Book Review: Big Sky Country by Linda Lael Miller

Set in the town of Parable, Montana, Big Sky Country'introduces a new slew of burly heroes and winsome heroines from best-selling romance author Linda Lael Miller. And having inhaled this book in prompt order, I can happily say that Millers on her game. Despite having a mark against it for not being set in Texas, my favourite setting for anything involving tasselled leather, deep fried breakfasts, and frenzied bursts of horse riding, Big Sky Country'is Miller through and through, and every time I pick up one of these books Im impressed by the degree to which the author clearly knows her audience. Sure, theres a formula to these books, but its a formula because it works.

Hutch and Slade (the latter named after a hero in one of his mothers favourite romance novels) are half-brothers, one the legitimate heir of the vast Whisper Creek Ranch, and the other the out-of-wedlock son whos never been formally acknowledged by his father, and whos grown up living in a trailer on the outskirts of town. Needless to say, theyre not exactly fine friends. So when their father passes away and leaves the ranch to both men, things start to heat up. Hutch, whos worked on the ranch his entire life, offers to buy out Slade, but Slade, now the town sheriff, decides that perhaps running a ranch mightnt be such a bad idea after all. Particularly if helps put Hutch in his place.

The two are part-way through drawing their battle lines when extra trouble crops up: trouble in the form of Jocelyn Kirk, the step-daughter of a man who fleeced half of the town out of their life savings. Slades immediately smitten, or at least as much as his gruff exterior will let him admit as muchbut Jocelyns got plenty of her own issues to work out before so much as looking his way. And then theres Hutch, with whom Jocelyn was close during her teen yearsoh, and the fact that Slades ex-wife is back on the scene.

Jocelyn, for her part, is returning to make amends for her step-fathers wrongdoing. Having made her fortune selling off her software development company, shes endeavouring to repay all of the townsfolk affected by her fathers greed, and to make a fresh start in the place she once called home. But memories in a country town are long, and Jocelyns efforts arent exactly being met with big smiles and open arms. But theres Hutch, her old school friend, and not to mention his brother, Sheriff Slade Barlow, whos more ubiquitous than biscuits and gravy.

You can just feel the drama, cant you? Big Sky Mountain'is all terrible dress sensesequins, pink cowboy boots and floofy dressesand comfort food (blueberry breakfast balls, anyone?), and I devoured it in the same manner that I would an episode of Passions'when I was in my teens. As in all of Millers books, each major character has a dark past that prevents them from being able to fall in love, and theres all manner of familial complexity to help keep the tension running on high. But like Passions, there are just a few things that have the reader in a bit of a you dont say? mindset.

Theres the fact that young Jocelyn has built up a software empire by learning lots of languages and sold it off for a gajillion dollars just like that. As someone married to a software engineer who runs his own business, welllets just say that were not quite gajillionaires yet. And then theres Jocelyns apparent desire to slough off her education and success to become a real estate agents receptionist. Im all for taking a brief sabbatical, but it seems odd to switch gears so drastically. And why are the towns animals all drawn to Jocelyn? At last count theres a dog, a cat (with kittens), and a horseperhaps shes moving in to become the towns new animal whisperer? Finally, well, not finally, but the last that Ill comment on, theres the giggle-worthy scene of the horse race challenge between the two brothers to decide wholl get the ranch. Although, admittedly, I did kind of love the sheer ridiculousness of it. Thats not a spoon! This is a spoon!

But the silliness is a constant reminder that Millers books are almost a pastiche of themselves, and there are plenty of winks to the reader that indicate that shes perfectly aware that shes working in a fantasy world.'Indeed, Millers writing is humorous and self-aware enough that youre happy to let these things slide until youve closed the book.

Rating: (very good)

With thanks to Meryl L Moss Media Relations for the review copy

Support Read in a Single Sitting by purchasing'Big Sky Country'from

Amazon'|'Book Depository UK'|'Book Depository USA'|'Booktopia

See our other Linda Lael Miller features and reviews

Other books by Linda Lael Miller: