McKettrick's Choice (Hqn) [Mass Market Paperback]

Linda Lael Miller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 23, 2010 | Series: Hqn

When news arrived that there was trouble back in Texas, Holt McKettrick left a mail-order bride and his family on the spot. And he never looked back. He just prayed he'd be in time to save the man who had raised him as a son and keep his best friend from the gallows. He knew he'd encounter rustlers, scoundrels and thieves, but he'd never expected to find a woman like Lorelei Fellows.

Setting fire to her wedding dress in the town square probably wasn't the best way to stand her ground. But Lorelei had had enough. She was sick of men and their schemes. All she wanted was to stake her claim on her own little piece of Texas. And with Holt McKettrick as a neighbor, things were beginning to look up. The man was a straight shooter with a strong will, a steady aim and a hungry heart.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The highly enjoyable latest volume of Miller's popular McKettrick series stars older half-brother Holt McKettrick. Learning that his former Ranger partner, Gabe Navarro, is on the way to the gallows on trumped-up charges and that his foster father, Buffalo Soldier John Cavanagh, is about to lose his land, Holt ditches his mail-order bride at their Arizona Territories altar and rides off to Texas. In San Antonio, he meets a lively lady named Lorelei Fellows, who has just called off her own wedding and burned her bridal gown in the center of town. Thrown out of her father's house, she's hoping to pick up some cattle and start a small ranch of her own. Holt thinks she's out of her mind, but he revises his opinion after watching Lorelei learn to ride a mule named Seesaw, play a cutthroat game of poker, and all in all start to look mighty delectable. Cavanagh's land will be fine and Navarro won't hang—but is Lorelei out of the frying pan into the fire? Her father dies vastly indebted to the landowner who had framed Navarro. Strong characterization and a vivid western setting make for a fine historical romance.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Holt McKettrick leaves his mail-order bride at the altar when a rider appears at the Triple M Ranch in the Arizona Territory with the news that John Cavanagh, the buffalo soldier who raised him, is being forced off his land and that his friend Gabe is about to be hanged. Riding hard, Holt reaches San Antonio just as Lorelei Fellows torches her wedding dress. The daughter of the judge who sentenced Gabe to hang, Lorelei refuses to marry a sleazy lawyer and takes refuge on the tiny dilapidated ranch left to her by her mother. Holt has to head to Mexico to bring back the evidence to free Gabe and the cattle needed to keep John Cavanagh's ranch from being taken over by a greedy schemer. And what a posse Holt assembles: Cavanagh's sweet, mentally challenged daughter; Gabe's very pregnant lover; and Lorelei. Intrigue, danger, and greed are up against integrity, kindness, and love in this engrossing western romance. Miller has created unforgettable characters and woven a many-faceted yet coherent and lovingly told tale. Patty Engelmann
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: HQN Books (November 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373774923
• ISBN-13: 978-0373774920
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,418 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Authors, A-Z > ( M ) > Miller, Linda Lael
  • #4 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Westerns > General

More About the Author

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.'

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Originally Posted on Romance Junkies in 2005, May 12, 2007

By 

Jennifer Wardrip (Bloomington, Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: McKettrick's Choice (McKettrick Men Series #3) (Mass Market Paperback)

Linda Lael Miller is known for writing heart-tugging, emotional Western romances, and with MCKETTRICK'S CHOICE, she delivers yet again. The MCKETTRICK BROTHERS TRILOGY began in 2002 with High Country Bride (McKettrick Cowboys Trilogy), followed in 2003 with Shotgun Bride (McKettrick Cowboys Trilogy), and finished in 2004 with Secondhand Bride (McKettrick Cowboys Trilogy). The saga now takes a surprising turn in 2005 with MCKETTRICK'S CHOICE, the story of the oldest McKettrick brother, Holt, who was raised away from the iron fist of family patriarch, Angus, and the three brothers from the trilogy-Rafe, Kade, and Jeb.

Holt McKettrick spent a large part of his life as Holt Cavanagh, adopted son of John Cavanagh, a rancher with a spread outside of San Antonio, Texas. Now back in the McKettrick fold-with the tensions and egos that four competing males are bound to bring-Holt is in the process of marrying Miss Margaret Tarquin when a letter from Texas changes his plans.

The short note advises Holt that his adoptive father, John, is about to be driven from his land, and former Ranger buddy, Gabe Navarro, is to be hanged for murder and thievery. Holt, as a McKettrick and a Cavanagh, has no choice but to leave the Arizona Territory and return to Texas to set matters straight.

But upon arrival, mayhem awaits. People have been killed, lands have been burned, and one Miss Lorelie Fellows, who happens to own the land next to John Cavanagh's, is attempting to drive Holt insane.

MCKETTRICK'S CHOICE is Western historical romance at its best-lively characters, a wonderful story line, attention to historic detail, and Ms. Miller's personal brand of story-telling make this book a very enjoyable read. Mystery, suspense, passion, and family duty don't disappoint in this hardcover release from one of the best of the genre.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A FUN HISTORICAL ROMANCE, July 6, 2006

By 

Yvette Mignerey Atkin (Salt Lake City, UT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: McKettrick's Choice (McKettrick Men Series #3) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a book that sweeps you off your feet from the first page. Lorelei Fellows is a strong willed, defiant, stubborn woman and Holt McKettrick happens to have very similar qualities. The hero and heroine are a perfect match for one another and because there is so much tension between them, it makes those softer moments even more tender.

The story in itself is very interesting from cattle drive to the Comanches attacks to the way women live on the trail. All the characters are intriguing and very likeable (except for the bad guys, of course!).

It's a great story to read all on its own. Happy Reading.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great!!!, August 11, 2006

By 

Mike and Shannon "music & books" (Utah) - See all my reviews

This review is from: McKettrick's Choice (The McKettrick Series #4) (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed this one. Holt shows up in all three of the other books in the Mckettrick series. It's about time he found his love. A very fun and entertaining book. I also like that his brother Rafe was also included in the book. I am keeping this one for along time.