The illegitimate son of a wealthy rancher, Sheriff Slade Barlow grew up in a trailer hitched to the Curly-Burly hair salon his mother runs. He was never acknowledged by his father until now. Suddenly, Slade has inherited half of Whisper Creek Ranch, one of the most prosperous in Parable, Montana. That doesn’t sit well with his half brother, Hutch, who grew up with all the rights of a Carmody—including the affections of Joslyn Kirk, homecoming queen, rodeo queen, beauty queen, whom Slade has never forgotten.
But Joslyn is barely holding her head up these days as she works to pay back everyone her crooked stepfather cheated. With a town to protect, plus a rebellious teenage stepdaughter, Slade has his hands full. But someone has to convince Joslyn that she’s responsible only for her own actions—such as her effect on this lawman’s guarded heart.
Read in June, 2012
Read for Review
Overall Rating 3.75
Story Rating 3.50
Character Rating 4.00
First Thought When Finished: Loved the characters, loved the setting, but wished they had gotten together a little quicker!
What I Loved: Parable, Montana is a fantastic little town filled with a quirky group of people. I fell in love with the town, the people, and the fact that LLM wrote in an animal rescue center. I also loved that LLM wrote in a stepdad that loved his stepdaughter and was willing to take her even though he wasn’t married to her mother any more. I love when non-traditional families are featured. Slade was just an amazingly hot (HAWT) leading man and one that I would fall for in a second. He had so many lovable and loving qualities. Though he wasn’t perfect and that made him even more appealing.
What I Liked: Slade and Jos were a great couple. They had a great chemistry and I was thrilled when they got together! I was rooting for them the whole entire time. Jos was a likable leading lady and she had a great sense of righting wrongs. The story of what her stepdad did and how she was trying to correct it was heart-tugging. We often forget that the victims are sometimes not only the obvious one. I also really liked the side story of Slade/Hutch because they needed to work out some of their brother issues. Plus, I love me some Hutch.
What made me go huh?: It took to long for Jos and Slade to get together. I am all for a slow build but 80% is a bit much.
Final Thought: This was a solid start to a new series and I am looking forward to more stories from Parable, Montana.
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After a brief stop in the bathroom and a quick splash at the sink, she padded barefoot into the tiny kitchen and groped through various plastic shopping bags until she unearthed the cheap coffeepot she’d purchased the day before, along with a few other essentials, at the big discount store out on the highway.
She fumbled with the pot, then the small can of ground coffee beans, then the old-fashioned water spigot.
A rap at the door interrupted the process, but only briefly. She’d be useless without coffee, and, besides, she knew who the visitor was.
“Come in!” she called.
There was a metallic jiggle at the front door, and a moment or two later, Kendra Sheperd, Joslyn’s best friend since forever, stepped into the kitchen.
Blonde and elegant like a ballet dancer, Kendra looked ready to take on a new day in her crisp green suit and high heels. She ran Sheperd Real Estate, and she was clearly making a success of the enterprise.
Thanks to the folks at BookTrib I have 1 copy to Give Away to a lucky person who leaves a comment telling me your favorite small town! This is open to US/CA and runs till midnight 6/30! GOOD LUCK!
The next stop on the tour is at The Book Binge make sure to visit!
© 2012, Geeky Bloggers Book Blog.
OMG LINDA MILLER HAVE BEEN A FAN FOR GREAT MANY YEARS LOVE YOUR BOOKS KEEP THEM COMING THANKS FOR THE CHANE TAMMY
I think it’s so awesome that LLM advocates for animals in her books just like she does in RL. That is so admirable.
But she does have the tendency to keep those love interests apart for as long as possible, which always has me tearing out my hair. LOL Still, she is great with setting. :)
Many of my favorite small towns are fictional such as Twilight, Texas (series by Lori Wilde) and Lakeshore (series by Susan Wiggs). They sound like great places where the community is really united.
I SO want this book. absolutely love the cover.
Oh yeah, your question. My favorite small town is my own. :)
They don’t get together until the book is 80% done? That’s a little too slow. My favorite small town is Chesapeake Shores, Maryland from Sherryl Woods Chesapeake Shores series. It’s quaint, everybody know everybody, and they all help out.
This book sounds amazing. Can’t wait to read it.
e.balinski(at)att(dot)net
I like a slow build as well, but if you know they are going to get together… a little faster (not after 80%) would be nice.
Montana has some purty country! :)
Oh my fave small town in my own! ;)
You know I love a cowboy story ;) I really should read one of her books
Well I grew up in Idaho so I can tell you all about small towns. My favorite is a tiny little town where my dad grew up in Southast Idaho called Rockland. It has a population of about 300 or so and it is a town where everyone know everyone and their business. No one worries about locking their doors and it is like time stopped. I haven’t been there much since my grandparents passed away it is not the same without them.. but it is a truly a lovely place especially in the summer when the wheat is ripe in the fields and the wind rustles through it…breathtaking!
I don’t have a favorite ‘real’ small town but I do have a favorite fictional small town.. and that is Jill Shalvis’ Lucky Harbor town :)
Thank you for the giveaway!
My favorite small town is Bardstown, KY. Thanks for sposoring the giveaway.
Thanks for a great post and giveaway! I haven’t read this author yet but this book sounds great :)
I love Mayberry!
They didn’t get together until 80% of the way through? I’m all for the slow build and the tension and everything, but like you said, that’s way too long for a couple in a romance to finally get around to things:) I read one a while back where they didn’t seal the deal until 92%…92% FELICIA!!!!!
Now that looks like a nice cowboy……”wiggles eyebrows”
I would love to read this series. It sounds very good. Please enter me in contest. I love Myrtle Beach. [email protected]
Lovely review, I’d like to read this one. Of course I still have to read the 30 or 40 books by her already on my shelves …
Not entering, as I live in Holland.
This is a good kick off to a new series. I have already read book 2 aka my “I love Hutch” mantra LOL She is a very good writer!