Love To Read For Fun: Review + Giveaway: Big Sky Mountain by Linda Lael Miller

Title: Big Sky Mountain (Hqn)
Series: Swoon-Worthy Cowboys, #2
Author: Linda Lael Miller
Published: July 31, 2012
Pages: 384
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: NetGalley
Rating: B+
Reviewed by: Ellie

Favorite quote: “Fear isn’t a good enough reason to keep to the sidelines when there’s living to do.”

summary from Goodreads

With his rugged good looks, vast wealth and family name, hell-raiser Hutch Carmody is still the golden boy of Parable, Montana. But he's done some growing up-making peace with his illegitimate half brother and inheriting half of Whisper Creek Ranch, which should have been all his. These days, Hutch knows there are some things money can't buy: like the heart of loving, ladylike divorcé e Kendra Shepherd.

Kendra's quiet mansion reminds her of what she wants most-a devoted husband and the pitter-patter of little feet. She can't get Hutch Carmody out of her mind. But a rough-and-tumble cowboy like Hutch, coming home for family dinner? Seems crazy! Then again, crazier dreams have become reality under the vast Montana sky.

Ellie's thoughts:
Hutch Carmody has been in love with Kendra Shepherd for most of his adult life and when he finds himself at the altar getting ready to marry another woman, he realizes his mistake one day too early. After breaking the town sweetheart’s heart Hutch is determined to win Kendra back and convince the town of Parable, Montana that he’s not the monster they all think he is. Kendra has a surprise of her own when she shows up in Parable with a four year old adoptive daughter in tow. Now a mother, Kendra is determined to give her daughter the childhood she never had even if that means keeping away from the one man she loves who could break both of their hearts.

Let me start by saying I loved this book so much and it blew me away from the first chapter. Big Sky Mountain is the follow up to Big Sky Country and takes place about a year later and this time focuses on Hutch and Kendra, both of whom we meet previously. I wasn’t a big fan of Big Sky Country and I was very nervous to go back to Parable and its characters.

Big Sky Mountain starts off with a big bang of Hutch calling off his wedding at the very last minute and Kendra coming back to town with her ex-husband’s child that resulted from an affair while the two were still married. This book doesn’t just pull at your heartstrings but tries to tug them as far as they can go and then tugs some more. I felt so bad for all the parties involved in both of these situations but Kendra and her new daughter Madison had me almost in tears a few times. There is nothing sadder than a child who has been abandoned and fears that it will happen again. I really enjoyed Madison and for me she was the star of the book.

Kendra was a character that I wasn’t a big fan of and I really didn’t think I would like but she won me over very quickly. Kendra could have been written a too good but she comes off very real and as a woman who will do whatever it takes to make sure this child feels loved and safe even if it means she’s alone. Hutch and Kendra have a very long history and I wish that they could have talked about the big miscommunication they had that lead to them splitting up years before. i never felt that it got resolved and I kept waiting and waiting for it to happen.

Hutch was one of the few characters that I liked in Big Sky Country and I was very excited to get his story. Hutch shows a very different side of himself in this book and they way he interacts with Madison could melt even the coldest person’s heart. The chemistry between him and Kendra is amazing when it finally happens. Like the previous book it takes forever and a day for the characters to get together and it starts to feel like it’s never going to happen. That was my only big complaint that I had but it is a big one and really seemed to make the book drag at points.

Big Sky Mountain is one of the best contemporary romance novels I have read all year. I am now a bona fide fan of this series and Linda Lael Miller and I plan to read as much of her other books as I can . I cannot wait to see what happens next in Parable, Montana and this series but sadly October is a long ways away. .