Kate was caught in the hectic blur of Washington's fast lane, working for her senator father and planning the perfect wedding to the "perfect" man. Until both betrayed her and left her with nowhere to turn--except to an unforgettable man from her past. From the author of Snowflakes on the Sea and Used-To-Be-Lovers. Reissue.
The daughter of a town marshal, Linda Lael Miller is a New York Times bestselling author of more than sixty historical and contemporary novels that reflect her love of the West. Raised in Northport, Washington, the self-confessed “barn goddess” now lives in Spokane, Washington. Her most recent New York Times bestsellers include McKettrick’s Choice and Secondhand Bride. Dedicated to helping others, Linda personally finances her Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women, awarded annually to women seeking to improve their lot in life through education. More information about Linda, her novels and her scholarships is available at www.lindalaelmiller.com.
--This text refers to the
Audio CD
edition.
In January of 2006, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Linda Lael Miller left the Arizona horse property she's called home for the past five years and listened to the call of her heart. Packing up her work-in-progress for HQN Books; her dogs, Sadie and Bernice, and her four horses, the author of more than 70 novels bid farewell to her home in the desert and returned to the place of her birth, Spokane, Washington. The daughter of a town marshal, Linda grew up in Northport, WA, a community of 500 on the Columbia River, 120 miles north of Spokane. Her childhood remembrances include riding horses and playing cowgirl on her grandparents' nearby farm. Her grandparents' spread was so rustic that in the early days it lacked electricity and running water.
As delightful as this childhood was, Linda longed to see the world. After graduating as valedictorian of her high school class, she left to pursue her dream. Because of the success of her author career, Linda was able to live part-time in London for several years, spend time in Italy and travel to such far-off destinations as Russia, Hong Kong and Israel. Now, Linda says, the wanderlust is (mostly) out of her blood, and she's come full circle, back to the people and the places she knows and loves.
Before Linda begins her writing day, she takes her first cup of coffee while enjoying the scenic view of the wooded draw behind her new home. The first morning there, a snowfall blanketed the pine trees, something she had missed in the desert outside Scottsdale. Still enamored with the people she came to love in Arizona, she says she will still set books in that starkly beautiful area, and, of course, in other stories the action will take place in Washington.
Devoted to helping others pursue their dreams, the author will launch her sixth round of Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women in May of this year. A talented speaker, she donates all her speaking honoraria to her scholarship fund. The stipends are awarded to women who seek to better their lot in life through education.
It's no wonder the protagonists in Miller's novels are women her readers admire for their honor, courage, trustworthiness, valor and determination to succeed, despite overwhelming odds. 'These qualities make them excellent role models for young women,' Miller explains. 'The male leads possess equally noble traits that today's woman would be delighted to find in her life's mate.'
The author traces the birth of her writing career to the day when a Northport teacher told her that the stories she was writing were good, that she just might have a future in writing. Later, when she decided to write novels, she endured her share of rejection before she made her first sale.
Although Linda has written successfully in other genres, she is best known for stories set in the West'stories like McKETTRICK'S CHOICE (HQN Books March 2006 paperback); THE MAN FROM STONE CREEK (HQN, June 2006 hardcover) and that very first novel, FLETCHER'S WOMAN, which is being reissued in 2006. Her stories, set in yesterday's world, and today's, are historical romances, romantic thrillers, and other contemporary tales. They consistently score on prestigious national bestseller lists.
Linda has come a long way since leaving her sheltered life in Northport at age 18 to experience the world. 'Growing up in that time and place, in a family grounded in Western values, served me well,' she allows. 'And I'm happy to be back home.'
Kate's life has had some drastic changes within a matter of hours. She has ended her engagement after discovering the true side to her fiance. Kate has also ended her career. During this time, Kate has been reunited with Sean Harris, her dead sister's husband, but also Kate's first love.
Kate has an adventure in Australia, after deciding to visit her nephew there. Kate and Sean's lives are changing and are never the same. However, the ghost of the past - Kate's sister, not only shadows their lives, but the lives of Kate's family as well. Will her sister's ghost destroy Kate's happiness and forever be a constant reminder and shadow of things gone by or will it be "Just Kate"?
A quick read, but a wonderful story!
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Just Kate is a reissue of an old book. The story is good, with LOTS of sex. The conflict comes when Kate goes to visit her sister's ex and her nephew. The family doesn't like it, her dad is powerful, mom is a wimp, and our hero realizes he married the wrong sister. Much of the story is set in Australia and is fairly typical Lael Miller.(old style) I liked it when I read it many years ago. If you're a fan, you've already read it. If you're not, it's worth a glance.
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3.0 out of 5 starsA good holiday read., June 10, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: Just Kate (Paperback)
As an avid romance reader living in Australia, I am always looking for more authors to read. There appears to be a severe shortage of good authors which are published for release in Australia. I picked up this book, Just Kate, hoping to find another author along the lines of my favourites, Sandra Brown, Elizabeth Lowell and Linda Howard. This book was quite well written and I did enjoy it, but I found it quite offensive (being Australian myself) how the hero, Sean, used our slang. I have never come across an Australian guy who calls his girl "Sheila" as an endearment. Basically I found the book a good read, with plenty of sex, but not the sexual tension that makes you ache while reading it. I'll read other books by LLM, I hope it was just the Australian references that disappointed me with this book.
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