McKettricks of Texas: Garrett

I am a big fan of Linda Lael Miller's books. This is the second book of a trilogy. I enjoyed the first book as well as the second and am looking forward to the third.

I had a wonderful time savoring this story. Garrett was an interesting hero, though he was a bit naive thinking the best of people he admired and not seeing their foibles. However, none of us are omnipotent and he has a good heart. It was enlightening to see how his eyes were opened and how he responded to the different situations one they were. Our heroine Julie although she was attracted to Garrett was deliberate in her choice in pursuing a relationship with him. She is thinking of two things: She has a child to consider and he probably will be moving on. Is it enough to just live in the moment? The story was just the right mix of family interactions, romance and a little bit of danger and intrigue.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!! I just love the way Ms. Miller writes a story (sigh). She has a way in her writing that just puts you into each character's head and the visual pictures that she draws with her words are just unexplainable. And the men that were picked for the cover and the video, OMG!. I can't wait until Austin's story.

Originally posted at: [...] This book should appeal to fans of western romances that enjoy c. If it sounds intriguing, then Garrett's story should be right up their alley because it's all that and more. Garrett is the second McKettrick brother and he believes his path is far from the saddle and the land he grew up on. It wasn't until I'd read the entire book that I figured out why that is, and it's poignant. Until he comes to that realization, his journey is one of self-discovery -- of who he is, what he really wants and discovering that love was right under his nose. Sometimes the sweetest romance is between a man and woman who were great friends as kids, who know all of each other's past foibles and stick by each other anyway. Garrett wakes up to that understanding eventually and it's as heartwarming as a reader could wish. He's a man's man, a real cowboy with integrity and manners, and his inner strength is just as formidable as the land he rides over. He puts his all into anything he does and commands respect from his peers and the world he controls -- until the scandal hits. A person can't control everything and everyone, so I found his reaction to the situation to be another great measure of the man. He comes home to question so much about his life and it's not easy on him. Add in the mystery of what's been happening on the ranch and his part in discovering the villains and he becomes a man of action, of passion and bravery. A man with that many burdens on his shoulders needs a life partner and Ms. Miller gives him the perfect lady. Julie is a single mother, a teacher and sister to Garrett's older brother's future wife, Libby. What I liked about Julie was her close relationship with her two sisters and their dialogue throughout this book. The thing that impressed me most about her character, and I have to give major credit to Ms. Miller in her creation, is her absolute dedication to her son Calvin. The love, the constant respect for motherhood and its challenges and joys, were woven consistently throughout this book. It was very well done. Calvin was not a prop but an integral component in understanding Julie and her capacity to love. The three-legged fur baby was a nice touch too. Another thing I liked about Julie was her restraint. When her son's biological father appeared on the scene, it would have been so easy for Ms. Miller to resort to the heroine being a victim or a viper. Instead, the author had Julie making the best of a scary situation. I know personally a woman who made the same choice for her son and like Julie, it worked out wonderfully for the child. I could really relate to this story because of the full and vibrant personalities that Ms. Miller has imbued her characters. I also liked the secondary characters that pepper this story. They added substance, heart and plot momentum. I think the climactic confrontation with the bad guys was gripping and intense. I was entertained by the conversations between the three McKett