Customer Reviews

McKettricks of Texas: Garrett (Hqn)

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3 1/2 stars

This is the second in the McKettricks of Texas series. Garrett is the middle child with aspirations of being a politician and maybe even president. When his mentor, and the man he has idolized for years, becomes involved in a major scandal, Garrett takes off for the Silver Spur to figure things out.
Julie Remington is the middle sister. She's always been the free-spirit and fun one. Now that she has been raising her 5-year-old son, Calvin, she is a little more subdued because of her concern for him.
When Julie and Garrett begin to share time together, they find that even though they are very different, they do have some things in common that bring them together.

I was only so-so on this book. I liked it well enough, but I didn't find myself really feeling the building of the relationship between Garrett and Julie. It focused a lot on Julie and not much on Garrett. What was focused on Garrett didn't seem to have enough depth. The time they spent together really didn't seem to have much depth. I was hoping for a little more romance and connection with them.

I'm also a stickler for consistency. In Tate's book, specific ages and age differences were never mentioned for the siblings. In this book, it was noted that each set of siblings are 1 year apart and they are the same ages (28, 29, 30). This does not work with one statement in Tate's book about Libby & Tate's age differences, "When Libby was fifteen and Tate was seventeen." They could not be 2 years apart at any time--I could see 16 & 17, but not 15 & 17. Just a minor editing miss.

It is not necessary to have read Tate's story, but it will add more to the story if you have read it. There is more lead-in to the next book about Austin and Paige. I have to admit that I am most interested in their story and hope that it lives up to the build up in the first two books.

I received this book from netgalley to review.

As Garrett McKettrick leaves Austin for his family spread the Silver Spur in Blue River, Texas, he knows his aspirations have been shattered to the bone marrow. His hero Senator Morgan Cox is embroiled in a nasty scandal that has nuked Garrett's beliefs and political dreams.

He arrives to chaos as the family plans for Tate's wedding and someone is rustling their herd leaving cattle dead. However that is not what causes the chaos inside of Garrett's heart. High School teacher Julie Remington, her five years old son Calvin and his three legged dog Harry are staying at the ranch for her sibling's marriage to Tate. Garrett wants her and likes the young boy while the free spirit that Julie filed away to raise her offspring as a single mom (with sisters) surfaces at a time when Calvin's biological father Gordon Pruett arrives wanting to be part of the lad's life.

The fascination behind the middle brother's tale is that most of the story line focuses on Julie with her fears of what Gordon wants and her sadness over bright student Rachel needing a job. Rachel's dad Mr. Strivens in one sentence adds realism about college for the impoverished families in hard times. Although the romance between Tate and Julie seem more off page than on, the McKettrick fans will enjoy this fine ranch contemporary and look forward to the next sibling's story.

Harriet Klausner

Originally posted at: [...]

This book should appeal to fans of western romances that enjoy c. If it sounds intriguing, then Garrett's story should be right up their alley because it's all that and more.

Garrett is the second McKettrick brother and he believes his path is far from the saddle and the land he grew up on. It wasn't until I'd read the entire book that I figured out why that is, and it's poignant. Until he comes to that realization, his journey is one of self-discovery -- of who he is, what he really wants and discovering that love was right under his nose.

Sometimes the sweetest romance is between a man and woman who were great friends as kids, who know all of each other's past foibles and stick by each other anyway. Garrett wakes up to that understanding eventually and it's as heartwarming as a reader could wish. He's a man's man, a real cowboy with integrity and manners, and his inner strength is just as formidable as the land he rides over. He puts his all into anything he does and commands respect from his peers and the world he controls -- until the scandal hits. A person can't control everything and everyone, so I found his reaction to the situation to be another great measure of the man. He comes home to question so much about his life and it's not easy on him. Add in the mystery of what's been happening on the ranch and his part in discovering the villains and he becomes a man of action, of passion and bravery. A man with that many burdens on his shoulders needs a life partner and Ms. Miller gives him the perfect lady.

Julie is a single mother, a teacher and sister to Garrett's older brother's future wife, Libby. What I liked about Julie was her close relationship with her two sisters and their dialogue throughout this book. The thing that impressed me most about her character, and I have to give major credit to Ms. Miller in her creation, is her absolute dedication to her son Calvin. The love, the constant respect for motherhood and its challenges and joys, were woven consistently throughout this book. It was very well done. Calvin was not a prop but an integral component in understanding Julie and her capacity to love. The three-legged fur baby was a nice touch too. Another thing I liked about Julie was her restraint. When her son's biological father appeared on the scene, it would have been so easy for Ms. Miller to resort to the heroine being a victim or a viper. Instead, the author had Julie making the best of a scary situation. I know personally a woman who made the same choice for her son and like Julie, it worked out wonderfully for the child. I could really relate to this story because of the full and vibrant personalities that Ms. Miller has imbued her characters.

I also liked the secondary characters that pepper this story. They added substance, heart and plot momentum. I think the climactic confrontation with the bad guys was gripping and intense. I was entertained by the conversations between the three McKettrick brothers as I was between the three Remington sisters. I really want an Esperanza of my own. Last but not least, when Julie finally admits she's got a hankering for Garrett and succumbs to her desire, their loving is sweet, passionate and romantic.

Garrett's story is an entertaining, fast paced read that kept me flipping the pages until the happily-ever-after ending had me sighing in satisfaction. The story is a bit fancy in parts but that's what makes it so fun and a joy to read. It's that Prince Charming syndrome - he's ordinary but bigger than life with a way about him that makes a woman swoon - including this reader. I am so happy I got to read Garrett's story and look forward to more by this author.

This is not the best love story but if you're in the mood you can read it. Some times the story is dull and others is almost good but not enough to keep you reading more than an hour or so. Maybe I have this feeling because I didn't read the prequel but if it were a good written book you don't have to read the prequel to get engrossed in the story. So I can't say is a bad plot but maybe I'll recommend another book instead of this one.

As the middle book in the series, this story seems to almost be a light filler for the first and last. Julie is regularly getting weepy about just about anything. Garrett, of course, is there to put an arm around her to help her have the strength she needs to get by. Wonder how she made it before he came along. She gets panicky when her five year old throws up, and doesn't think to ever get him a bucket. Also, too much time is spent explaining all the safe things she does as she drives, but then she talks on her cell phone! Garrett's character has little depth. He spends too much time grinning and chuckling at Julie's "moods," although all the brothers seem to do that. I loaned this book to my sister before I read it, and she hated it. Austin was a better book.

This is the 2nd in the "McKettricks of Texas" series. The first "Tate" was the best. This is just ok.

As the books went on, each of the brothers was less likable than the last. And the fact that they were marrying sisters just became more and more unbelievable. Each of the women were independent and earned a living on their own and they each become a wife, quit working and just hung around being rich. Oh please!

You definitely need to read the series in order. And they get worse as they go on. So if you really want to, start with "Tate" and go from there. Personally, I don't recommend any of them.

The beginning of this book showed great promise. Not many romance books about cowboys start out with the main character being deep into politics and scandals with future aspirations to become higher up on the political totem pole, rather than be back home working the family ranch. Later in the story it began to become predictable. A single mom with a young son resists the hero who gives her his best charms. While the book leads you to believe that it's all about Garrett, it is really more about the woman. The relationship was typical for a harlequin type romance. It was a fast read, but I found it somewhat hard to finish.

This is the second in the series. Enjoyed it just as much as the first. For me it had it all - good story, a cute cowboy, romance and a happy ending ... plus one more book in the series.

I actually started reading Linda Lael Miller through her Creed series (of which I had obtained a free copy) and that was the only reason why I even looked at her. I found the book average, but something told me I should read more because I did like her writing style. So comes this book, the 2nd in the McKettrick series. While I highly recommend starting with the first, not too much was missed by starting out with this one for me as far as background goes.

After the senator he works for dives into a huge scandal, Garrett McKettrick finds himself hiding out at his family ranch. A huge place owned by he and his two brothers, it has been in the family for generations. What he didn't expect to find there though was Julie Remington and her little son Calvin staying in one of the "apartments" of the ranch. Julie proves to be a great distraction and Garrett soon questions his choice about going into politics as he starts spending more time with Julie.

Unfortunately like so many romance novels, the characters in this one are a little too perfect. They always seem to say the right thing or do something amazing. But I guess that's what romances are for, to give a little fantasy. After all, no relationships can be that perfect. Even though all of this went on though, I still liked the characters. Garrett especially was everything a man in a romance novel should be.

For a plot this book jumped all over the place with mini plots and problems. To be honest, there was a lot going on. And those that should have been big kind of got pushed aside when another side plot started. I found it a tad bit distracting and think that Miller could have chosen one or two issues and stuck with that for a better rounded book. At its core though this is a romance and the relationship between Garrett and Julie is what takes main focus. Because of this, reader be warned, there is sex in this book! Just in case you wondered... Miller's writing style is good though and I think that's what keeps me coming back to these books. I just like the tone that they set.

I say give some of her series a try. If not the McKettricks than the Creeds who are just as worthy of reading.

McKettricks of Texas: Garrett
Copyright 2010
376 pages

Review by M. Reynard 2011

This is the 2nd book in the McKettrick Brother's Series - ( McKettricks of Texas: Tate was 1st). This is Garrett's story who worked for shady politican and looking at his options for a career change. While at the home Ranch he starts to fall for Julie Remington. Julie is a single mother who works full time a teacher and her sister is marry Tate McKettrick. This was a cute story and the final book McKettricks of Texas: Austin (Hqn) finishes off the whole series... Pick them all up - Enjoy!

Off to find more Linda Lael Miller novels - Part of the Bargain: Part of the Bargain\To Wed and Protect (Bestselling Author Collection) and Willow: A Novel.