Libby Kincaid returns to the ranch where she grew up, seeking solace after a devastating period in her life. Instead, she finds her greatest adversary, Jesse Barlowe, and realizes that no matter where she goes, loving him would always be part of the bargain.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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.'
This story was a GREAT disappointment. The story line was weak and the SEX was gratuitous! If Libby's nipples "perked up" one more time, I was going to throw up! A thread of the story would be lost and then the author would [almost]write "opps" and tie up the thread; example: Aaron shows up all of a sudden and leaves, just as suddenly! I had to check the copyright date on this book to see what happened to Ms. Miller, who is usually a favorite of mine. Copyright was 1985 so I am happy to report that she has definitely improved from 15 years ago. But, the experience taught me not to buy "everything" by an author...... The bad news is the book is just plain awful.......the good news is Ms. Miller writes very well these days.......love scenes are tasteful and balanced with the story and her stories are strong. Whew! I feel better getting this off my chest........ AVOID BUYING THIS PARTICULAR BOOK; WASTE OF YOUR MONEY!
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As an aspiring writer trying to get published I am in shock that something like this has actually found itself in print. This book is realy a series of soft core vignettes strung together in the guise of a story. The book's jacket promised much, the heart wrenching tale of a young woman, still raw from a divorce and the death of her stepson, returning home to heal and find solace on a beautiful ranch in Montana. But there really is very little story here, the characters are cariacatures, their motivations and behaviors wildly improbable, the type setting shoddy and the hero's name changing from Jess to Jerry inexplicably at one point. It really is a shame. The author definitely knows how to create mood and her descriptions are sometimes beautiful but the constant, repetitive sexual encounters become tedious because of their frequency and thus lose their power to move the reader.
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The chemistry between the hero and heroine is intense to say the least. You're guaranteed to read it in one sitting. Highly sensual. I enjoyed it so much that i read it again the day after i'd finished it. I just didn't want to let the characters go. Good one Linda!
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