Customer Reviews

A Mckettrick Christmas

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In 1896 after spending two years at Miss Ridgley's Institute of Deportment and Refinement for Young Women, Lizzie McKettrick is excited to be coming home to her family on the Triple M Ranch in time for Christmas. She looks forward to being the new Indian Rock schoolteacher as well and mostly to introduce her beau Whitley Carson to her family.

An avalanche causes the train wreck stranding the passengers including Beau and her. Dr. Morgan Shane helps the injured while Lizzie assists him even as she waits for her family to rescue everyone. While working with the caring doctor, she reconsiders her feelings towards Whitley, who increasingly compared with Morgan looks like a gold-digger. However, more important than working through her feelings, she knows time is running out on the stranded travelers.

Clearly targeting fans of the McKettrick saga with a holiday toast, this is a warm inspirational historical romance. Lizzie is an intriguing lead character as she compares the two men in her life; one is caring and helpful to strangers while the other is aloof with a not my problem attitude. Although the story line follows a simplistic straight track, readers will enjoy spending A MCKETTRICK CHRISTMAS with the return of one of the daughters.

Harriet Klausner

Ms. Miller revisits the historical McKettrick family with her latest novel. This book stars Lizzy Holt's daughter who is returning from San Francisco to Indian Rock to be the new Schoolmarm, she brings with her, her beau Whitney Carson to meet her family and share the holidays. Dr. Morgan Shane is on his way to Indian Rock at the request of LIzzy's Uncle to be the town doctor. Little do they know that an unexpected catastrophe is waiting literally around the next bend on the railroad tracks that will redefine every one's future.
This book is wonderfully written and it's always fun to revisit one of my favorite families The McKettrick's and find out what they're all up to. It's a touching story about perseverance, bravery and a little Christmas miracle.

It was a great story for the upcoming season. I love that linda lael miller wrote a story about the earlier McKettrick Women. It was a fast and easy read. Well written. I hope she does one for Kate in the future.

So you don't have to read the other books in the series to enjoy this one. Its a nice Christmas tale, even if it does have some weird elements to it. And it is pretty exciting for a Christmas romance.

Lizzie McKettrick is on her way home to her family. And she's bringing a special someone with her who she met in San Francisco. But on the way, their train is derailed by an avalanche. Her beau quickly proves he isn't the man she thought he was and her eye lights on the quiet doctor who's been traveling with them. He pulls it together and the small group of passengers struggles to survive until rescue. But they don't have much food with them and the snow is piled high making a rescue seem unlikely. And even if Lizzie does get home again, she's not sure what to do with her conflicting emotions.

Lizzie is an ok character. She seems pretty determined and can hold her own in an argument. I might even go as far as to say she's a strong female lead. Morgan on the other hand is a little too stoic, a little too quiet. He rushes in, takes over everything, yet still seems to be humble but he just doesn't read as believable. Whitley, the spineless one seems more of a real character to me. Not a particularly nice character, but believable nonetheless. And then there was the bird. I know it was supposed to be comic levity, but it was very odd to have a talkative bird character in the book.

The romance was very quick paced, as usual for Miller. The whole train thing was pretty exciting though and I like how she through some danger into the story. And I like that the characters still tried to keep the Christmas spirit as well. The only thing that really confused me on this book was the supernatural/spiritual element she threw in. I'm not sure why she decided to do this as it didn't really fit with the book. It wasn't written badly, it was just unusual. As this is a romance it alludes to some risque things, but theres nothing actually spelled out in this book.

An ok romance, a bit odd. At least it had the Christmas theme, which is appropriate for this season.

A McKettrick Christmas
Copyright 2008
280 pages

Review by M. Reynard 2011

I liked this book, but it wasn't one of Linda Lael Miller's greats. It was fun to revisit the historical McKettrick family, but unfortunately the story didn't included snips of everyone. This book stars Lizzy. Holt's daughter, who's returning from college in San Francisco to Indian Rock. She plans to be the new Schoolmarm, she brings with her, her beau Whitney Carson to meet her family and share the holidays. Dr. Morgan Shane is on his way to Indian Rock at the request of Lizzy's Uncle Jeb to be the towns new doctor. Little do they anyone realize that an unexpected catastrophe is waiting around the next bend that will redefine everyone's future. While I admired Lizzy's character, she was either whinning about Whitney, who was a whimp, or bossing everyone around and doing things caused trouble and endanger the others. All in the spirit of being helpful. Once Lizzy sees Dr Shane she starts find fault with everything about Whitney and fantizies about how attracted she is to Morgan.

While I thought this book to be written well, and it's always a pleasure to revisit one of my family favorites again, I would like to glimpsed a bit more of what the family has been doing and how they've continued to grow. For example, why was Lorelei at the hotel when it's Emmeline and her mother who own it. And, what happened to her and the sherrif? With the amazing strength and passion of all the McKettrick women why weren't they all at the hotel when Lizzy and the train passengers returned. All-in-all, it is a touching story about perseverance, determination, and a little Christmas miracle.

Love Linda Lael Miller. Love the MeKettick series. If you love western romance or romance try this series. You fall in love with all the McKettrick family.

I couldn't wait for this book to come out. I devoured it in 2 days. It brought back the memories of the series and tied them all together. How family sticks with family and coming to the rescue of a family member is tops. The way they survived in that train while waiting is a testament to peoples resolve. Linda Lael Miller is a fantastic writer and when I read her books I can visually see myself right there with the characters. It is a must read.

Linda takes us back to the revisit the McKettricks. Holt's daughter Lizzie is all grown up and the way home for Christmas. When her train derails she and her fellow passengers fight for survival. Warm and wonderful Christmas story with a bit of magic.

I loved this book. It was wonderful to go back to Indian Rock and the McKettricks ranch. I've enjoyed all the McKettricks books but the historical ones are my favorite. Hope LLM keeps bringing us stories from the McKettricks. I'll have to say the first one was my favorite though.
This is special because of the Christmas feel to it and the miracle of Christmas that we all enjoy hearing about.

Was a great addition to my collection. Really love these books..Always a pleasure to read!