Book Review: Big Sky Country by Linda Lael Miller

At First Sight: After leaving Parable in disgrace - after her stepfather stole a bunch of money from practically everyone in town - Joslyn Kirk is back in town, secretly trying to make amends. She isn't really sure why or how, but she'll give it a try, even if that means moving into her friend Kendra's guest cottage and working for her.

Slade Barlow has a few problems of his own: he doesn't love his job as Sheriff anymore, he isn't sure he should take up ranching instead, and the father that never bothered acknowledging him in life has just passed away and left him half of his estate, which isn't pleasing his half-brother Hutch, at all. 

Whatever their other concerns are, when Slade and Joslyn run into each other after years of not seeing each other - and never really being friends - they are overwhelmingly attracted to each other, even if neither of them wants to pursue a relationship. 

Second Glance: I usually enjoy Linda Lael Miller's Christmas stories, but I had yet to try one of her other series, so when I heard Big Sky Country was the start of a new series I decided to give it a go. 

And it had some mixed results. First, about 3/4 of the book is all set up - for the series, I guess, and for the romance between Joslyn and Slade, but I don't mean it in a good way. I liked Slade and Joslyn but I'm not sure I buy them together because they barely spent anytime together. By page 260 they had barely been in the same room five times, they don't kiss for ages, and then they are just in love. 

Also, Joslyn motives are flimsy at best and the way she keeps trying to shoulder the blame for something that was completely out of her control (a.k.a. what her stepfather did)? It was just so annoying. 

Bottom Line: Big Sky Country is the start of a new series and it feels that way. Characters are nice and likable, but as a whole, I didn't enjoy this book much. I think I'll stick to the author's Christmas stories. 

1/2