Review: Big Sky Summer by Linda Lael Miller

Big Sky Summer
by Linda Lael Miller
Series: Swoon-Worthy Cowboys #4
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication date: May 28, 2013
Genre: Adult Small-town Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher in exchange for unbiased review
Purchase*: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository
*purchases through buy links help support this blog

The "First Lady of the West," #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller, welcomes you home to Parable, Montana-where love awaits.

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?

I love small-town series and when you add in swoon-worthy cowboys it easily becomes one of my favorite new series. Big Sky Summer is the fourth book in the Swoon-Worthy Cowboy series and we finally get Walker and Casey’s story.  From the moment I stepped back into Parable, Montana I was captivated and consumed this in one sitting. While they can each be read as a standalone I think you’d miss getting to know the folks of this small Montana town. Three word review: Fun, sweet and enjoyable.

With Casey Elder back in town, Walker cannot help but question his decisions regarding their past relationship and the two children they produced. It is complicated, and there were a lot of hurt feelings, but the kids only know him as Uncle Walker. Casey’s plan was to always keep her kids paternity a secret, but she realizes it might have been a mistake just like she should have told Walker she wanted to be a rancher’s wife.  The tale that unfolded was sweet, filled with a little heat and kept me entertained.

I have always liked Walker; he is an honorable man, great with kids and respects the ladies. He is also a dolt and I wanted him to just take command of Casey. *wipes brow* Ok, I got that out of my system.  Casey is a successful country-singer but has decided the kids are growing too fast and stops touring for awhile. She is also slowly admitting she wants Walker and always has. At times I wanted to scream, because she seems like an intelligent woman and I wanted her to realize you can have it all! Not one or the other. It was fun watching these to tango. I loved the respect they had for one another and giggled over some heated moments. Their kids reacted to the situation differently and it added to the tale. Opal was back, but her role was much smaller. Hints about townsfolk have me curious, and I am worried about one particular lady. Brylee Walker’s sister was present and I am really hoping we get her story soon.

Despite my issues with the characters’ behavior, I quickly became caught up in the tale. Miller brings heart to her characters. I love the sense of community this small town has and the way they all step up and look out for each other. The romance was sweet, with a few hot but relatively clean moments. The tale flows wonderfully, and had some interesting thread. Miller gets you tied up in the characters and I love that I actually talked aloud to them when they annoyed me! We know we are going to get our HEA, and I enjoyed the ride.  We see lots of small town life; horses, rodeos and even get a cute animal story. Overall, this was a great escape and I look forward to the next book.

Fans of cowboys and small-town series will enjoy Big Sky Summer and the town of Parable, Montana. Big Sky Wedding is the next book due out in August 2013 and features a character whose story I have been waiting for! 

Three and half cups of coffee out of five

Big Sky Mountain by Linda Lael Miller

Big Sky Mountain
by Linda Lael Miller
Series: Swoon-Worthy Cowboys #2
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication date: July 31, 2012
Purchase:Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository

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 divorcé e 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.(synopsis from Goodreads)

Big Sky Mountain is the second novel, in Linda Leal Miller’s, Swoon-Worthy Cowboys series. We find ourselves back in Parable, Montana. This time she shares Hutch and Kendra' tale. This was a funny, sweet, small town romance.  I enjoyed visiting Parable again and the characters who reside there. Each of these novels can be read as a standalone, but I like getting to know all of the characters and recommend reading them in order.

This tale picks up almost nine months from where the last book ended, and Hutch is about to make a serious mistake, luckily he sees the light, but it has put him in the spotlight. To make matters worse Kendra Shepherd, the woman who broke his heart is back in town with a child in tow. Every time he sees her he is reminded of what could have been. Kendra has returned to give her daughter the chance to grow up secure in a small town. She is selling her mansion size home and looking for the perfect little house to set up their new life. The last thing she needs is Hutch Carmody messing things up. How does he manage to unnerve her just by being in the same room with her. The tale that unfolds is at times comical as these two wrestle with their fears and the obvious attraction they both feel.

I love the characters in Parable and it was nice seeing them again. Hutch is finally making peace with his bastard brother and hopes the drama dies down soon. Hutch is sweet, stubborn and loveable. With his devilish good lucks he has Kendra’s heart all a flutter. Kendra has had a rough life, raised in a trailer park by a grandmother who didn’t want her, and she has made quite a few mistakes.  She is a mom now and determined to be a good one. Her real estate business is successful and she has a plan. If only she had someone to share it with. Madison, Kendra’s four year old daughter stole the show in this novel. She is a little spit-fire and added humor and drama to the mix. I absolutely adored this little ginger haired girl. We learn more about Tara and her neighbor, who I believe will be the next story. Opal is back with all her spunky and meddling ways. I love this woman and her over the top obvious advice was humorous. Everyone looking for love should have an Opal in their corner. We get to see Slade and Joslyn and the other townsfolk. I enjoyed visiting them and getting updates on their lives.

This tale moved at a slower pace than the first novel, but I loved all the little mundane details. The drama surrounding Hutch’s recent escapades was both hilarious and sad. The romance was slow to develop as these two danced the nervous tango. It’s so obvious to the reader and other characters that these two are meant to be. When they finally come together it is bittersweet and I loved how Hutch calmed a nervous Kendra. I love the town of Parable and Miller has done a great job of weaving new characters and story-lines into the tale. I am looking forward to the next installment.

I recommend Big Sky Mountain and the Swoon Worthy Cowboy series to fans of small town romances.  You can see my review of book one, Big Sky Country here. The next book in the series, Big Sky River is due out in January of 2013 and I hope to bring you an early review. Miller is on my favorite author list and I hope you enjoy her books as much as I do.

I want to thank Harlequin and netGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

I gave this novel 3 coffee cups out of 5. 

Big Sky Country (Swoon-Worthy Cowboys #1) by Linda Lael Miller

Big Sky Country
by Linda Lael Miller
Series: Swoon-Worthy Cowboys #1
Publisher: Harlequin
Publication date: May 29, 2012
Genre-Contemporary Romance/Western

Buy:Barnes and Noble /Amazon /Book Depository

The "First Lady of the West," #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller is back with a new series about Parable, Montana-where love awaits. 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.(synopsis from Goodreads)

Big Sky Country is the first in a new contemporary romance series called Swoon-Worthy Cowboys by popular author Linda Lael Miller. If you follow my blog, you know I am not a huge fan of contemporary romance. There are two exceptions; small towns and heroes in cowboy boots. I have read several of Miller's series and loved them. In particular The McKettrick’s and the Creed’s. Big Sky Country offers a new town and cast of characters to fall in love with. Each of Miller’s books are designed to be read as standalone. I enjoy reading them in order and building relationships with the characters.

This new series takes place in the small town of Parable, Montana. The tale offers us Joslyn Kirk’s and Slade Barlow’s story. Joslyn has just returned to the town of Parable after her family left years ago in the middle of the night. She and her mother where shamed into leaving when her step-father was sent to jail for swindling half of the town folk out of their money. Joslyn has recently sold her successful company and has secretly begun paying them back. Parable has always been home to her and so she returns. Her best friend, Kendra Shepherd, gives her a job as a receptionist in her successful real estate business. Joslyn finds herself living in the guest house of the home she and her family once owned.  Swoon worthy Sheriff Slade Barlow is living in limbo after a painful divorce that left him more upset about the lost of his step-daughter then his wife. He is due for re-election, but secretly dreams of owning his own ranch. Things are about to get a little crazy for him. He learns the father who never claimed him as a son has left him half of Whisper Creek Ranch. As if that wasn’t enough he bumps into Joslyn the former beauty and rodeo queen who stirred something in him as a teenager. The chemistry between them is all fireworks. Both are hung up on their own personal demons and neither knows how to react. They choose avoidance…however this doesn’t work at all, and the tale that unfolds is delightful.

I love the town of Parable and we meet some memorable characters. There is Hutch the legitimate son of John Carmody and the half-brother of Slade. Kendra Shepherd looks like a million bucks and personifies success, but inside she is lonely and fearful of love. Other characters make the tale and the town come alive and I look forward to hearing more of their stories. I likes both Slade and Joslyn, they are good people and their pasts present them with a lot of emotional luggage. Seeing them dance around the fireworks that occur whenever they are near each other is hilarious. When the two of them finely connect..the results are smoking! While there is some sexual content it is mostly implied and shouldn’t offend my more delicate readers.

Overall I enjoyed Big Sky Country and recommend it to fans of small-town western romances. I am looking forward to reading the second book in this series called Big Sky Mountain which will release in August of 2012. It is my hope to bring you that review as well.  Linda Lael Miller is on my favorite author list and I encourage you to check out her other series as well.

I want to thank netGalley and Harlequin for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. 

I gave this novel 3.5 coffee cups out of 5.

Linda Leal Miller

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