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McKettricks #2
Shotgun Bride
One special lady will help this cowboy lawman win his father's ranch -- and steal his heart in the bargain....
Kade McKettrick's got five mail-order brides-to-be camped out at the local hotel, all more than eager to provide him with the heir that will win him the Triple M ranch. But Kade, the newly appointed marshal, has his hands full with a troublesome outlaw gang. Why, then, is he so easily distracted by pretty "Sister Mandy" -- who most assuredly is not the nun she claims to be?
On the run from her outlaw stepfather, Mandy Sperrin hides beneath her solemn disguise, and vows to keep her wild, passionate nature from the respectable citizens of Indian Rock. Yet when the handsome marshal makes it clear that he wants her, Mandy gives in to her heated desires....
Despite the secrets that may lure them both perilously close to danger, Kade knows that proposing marriage may be the only way to keep this spirited woman by his side. But are her ties to a shadowed past more threatening -- and closer -- than Kade knows? His strong, sensual embrace may charm Mandy's wild heart -- but will she surrender to a lifetime of his deep and powerful love?
Kade McKettrick's got five mail-order brides-to-be camped out at the local hotel, all more than eager to provide him with the heir that will win him the Triple M ranch. But Kade, the newly appointed marshal, has his hands full with a troublesome outlaw gang. Why, then, is he so easily distracted by pretty "Sister Mandy" -- who most assuredly is not the nun she claims to be?
On the run from her outlaw stepfather, Mandy Sperrin hides beneath her solemn disguise, and vows to keep her wild, passionate nature from the respectable citizens of Indian Rock. Yet when the handsome marshal makes it clear that he wants her, Mandy gives in to her heated desires....
Despite the secrets that may lure them both perilously close to danger, Kade knows that proposing marriage may be the only way to keep this spirited woman by his side. But are her ties to a shadowed past more threatening -- and closer -- than Kade knows? His strong, sensual embrace may charm Mandy's wild heart -- but will she surrender to a lifetime of his deep and powerful love?
448 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2003
About the author
Linda Lael Miller
493 books3,119 followersThe daughter of a town marshal, Linda Lael Miller is a #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 100 historical and contemporary novels, most of which reflect her love of the West. Raised in Northport, Washington, Linda pursued her wanderlust, living in London and Arizona and traveling the world before returning to the state of her birth to settle down on a spacious property outside Spokane.
Linda 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 sold Fletcher’s Woman in 1983 to Pocket Books. Since then, Linda has successfully published historicals, contemporaries, paranormals, mysteries and thrillers before coming home, in a literal sense, and concentrating on novels with a Western flavor. For her devotion to her craft, the Romance Writers of America awarded her their prestigious Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Long a passionate Civil War buff, Linda has studied the era avidly for almost thirty years. She has read literally hundreds of books on the subject, explored numerous battlegrounds and made many visits to her favorite, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where she has witnessed re-enactments of the legendary clash between North and South. Linda explores that turbulent time in The Yankee Widow, a May 7, 2019 MIRA Books hardcover, also available in digital and audiobook formats.
Dedicated to helping others, “The First Lady of the West” personally financed fifteen years of her Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women, which she awarded to women 25 years and older who were seeking to improve their lot in life through education. She anticipates that her next charitable endeavors will benefit four-legged critters.
More information about Linda and her novels is available at www.lindalaelmiller.com, on Facebook and from Nancy Berland Public Relations, [email protected], 405-206-4748.
Linda 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 sold Fletcher’s Woman in 1983 to Pocket Books. Since then, Linda has successfully published historicals, contemporaries, paranormals, mysteries and thrillers before coming home, in a literal sense, and concentrating on novels with a Western flavor. For her devotion to her craft, the Romance Writers of America awarded her their prestigious Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Long a passionate Civil War buff, Linda has studied the era avidly for almost thirty years. She has read literally hundreds of books on the subject, explored numerous battlegrounds and made many visits to her favorite, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where she has witnessed re-enactments of the legendary clash between North and South. Linda explores that turbulent time in The Yankee Widow, a May 7, 2019 MIRA Books hardcover, also available in digital and audiobook formats.
Dedicated to helping others, “The First Lady of the West” personally financed fifteen years of her Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women, which she awarded to women 25 years and older who were seeking to improve their lot in life through education. She anticipates that her next charitable endeavors will benefit four-legged critters.
More information about Linda and her novels is available at www.lindalaelmiller.com, on Facebook and from Nancy Berland Public Relations, [email protected], 405-206-4748.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
December 20, 2016
Western romance is currently my favorite genre and Linda Lael Miller is hailed as one of the best, however I struggle to get into her books. I finished this one with a huge amount of skimming.
The story is crammed with characters and plot and there really isn't much romance. Most of the time there is so much going on that I found it impossible to relate to each person and subplot.
The hero and heroine never seem to connect emotionally. In the first third of the book they don't have much to do with each other, and even after they decide to marry, they seem to spend more time fighting each other than falling in love.
I found neither the hero or the heroine particularly likeable. The hero starts interesting enough, a man who is in competition with his brothers - their father has degreed that the first to marry and produce a grandchild will inherit the family properties: ranch, investments, mines.
The hero returns into town after a long trip to find six mail order brides waiting for him. The details of how these women arrived is never made clear, but the hero did send for them, paying a fee to an agency, and he admits to being absent minded and perhaps sending off for several brides.
It seems odd that there was no correspondence between him and any of the prospective brides, but let's assume the hero wrote to the agencies saying "I'm in a hurry, dispense with the formalities, just send a bride to me here in the Arizona Territory".
When he is faced with this group of prospective wifes in the local restaurant, patiently waiting for him to return, the ladies introduce themselves to him. Dismayed, the hero pays them no attention. He refuses to even look at them as individuals, regarding them as just a gaggle of silly women. Not making any effort to sort out the mess he has created, he goes off to his family's ranch and ignores the women, as if they were nothing to do with him.
This really made me furious with him. These women, presumably good and sincere, have left behind everything familiar and undertaken a long and strenuous journey, risking their future, in the hope of forging a happy marriage with a stranger. They are all willing to work hard to be what they promised to be - a wife, a homemaker, and a mother should that happen.
Most likely, these women have no money - the groom's fee to the agency would have covered the cost of their passage - and no place to go. In those days there were few jobs for women. Women either had to marry, or be a strain on their relatives. I imagine these brides came West because they had no relatives willing or able to support them. I also assume that they had a contract with the matrimonial agency and need the hero to sort out the situation, formally releasing them from the obligation, as obviously he can only marry one - although he clearly is not interested in marrying any of them.
A honorable man would have faced the brides, expressed his sincere apologies for the misunderstanding. He would have released them from any obligation toward him or the agency, and offered to pay for their return passage, or provided enough funds to tie them over while they looked for employment or found another man to marry. The hero does none of it. To the contrary, he belittles these women, even setting them up in a phony cooking competition to let them prove which one of them would make the best wife.
The women are portrayed as foolish because they let him treat them so badly. Yet what choice did these ladies have? They have left their homes, are stranded without money in a place that offers women few roles but that of a wife or a whore. And, being honest citizens, they are also bound to worry about their obligation toward the agency that provided the funds for their passage.
It is never explained what took place when these women arrived in town. How did they find out the hero was away on a trip? Did they go to his home to look for him? Why did the hero's father (who set the whole must-get-to-married business in motion) not invite these women to stay at the family ranch, waiting for the hero to return and sort it out? The hero's family is portrayed as very rich, with the largest ranch in the territory and other investments, cash and mines. Why do they choose to leave these women destitute instead of looking after them?
To save money, the brides are staying in a boarding house. The hero goes over to make a contribution toward their costs. He is horrified to see the place - a squalid house, furnished with cast-offs, walls papered with old newspapers. He feels desperately sorry for the owner, a woman married to an abusive drunkard and forced to work part time as a prostitute to make ends meet. And yet the hero spares no thought to the brides that his actions have forced to live in this place. The brides are potentially exposed to violence from the abusive husband and have their reputations tarnished from living in a place run by a prostitute, but the hero doesn't care a damn.
The heroine too sees these women silly because they accept this treatment. She is in the run herself, but faring better because (a) she is willing to steal and lie (b) she is lucky enough find people prepared to take her in and help her.
Why is it that women who behave like normal women, with some level of good manners and a conventional moral code, are seen as foolish and simpering? Why is it that to deserve love and happiness a woman must be the daughter of a prostitute or an outlaw, and feisty enough to fight with the hero and be ready "to claw the eyes out" from anyone who tries to put her down?
Another thing that annoyed me was the lack of realism about the heroine's disguise. She steals a nun's habit from the nuns who have taken her in and goes to work in a hotel, still dressed as a nun. And somehow everyone believes she really is a nun. No one seems to wonder why she is not in a convent or why she has no interest in religion. It just does not make sense.
The writing is engaging and some of the dialogue excellent, however the author seems much better at portraying hate and bitterness than showing attraction and togetherness. The hero's friction with his half brother is very powerful, and to me the half brother is by far the most interesting character in the book.
So, in sort, too much going on, the romance never front and center, an annoying heroine and a hero who acts with a total lack of honor toward other women, something I find impossible to forgive.
The story is crammed with characters and plot and there really isn't much romance. Most of the time there is so much going on that I found it impossible to relate to each person and subplot.
The hero and heroine never seem to connect emotionally. In the first third of the book they don't have much to do with each other, and even after they decide to marry, they seem to spend more time fighting each other than falling in love.
I found neither the hero or the heroine particularly likeable. The hero starts interesting enough, a man who is in competition with his brothers - their father has degreed that the first to marry and produce a grandchild will inherit the family properties: ranch, investments, mines.
The hero returns into town after a long trip to find six mail order brides waiting for him. The details of how these women arrived is never made clear, but the hero did send for them, paying a fee to an agency, and he admits to being absent minded and perhaps sending off for several brides.
It seems odd that there was no correspondence between him and any of the prospective brides, but let's assume the hero wrote to the agencies saying "I'm in a hurry, dispense with the formalities, just send a bride to me here in the Arizona Territory".
When he is faced with this group of prospective wifes in the local restaurant, patiently waiting for him to return, the ladies introduce themselves to him. Dismayed, the hero pays them no attention. He refuses to even look at them as individuals, regarding them as just a gaggle of silly women. Not making any effort to sort out the mess he has created, he goes off to his family's ranch and ignores the women, as if they were nothing to do with him.
This really made me furious with him. These women, presumably good and sincere, have left behind everything familiar and undertaken a long and strenuous journey, risking their future, in the hope of forging a happy marriage with a stranger. They are all willing to work hard to be what they promised to be - a wife, a homemaker, and a mother should that happen.
Most likely, these women have no money - the groom's fee to the agency would have covered the cost of their passage - and no place to go. In those days there were few jobs for women. Women either had to marry, or be a strain on their relatives. I imagine these brides came West because they had no relatives willing or able to support them. I also assume that they had a contract with the matrimonial agency and need the hero to sort out the situation, formally releasing them from the obligation, as obviously he can only marry one - although he clearly is not interested in marrying any of them.
A honorable man would have faced the brides, expressed his sincere apologies for the misunderstanding. He would have released them from any obligation toward him or the agency, and offered to pay for their return passage, or provided enough funds to tie them over while they looked for employment or found another man to marry. The hero does none of it. To the contrary, he belittles these women, even setting them up in a phony cooking competition to let them prove which one of them would make the best wife.
The women are portrayed as foolish because they let him treat them so badly. Yet what choice did these ladies have? They have left their homes, are stranded without money in a place that offers women few roles but that of a wife or a whore. And, being honest citizens, they are also bound to worry about their obligation toward the agency that provided the funds for their passage.
It is never explained what took place when these women arrived in town. How did they find out the hero was away on a trip? Did they go to his home to look for him? Why did the hero's father (who set the whole must-get-to-married business in motion) not invite these women to stay at the family ranch, waiting for the hero to return and sort it out? The hero's family is portrayed as very rich, with the largest ranch in the territory and other investments, cash and mines. Why do they choose to leave these women destitute instead of looking after them?
To save money, the brides are staying in a boarding house. The hero goes over to make a contribution toward their costs. He is horrified to see the place - a squalid house, furnished with cast-offs, walls papered with old newspapers. He feels desperately sorry for the owner, a woman married to an abusive drunkard and forced to work part time as a prostitute to make ends meet. And yet the hero spares no thought to the brides that his actions have forced to live in this place. The brides are potentially exposed to violence from the abusive husband and have their reputations tarnished from living in a place run by a prostitute, but the hero doesn't care a damn.
The heroine too sees these women silly because they accept this treatment. She is in the run herself, but faring better because (a) she is willing to steal and lie (b) she is lucky enough find people prepared to take her in and help her.
Why is it that women who behave like normal women, with some level of good manners and a conventional moral code, are seen as foolish and simpering? Why is it that to deserve love and happiness a woman must be the daughter of a prostitute or an outlaw, and feisty enough to fight with the hero and be ready "to claw the eyes out" from anyone who tries to put her down?
Another thing that annoyed me was the lack of realism about the heroine's disguise. She steals a nun's habit from the nuns who have taken her in and goes to work in a hotel, still dressed as a nun. And somehow everyone believes she really is a nun. No one seems to wonder why she is not in a convent or why she has no interest in religion. It just does not make sense.
The writing is engaging and some of the dialogue excellent, however the author seems much better at portraying hate and bitterness than showing attraction and togetherness. The hero's friction with his half brother is very powerful, and to me the half brother is by far the most interesting character in the book.
So, in sort, too much going on, the romance never front and center, an annoying heroine and a hero who acts with a total lack of honor toward other women, something I find impossible to forgive.
July 2, 2018
Love this book & series! Historical romance done right! Stubborn, hot alpha cowboys with heart meet their match in sassy heroines with a backbone. In Shotgun Bride, Kade McKettrick matches wits with Sister Mandy...Sister?? Yeah, right! lol Dynamic characters, snarky humor, romance, and great writing all add up to a fantastic heartfelt story/series! A Must Read!
April 27, 2012
While I do love this family, I did not care for this book all that much. It was necessary to read because of all the side stories going on, and to set up the next book (Jeb's book). But I was so disappointed in Kade's story. I felt like he deserved better than Mandy and their love toward one another felt forced. I never did start to like Mandy.
On to Jeb's book... I'm looking forward to finding out what he's been up to!
On to Jeb's book... I'm looking forward to finding out what he's been up to!
August 14, 2012
I have to reiterate what I said about the first book of the McKettrick's series. Kade could have been one hell of a hero but the book fell short. Mandy was ok, very high strung and spunky once the habit came off. I guess maybe I just like more steam and romance in my stories.
This is the second I have read by LLM and I was certainly hoping of more romance than I am getting. I would consider this book more historical fiction than romance. as there is little to none through out the book.
This is the second I have read by LLM and I was certainly hoping of more romance than I am getting. I would consider this book more historical fiction than romance. as there is little to none through out the book.
May 26, 2021
This was a great story for the McKettricks family. I love the way these brothers go after what they want with everything they have in them. The outrageous ways they attempt things is foolish sometimes but still makes for a great story. I enjoyed the secrets that came out about sister Mandy and her family. The gang of mail order brides was entertaining, but I would like to have seen more happen with them.
I am enjoying this series on audible. The narration is really good.
I am enjoying this series on audible. The narration is really good.
January 9, 2011
4 1/2 stars This second installment in the stories of the four McKettrick brothers and their brides delivered plenty of action and suspense along with the romance between temporary town Marshal Kade and Mandy, the woman on the run from outlaws who is posing as a nun. There is a lot going on with a variety of bad guys, stolen money that puts the McKettrick ranch at risk, numerous murders, loved ones who are dying, and someone trying to start a range war. Through all this, Kade and Mandy slowly build a relationship based first on attraction, then passion, and then love, all the while painstakingly learning to trust each other.
While this is definitely a historical romance, there are all kinds of relationship stories being told. The brothers learning to fully appreciate each other and becoming true friends as they mature out of some of their sibling rivalry (some -- they have a ways to go). There is also a theme of losing loved ones both in the past and in the present. This is a subject that Miller frequently writes and here she does so with her usual skill, adding poignancy and a her brand of quiet spirituality to the at times brawling action going on.
Mandy is as spirited and strong minded as her sister-in-law, Emmeline but comes from a much rougher background. Raised by a mother who had "men" but not husbands and who couldn't protect her children from their abuse, forced to steal as a youngster, able to trust only her wild, unpredictable half-brother, Mandy is not only hiding for her life but trying to figure out what life she wants to live. When not pretending to be a nun, she takes pride in her ability to ride and shoot better than most men, even challenging Kade to a horse race. Always a tomboy, she does come to see the attraction of being more womanly once she and Kade begin to fall in love. Her rough edges smooth out a bit, but she does not back down from taking an equal role in helping Kade find the outlaws causing so much mayhem in their area. I liked that she knew she was an asset to Kade's efforts and didn't accept the woman's role of waiting at home. I liked it even better when Kade finally accepted that about her and could value her strengths as a partner in his life.
Kade is a typical McKettrick -- strong, dependable and courageous but also often arrogant, sure he is right and quick tempered. For a smart man, his wooing and courtship were at times outrageous and dim-witted, which provided some comic relief. I did have a bit of a problem with him being described repeatedly in the first book and several times in this one as the intellectual of the family. He definitely was well read and educated, but I just didn't see that much of a brainiac side of him other than a couple times when he read or thought fondly of his books. Otherwise, he spoke just like any of the other cowboys -- not wasting breath on a lot of words, often gruff and not one to discuss feelings. Even his internal dialogue seemed pretty stoic and laconic.
All the McKettrick men are fun to watch together, needling each other, and kicking each other's butts if they think one needs an attitude adjustment (or just for fun). Humor arises throughout the story simply from everyone being themselves -- warts and all. The McKettricks and their women are larger than life at times but always with all too human flaws and very human needs for belonging, forgiveness and love. They feel like real people I've come to know and enjoy. I'm glad there are two more books in this series because I'd hate to say good-bye. Happily, at the end of Shotgun Bride, Jeb's wife Chloe shows up, promising to be even more of a force of nature than Emmeline or Mandy. I can't wait to read the continuing saga.
While this is definitely a historical romance, there are all kinds of relationship stories being told. The brothers learning to fully appreciate each other and becoming true friends as they mature out of some of their sibling rivalry (some -- they have a ways to go). There is also a theme of losing loved ones both in the past and in the present. This is a subject that Miller frequently writes and here she does so with her usual skill, adding poignancy and a her brand of quiet spirituality to the at times brawling action going on.
Mandy is as spirited and strong minded as her sister-in-law, Emmeline but comes from a much rougher background. Raised by a mother who had "men" but not husbands and who couldn't protect her children from their abuse, forced to steal as a youngster, able to trust only her wild, unpredictable half-brother, Mandy is not only hiding for her life but trying to figure out what life she wants to live. When not pretending to be a nun, she takes pride in her ability to ride and shoot better than most men, even challenging Kade to a horse race. Always a tomboy, she does come to see the attraction of being more womanly once she and Kade begin to fall in love. Her rough edges smooth out a bit, but she does not back down from taking an equal role in helping Kade find the outlaws causing so much mayhem in their area. I liked that she knew she was an asset to Kade's efforts and didn't accept the woman's role of waiting at home. I liked it even better when Kade finally accepted that about her and could value her strengths as a partner in his life.
Kade is a typical McKettrick -- strong, dependable and courageous but also often arrogant, sure he is right and quick tempered. For a smart man, his wooing and courtship were at times outrageous and dim-witted, which provided some comic relief. I did have a bit of a problem with him being described repeatedly in the first book and several times in this one as the intellectual of the family. He definitely was well read and educated, but I just didn't see that much of a brainiac side of him other than a couple times when he read or thought fondly of his books. Otherwise, he spoke just like any of the other cowboys -- not wasting breath on a lot of words, often gruff and not one to discuss feelings. Even his internal dialogue seemed pretty stoic and laconic.
All the McKettrick men are fun to watch together, needling each other, and kicking each other's butts if they think one needs an attitude adjustment (or just for fun). Humor arises throughout the story simply from everyone being themselves -- warts and all. The McKettricks and their women are larger than life at times but always with all too human flaws and very human needs for belonging, forgiveness and love. They feel like real people I've come to know and enjoy. I'm glad there are two more books in this series because I'd hate to say good-bye. Happily, at the end of Shotgun Bride, Jeb's wife Chloe shows up, promising to be even more of a force of nature than Emmeline or Mandy. I can't wait to read the continuing saga.
April 17, 2022
Good western, cowboy romance...second in the series.
February 12, 2009
I would read this book again. It is fun and engaging. Kade is a man needing to get married and have a child before his brothers, to win the ranch. He is determined and has sent away for mail order brides. Yet when he gets home from finding his little brother he runs into Mandy. Mandy is hideing out from her step father by posing as a nun. Kade sees right through her diguise and is drawn to her. While trying to figure out what is going on after a settler's home is burned, the town sherrif has a heart attack and Kade must take over the job. Between the brides, Mandy, sherriffing, his brothers, his father, and all that is happening, these things add up for a rousing story that will be hard for you to forget. Their love story is touching and yet Mandy isn't the simmpering type at all, which I liked. Any woman that can beat her man in a horse race and can out shoot him gets my vote.
January 9, 2009
This book made me laugh. Kade and his 5 mail-order brides plus his new feelings for "Sister" Mandy made this book fun. Loved it!
June 30, 2012
In this second book of the series, we find Kade McKettrick attempting to follow in his brother's footsteps and has requested a "few" mail order brides. He has also become suspicious of the Sister Amanda Rose, the nun working at the Arizona Hotel. Something tells him that she may not be a member of the religious order.
I finally get that the McKettrick men are all pretty stubborn and pigheaded but their hearts seem to be in the right place. Kade is the more learned of the family, which makes him a bit more thoughtful and measured in his actions, which he needed with someone like Mandy. She's a real spitfire and they had an immediate connection. Unlike Rafe, Kade was more willing to move forward with expressing his feelings and I liked him a lot more.
There was also quite a bit of action in this story with outside forces trying to leverage the tension between Holt and the McKettrick brothers. With the Triple M ranch at risk, the brothers move forward at least a step towards a more harmonious relationship.
I enjoyed this book, full of humor, sadness and intrigue. Miller seems to have captured the tone and spirit of the territory and era, so much so that I felt immersed in the story. I'm looking forward to the next book.
I finally get that the McKettrick men are all pretty stubborn and pigheaded but their hearts seem to be in the right place. Kade is the more learned of the family, which makes him a bit more thoughtful and measured in his actions, which he needed with someone like Mandy. She's a real spitfire and they had an immediate connection. Unlike Rafe, Kade was more willing to move forward with expressing his feelings and I liked him a lot more.
There was also quite a bit of action in this story with outside forces trying to leverage the tension between Holt and the McKettrick brothers. With the Triple M ranch at risk, the brothers move forward at least a step towards a more harmonious relationship.
I enjoyed this book, full of humor, sadness and intrigue. Miller seems to have captured the tone and spirit of the territory and era, so much so that I felt immersed in the story. I'm looking forward to the next book.
December 12, 2016
There are some real grin worthy moments in this one. So far I have to say that I've liked this one the best.
January 21, 2020
Nice story. Quick read. No thinking.
November 4, 2020
Definitely what I needed in this election time, such a pallet cleanser. It was everything I wanted from a historical romance, compelling characters, an interesting problem that the main character face and a cute love story. I especially enjoyed the side character Emmeline, thought she often was a voice of reason and said what Mandy needed to hear. I have an urge to read more Western romance
October 1, 2018
A bit of a disappointment. I thought this would be my favorite McKettrick story. Kade was supposed to be "bookish" and wise, kind of the strong beta hero I like so much. But Kade thought and acted just like his hot-headed self-centered brothers. No sign of higher intelligence or character anywhere.
The plot was weak and characters kind of boring too. I think I am.done with this series.
The plot was weak and characters kind of boring too. I think I am.done with this series.
Shelved as 'not-finished'
June 9, 2024DNF at 60%
I might come back and finish it. The plot overtook the romance. There was a lot going on and I didn't believe that Mandy and Kade could have developed feelings for each other.
I might come back and finish it. The plot overtook the romance. There was a lot going on and I didn't believe that Mandy and Kade could have developed feelings for each other.
July 12, 2011
It's hit or miss with Linda Lael Miller sometimes. While I liked the idea of the plot of this novel, unfortunately, it just wasn't carried out well nor were its characters compelling.
Kade McKettrick, after returning with his lost brother to his home town and family ranch, finds a surprise waiting for him in the form of 6 mail order brides. They all have their qualities for sure, but his attention is drawn to Sister Mandy, a woman he's sure isn't a nun. But she has secrets of her own and seems to be tied in the crimes that have been happening around the area, the lead of which is a giant robbery and murder. Could Mandy know more than she claims?
The characters weren't the greatest in this book. The side characters were ok, but I wasn't impressed with the rest of them. All of their motivations weren't very believable and Mandy especially had some strange goings on. She tried too hard to be independent or a rebel. Her brother Cree was also very unbelievable and had too much of a mood switch and motivation change. Kade McKettrick was kind of a jerk and as the main male lead, I didn't really enjoy reading about him.
The plot had promise and was filled with plenty of excitement, but the lackluster characters mellowed it down so it didn't live up to its potential. You would think a book with robberies, gun flights, and dangerous people milling about would have been better. Since this is a romance I do have to comment on the fact that there are sex scenes in this book. If this is not your cup of tea I suggest you stay away from all of Miller's books as they all contain this feature. Her writing is easy to read though; she doesn't get too verbose and usually her characters are compellingly done.
I will keep reading the series, but I'm not as eager to start on the next one as I was before.
Shotgun Bride
Copyright 2003
432 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2011
Shelved as 'not-for-me-dnf'
February 9, 2017This book has all I could wish for: cute yet strong and mysterious heroine, super cool Cowboy-Sheriff hero (who is in love with his sister-in-law, which might put me off a bit), Wild West setting; and I like the Cowboy slang Linda Lael Miller is using. Yet - I can not connect with the protagonists. Don't know why. I am bored to tears, sorry. I read 167 of 420 pages, not sure if I should be proud of myself for being so patient or whine about the wasted time.
March 26, 2008
Shotgun Bride was a bit more interesting than the previous book in the series. The addition of a semi-suspense plot really added to the story as a whole and made it much more interesting to read.
Kade is a fabulous character. He's got so many dimensions. On one hand, he's a rough and tumble rancher and bad boy, but on the other hand, he's a bit of an intellectual. Mandy is a good character as well. She's pretty much the antithesis of the typical proper miss. Together, they have a great chemistry. I enjoyed reading about them.
As for the story as a whole, and the plot, it was pretty good. I didn't have as much trouble reading this book as I did the last one. The threats and the tension added a whole other dimension to the story that made it more well-rounded. Also, the further storyline of Holt and his existence was a good addition. And John and Becky's small side-story was sad, but interesting. Even so, I can't say this was a top-notch book. It was good, but I've read better.
Kade is a fabulous character. He's got so many dimensions. On one hand, he's a rough and tumble rancher and bad boy, but on the other hand, he's a bit of an intellectual. Mandy is a good character as well. She's pretty much the antithesis of the typical proper miss. Together, they have a great chemistry. I enjoyed reading about them.
As for the story as a whole, and the plot, it was pretty good. I didn't have as much trouble reading this book as I did the last one. The threats and the tension added a whole other dimension to the story that made it more well-rounded. Also, the further storyline of Holt and his existence was a good addition. And John and Becky's small side-story was sad, but interesting. Even so, I can't say this was a top-notch book. It was good, but I've read better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2011
This is the second book in the trilogy, the first being, "High Country Bride". I gave the latter 3-1/2 stars, though most reviewers ranked it higher. But I actually liked this one better -- overall. It is well written, with descriptions so vivid you can imagine being in that place and time. There was a lot happening in the story that kept me wanting to read to see how things unfolded. And I liked the storyline, though as one reviewer has suggested, due to the volume of detail, some editing could have been done without compromising the story.
However, the larger issue for me was that there was no chemistry between Kade and Mandy. Their characters were not developed enough where we could understand how or even when they fell in love. And the so-called romantic scenes were entirely lacking.
Having said that I still found it an engaging read and since I've read the first two,I do plan to read the third in the series.
However, the larger issue for me was that there was no chemistry between Kade and Mandy. Their characters were not developed enough where we could understand how or even when they fell in love. And the so-called romantic scenes were entirely lacking.
Having said that I still found it an engaging read and since I've read the first two,I do plan to read the third in the series.
February 3, 2013
A solid 3.5 actually.
My first by this author, I was in the mood for a western but didn't expect such a fun read from the classic western era so I was pleasantly surprised.
This is book 2 of the series and I was fine reading out of order, tho the epilogue set the stage for the next book of the series it was also a good place to end this one. Patriarch Angus McKettrick has decided its past time for his sons to marry and reproduce! For this outing it is middle brother Kade's turn as his attention turns to Sister Mandy Sterrin. This relaxing read encompasses the classic western, romance and a bit of a mystery and suspense as the threat of a range war looms. The cavalry has been robbed and murdered as they carried in the payroll and there are cattle thieves! That kept the action moving.
I was entertained with the charm of the story, the characters, the flow of the plot and found it easy to get into and follow through. I'll add this genre to my lists.
My first by this author, I was in the mood for a western but didn't expect such a fun read from the classic western era so I was pleasantly surprised.
This is book 2 of the series and I was fine reading out of order, tho the epilogue set the stage for the next book of the series it was also a good place to end this one. Patriarch Angus McKettrick has decided its past time for his sons to marry and reproduce! For this outing it is middle brother Kade's turn as his attention turns to Sister Mandy Sterrin. This relaxing read encompasses the classic western, romance and a bit of a mystery and suspense as the threat of a range war looms. The cavalry has been robbed and murdered as they carried in the payroll and there are cattle thieves! That kept the action moving.
I was entertained with the charm of the story, the characters, the flow of the plot and found it easy to get into and follow through. I'll add this genre to my lists.
April 6, 2016
I laugh a lot reading Kade's book! Plus, I definitely love the fact that heroine's name is similar with mine. Haha.
Can't wait to read the next stories because I can tell this series is going to be awesome!
Can't wait to read the next stories because I can tell this series is going to be awesome!
June 15, 2018
This book was full of surprises. Full of humor. Full of sorrow. I really liked this book.
May 11, 2019
Loving this series so far as a whole, but I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first one. It had a few dull moments but it won’t stop me from continuing. I can’t wait for jeb and Chloe next!
September 28, 2017
Still enjoying this light series. I think the author did better with her character consistency and plot this go around. This book centers around Kade McKettrick, who returns home after finding and retrieving his younger brother Jeb (who may or may not have gotten married while he was gone). Kade returns to find about six women waiting for him awaiting his pick to make one of them his bride. (he put an ad for a mail order bride). Be he was inexplicably drawn to the strange young nun named Mandy Sperrin.
Mandy was obviously not a nun (her disguise fooled no one) and one of the few illogical points was why she was persisting with the disguise, especially when her step-father Gig Cully found her. He's an outlaw and was causing problems between the McKettrick's and Holt Cavanaugh (making them think the other was sabotaging them).
John Lewis is the sheriff and is in love with Becky. They planned to be married (he didn't care about her past). But he suffered a heart attack. Kade got him to the Doc and temporarily pinned on the sheriff's badge to fill in. John asked Kade to send for her daughter Chloe; he knew he didn't have much time.
The Army sent the McKettrick's $50,000 for cattle, but it never made it. The men had been murdered and the money taken. The McKettrick's would be ruined without it. They caught Gig but he wouldn't talk. Then the outlaws showed up and tried to have him killed. Emmeline was there and lost her baby. And later that same night John Lewis died. AND that same night Kade and Mandy consummated their relationship.
Kade and Mandy got married. Her half Indian brother Cree showed up. Turned out he had turned bad and Kade realized he was now leading the outlaws. Angus was shot in the back but survived. Conception was pregnant. Kade and Mandy hunted the outlaws down and Mandy killed Cree to save Kade.
Mandy and Kade tracked down Mandy's mother Dixie and Mandy got to say goodbye before she died. Mandy and Kade returned home and Angus gave them the house to live and run.
Book ends with Jeb running from a woman who turns out to be Chloe (I totally saw this coming). We assume she's his wife.
The characters are still very reliant on the plot... their actions and reactions don't always seem authentic but are driven by the story. Still, I dont' mind. Fun easy read. Looking forward to Jeb's story.
Mandy was obviously not a nun (her disguise fooled no one) and one of the few illogical points was why she was persisting with the disguise, especially when her step-father Gig Cully found her. He's an outlaw and was causing problems between the McKettrick's and Holt Cavanaugh (making them think the other was sabotaging them).
John Lewis is the sheriff and is in love with Becky. They planned to be married (he didn't care about her past). But he suffered a heart attack. Kade got him to the Doc and temporarily pinned on the sheriff's badge to fill in. John asked Kade to send for her daughter Chloe; he knew he didn't have much time.
The Army sent the McKettrick's $50,000 for cattle, but it never made it. The men had been murdered and the money taken. The McKettrick's would be ruined without it. They caught Gig but he wouldn't talk. Then the outlaws showed up and tried to have him killed. Emmeline was there and lost her baby. And later that same night John Lewis died. AND that same night Kade and Mandy consummated their relationship.
Kade and Mandy got married. Her half Indian brother Cree showed up. Turned out he had turned bad and Kade realized he was now leading the outlaws. Angus was shot in the back but survived. Conception was pregnant. Kade and Mandy hunted the outlaws down and Mandy killed Cree to save Kade.
Mandy and Kade tracked down Mandy's mother Dixie and Mandy got to say goodbye before she died. Mandy and Kade returned home and Angus gave them the house to live and run.
Book ends with Jeb running from a woman who turns out to be Chloe (I totally saw this coming). We assume she's his wife.
The characters are still very reliant on the plot... their actions and reactions don't always seem authentic but are driven by the story. Still, I dont' mind. Fun easy read. Looking forward to Jeb's story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2017
Kade McKettrick and Amanda Rose/Sister Mandy
Mandy comes into town disguised as a nun in order to hide her true identity. Kade eventually figures it out that they've met before and it wasn't under the best of circumstances. Things pick up right after the end of book 1. Sheriff John has a heart attack and Kade is now the new law in town. Trouble is all over the place in Indian Rock and the McKettrick's are being blamed. The money that they were expected was robbed and the patrol making the delivery were all slaughtered. Now to find the outlaws.
There was a whole mess of things going on in this story. Kade has always been a rancher but when he becomes the law, his eyes are opened to all that is going on in front of him the whole time. Front and center is Mandy and he can't help but tease and ruffle her feathers. I love the race that she challenges him with and the deal they strike. There wasn't much courting in this story but you can tell they have eyes for one another and there is more to someone than what you see. I think they discover that about each other over the story and slowly fell in love.
The turf war the two outlaws were trying to create caused a lot of people to get killed in this story. The brides were still there and Kade has a little fun with them. The brothers are still pitted against each other and things are definitely getting interesting. overall it was a good story but very light on the romance.
There were many new characters introduced into this story
Mandy comes into town disguised as a nun in order to hide her true identity. Kade eventually figures it out that they've met before and it wasn't under the best of circumstances. Things pick up right after the end of book 1. Sheriff John has a heart attack and Kade is now the new law in town. Trouble is all over the place in Indian Rock and the McKettrick's are being blamed. The money that they were expected was robbed and the patrol making the delivery were all slaughtered. Now to find the outlaws.
There was a whole mess of things going on in this story. Kade has always been a rancher but when he becomes the law, his eyes are opened to all that is going on in front of him the whole time. Front and center is Mandy and he can't help but tease and ruffle her feathers. I love the race that she challenges him with and the deal they strike. There wasn't much courting in this story but you can tell they have eyes for one another and there is more to someone than what you see. I think they discover that about each other over the story and slowly fell in love.
The turf war the two outlaws were trying to create caused a lot of people to get killed in this story. The brides were still there and Kade has a little fun with them. The brothers are still pitted against each other and things are definitely getting interesting. overall it was a good story but very light on the romance.
There were many new characters introduced into this story
December 12, 2022
This one was just okay, but it was more of a historical fiction story than a romance. I felt like the two MCs had no real chemistry and that they were just thrown together. Kade, who has been a rancher his entire life, was given the task of being the sheriff when John, the current sheriff falls ill. Why? I don't know. I guess there was no one else he could ask or he was the nearest person. Mandy, who we met in the last book, is hiding (not well) under the disguise of a nun, but working in a hotel. Why? It doesn't make much sense. Never heard of a nun getting a part-time job.
We find out that Mandy is running from her stepfather and that he is a real louse. He threatens her when he finds her and that nun disguise does nothing to fool him. So that was completely unnecessary. He says he just wants to find her half-brother Cree but she is afraid to tell him because she knows that her stepfather wants her brother dead.
The stepfather gets arrested and it is revealed that he is part of a lawless gang stirring up trouble for the McKettricks. Also, they killed a dozen cavalry men and stole a ton of McKettrick loot that Pa McKettrick was counting on to keep his ranch afloat. Cree turns up and it appears that now Mandy is wary of him and the stepdad is afraid of him. This is strange because she spoke so highly of Cree and the stepdad spoke like he was going to easily kill him. So I don't know.
The rest is more of a mess. Not really worth my time. If the two main characters had any sort of connection, I might have liked it some - but not so much.
We find out that Mandy is running from her stepfather and that he is a real louse. He threatens her when he finds her and that nun disguise does nothing to fool him. So that was completely unnecessary. He says he just wants to find her half-brother Cree but she is afraid to tell him because she knows that her stepfather wants her brother dead.
The stepfather gets arrested and it is revealed that he is part of a lawless gang stirring up trouble for the McKettricks. Also, they killed a dozen cavalry men and stole a ton of McKettrick loot that Pa McKettrick was counting on to keep his ranch afloat. Cree turns up and it appears that now Mandy is wary of him and the stepdad is afraid of him. This is strange because she spoke so highly of Cree and the stepdad spoke like he was going to easily kill him. So I don't know.
The rest is more of a mess. Not really worth my time. If the two main characters had any sort of connection, I might have liked it some - but not so much.
November 15, 2023
Kade McKettrick & Mandy 'Amanda Rose' Sperrin
I like the things that are going on outside of the romance more than the actual romantic relationship in this book.
The relationship between the brothers, even their growing bond with Holt (that they don't seem to realize they're building). The relationship between Angus and Concepcion. The relationship between Becky and John. All of those are my favorite relationships and interactions in this book.
I also liked that Mandy was a kickass heroine. I think you got to be a bit of a badass to handle a McKettrick man, but Mandy exceeded my expectations.
There are also some losses in this book, one in particular that I wasn't expecting. I was heartbroken for everyone.
Then the action, we have someone trying to set all the ranchers against each other by destroying property, robbery, and murder. They think they know who is behind it all, but it ends up being someone they least expect.
I like the things that are going on outside of the romance more than the actual romantic relationship in this book.
The relationship between the brothers, even their growing bond with Holt (that they don't seem to realize they're building). The relationship between Angus and Concepcion. The relationship between Becky and John. All of those are my favorite relationships and interactions in this book.
I also liked that Mandy was a kickass heroine. I think you got to be a bit of a badass to handle a McKettrick man, but Mandy exceeded my expectations.
There are also some losses in this book, one in particular that I wasn't expecting. I was heartbroken for everyone.
Then the action, we have someone trying to set all the ranchers against each other by destroying property, robbery, and murder. They think they know who is behind it all, but it ends up being someone they least expect.
May 13, 2024
Second book with the first McKettrick brothers and right along with the first a good solid book. The couple is just as likeable as the first and really enjoyable. The story moves quickly with lots of interesting moments with both the main characters and all the others. You get to see how the characters from the first book are doing how things are progressing with the McKettrick family.
As I said before the books read like a tv show and I like that about it. The men are cowboys and act like it and the women are ahead of their time and don't always put up with it which is a nice change. I recommend to read them in order so far I can see that it make sense and the books so far are better read this way.
As I said before the books read like a tv show and I like that about it. The men are cowboys and act like it and the women are ahead of their time and don't always put up with it which is a nice change. I recommend to read them in order so far I can see that it make sense and the books so far are better read this way.
July 11, 2023
I really liked the stories in this series… great family characters and very creative how the author tied all four books together around the McKittrick sons. However, the romance part was sorely lacking in all the books which was a huge disappointment. Most of the time the strong willed main characters fought like cats and dogs and argued. The passionate scenes were few… in the last book they kissed three separate times and decided to have sex together… minimal fore play with no kissing and description of actual sex was brief purple prose. The vivid secondary characters and the settings were not enough to compensate for the lack of romance.
December 25, 2017
Kade McKettrick become sheriff of Indian Rock when the old sheriff has a heart attack. He has to deal with outlaws that killed 12 soldiers that were guarding a trunk of money for his family. Amanda Rose pretends to be a nun to hide from the man who tried to kill her, her mother and brother. Kade and Amanda Rose marry and she helps him find the outlaws. She also finds out where her mother is living at and gets to see her one last time. I am a huge fan of Linda Lael Miller and this is the second time that I have read this book.
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