I usually enjoy LLM's books more than I did this one. Not that I didn't like it, but I usually am more engaged in her stories. Though I didn't mind this book, something about it just didn't fully hook me.

Series Note:
This book has oodles of series connections. It's the first book in LLM's newest "Creed" trilogy...which has a connection to the first "Creed" trilogy and a "Creed" historical. It is also connection to the "Stone Creek" series, which is connected to the "McKettrick" series. All in all, there are A LOT of books this connected to, but I think you could do well enough reading this book on it's own.

Summary:
Melissa O'Ballivan is the local prosecutor in Stone Creek, Arizona who is feeling a disconnected from everything. Her job doesn't require much since there isn't much crime in the area, and though she would love to have kids, she's afraid to get involved with a man. Then Steven Creed walks into her life.

Steven recently became the adopted father of his late best friends' little boy. To give young Matt the best life possible, he buys a ranch in Stone Creek where he plans to raise Matt and do some pro bono legal work. The second he meets Melissa, though, he's drawn to her. But considering that his last girlfriend dumped him when he decided to adopt Matt, he's very wary of getting involved again.

It doesn't help that the two are continuously clashing over a local troubled youth who Melissa is prosecuting and Steven is defending. Both will have to learn to put their pasts and differences aside and focus on the feelings between them.

Review:
I'm sadly at a loss over what to say about this book. I read it a few weeks ago and nothing has really stuck in my head about the story. LLM's books usually make more of an impression on me, so I guess that says something.

A few things I can think to say: Melissa definitely wasn't one of my favorite LLM heroines. She's not entirely likable. She's kinda temperamental and judgmental. The things she got mad at Steven over were kind of ridiculous and you wanted to tell her to get over herself. And the psychosomatic pet allergy (don't ask) was just really bizarre. I didn't have the best impression of Melissa from previous book in these series and my opinion didn't really change as I read.

The story was rather predictable. It was easy to see where everything was going, even the very minor suspense aspect of the story. There were no surprises. Sometimes I found the character of Byron more interesting than other parts of the book.

I did like the ambiance of the story...quiet, old fashioned Western town. Characters with values and morals you can appreciate. And you get to catch up some with past characters of the various series. I also like that she referenced some of the historical tales in the series, as they have been some of my favorites.

I wish I could say more about the book, but that's all I can think of. So I guess that makes it a fairly average story. LLM usually engages me more emotionally in her stories, but this one was pretty basic with a few things that turned me off. But I still didn't mind it. I think LLM fans will like it enough.