Big Sky Mountain (Swoon-Worthy Cowboys, #2)

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Big Sky Mountain (Parable, Montana #2)

3.97 of 5 stars 3.97 · rating details · 1,010 ratings · 146 reviews

The "First Lady of the West," #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller, brings you to Parable, Montana-where love awaits.

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 Cre...more

ebook, 279 pages

Published July 31st 2012 by Harlequin

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Aug 04, 2012 Cheryl rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Hutch Carmody is about to make the biggest mistake of his life. Luckily for him, he figures it out before it is too late. Only, the mistake...leaving his bride to be at the altar.
Kendra Shepherd has recently returned to town. She did not return alone. She came back with Madison, her adopted four year old daughter. Kendra is fearful that Hutch will walk back into her life and break her heart again. She can not afford to let this happen. Although, Kendra can not stop Madison from falling for Hutc...more

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Dec 12, 2012 Tina "coffee and books" rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: part-of-a-series, contemporary-romance, reviewed

Linda Lael Miller has done it again with the second installment of her Swoon-Worthy Cowboys series. Big Sky Mountain is a great romantic read.

Kendra Shepherd's history with love has not ended well. She gave her heart to Hutch Carmody and yet, he basically handed her over to Jeffrey without a fight when he started showing her some attention. She married Jeffrey a very short time later and that ended just as badly. Jeffrey cheated on her and fathered a child to another woman who didn't even want...more Linda Lael Miller has done it again with the second installment of her Swoon-Worthy Cowboys series. Big Sky Mountain is a great romantic read.

Kendra Shepherd's history with love has not ended well. She gave her heart to Hutch Carmody and yet, he basically handed her over to Jeffrey without a fight when he started showing her some attention. She married Jeffrey a very short time later and that ended just as badly. Jeffrey cheated on her and fathered a child to another woman who didn't even want the child. On his deathbed, he begs Kendra to find his little girl, raise her and give her the love that she deserves and needs. Kendra is back in Parable, Montana with her little girl and ready to start a life as a realtor and mom. She may not be able to make a relationship with a man work, but she knows she can be a good mom and she's ready to live that dream. Now, she just has to keep from losing her heart to Hutch, again.

Fear isn't a good enough reason to keep to the sidelines when there's living to do.

Hutch Carmody finds himself standing in front of a church watching his soon to be wife walking down the aisle. Wanting nothing more than to run from the church Hutch stops the wedding and announces that he's sorry, but the wedding is not going to happen. If only Brylee would have listened to him every time he had tried to tell her that he doesn't love her the way he should he wouldn't have had to do it this way. Feeling like the town punching bag Hutch refuses to hide out on his ranch. He has a right to happiness, too, even if it was never going to be with Brylee. How convenient, that the woman who still has his heart is back in town with a little girl that loves Hutch as much as he loves her. Now, he just has to convince Kendra that the love he feels for her is the forever kind.

I really enjoyed this story. It kind of wrapped up really quick at the end, but I was able to overlook that particular annoyance since the rest of the background was so covered. This book also set us up for at least 2 future books for this series. I can not wait to see whose story we get to read next.

http://tinar1121.blogspot.com (less)

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Jan 21, 2013 Kris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: western-romance, western-contemporary

4 STARS Hutch Carmody has half of Whisper Creek Ranch and come to terms with his illegitimate half brother, Slade. His life is going well except he does not have a woman in his life, more specifically Kendra Shepherd. Kendra has returned to Parable with 4 year old, Madison whom she has recently adopted. She realizes she has everything she ever wanted - a loving child, great friends, a good job, a giving town and even a pet dog - except a man and father for Madison. Every time that Madison asks f...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Marlene rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reading-romances-challenge

This review was originally posted at Book Lovers Inc

My Thoughts:

In The Needy Lover's review of the first Parable, Montana book, Big Sky Country, the review mentioned that the story lit up whenever Hutch and Kendra sashayed through the plot. And that was true for me as well.

Big Sky Mountain finally tells Hutch and Kendra's story, or at least the grown-up version of it. One of the "big teases" about Hutch and Kendra is that they have some serious history that didn't end the way everyone thought it...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-books-read, romance

Very good book. Kendra has returned to Parable with her adopted daughter, looking for the best place to raise Madison. She has her daughter, her business and her friends, and has no intention of inviting a man into her life. Hutch has mellowed since we saw him in Big Sky Country. He has gotten to know his half brother and they are friends. He has also come to realize that his life is rather lonely. He nearly married a woman he didn't love, coming to his senses just in time. Now Kendra is back in...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Sara HarlequinJunkie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Reviewd by: HarlequinJunkie Romance Reviews

Before reading this book I was told this is the perfect western romance to read that will leave you with that warm and fuzzy feeling of happiness. I am here to tell you this was spot on. The book starts off with a bang and straight through out till the end it keeps going and just gets better and better.

I adored Hutch and Kendra (btw Mrs Miller I totally love the name Kendra) to the point of distraction. The fact that this is a old flames re-unite is wha...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Allizabeth Collins rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review:

When I received Big Sky Mountain I could not wait to trot back into the lives of Parable's cowboys -particularly Hutch, Slade, and Boone. After finishing Big Sky Country, I was left pondering the fates of some of my favorite characters, so I was ecstatic to hear that I would definitely be reading more about Kendra and Hutch's budding romance! I liked how the book began, with a surprise, (no spoilers), and how a recap of previous happenings was woven throughout the continuing story. For t...more Review:

When I received Big Sky Mountain I could not wait to trot back into the lives of Parable's cowboys -particularly Hutch, Slade, and Boone. After finishing Big Sky Country, I was left pondering the fates of some of my favorite characters, so I was ecstatic to hear that I would definitely be reading more about Kendra and Hutch's budding romance! I liked how the book began, with a surprise, (no spoilers), and how a recap of previous happenings was woven throughout the continuing story. For this reason, I would still recommend reading the books in order, but it can also be read as a stand-alone. I was glad to see the familiar landscapes and faces of Parable, Montana - as descriptive and lively as ever - a Linda Lael Miller trademark, but I could not figure out why I was not as enthralled by the characters as I had been previously. I remembered Hutch having more of a misunderstood "bad-boy" persona, full of unbridled passion; unfortunately, there was little to no trace of those traits in the second book. There were moments when I thought the old Hutch would resurface, especially during the more risque sections, but I was left wanting. Speaking of, the romance level was very shallow, just enough to move the story along, but not really building on anything. Slade and Joslyn interacted more in the last book than Kendra and Hutch did in this one; there was quite a lot of inner dialogue this go around. However, I did enjoy the slowly mending relationship between Slade and Hutch, I was happy to see them getting along and the same was true for Boone's relationships. Character wise, I still liked most of their temperaments - especially Kendra's no-nonsense attitude and down-to-earth charms - but even though they were realistic, I never truly felt invested in their lives. As always, I loved the animal aspect and the plot-line was pretty interesting - as was the subplot. I just wish that the book had contained a little more action, (romantic and otherwise), and a little less daily grind. Although I did not enjoy Big Sky Mountain as much as Big Sky Country, I cannot wait for Big Sky River to come out in January! I hope that I am lucky enough to review that installment as well! Recommended for those in the mood for a family-centered romance with a little heat.

Rating: Bounty's Out (3/5)

*** I received this book from the author (Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc.) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.(less)

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Aug 04, 2012 Stephanie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance

This review originally appeared at www.readinasinglesitting.com.

When I picked this up last night I joked to my husband that I was taking a cowboy to bed with me. My husband, in true geeky form, gave a vague “huh” and returned to his iPad game. What a trusting man he is.

As it turns out, he was right: there was no need to fear that Huch Carmody, the hero of Linda Lael Miller’s latest novel, would drive a wedge into our marriage. Though I’m ordinarily a huge fan of Miller’s work, everything about t...more This review originally appeared at www.readinasinglesitting.com.

When I picked this up last night I joked to my husband that I was taking a cowboy to bed with me. My husband, in true geeky form, gave a vague “huh” and returned to his iPad game. What a trusting man he is.

As it turns out, he was right: there was no need to fear that Huch Carmody, the hero of Linda Lael Miller’s latest novel, would drive a wedge into our marriage. Though I’m ordinarily a huge fan of Miller’s work, everything about this one felt a little flat to me–sadly, the only fireworks in this book are the ones that occur on the 4th of July.

The second in Miller’s series based in small-town Parable, Montana, Big Sky Mountain focuses on the elusive romance between wealthy rancher Huch Carmody and his one-time high school flame, Kendra Shepherd. It picks up nine months after Big Sky Country, in which we watched Hutch’s hilariously named half-brother Slade and software developer Joslyn scrap about, fight, seethe, and eventually get hitched, and begins, a little head-spinningly, with a wedding. Hutch’s wedding.

Three pages later, and Hutch is saying I don’t, his bride is bemoaning the coast of the almost-wedding, and the gossip mill is moving at an impressive pace: even the town of Parable, it seems, isn’t above putting together a We Hate Hutch Facebook page. But Hutch knows that he’s made the right decision. Sure, he wants to settle down and have kids (this is a necessity if you’re to be a Miller hero), but it’s got to be with the right woman. And the fact that he’s spent the past nine months accidentally calling his bride-to-be Kendra doesn’t really bode well for their future together.
But Kendra’s got plenty enough on her own plate already. She’s only just adopted four-year-old Madison, the daughter of her cheating, recently deceased ex-husband, and she’s juggling new motherhood along with finding a new place to live and her career as a realtor. However, Madison seems to have taken a shine to Cowboy Man, as she calls him, and thanks to her, Kendra and Hutch begin to cross paths increasingly often
.
Though the tension between Kendra and Hutch was set up in the previous novel, it seems so much less evident here. For one, I kept wondering how Hutch came to be (almost) marrying another woman, but unfortunately, this is never really explained beyond a laconic “I made a mistake”. And Kendra’s focus is for the most part of the novel on Madison rather than on Hutch, making this one feel a lot more like women’s fiction than a romance novel. Hutch and Kendra seem to come together just because they spend enough time together that they might as well, rather than out of any real passion. Both seem fixated on what ended their relationship all those years ago, but this is never really resolved–they just seem to kiss and make up rather than actually working it out.

Though the characters are generally what I love most about Miller’s work, I felt that there was a lot going on here with minor characters that caused things to lag a little. There’s a subplot, for example, involving the awful deputy Treat that seems extraneous–and given that it involves Hutch sticking up for his ex-fiancee, doesn’t really help move the romance along. (Curiously, I find it difficult to imagine Hutch sticking up for Kendra in the same impassioned manner.)

There’s also a lot of dog-adopting and horses-as-gifts going on here, which although always pleasant to see, is kind of getting a bit stale, particularly given that the same thing happened in the previous book. How many stray pups and out-to-pasture ponies can there possibly be in a small town? The young-adopted-child thing feels familiar as well, as does the fact that the child in question is astonishingly precocious. Will we ever see a four-year-old who’s an out-and-out brat rather than these articulate and insightful mini adults who seem so common in romance novels?

To be honest, the Madison plot line detracted from the love affair between Hutch and Kendra a good deal for me: Madison waxes lyrical about wanting to be part of a nuclear family so often that it almost feels as though Kendra gets it on with Hutch purely to play happy families. And goodness, the constant reiteration about people being prime mother or father material began to grate after a while–surely there’s more to a relationship than the possibility of progeny?

Though I do love being able to curl up with one of Miller’s cowboys, and I always enjoy getting to know her well-rounded characters and marvel at their terrible small-town fashion, on the whole this one just didn’t quite work for me. Still, you can be that I’ll be hanging out for her next release.(less)

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Aug 04, 2012 Romancing the Book rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cowboy, contemporary, romance, western

Posted on Romancing the BOok's blog
Reviewed by Stacey
Review Copy Provided by Netgalley

I am normally a fan of Linda Lael Miller’s books but Big Sky Mountain, in my opinion, was not a favorite. Book two in the Parable, Montana/Big Sky series, found me a little lost and the blurb did not truly represent the book.

Kendra and Hutch have a past together; one that clearly neither of them are over. Their lives currently have them both in places where the last thing they need is the complications of renew...more

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Aug 01, 2012 Guilty Pleasures rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: guiltypleasures-kclu, publishersent

KcLu's review posted on Guilty Pleasures

4.75 Stars

Big Sky Mountain is book two in the Parable Montana Series by Linda Lael Miller. I’m a huge fan of everything I have read by her, and I have to say I enjoyed it is my favorite of the two so far. I absolutely love Hutch and Kendra. The chemistry between these two is so smoking hot it’s sizzling!

Hutch and Kendra dated many years ago, but both ended up hurt when they split up. They also each blamed each other for their pain. For most of the first bo...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Rhonda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Big Sky Mountain by Linda lael Miller
4 STARS
Madison stills the book. You just want to hug her and spoil her.
In the last book that I read of Linda Lael Miller I did not care for Hutch
much. First chapter still not much of a fan. After that I got to see more
sides of him and I would be on his side now.
Hutch calls off his wedding as the bride is coming down the isle. Though it is
embrassing to call of the wedding its better before than divorce and even
more hard feelings.
Kendra is back in town with...more

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Jul 13, 2012 Suzanne Barrett rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Big Sky Mountain is the second book in Ms. Miller’s Big Sky series. Set in the fictional town of Parable, Montana, Big Sky Mountain is the story of wealthy Hutch Carmody, the owner of Whisper Creek Ranch and beautiful divorcee Kendra Shepherd. Once an item, Hutch and Kendra parted ways and Kendra went on to marry an Englishman who later divorced her. She’s survived, built a successful real estate business, and lives in the old mansion where her best friend Joslyn grew up. But now Kendra has an a...more Big Sky Mountain is the second book in Ms. Miller’s Big Sky series. Set in the fictional town of Parable, Montana, Big Sky Mountain is the story of wealthy Hutch Carmody, the owner of Whisper Creek Ranch and beautiful divorcee Kendra Shepherd. Once an item, Hutch and Kendra parted ways and Kendra went on to marry an Englishman who later divorced her. She’s survived, built a successful real estate business, and lives in the old mansion where her best friend Joslyn grew up. But now Kendra has an adopted four-year-old, Madison. Finding her ex-husband’s illegitimate daughter and caring for her was his last request before he died. Kendra loves Madison and will do anything to make her happy and her life loving and stable. This excludes taking up with former hell-raiser Hutch Carmody who can only cause her pain. After all, he never tried to get her back when she started going with her ex-husband, and his track record is poor. As the story opens, Hutch is about to tie the knot with a young woman when he has second thoughts and leaves her at the altar.

But Kendra can’t overcome the deep attraction she feels–has always felt–for Hutch, even though she tries to avoid him, tries to keep her distance.

Big Sky Mountain has a wonderful lineup of characters, many who appeared in the first book, Big Sky Country. Hutch’s half brother Slade Barlow is married to Joslyn, and Opal, the black woman who befriended Joss and Kendra when they were younger, is there to offer her sage advice and superb meals to the lot of them. I loved Hutch, the ideal cowboy. I felt I understood him, however, I did not understand Kendra’s hot and cold reaction to Hutch. I also never found the resolution to why they parted initially. It seemed both accused the other of breaking it off, and then this was never resolved.

The pros: Parable is a delightful town, there’s wonderful interaction with people and animals that will keep the reader smiling. The secondary characters are skillfully interwoven into the story so the reader cares about them. The love scenes are highly sensual.

The cons: I felt this wasn’t Ms. Miller’s best work. Both Big Sky books used repetitive phrases and some clunky sentence structure I found jarring. Characters were constantly “hurrying” everywhere. A few more descriptive words would have made a better story. One phrase that had me raising my eyebrows was: “ His legs astraddle of her.” Opal seemed to be churning out casseroles and pies in record-breaking times a mere mortal could not do. Lastly, Kendra’s mixed signals with regard to her feelings for Hutch went on and on and on. I wanted to shake her like a rag doll.

I’ve enjoyed Ms. Miller’s past books more. This one I’d give a four.(less)

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Jun 02, 2012 Britainy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, 4-floozies, comtempary, kindle, netgalley, romance, series

YES!! Here is the Linda I remember, welcome back! I am really surprised by the rating of this book. I thought it was great! I've read better but judging from the first installment, Big Sky Country, I thought it was wonderful!

Hutch is not "swoon-worthy" as the series title would have you believe. He's cute, he's funny, he's capable where it counts *wink*, but my mouth did not water. However, smokin' hot man types are not indicative to a fun read. The beginning was brilliant. I loved the jilting b...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Natalie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Okay, I'm going to probably repeat myself a little from my review of Big Sky Cowboy.
This book/series is what I'd call comfortable. There's no real suspense. No nail-biter scenes where you're holding your breath to find out what happens next. The story is a light, sweet and fun read. To take to the beach. Read while waiting for a doctor's appointment. On an airplane. You get the idea.

The hero and heroine of this book, Hutch and Kendra, are very likeable characters. And in my opinion, I admire how...more Okay, I'm going to probably repeat myself a little from my review of Big Sky Cowboy.
This book/series is what I'd call comfortable. There's no real suspense. No nail-biter scenes where you're holding your breath to find out what happens next. The story is a light, sweet and fun read. To take to the beach. Read while waiting for a doctor's appointment. On an airplane. You get the idea.

The hero and heroine of this book, Hutch and Kendra, are very likeable characters. And in my opinion, I admire how LLM was able to bring Hutch from a jerky half-brother who resented that his illegitimate older half-sibling was left 50% of their father's estate to a likeable, child-friendly cowboy. I was inclined to hate him from the first book, because in my general romance-reading experience, wealthy, antagonistic characters like Hutch usually turn out to be rotten to the core and they wind up getting an ass-kicking somewhere along the line. Thus, I was pleasantly surprised when LLM managed to mellow Hutch and find a realistic way for him to become more of a good guy and to also resolve the issue of him and his half-brother.

In my opinion, the only snag I would have with this book is that I don't understand the timeline between young, probably teenage Hutch dating the heroine from the first book, to Hutch having a flaming love affair with Kendra. It's never really indicated at what point in their lives they were together before Kendra eloped with some titled British lord. Of course, you might be asking, is this really important? Not really, but it puzzled me and I felt it important enough that LLM should have provided a few minor details. I only say this because while reviewing certain facts, I started to think that Hutch and Kendra must have started dating right after the heroine from Big Sky Cowboy and her family were plummeted into disgrace and eventually left town.

However, I digress, the story is enjoyable and sweet. Oh, and I really do love how LLM has seemed to integrate dogs into these stories. It might be overkill to some, but as a dog owner myself, I find a story can never go wrong when throwing a dog...or two...or three...into it.

In closing, I think this is a good series so far. It's certainly a contemporary, modern-feeling book, with the inclusion of a lot of e-mail, cell phones, texting, but still keeping that cowboy-in-a-small-town kind of feel. I give it a thumbs up and will be reading the rest of the books in the series.(less)

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Aug 27, 2012 M.K. McClintock rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A Reader's Opinion: Linda Lael Miller's historical western romances have always been among some of my favorites. This is the first of her contemporary books I have read and I have to admit, it just didn't read like the author whose books I've enjoyed in the past. Our hero, Hutch Carmody, starts off a little rocky, but ends up finding his footing after an unfortunate incident of calling off his wedding as he's standing in front of a church filled with guests. I feel I may have missed some much-ne...more A Reader's Opinion: Linda Lael Miller's historical western romances have always been among some of my favorites. This is the first of her contemporary books I have read and I have to admit, it just didn't read like the author whose books I've enjoyed in the past. Our hero, Hutch Carmody, starts off a little rocky, but ends up finding his footing after an unfortunate incident of calling off his wedding as he's standing in front of a church filled with guests. I feel I may have missed some much-needed back story on some of the characters by not reading the first book in the series, but part-way through I was able to catch up with them.

Our heroine, Kendra Shepherd, is a likeable character who has her priorities straight when it comes to putting family first. I like her connection with her adopted daughter and I thought the story of how the girl came to be with Kendra, was interesting, but it also said a lot for Kendra's character. The attention to the characters was divided among many, to the point that Hutch and Kendra at times seemed secondary. I would have liked more dialogue from both Kendra and Hutch. There was so little that the chemistry didn't have a chance to build properly, so that when the graphic love scenes did take place, I quickly skipped over them because it just didn't seem real.

I live in small-town (and cute town) Montana and even I found the "cute" names of the businesses and streets a tad over-done. I understand it's fiction, but it was distracting enough to where I didn't feel the town could have been real.

I felt that the relationship between Hutch and his brother was the most developed and the most enjoyable. I found myself wanting to know more about both Slade and Boone.

Don't get me wrong, Miller is on my favorite's list, and there she will stay, but I think I'll stick with her historicals from now on. For those who enjoy Miller's contemporary western romances, you'll likely enjoy this story and the series.

Note: This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for a review. http://mkmcclintock.blogspot.com/p/ft... (less)

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Jul 08, 2012 Kathy Martin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This story begins with a wedding. But it is the wrong wedding and the groom - Hutch Carmody - calls it off just as the bride-to-be is starting down the aisle. He knows the marriage would be wrong. He had tried to talk to Brylee and call off the wedding but she just wasn't listening to him. It was time for desperate measures.

Hutch has never really gotten over his first love Kendra even though they fought and she married another man. Now Kendra is back in Parable, Montana with an adopted daughter....more

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Jun 30, 2012 Ana♥ Beach Bum Reads rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Calling off a wedding is one thing, calling off a wedding during the actual wedding is another thing entirely. And the town sure does keep talking when Hutch Carmody, a rich rancher with a way for leaving broken hearts behind him, calls off his wedding while his would-have-been bride Brylee Parish is walking down the isle. Kendra Shepherd is no new witness to the ways of Hutch Carmody, having been through the romp with Hutch, Kendra can't afford to let her heart have it's way when it comes to hi...more Calling off a wedding is one thing, calling off a wedding during the actual wedding is another thing entirely. And the town sure does keep talking when Hutch Carmody, a rich rancher with a way for leaving broken hearts behind him, calls off his wedding while his would-have-been bride Brylee Parish is walking down the isle. Kendra Shepherd is no new witness to the ways of Hutch Carmody, having been through the romp with Hutch, Kendra can't afford to let her heart have it's way when it comes to him. Especially since she now has a daughter.

Let me just say that this book is better than the first. Right from the first page I was captured by what was going on & how in the hell could someone get married and have kids during the interim of the two books! And then I was brought back to serenity when I kept reading. Hutch is definitely a swoon worthy cowboy, Aside from his good hunky dory looks, I think men who respond to children & show a loving heart to them are definitely swoon worthy. We are introduced to Madison, Kendra's adopted daughter, in the beginning of the book & the conversations this little girl has brought a different element to the book entirely. Picking up a romance, you're more entitled to be enthralled by the couple the book surrounds but, as the book progresses, you can't help but love this little girl. Kendra Sheperd is caring around a lot of issues, all from her past. Having love and lost with Hutch Carmody and having been married and divorced to Madison's father, Kendra is trying to change around her life entirely to give her daughter what she never had. Love.

There is a lot I liked about this book. First, Hutch. Laaaawd, let me have a man like that & I'm good to go! Hutch is different from his brother Slade Barlow. Where Slade is more quiet & thought provoking, Hutch will speak his mind & speak it right there on the spot. And he's great with children... I mean, come on.. totally won me there! What I didn't like... well, I can't say I didn't like anything.. unless I can say I wish there was more smutty scenes? But then again, that wouldn't have boded well for the book. But, let me just say that Hutch Carmody sounds like a great lover. He loves him some foreplay & won't have it any other way. Kendra is one lucky woman to have a man devour her like he does ;)

I would definitely recommend this book. If you're looking for something light and fun, then Hutch Carmody is just what you need :) I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series. Big Sky River is said to be released by December 18, 2012. There is no blurb, but I'm sure I know just who's story it's going to be & I am super excited for it! (less)

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Aug 16, 2012 Paula (Romantic Book Affairs Blogspot) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ng-edel-arc, sexy-cowboys, contemporary-romance, 2012-release

Rating: C+

Big Sky Mountain is the second book in The Swoon-Worthy Cowboy series. I was in the mood for a sexy cowboy and some small town lovin’. And that’s what I got!

Hutch and Kendra aren’t new to the attraction they have for one another. They used to be a couple many years ago. But Kendra had doubts about Hutch committing to her and Hutch never communicated how he truly felt about Kendra. So when Kendra walked away from their relationship and married another man, Hutch let her go.

The story op...more Rating: C+

Big Sky Mountain is the second book in The Swoon-Worthy Cowboy series. I was in the mood for a sexy cowboy and some small town lovin’. And that’s what I got!

Hutch and Kendra aren’t new to the attraction they have for one another. They used to be a couple many years ago. But Kendra had doubts about Hutch committing to her and Hutch never communicated how he truly felt about Kendra. So when Kendra walked away from their relationship and married another man, Hutch let her go.

The story opens up with Hutch standing at the Alter about to get married but realizes (although a little late) he is about to make the biggest mistake of his life and calls off the wedding leaving behind an angry bride. After the non-wedding incident, for the first time in a long time, Hutch and Kendra see each other at Hutch’s brother Slade’s house. Kendra is now single again but she has a new love in her life and it’s not a man. She has adopted her late husband’s daughter, Madison. Kendra wants to raise Madison the best way she knows how and cannot afford to get involved with Hutch so she tries to avoid him at all cost. But can she keep her charming and full-of-life daughter from falling in love with “the cowboy man?”

Madison is definitely a scene stealer. She’s a charmer and she charmed a horse right out of Hutch. Oh and the cowgirl boots scene was just precious! I really liked Kendra. She has a no-nonsense but sweet personality and a wonderful mother to Madison. I especially loved Madison’s dog/side kick, Daisy who brought a little extra something special to the story. My first thoughts when reading about Hutch is that he is the bad-boy that no woman can tame. But what I got instead is a reformed bad-boy who is confident, genuine, and mature and wants to settle down but with the right woman. The right woman is the woman that got away, Kendra.

This is a sweet story about second chances. The love between Kendra and Hutch never went away it just grew and matured into something even more special.

This is my first book by Linda Lael Miller and won’t be my last. I plan to go back and read Big Sky Country since there were times I felt like I had missed out on Hutch and Kendra’s history together. I also want to read Joslyn and Slade’s story since they made such a large appearance in this book.

If I was to gripe, I would say the story wrapped up a little too tidy and I wish we got more page time with Kendra and Hutch alone. I wanted to see them rekindle the relationship more. The conclusion also felt rushed.

All in all, I really did like this story. I hope I get the opportunity to review the next installment, Big Sky River. I want to read Boone’s story and see this broken man be happy again.
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Aug 14, 2012 Allison rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sent-to-review, netgalley

This book is kind of a spin-off of Big Sky Country, which focused on Joslyn and Slade. Now the stars are Joslyn's best friend Kendra, and Slade's half-brother Hutch. The two dated when they were younger, but wanted different things from life: Hutch took over his family's ranch, and Kendra went to college. She came back to Parable, Montana to become a realtor after she married Jeffrey, an Englishman who swept her off her feet. After discovering too many secrets and lies in his past, Kendra divorc...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Lindsey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I always tend to love Linda Lael Miller's books. Her characters are always such fun to read. I knew I would end up loving Hutch after reading the first one in the series. I thought his growing relationship between him and Slade was great. Seeing Kendra change her life from what she thought she wanted to what she needed was wonderful. I loved her with Madison. Well actually I just loved Madison period. My only fault with this book was that nothing ever seemed to get worked out between Kendra and...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Jonetta rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, netgalley-arc, western-romance

Hutch Carmody had a lot of growing up to do and after his father's death about a year ago that's just what he's done. He's come to terms with his illegitimate half brother, settling with him on his share of the family inheritance. Hutch has also matured in recognizing that Kendra Shephard is the one he foolishly let get away and is determined to win her back, out to prove he's not the man he was back in the day. Kendra is fresh off a painful divorce and has adopted a four-year old little girl. S...more

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Aug 10, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: earc

This is book 2 in Linda Lael Miller's latest cowboy series. This book is about former lovers Hutch Carmody and Kendra Sheperd. We get introduced to them in book 1 Big Sky Country. They have a past and their relationship ended after a series of miscommunication and trust issues. Kendra ended up married to another man and Hutch was left broken hearted. Kendra always thought that he didn't love her because he didn't fight for her. It all ended badly for Kendra when the man she married left her and...more

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May 16, 2012 Jae rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, contemporary, ride-a-hot-cowboy, 2012

I was very much hoping that Hutch would be a lot more 'fiery' than his half brother Slade from book #1. Cuz I was just about bored silly with that book, what with Slade's almost non-existence passion.

Anyway, I remembered I was lusting after Hutch after his 5 minutes appearance in that book. He had the bad-tempered-bad-boy look (at least in that book) going on. But sadly, he was not the same Hutch in this book. Like book #1, the Hero was painted as a too cool and too cold Hero. Again.

I just cou...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Dalene rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

I received this book through Netgalley as I love Linda Lael Miller and had also read book one of this series. This was a quick read and I would have finished sooner if I had the time. I simply adored Madison and what a great mom Kendra is to her. I don’t know that I’m a fan of Hutch, even after finishing the book, he just seems a little more rough around the edges than my liking. Other than Madisyn, Opal was another favorite character in the book. I love how she gets involved in many different w...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Teresa Snyder rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As with all LLM books, loved this book. This is book 2 in the series. The book begins with a wedding - Hutch Carmody being the groom. Just as the bride starts down the aisle, Hutch stops the wedding, realizing the person he loves is Kendra Shepherd, the woman who broke his heart years ago.

Kendra, on the other hand, remembers the story differently. Hutch broke her heart by not fighting for her and stopping her from marrying someone else. Someone who walked out on her, only years later, from his...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Polly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: finished

Kendra, a single mother, a divorcee, a wonderful friend, and a woman who needs to settle her past to look towards her future. Hutch the man who was her past and will be her future. This second book in the series continues the story of threes.. three women who are very close friends, and their men, two brothers and a man who was close friends to both. I loved this story, not only does it continue where book one left off, and we become more acquainted with the wonderful town and it's people, but,...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Dianne Socci-Tetro rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: galleys-arcs

2.5 Stars Big Sky Mountain – Linda Lael Miller

*ARC SUPPLIED BY PUBLISHER*

This was an extremely slow moving book, one with many questions left unanswered and situations left unfinished. This wasn’t even a very romantic book. It seems that the romance (what there was of it) was solely in the minds of Kendra and Hutch the main characters.

As the book opens, we find Hutch leaving his fiancé at the altar as she is walking down the aisle. We find Kendra coming home with her new daughter who is actuall...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Tonya Warner rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

More from Big Sky country. The story continues with the relationship between Kendra and Hutch heating up.

Kendra is now the mother of her ex-husband's abandaoned daughter, Madison. Despite her own traumatic upbrignging in the small town of Parable, Kendra feels it is the best place for her daughter. Having to be there around her old heartbreaking ex, Hutch, she tries to keep herself separate from the feeling he induces.

Hutch knows that he is not for every woman. He has tried to move past his upb...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Marcia Berg Haskell rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, family

"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 divorcée Kendra Shepherd.Kendra's quiet mansion reminds her of what she wants most—a devoted husband and the pitter-pat...more

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Aug 06, 2012 Sue rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, contemporary-western-romance, passionate, romance, sexy, sexy-cowboy

I liked Hutch & Kendra's story. I LOVED Madison. What a little cutie! Kendra's love for her adopted daughter was obvious from the start. And it was fun watching that little girl wrap Kendra and Hutch around her little finger.
I didn't like Deputy McQuillan and just wonder what kind of mischief he's planning for Boone & Tara's story. And will Walker & Casey be getting a story or at least be in the next book? I wasn't sure about Brylee's brother at first; but by the end of the book...
I...more

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About Linda Lael Miller

Twenty-four years after she sold her first novel, Linda Lael Miller is having what anyone would call a stellar year.

The self-proclaimed barn goddess and author of novels set in the West of today and yesterday is celebrating exciting career milestones. With 70-some books to her credit, Linda is watching her modern-day McKettrick Men trilogy soar to the top of all the national bestseller lists, and...more Twenty-four years after she sold her first novel, Linda Lael Miller is having what anyone would call a stellar year.

The self-proclaimed barn goddess and author of novels set in the West of today and yesterday is celebrating exciting career milestones. With 70-some books to her credit, Linda is watching her modern-day McKettrick Men trilogy soar to the top of all the national bestseller lists, and the Romance Writers of America have announced Linda as the recipient of their prestigious 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award.

And the year is still young.

But what makes these successes all the more enjoyable is that Linda has come home, home to Spokane, Washington, home to writing the stories of her heart, stories set in the Western culture of her childhood, and home to living where she can pull on her boots and ride her beloved horses. Inside, there's the clatter of little paws, her dogs, Sadie and Bernice, and the elegant treading of two cats that Linda claims rule the roost.

The daughter of a town marshal, Linda grew up in Northport, WA, a community of 500 on the Columbia River, 120 miles north of her birthplace, Spokane. Her childhood remembrances include riding horses and playing cowgirl on her grandparents' nearby farm. So rustic was her grandparents' spread that in the early days it lacked the conveniences of electricity and running water.

As delightful as this childhood was, though, Linda longed to see the world. After graduating as valedictorian of her high school class, she left to pursue her dream. Because of the success of her author career, Linda was able to live part-time in London for several years, spend time in Italy and travel to such far-off destinations as Russia, Hong Kong and Israel. Now, Linda says, the wanderlust is (mostly) out of her blood, and she's come full circle, back to the people and the places she knows and loves.

Before Linda begins her writing day, she takes her first cup of coffee while enjoying the scenic view of the wooded draw behind her new home. Inspired by the view, which occasionally includes a wandering moose, she focuses on her work-in-progress. It might be another contemporary Western romance, like McKettrick's Luck, McKettrick's Pride or McKettrick's Heart, or it might be a new Western historical, such as July's hardcover, A Wanted Man. It also might be a romantic thriller, such as Deadly Gamble, which launched another winning Linda Lael Miller series for her enthusiastic publisher, HQN Books.

Devoted to helping others pursue their dreams, Miller is excited about another endeavor. Each year she sponsors a round of competition for her Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women. The stipends, which she funds from her writing and speaking earnings, enable women 25 years and older to improve their lot in life through education. Unlike traditional scholarships, Linda's may be used for childcare, transportation, or any other expense that stands between a woman's dreams and their fulfillment.

It's no wonder the protagonists in Miller's novels are women her readers admire for their honor, courage, trustworthiness, valor and determination to succeed, despite overwhelming odds. "These timelessly admirable qualities make them excellent role models for young women," Miller explains. "The male leads possess equally noble traits that today's woman would be delighted to find in her life's mate."

And speaking of finding, Linda is excited about her association with The Humane Society of the United States, for whom she has become an advocate for the group's Pets for Life program. Once someone finds a furry friend to bring into their home, Linda and The HSUS want to help them learn how to keep the critter for life.

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 bef(less)

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High Country Bride (McKettrick Cowboys, #1)

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Big Sky Mountain (Parable, Montana #2)

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