Category Archives: The Brides of Bliss County Series

Review: Christmas in Mustang Creek by Linda Lael Miller

christmas mustangTitle: Christmas in Mustang Creek by Linda Lael Miller
The Brides of Bliss County Series Book Four
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 272 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

No one does the holidays like Linda Lael Miller, whose Christmas novels have warmed the hearts of millions of readers the world over! 

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!

Review:

Christmas in Mustang Creek by Linda Lael Miller is a marvelous addition to The Brides of Bliss County series. This sweet romance takes place a few days before Christmas and it is a light-hearted and easy to read novel that old and new fans of the series are going to love.

Charlotte Morgan grew up in Mustang Creek but after college, her career in advertising led her to a dream job in New York. She loves the fast pace and vibrant atmosphere of big city living but when her aunt’s health begins failing and she loses her job right before Christmas, she knows it is time to return to her small hometown. As soon she arrives in town, Charlotte immediately crosses paths with Jaxon Locke, the veterinarian she dated while living in New York. She and Jaxon split up a year earlier when he returned to Idaho to take care of his father after he had a heart attack.  Is it just a coincidence that Jaxon is moving to Mustang Creek just as Charlotte returns to town? Or is a little holiday magic responsible for their unexpected reunion?

Charlotte and Jaxon cared deeply for one another, but while Charlotte loved living in the big city, Jaxon longed to return to the wide open spaces back West. He never stopped caring for Charlotte so after his father returned to work, Jaxon eagerly accepted a job offer to join a vet practice in Mustang Creek. He was even more thrilled to discover that Charlotte was returning home and he is cautiously optimistic they can resume their relationship.

Charlotte returns to Mustang Creek with no clear plan for her future. She loves her career but she is torn between staying close to her beloved Aunt Geneva and moving to another large city where she can put her skills to use. She is stunned to discover that Jaxon is planning to settle in her hometown, but she still sees no way around their conflicting dreams. With a little help from the mysterious Mrs. Klozz, Aunt Geneva and a surprising business idea, Jaxon eagerly begins trying to convince Charlotte to give their relationship a second chance.

Christmas in Mustang Creek is another low key, blissfully angst-free romance from fan favorite Linda Lael Miller. As always, the characters are quite appealing, delightfully engaging and beautifully developed. The holiday season is the perfect backdrop for the renewed relationship between Jaxon and Charlotte and their romance is quite heartwarming. Mustang Creek is still the same warm and inviting town and the addition of Mrs. Klozz to the cast of well-meaning and caring townspeople adds a bit of whimsy to the storyline. Although it is the fourth installment in The Brides of Bliss County series, it can be read as a standalone.

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Filed under Christmas in Mustang Creek, Contemporary, HQN Books, Linda Lael Miller, Rated B, Review, Romance, The Brides of Bliss County Series

Review: The Marriage Season by Linda Lael Miller

marriage seasonTitle: The Marriage Season by Linda Lael Miller
Brides of Bliss County Series Book Three
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Will the marriage pact be fulfilled? Return to Mustang Creek, Wyoming, with #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller for more Brides of Bliss County!

Since Hadleigh, Melody and Bex—the best of best friends—entered into a marriage pact, two of them have found (and married) the men of their hearts. But Bex doesn’t think she’ll be as fortunate as the others. Her own first love died years ago in a faraway war, and Bex has lost hope for a happy marriage of her own. She concentrates on her business, a successful chain of fitness clubs, instead.

Then, when single father Tate Calder comes to Mustang Creek with his two sons in tow, who befriend Bex’s eight-year-old nephew, she and the handsome, aloof newcomer are constantly thrown together. But is the marriage season over? Or can a man with doubts about love be the right husband for a woman who wants it all?

Review:

The Marriage Season is the final charming installment in Linda Lael Miller’s The Brides of Bliss County series. In this outing, it is Bex Stuart’s turn to find love, but will she be able to let go of her fears and fulfill the marriage pact she made with her best friends Hadleigh and Melody?

Bex has not had a serious relationship since her fiancé died in Afghanistan ten years earlier. So when single dad Tate Calder moves to town, Hadleigh and Melody decide to do a little matchmaking for their friends. The only problem? Tate is interested in a relationship but he does not plan to re-marry while Bex thinks she is too busy for a relationship. Bex’s life becomes even more complicated when her sister Tara and six year old nephew Josh move in with her but neither she nor Tate can resist their attraction to each other. When Tate offers to include Josh in a weekend fishing trip with him and his two sons, he extends an invitation to Bex to join them. Their feelings for one another quickly deepen, but will Bex and Tate’s respective baggage prevent them from taking their relationship to the next level?

Bex is a successful business woman with a big heart. She is very loyal to her friends and family and she will do anything to help her loved ones. Bex has never recovered from losing her fiancé and although she knows her fears are unrealistic, she is terrified of making a permanent commitment.

Tate is devoted to his sons and he is willing to make any sacrifice for them. He left a lucrative career so he could spend as much time with them as possible and despite losing their mother, his kids are happy and well-adjusted. He moved to Mustang Creek to begin a horse breeding program and the construction on his home and ranch is nearing completion. Tate is taken off guard by his attraction to Bex but it does not take long for him to becomes serious about her.

Despite their baggage and reservations, neither Tate nor Bex fight their attraction. They quickly settle into their new relationship and for the most part, there is very little conflict between them.  Bex is a bit skittish about their romance and she does need a little space to think things through. But once she works through her hesitation, she is fully committed to Tate. They are both honest about not wanting to marry, but as their relationship changes so do their expectations. Will the wounds from the past stand in the way of their future?

The Marriage Season is an absolutely enchanting addition to The Brides of Bliss County series. The plot is realistic and delightfully free of unnecessary drama or angst. The characters are beautifully developed with true to life problems to overcome. Linda Lael Miller concludes this terrific series with another heartwarming romance that old and new fans are going to love.

Read my reviews of the other novels in The Brides of Bliss County series HERE.

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Filed under Contemporary, HQN Books, Linda Lael Miller, Rated B+, Review, Romance, The Brides of Bliss County Series, The Marriage Season

Review: The Marriage Charm by Linda Lael Miller

marriage charmTitle: The Marriage Charm by Linda Lael Miller
The Brides of Bliss County Series Book Two
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The women of Bliss County have a pact—to find husbands. The right husbands.

One already has: Hadleigh Stevens, who married rancher Tripp Galloway a few months ago. Now Melody Nolan thinks it’s her turn. Melody has recently found success as a jewelry designer, and her work is the focus of her life. She’s not exactly unhappy, but she wants more. She’s always been attracted to Spence Hogan, the local chief of police, but she’s convinced that Spence, a notorious charmer, isn’t what you’d call husband material.

Spence is a good cop who isn’t scared of anything—except love. And he’s done everything he can to preserve his reputation as a womanizer—a reputation that keeps marriage-minded women, including Melody, at bay. And yet…there’s something about Melody he can’t forget. Something his heart can’t ignore.

The Review:

The Marriage Charm is another delightfully heartwarming romance by Linda Lael Miller. This newest installment in The Brides of Bliss County is a beautifully written second chance at love story that old and new fans are sure to love.

Melody Nolan and Spence Hogan have known one another since childhood but their romance years earlier ended with broken hearts for both of them. Thrown together when their good friends Tripp and Hadleigh fall in love, it is obvious to both of them that they still harbor strong feelings for one another. Melody and Spence share one steamy night together, but Melody continues to feel the sting of Spence’s long ago rejection and finds it nearly impossible to trust the kind-hearted sheriff.

Melody is content with her life in Mustang Creek until her close friend Hadleigh marries the man of her dreams. She is truly happy for Hadleigh but at the same time, she cannot help but feel a little jealous. When the opportunity arises for Melody to reconnect with Spence, she does not give much thought to what, if any, future the two might have. Melody is still in love with him, but she is not sure trusting him is the smartest move for her.

Small town gossip has painted Spence as quite the player and as far as Melody is concerned, that is another black mark against him. Her jealousy gives him hope that all is not lost for them, but his undeserved reputation comes between them more than once. Luckily for Melody, Spence not only knows what he wants, but he is also willing to do the work necessary to reassure her that he is serious about her. He patiently waits for her to sort through her complicated feelings for him and Spence refuses to become discouraged when Melody keeps him at arm’s length.

Despite of Melody’s doubts, she and Spence do make progress on their relationship. Both turn to their closest friends for advice and while they may not always like what they hear, they do appreciate the different perspectives. Spence gently pursues her but he does respect her wishes when she asks him to back off. Part of their issues stem from lack of communication while others are a direct result of misinformation. While some of their problems are easier to solve than others, it is the unavoidable overlapping of their lives that really helps them clear up some of Melody’s misconceptions about Spence.

The Marriage Charm is a very sweet, fun and sexy addition to The Brides of Bliss County. As always, the characters are easy to like, well-developed and very charming. Linda Lael Miller adds a bit of a suspense element to the plot that helps keep both the story and the series fresh and unique. All in all, a captivating love story that is heartfelt and engaging.

Read my reviews of the other novels in The Brides of Bliss County series HERE.

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Filed under Contemporary, Harlequin, HQN Books, Linda Lael Miller, Rated B, Review, Romance, The Brides of Bliss County Series, The Marriage Charm

Review: The Marriage Pact by Linda Lael Miller

pactTitle: The Marriage Pact by Linda Lael Miller
The Brides of Bliss County Series Book One
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

The women of Bliss County are ready to meet the men of their dreams! See how it all begins in this enthralling new series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller

Ten years ago, Hadleigh Stevens was eighteen and this close to saying “I do,” when Tripp Galloway interrupted her walk down the aisle. Now that she’s recovered from her youthful mistake and Tripp’s interference, Hadleigh and her single friends form a marriage pact. She doesn’t expect Tripp to meddle with her new plan to find Mr. Right—or to discover that she’s more attracted to him than ever!

Divorced and eager to reconnect with his cowboy roots, Tripp returns to Bliss County to save his ailing father’s ranch. He’s not looking for another wife—certainly not his best friend’s little sister. But he’s never been able to forget Hadleigh. And this time, if she ends up in his arms, he won’t be walking away!

The Review:

Linda Lael Miller’s newest series, The Brides of Bliss County, is off to a strong beginning with The Marriage Pact. This endearing romance has a great cast of characters, strong friendships and a love story that will melt your heart.

Hadleigh Stevens and Tripp Galloway have a long history together which provides a solid foundation for their burgeoning romance. In the ten years since Tripp stopped her from making a disastrous mistake, Hadleigh has done a lot of growing up but she is still furious with him for stopping her wedding. When Tripp moves back to the family ranch, the two reconnect and Hadleigh is forced to examine exactly why she is still so angry with him. As for Tripp, he is shocked by his attraction to the woman he watched grow up.

Hadleigh and Tripp have known one another all their lives and although Tripp has only made a few quick trips to town over the intervening years, their shared past is an unbreakable bond that ties them together. Tripp decides to come home after he learns some unsettling news about his father’s health and he easily settles back into ranching life. Hadleigh has faced a lot of losses in her life, but her close-knit and steadfast friendships with Melody Nolan and Bex Stuart have sustained her through all of life’s ups and downs.

The romance between Hadleigh and Tripp is gradual but after they sort through their individual issues, their relationship really takes off. Tripp is a bit old-fashioned and he is sweetly romantic as he courts Hadleigh. Their lovemaking is incredibly passionate and their sex scenes are pretty steamy.

The Marriage Pact is a light-hearted and angst-free novel with a compelling storyline and a charming cast of characters. Linda Lael Miller has an amazing ability to create delightfully homespun romances that are realistic and quite heartwarming. The marriage pact is a unique premise that adds to the story’s overall appeal and leaves readers eager for the upcoming installments of the Brides of Bliss County series.

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Filed under Contemporary, Harlequin, HQN Books, Linda Lael Miller, Rated B, Review, Romance, The Brides of Bliss County Series, The Marriage Pact