Forever a Hero - Linda Lael Miller (HQN - Mar 2017)

Series: Carsons of Mustang Creek (Book 3)

For the youngest Carson brother, finding and fixing trouble seems to be all in a day's work

Mace Carson doesn't consider himself a hero. Back in college, he came upon a woman in trouble and intervened but he was just one irate Wyoming cowboy with his boots planted firmly on the side of right. Now a successful vintner, Mace is shocked to be reunited with the woman he saved. But it turns out she's in Wyoming on business a corporate executive representing the company that wants to buy his winery. Only he's not selling.

Kelly Wright has never forgotten that horrible night ten years ago when Mace came to her rescue. The surprising success of a winery in the middle of ranch country has brought her to Mustang Creek, and she's secretly thrilled to discover Mace at the helm. Reluctant to mix business with pleasure, Kelly vows to keep things professional, until her attacker is released from prison and comes for vengeance against both of them.

Very good book. Mace is the youngest of the three Carsons and owns and runs a very successful winery on his family's ranch. The winery is his passion and his focus, besides his work on the ranch with his brothers. Driving home one rainy day, he witnesses a car spin out on the slick highway and rescues the driver from a perilous situation. It turns out that it isn't the first time he's come to the rescue of this person.

Kelly was a freshman in college when she was attacked on her way back to her dorm. Mace witnessed the attack, saved her and held the attacker for the police. He was also instrumental in sending the man to jail. Kelly is now a top executive with a company who wants to buy Mace's winery, and it's her job to make the sale. Kelly is also happy to see Mace again.

I loved seeing the relationship develop between them. Mace is smitten from the start, though unwilling to admit it. Kelly is equally attracted, but has two things arguing against getting involved with him. First is the business relationship. She is there to get Mace to agree to sell his winery to her company. Mixing business and pleasure isn't a good idea. Second, she's wary of relationships now, her divorce wrecking her belief in love and happily ever after. They butt heads a bit at the beginning, first as Mace insists on a doctor after her accident and won't listen to her objections. Then, as she presents her business proposal and he flat out refuses to consider it. Kelly has a lot riding on this deal, and she really wants to convince him, but is pretty sure that he won't sell. I liked how Mace talked Kelly into leaving business behind and introduced her to life in Mustang Creek. When she receives distressing news about her job, it gives her the chance to reevaluate her life. Mace wants to keep Kelly around for a while and explore whatever it is that's happening between them. I loved seeing them get to know each other, exploring their similarities and their differences. There are some pretty sweet scenes as Mustang Creek and the whole Carson family begin to grow on Kelly. It was fun to see Mace dealing with his family's interference and advice as he accepts the truth of his feelings. He knows he has an uphill battle to get past Kelly's fears, but he is definitely up to the challenge. He comes up with the perfect solution for them. His big moment at the end was sweet, romantic, and fun.

There is a bit of suspense toward the end, as the man who attacked her gets out of jail and is bent on revenge. Kelly is worried, not just for herself but for Mace also. When his winery is vandalized, Mace's worry for Kelly increases. I loved seeing the whole family come together to do what is necessary to protect her. The resolution of this particular problem had me laughing out loud.

I loved visiting Mustang Creek and seeing so many familiar faces. The Carson family is wonderful with their obvious love and support for each other. The teasing among the brothers is great fun, but there's no question that they have each other's backs. I also enjoyed seeing Mace be on the receiving end of the same kind of advice he gave in the previous two books. Some of the quirkier members of the town add their own bit of magic to the story.

Christmas in Mustang Creek - Linda Lael Miller (HQN - Oct 2015)

Series: Brides of Bliss County (Book 4)

Charlotte Morgan grew up in Mustang Creek, Wyoming, and couldn't wait to escape to the big city. But life in New York isn't as fabulous as she'd like to admit -- she's lonely, doing a job she doesn't love and dating too many frogs she meets online.

There was one potential prince, though -- Jaxon Locke, a veterinarian with definite possibilities -- but his move to Idaho to fill in at his dad's vet practice ended things just as they were getting interesting. What Charlotte doesn't know is that he misses her, more than he expected…

Meanwhile, Charlotte's great-aunt Geneva -- the woman who raised her -- needs to enter an assisted-living facility. So, just before Christmas, Charlotte moves back home. When Jax catches wind of her move back West, he's determined to get to Wyoming and do whatever it takes to win her back.

Christmas in Mustang Creek is a magical time in a magical place, not least because of a mysterious visitor named Mrs. Klozz. She knows that love is the greatest gift of all, and she's ready to help out Santa by giving these two a push in the right direction!

This was a heartwarming holiday story with just the right amount of sizzle. Charlie grew up in Mustang Creek, raised by her aunt after her parents were killed. But she wanted more than the small town life, so she headed for New York City as soon as she could. She's spent seven years living the life in the big city, but lately she hasn't been as happy as she was. The job isn't as great as it used to be, she doesn't really have any friends, and the dating scene stinks. There was one man that had promise, a veterinarian, but when he had to go back to Idaho to help his sick dad, she wasn't ready to give it all up and go with him. Now she's headed back to Wyoming to take care of Aunt Geneva, never expecting what is there for her.

Jax had really fallen hard for Charlie, and has missed her since their breakup. Now that his dad is doing better, Jax is no longer needed in Idaho. When he finds out that his college roommate, Nate Cameron, lives in Mustang Creek and is looking for a partner in his vet practice, Jax jumps at the chance. Now all he needs to do is convince Charlie that they belong together.

Fate being what it is, Charlie and Jax end up arriving in Mustang Creek at the same time and in the middle of a blizzard. Jax has the last available hotel room because finding Nate's house in that weather would be impossible. Charlie doesn't want to disturb her aunt's mysterious housemate that late at night, but find no room at the inn - thanks to the last person she ever expected to see in Mustang Creek. Jax is, of course, sweet and chivalrous and offers to share the room with her. The sparks are still there between them, but Jax is determined not to rush things and maintains his distance. Charlie isn't sure what to think, other than the need to keep herself under control.

The next day, Charlie meets the mysterious Mrs. Klozz, who knows far more about Charlie than Charlie knows about her. Mrs. Klozz also seems to have a knack for knowing just what Charlie is thinking or needs. While Charlie is off to the assisted living center to see her aunt, Mrs. Klozz manages to get Jax to the house and invites him to stay there while looking for a place to live. Of course, he knows that Charlie isn't going to be thrilled with the idea, but he's willing to see how it plays out. He was right, but Charlie finds herself succumbing to Mrs. Klozz's gentle bulldozer tactics.

Mrs. Klozz is quite the matchmaker and finds any number of ways to throw Charlie and Jax together. Add in her happily married friends, Hadleigh, Bex and Mel, and Charlie quickly gives up resisting the sparks. I loved their ski weekend together, as they started the process of getting to know each other again. Jax tries to be patient and not push too hard, but he wants Charlie in his life.

I liked Jax a lot. He's really a sweet guy with a big heart. It was fun watching him work his way into the hearts of all the ladies, from Charlie to Mrs. Klozz, just by being his charming self. I liked how he was up front with Charlie about his feelings for her. I enjoyed seeing how easily he slipped into life in Mustang Creek.

I liked Charlie, but there were also times that she frustrated the heck out of me. I really liked that she had no problem dropping everything to take care of Aunt Geneva. There is a lot of love and respect between the two of them. Charlie is also quite stubborn, and when she sets herself on a path, it takes a lot to change her direction. She had a hard time admitting, even to herself, that city life wasn't everything she had expected it to be. Even back home, she was still focused on trying to find another job in the same field. Even though multiple people told her the same thing about what she could do, she didn't want to listen.

I really enjoyed the rekindling of their relationship. Jax is steady in his resolve to win her, and finds little ways to win her over. Charlie has a hard time resisting the sparks, but can't see a way past the obstacles she sees in their conflicting dreams. She spends a bit too much time overthinking everything rather than listening to her heart. I loved the various ways that Jax and others showed her that she belonged there rather than in the city. Once she finally saw the light, there was no stopping them. I loved the epilogue and the peek into their future.

Secondary characters are always good in these stories, and this was no exception. I loved Mrs. Klozz and subtle and not-so-subtle ways of getting them to do what she wanted. There was a hint of holiday magic about her that added an extra something to the story. I also loved Aunt Geneva. She loved Charlie so much, and wanted t make sure she didn't make the same mistakes. I also loved her practical viewpoint of the challenges of her life. I also enjoyed seeing the couples from the other books in the series again.

Always a Cowboy - Linda Lael Miller (HQN - Sept 2016)

Series Carsons of Mustang Creek (Book 2)

He's the middle of the three Carson brothers and is as stubborn as they come -- and he won't thank a beautiful stranger for getting in his way!

Drake Carson is the quintessential cowboy. In charge of the family ranch, he knows the realities of this life, its pleasures and heartbreaks. Lately, managing the wild stallions on his property is wearing him down. When an interfering so-called expert arrives and starts offering her opinion, Drake is wary, but he can't deny the longing -- and the challenge -- she stirs in him.

Luce Hale is researching how wild horses interact with ranch animals -- and with ranchers. The Carson matriarch invites her to stay with the family, which guarantees frequent encounters with Drake, her ruggedly handsome and decidedly unwelcoming son. Luce and Drake are at odds from the very beginning, especially when it comes to the rogue stallion who's stealing the ranch mares. But when Drake believes Luce is in danger, that changes everything -- for both of them.

Good book. Second in the Carson series, this book is about Drake, the middle brother. Older brother, Slater (Once a Rancher), is the producer of documentaries, and younger brother, Mace, is in charge of the family winery.  Drake runs the family ranch, which is just right for him. The land and its traditions are his life's blood. Not to say there aren't challenges to go along with it. For the past year they have been losing calves to a mountain lion, and there's a herd of wild horses whose stallion has been stealing Drake's mares. As icing on the cake, he finds a beautiful woman trespassing on his land.

Luce is a graduate student working on a paper about how wild horses interact with ranch animals and humans. Drake's mom, an old friend of Luce's mom, has invited Luce to stay at the ranch while she does her research. This puts her into Drake's path far too often for either's comfort, at least at the beginning.

I loved the first meeting between Drake and Luce. He sees that wild stallion close and is determined to catch him and move him away from the ranch and his mares. He doesn't catch him, but he does scare them off, bringing on the wrath of Luce, who has been observing them all day. I loved seeing her stand up to Drake and fuss at him. At the same time, he listened but wasn't overly receptive to her rants. But underneath the confrontation is a different kind of spark, the spark of attraction, which disturbs them both. They go head to head a few times over his resistance to cooperating with his research, and her insistence that she's well able to take care of herself out on the range. They eventually work out a compromise that has them spending time together, time that brings their simmering attraction to a full boil.

I really liked seeing the two of them get to know each other and learn to respect what the other does. Once they get past their initial antagonism, Drake's true personality really begins to shine. He is funny, charming, passionate, and just a bit old-fashioned. He was very protective, especially when the mountain lion got bolder. He pretty quickly realizes what it is he feels for Luce, and is determined in his pursuit of her. Luce knows what she's feeling, too, but she has her life planned out, and staying in rural Wyoming isn't part of it. I enjoyed the realism of seeing two people who loved each other work to figure out how to make things work between them. The wedding scene was sweet, and his honeymoon plans were super romantic.

As always, the secondary characters added extra depth to the story. My favorite was ranch foreman Red. He had some great cowboy sayings, and seems pretty ordinary, until you get to see a bit of his private life. I also loved Drake's mom and her not always subtle attempts to get him and Luce together. I liked seeing more of Slater, Grace and Ryder, and how they are settling in to life together. Ryder has a couple of good scenes with Drake and Luce, too. I enjoyed the teasing that Mace inflicts on his brothers, and that they aren't slow about returning the favor. Though they bicker and snipe, they are always first in line to support each other. I also liked seeing Lettie get involved in their wild horse problem. She is a force to be reckoned with. I'm looking forward to reading Mace's story.