Customer Reviews

Secondhand Bride (McKettrick Cowboys Trilogy #3)

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Jeb McKettrick is a wild one who never kept out of trouble. The story opens as he is running, literally, from one such example, a fiery heroine named Chloe. Chloe catches him between the bulkhouse and a pile of manure surrounded by angry chickens and the story explodes into action. We discover that the beautiful Chloe is actually Jeb's wife who was abandoned after one hour of marriage, discarded hastily once Jeb discovered she was already married. Chloe argued that he was her only husband and if he would just listen he would understand....but he is a man.

Generally I am a Regency only kind of gal, but I was desperate for something to read and this was sold in the hospital gift shop. Somehow this book was meant for me because I thought it was splendid. The cast of characters was so rich, I want to read the whole series. A definite good buy.

This was the perfect story for curling up on the sofa with a cozy blanket, and a sleeping cat or dog at your side. Jeb and Chloe's story was heartwarming.

I enjoyed that their story began after things between Jeb and Chloe had already become very developed. I felt as though I was thrust right into the story from the very beginning, and couldn't put it down for very long until the last page. Jeb and Chloe are head strong, yet you can't help but fall in love with them.

I'm looking forward to reading the other novels in this series. And I'm hoping that I will get a change to read Holt's story as well. He's such an interesting character, I think his would be a wounderful tale.

Arizona Territory, 1885

SECONDHAND BRIDE is the third book in the McKettrick Cowboy's series and it's a winner! Be sure to start the series with HIGH COUNTRY BRIDE, then SHOTGUN BRIDE, then SECONDHAND BRIDE and end with MCKETTRICK'S CHOICE!

I just love Linda Lael Miller. For the handful of books I've read of hers that I haven't cared for, there are ones like this that more than make up for it!! Who couldn't fall in love with Jeb and his carefree, reckless, wild ways? He reminded me of Jesse in the McKettrick contemporary series, and if I go back and look, it wouldn't surprise me if he's a descendant of Jeb's.

The book started out lively, and stayed that way until the end. Chloe was a perfect compliment to him and I loved the relationship between all the brothers, including Holt. Miller has such a way of writing that makes you feel as if you're living right back in those times too, and I love some of her phrases, such as when Jack wants to bait Lizzie with a doll, and Sue Ellen tells him that would be akin to teasing a wildcat with a stick. It gives you such a great insight into what these characters are really like.

I did, however, have just a couple problems with the storyline. First, if I remember correctly, in Shotgun Bride, Emmeline had a miscarriage somewhere in the story, and it was devastating to both her and Rafe. But yet, in Secondhand Bride, Angus keeps harping on his boys to produce grandchildren, wondering why nobody has. I thought that was just a tad callous, given what happened to Rafe and Emmeline. My second problem is that, while I know Miller likes to produce brave and strong heroines, but given that Jack knew where Chloe was, and that she was living alone in a little cottage at the edge of a barren little town, and knowing that he was after her, threatening her, frightening her, it just doesn't seem conceivable that she would have stayed there alone at night. And then slept. I can't imagine anyone being that brave, particularly when she knew how dangerous he was. And why was it that her and Jeb's divorce was going to take a year, but she divorced Jack much more quickly?

All in all, however, it was a really good read and I stayed up half the night to finish it. Being tired at work today was worth the read.

As a whole I liked the series. Haven't yet finished this one because it started dragging. Most of the time Mz. Miller's writing style and similes make for a colorful read. I've read several other of her books and I find all her characters sound alike. One could change the characters names and set them in a different town and situation and you have a new book, which can make for tedious reading. In my opinion, Jeb is more immature than the other brothers. He seems to have no plan for his life. I don't think much of Angus. What kind of father pits his three sons against each other for ownership rights of his ranch then expects respect? When I run out of anything to read, I'll may finish the book.

I've been used to reading much hotter romances as of late and wanted to throw something new into the to-read pile. This one met up to expectations since there's so much hype about Miller (and certainly earned hype at that).

The romance Jeb and Chloe enjoy isn't like what I've read recently where hormones are kicking the heroine's fanny and the hero reels her in with hot sex and promises of kink. The characters are still likeable, showing great appeal from the beginning. This book also has a well developed setting like I've come to expect from the 1800s and I felt drawn into the AZ territory.

Nice plot, great flow, and well developed characters. The only thing I'd have asked for is just a little more heat between the sheets.

I didn't read the other books in this series, but I enjoyed this one, and it wasn't hard to catch up on what had already happened. My only problem is that there wasn't nearly enough of the two main characters together. I liked the Holt and Lizzie side story, but it started to dominate the whole book. Then there were parts about Sue Ellen and the Jessup kids thrown in, and I was thinking, "what do I care about these people? I want to read about Jeb and Chloe!" The little they were together, I thought the banter was funny while waiting for them to get past their stubborness and realize they belong together.

As I kept reading this book it kept drifting to Holt. I was beginning to wonder who this book was about, Jeb or Holt? I kind of hoped Chloe & Holt would get together. Angus and his wife having a baby, I can't figure that one out as old as he was and as young as she was. That was a little unreal. I liked the chemistry between Jeb and Chloe. The children is this book were good secondary characters. Sometimes I think the author forgot she was writing about the late 1800's. There seemed to be a lot of modern day things in this book. Were there really bathrooms with hot and cold running water and toilets that flushed? Rodeos? Bronc riders? Really????

Secondhand Bride, the third book (following High Country Bride & Shotgun Bride) of four in the McKettrick Cowboy series, which tells the story of four brothers and their attempts to find wives and become fathers in order to inherit the Triple M Ranch.

So far this is my favorite book of the three! Secondhand Bride gives us Jeb's story and that of his love interest Chloe. I liked Jeb's "wild" character and understood his insecurities around being the "baby" brother and his need to establish himself as an independent man. Miller did a fine job of developing his character.

On the other hand, Chloe was a bit "pouty" to me, rather than the intended strong-willed and feisty character. One minute we find her holding a concerned and loving vigil at Jeb's bedside, and in the next scene she's refusing to speak to him again. Her fickle character seemed like a ploy to keep the feuding storyline going between she and Jeb. This and Holt's sudden and underdeveloped love interest in Chloe are minor flaws in the story.

Overall, though this is a story worth reading. It is well-written, with vivid details and descriptions, along with interesting characters. It is family-oriented, which I find quite appealing -- Miller continues to provide glimpses of the lives of previous main characters. And I absolutely love Lizzy, who is introduced to the story as Holt's daughter. She is a "woman-child" who stole my heart.

In fact, I am now reading McKettrick's Choice, which is the story of Holt, the eldest son. I'm hoping to find this story as intriguing as Secondhand Bride.

I needed this book for a present, couldn't find it at 3 bookstores. Then got home on my computer, Amazon did not disappoint me once again! I had it in my hands 2 days later in time for giving! And the price was of course cheaper than the stores!