Speed Date: An Outlaw's Christmas by Linda Lael Miller

The Deal: Not wanting to go home and settle down at the family ranch, Sawyer McKettrick took his cousin Clay's up on his offer to become the new sheriff of Blue River, Texas (which used to be Clay's job), but he wasn't expected to be shot at upon arrival or the freak snow storm that left him strandled at the town's school house and under the care of Piper St. James. 

Originally from Maine, Piper only came out west because her cousin - and only living relative - Dara Rose convinced her to, so she became the new Schoolmarm, only to slowly realize that she was actually better off back in Maine. The only thing better in Blue River is the closeness to Dara Rose and her daughters. 

Now, she's saving for a return trip home and trying to survive the harsh winter. But then, to top it all off, she finds a stranger half frozen in her doorstep, a stranger that puts in danger not only her reputation but also her heart. 

My Thoughts: For the last couple of years, ever since Christmas Brides, I always look forward to Linda Lael Miller's Christmas story of the year but this time I wasn't quite as charmed with An Outlaw's Christmas as I was with A Lawman's Christmas last year. 

I think that I just didn't feel like I got to know Sawyer or Piper all that well, so I had a hard time believing them together. 

However, the book did had some very nice character and it was good to check in with Dara Rose and Clay, and their friends. It was a sweet book but I kind of expected a bit more since I had enjoyed the previous Christmas stories so much. 

An Outlaw's Christmas comes out September 25th, 2012

What's a Book Speed Date, you ask? It's a quickie review--about 150 words or so--of any genre book (variety is the spice of life, after all).

If you want to join in or just read other speed date reviews, check out The Book Swarm

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

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

At First Sight: Clay McKettrick has left the comfort of his family's ranch behind to start his own ranch in Blue River, Texas. To keep himself busy until spring (when he can start building), Clay accepts the job as Town Marshal.The job comes with a house, which is currently being occupied by the former's Marshal's wife and children. 

Upon meeting the eldest child, Edrina Nolan -an adorable girl, only six years old who charms him with her outspokenness and smarts - and learning of the hard times the Nolan women have fallen into, Clay decides to let them stay in the house.

Dara Rose Nolan is glad for the small reprieve, though she knows it can't last forever, and she is desperate to find a way to keep her children and herself feed and with a roof over their head. She doesn't have time to think about the new Marshal's blue eyes or the strange things she feels whenever he's around. 

But Clay can't seem to stay away, drawn to Dara Rose and her little girls, and with Christmas coming up, in a place far, far away from his family, he rather thinks is time he had a family of his own.

Second Glance: I have to say that I love reading Linda Lael Miller's Christmas stories, I have never dared to read her series - the McKettricks or the Stone Creek one - because they are so far advanced and I feel weird just jumping in the middle of things, but I love reading the holiday stories because they kind of stand alone and I can enjoy them without knowing all the backgrounds and who is married to who and what have you. 

A Lawman's Christmas is on the shorter side, just over 250 pages, but it's a lovely story that can easily be read in one single afternoon. I adored Dara Rose's daughters Edrina and Harriet, they were way too cute, smart and generous. Dara Rose was a bit prickly sometimes but it made sense given her history and her circumstances. 

I did love Clay and for the length of the story I think he was the most developed character and I really liked seeing his attempts to woo Dara Rose and spoil the Edrina and Harriet. 

Sadly, I wasn't happy with the Epilogue, it felt like a bit of an afterthought just thrown in, but I'm willing to overlook that. 

Bottom Line: A Lawman's Christmas is a lovely holiday story that will give you some warm fuzzies and entertain you for a good while. 

2/3

The Christmas Brides by Linda Lael Miller

The Christmas Brides is an anthology containing two stories by the same author: A McKettrick Christmas and A Creed Country Wedding. So I'm going to take a moment to summarize each story.

A McKettrick Christmas.
Fresh out of Normal School, Lizzie McKettrick is finally going home to Indian Rock to teach in the town's school and be close to her family. She's also bringing home a friend whom she hopes will become so much more. But the travel is starting to show her his true colors, and when catastrophe strikes, only Dr. Morgan Shane - a virtual stranger she can't help to trust - can ease her fears and help her over come.

Will they survive? will they be home for Christmas?

A Creed County Wedding
Juliana Mitchell is close to destitute and with four children to take care of. A teacher in a now closed 'Indian school', she kept four of her chargers: two of whom she hopes to send home to the family they were taken from, and two orphaned toddlers she can't bring herself to just let go. When her last resort plea for help falls through, Juliana is forced to accept the kindness of Lincoln Creed - a lawyer and local rancher - who offers them a place to stay. Lincoln happens to be looking for a governess or a housekeeper to help care for his young daughter Gracie (whom he fears is a bit lonely since her mother's passing), and maybe even a wife if he fails to find the first two.

He instantly likes Juliana, but he isn't sure if it's wise to let her stay at the ranch. Lincoln loves his daughter and loved his wife, but isn't sure if he wants to risk his heart again.

-
Okay, I loved both stories. They were fun, sweet and Christmas-y. I was surprised McKetrrick Christmas was so engaging since half of the story takes place in a stranded train, but I liked both Morgan and Lizzie and her extended family, that story had a touch of outright magic that I liked. Creed Country Wedding was cute in different ways (kudos to Linda Lael Miller because even though both stories were by her, I didn't feel like I was reading a repeat). I loved Gracie and the other children and the sweet story between Juliana and Lincoln - had a couple of issues with the story over all, mostly felt it solved itself too quickly but it's an anthology so I'm willing to overlook it.

Also loved the format of only two stories - usually with anthologies is 3 or 4 stories, which often leaves me feeling like everything happened too quickly, but with this format more of a story developed, which I liked.

Highly recommend it, specially with Christmas around the corner.