When single attorney Steven Creed becomes guardian of an orphaned five-year-old boy, he trades his big-city law firm for a ranch near his McKettrick kin in the close-knit community of Stone Creek, Arizona. Taking care of little Matt and fixing up his run-down ranch house with its old barn loosens something tightly wound inside him. But when Steven takes on the pro bono defense of a local teen, he meets his match in the opposing counsel—beautiful, by-the-book county prosecutor Melissa O'Ballivan. It'll take one grieving little boy, a sweet adopted dog and a woman who never expected to win any man's heart to make this Creed in Stone Creek know he's truly found home.
My Thoughts:
First I'd like to thank Harlequin for reaching out to "Good Choice Reading" and offering us "A Creed In Stone Creek" for review. It's an honor.
I have to start off by saying that this was a cute western romance book. I love contemp romance but this book was a bit fast paced with its characters and slow paced with the story.
Here's what I liked:
1. It's a complete delight to see a single man drop his life to adopt his best friend's child and raise
him as his own.
2. I like that Melissa is a woman that has a career and can manage on her own.
3. I love how Steven approached any situation when it came to Matt and his family. He respected
Matt enough to let him make some decisions
Here's what I didn't like:
1. I didn't like how the main characters story was hot and cold.
2. Now I love Matt's character. But he seems to be a bit too smart for his age, even if he's a gift child.
3. I didn't like how the story was prolonged with other subplots.
Overall it was a sweet story. How could you not like a man who takes resposibility for his deceased best friend's son without a thought. That was admiring. A man who dropped his life to raise his "new" adopted son. And then there's Melissa, a woman with character and a great career whose well educated and established. And I love how both Steven and Melissa have a great family bond. Seeing how their family supported them throughout the book was heart-warming. Despite the little issues I had with the story, Linda still managed to keep my attention.
I give this book a 3.5 stars. This is a good book for you if you're into western romance.
A little more information about Author Linda Lael Miller
THE WILD, WILD WEST ISN’T JUST FOR COWBOYS
Bestselling Author Linda Lael Miller Feeds America’s Craving for Life in the Ol’ West
Back when swinging saloon doors, young men in cowboy hats and haphazard pistol fights were the norm, the town marshal could end it all with one flash of his star-shaped badge. Today’s blockbuster hit “True Grit” back to the legendary “Bonanza” television series have attracted Americans to the fantasy of the Old West – where an honorable cowboy handy with a six-gun could enjoy a home on the range, a loyal gelding and the prettiest lady in town.
Linda Lael Miller, bestselling author of more than 100 novels, grew up as the daughter of the town marshal in Northport, Washington. She observed the dynamics of small-town life, noting both the common feuds and the way the people rallied around a neighbor who was sick, hurt or in trouble. Inspired by her father’s no-frills, stern persona and Western upbringing, Linda returned to her home state of Washington to live on a ranch and write novels. Her latest, A CREED IN STONE CREEK (HQN Books; March 2011; $7.99), is the first in her “Creed Cowboys” trilogy, and follows Steven Creed from his big-city law firm to a run-down ranch in a small Arizona town.
Miller tries hard to live by her late father’s strong country morals. She remembers her father as “a regular John Wayne,” and his motto, Always Do the Right Thing, was the basis for Miller’s family life. The close-knit, church-going community she grew up in inspired her Old West values – good family, friends and neighbors – and her books convey the same strong sense of community. But she is always sure to include a few hot cowboys and some authentic Western drama!
Living happily on her serene Spokane, Washington homestead, Miller tends to her six horses – the perfect sidekicks for any bona fide cowgirl. Her connection to these gorgeous animals is as strong as any human friendship, and she says the horses give her more than she could ever give back to them. She is a devoted animal advocate who supports Habitat for Horses, one of the largest horse protection organizations in the nation. As she witnesses the individuality and emotions of her own horses, Miller is sure to include at least one engaging four-legged character in every book, and finds that fans enjoy the animals as well as the sexy Western men.
As the legacy of her father, Miller hopes her words help to preserve the integrity of Western culture and offer readers a feel-good look into the Golden West she was raised in. Since her first novel was released in 1983, she’s come to be known as the “First Lady of the West” and was awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the Romance Writers of America in 2007.
There you can find the book trailer, a behind-the-scenes video of the cover photo shoot, webisodes and a sexy photo gallery.
You can also find Linda on:
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