of romance, action mixed nicely together.

TBR or in other words the To be read pile

TBR, do you have one? Most people who read do. I had a decent size one about 100 books but in the last few months it's taken on a bigger size of about 200 to 250. I haven't counted. Not sure if I'll read all of them or trade some. Most were free or almost free. I have a great library i use that sells their used largely donated books very cheap. About twice a year they have a book sale and then they are even cheaper and what's left is free. Can't beat free. I always pick up a bag full of smaller Harlequin books for my mother in law although i enjoy them myself too. Lately I've been working on my TBR pile and well also trying to finish up finding and reading one of my favorite authors.  If you know me i have a list of authors that i adore. That list occasionally grows when i find someone else i can't get enough of. Once they're on my list i try to read everything they've written. Not so easy with some authors like Nora Roberts who have written so many books. Let's see if i were to make a written list of favorites they'd have to include:
Nora Roberts
Julie Garwood
Christine Feehan
JR Ward
Susan Mallery
Linda Lael Miller
If they write a book i'm going to read it. I finally read every book that Christine Feehan has written and i am working on Julie Garwood not counting books she's written as Emily Chase. Getting all Nora Roberts books written might very well take me years there are so many. I've been working my way thru Susan Mallery and Linda Lael Miller.  If you have noticed some of these authors write quite different genre's but i like that because i like to mix it up some. You can only read so much paranormal no matter how good it is until you need a little basic romance.

My TBR (to be read) pile contains quite a few Nora Roberts books. Like i said I'll be reading her forever trying to catch up. I read her new ones when they come out though. I really like the Bride Quartet series she is working on now. Besides Nora though I have a pile of Susan Wiggs, Linda Howard who is working her way on to my favorite list. LOVED Mr Perfect! Let's see we also have Christy Reece who is a newer authors with some awesome series out there and Victoria Dahl who is almost on my fav list. Her new release Lead me on should be awesome if i can every find it in the store to buy it. How about Jane Porter. wonderful writer and person.  I have tons more authors and books that's just who comes to mind. Who is on your TBR pile. How about a wish list? Have one of those? Tell me about your TBR pile/Wish list in the comments section. Who is on your list and how many books are on it. Perhaps i can find some more books to add to my list then!