McKETTRICK'S CHOICE

Author: Linda Lael Miller ISBN: 0373770294 5/2005 HISTORICAL Publisher: HQN
Time Period: August 1888

When news arrived of trouble back in Texas, Holt McKettrick left his mail-order bride on the spot. But that's how it had always been for Holt—trying to do the right thing inevitably got somebody mad at him. He just prayed he'd be in time to keep his best friend from the gallows and save the man who'd raised him as a son. The arduous trip from Arizona to San Antonio would be rife with rustlers and thieves—both of which Holt could easily handle. But nothing in his checkered past could have prepared him for a woman like Lorelei Fellows. Setting fire to her wedding dress in the town square probably wasn't the best way for Lorelei to make her point, but she was sick of men—as far as she was concerned, they were nothing but cheats and liars. And why should she be in such a hurry to marry, anyway? All she wanted was to stake her claim on her own little piece of Texas. And with Holt McKettrick as her new neighbor, she might be able to do just that. The man was a straight shooter with a strong will, a steady aim and a hungry heart. Before long, the sparks are flying ...and two people determined never to believe in love can't believe they've gone without it this long.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

There is one word that I would use to describe McKETTRICK'S CHOICE, and that word is: Golden. There is not a single bad thing that I can say about this book except that it ended, while I would have gladly taken another 300 pages with the McKettrick family!

Holt and Lorelei have a great chemistry that sets the pages on fire all the way through this book. I did not want to put it down. Holt is gorgeous, strong, loving and a complete Alpha male, something that I truly love in my historical books and
which is even better in a Western. Who doesn't love a cowboy? Holt is a very take charge kind of guy, and throughout the entire book I had a feeling that something bad was going to happen, but knew that Holt would be the man to fix whatever problems arose. I was not disappointed in the least.

Lorelei is actually a bit comical as a heroine. She is stubborn to a fault, even when she is making a total mess out of something, which is often, but actually becomes one of her more endearing qualities. I wanted her to succeed just because of how determined she was. Throughout the book I watched Lorelei grow from a pampered, spoiled little girl into a self sacrificing, humble woman. It is a great transition and one that I had a great time reading about. It is always nice to watch a character grow for the better. It makes for that much of a better read.

There is nothing mediocre or boring about McKETTRICK'S CHOICE. Every second of every page plays out like a real life love story with a little drama and suspense thrown in to keep the reader on their toes. It is a wonderful western full of hot cowboys, a determined woman and a love that is to die for.

Kristal Gorman