Customer Reviews

McKettrick's Choice (Hqn)

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I've been a fan of this author for years and was excited to read one of her latest efforts on the Western front; a setting I think she excels at. I'm still wondering what happened here? The editing in the book was absolutely horrible. Bad to the point where it completed removed me from the story. There were inconsistencies that editing should have zoned right in on. The bad editing combined with the lack of chemistry between the characters, I feel, earned this book only 1 star. I wanted some zip, some zing. The story line went from the first 75% of the book with the characters loathing each other (and not in the I loathe you but I really like you, smart, funny, enduring way) to final 25% of the book where the characters go from loathing right to true love. The romance wasn't developed and it felt completely forced. I found the main female character to be flaky, silly and quite frankly...stupid.

I hope this author finds her mojo, changes direction and writes with the chemistry and passion that her earlier works had. Finding a new editor would probably be a good place to start.

I enjoyed the book and found it a quick and easy read. I like Ms Millers westerns. Of the four stories pertaining to the Mckettricks I liked High country Bride and this one the best but they were all good.

In 1888 on the ranch of his biological father in the Arizona Territory, Holt McKettrick is waiting for the preacher to arrive to marry him to Margaret when a visitor from his home state of Texas arrives with a note that he carried from friend Frank Corrales. Apparently the man who raised him John Cavanaugh is being dispossessed from his land and his best friend Gabe is going to be hung as a murdering horse thief. He informs his bride to be that they will not marry at least that day, leaves his daughter with her grandfather, and rushes back to Texas to try to save the day.

In San Antonio, Judge Fellows is exasperated with his daughter Lorelei who refuses to wed her fiancé Creighton Banning. Instead as Holt arrives in town, she burns her wedding dress and flees to the dilapidated ranch she inherited from her late mother. Her neighbor Holt helps her and soon they fall in love though her father convicted Gabe and her influential former fiancé has made the bid for John's land.

The follow up to the McKettrick bride trilogy is filled with suspense and action, but belongs to a pair of rowdies who do not believe in love until the emotion slaps each of them in the heart. The story line is fast-paced, but also provides a deep look at late nineteenth century Texas through the colorful cast. Linda Lael Miller provides a terrific western romance that embellishes why this is one of the sub-genre's better miniseries in the last few years.

Harriet Klausner

I've been reading through LLM's contemporary McKettrick series with mixed results. So when I stumbled on this one, a period piece covering the original McKettrick sons, I was wary. Luckily, this turned out to be a great western! The characters are complex and well drawn. They literally walk off the page. The scenes are believable and the action never stalls. The imagery is so vivid, I can feel the trail dust on my skin. The scene in the abandoned mission gave me chills. I love the spark and humor between Holt and Lorelei as well as the slow burn. Their scenes sizzle without being too cheesy. Lorelei can be too proud and headstrong, but so is Holt. Their adventure together is well worth the read. I'm only sorry I'm reading these out of order because I can't seem to find all the editions on audio.

Great book. I love Miller and all her stories. I have read many of them. A good story, a sequel to others relating to the same family. I like this type of book, as it makes the characters seem like friends that you are catching up on.

I'm a huge Linda Lael Miller fan and this 4th in the McKettrick's Series does NOT disappoint. Once again there are lovable but headstrong stubborn characters who you easily find yourself genuinely caring about, an intriguing fast paced story with lots of twists and surprises, an imaginative and creative plot that even if you've read 10,000 historical romances is fresh and alive and it's all set in the rough yet romantic old West. This finale to the Mckettrick Series has a lot of new characters to get to know and love. Of course there are heroes to root for and villains to despise. I personally have a soft spot in my heart for Holt's "sister" and baby "Pearl". Holt and Lorelei's romance seems inevitable but ill-fated from the start. Their flaring tempers and stubborn ways make their fights legendary.
The only thing about this book I would've liked to have seen added is a more detailed epilogue, preferrably set at least five years later, since this is the series finale. There are some loose ends I would love to see come together. Maybe LLM will see it in her heart to add to Lizzie's story with a fifth McKettrick book. I hope so.

I liked but did not love the characters. Very individualistic. But I never had a clear picture of the heroine Lorelei, never "saw" her as I see most characters. The story gallops along, there's a great love scene, but the last quarter to third had a hurried quality, rushed to be done, thus without the great writing of the first part. I was lost in some spots, wondering how the characters got to where they were. Details seemed left out. Rush, rush, and the ending, while it should have been satisfying, just didn't fulfill the promise for me.