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McKettricks #7
McKettrick's Pride
The only wide-open space Rance McKettrick wants to see in his future is his hometown in his rearview mirror. The down-to-earth ex-rancher is determined to make a fresh start with his two young daughters—and leave his heartbreaking loss and family's successful corporation far behind.
He sure doesn't need Indian Rock's free-spirited new bookstore owner Echo Wells confusing his choices—and raising memories he'd rather forget. But her straightforward honesty and reluctance to trust is challenging everything Rance thought he knew about himself. And when their irresistible attraction puts their hearts on the line, Rance and Echo must come to grips with who they really are to find a once-in-a-lifetime happiness.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 27, 2007
About the author
Linda Lael Miller
549 books3,275 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, nancy@nancyberland.com, 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, nancy@nancyberland.com, 405-206-4748.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
March 18, 2019
The good, the mundane and the cheesy.
The story takes a while to settle in its skin. Being a part of a big hist-contemp series, the author felt the need to explain/mention certain things again and again, which is irksome. Also the characters, though individually well drawn, took time to mesh into a tangible landscape. But midway, the book gets more engaging, even with all the tropey-cheesiness.
Ther are times this book made me smile, enjoy the banter and the Texan-speak*. It also made me swoon – even the easy-peasy romance and hea.
But what made it a winner is when it started twisting and squeezing my heart - and not just because the h herself is overly emotional and fragile. The few New Age hs I’ve read before have been more cutesy-meets-brassy. So this h’s always-close-to-tears persona and loneliness both draws and chaffs. But like the book she endures.
The h is named Echo, which is just short of weird-quirky. But when the story behind her being ‘Echo’ gets explained , I found it intensely poignant. All the angst is provided by her past and how it shaped her. And I totally got her reason to wait to use her real name again.
The H’s ex mother-in-law was a much-needed positive and supportive character. The H’s daughters, who bore the brunt (read neglect) of his own heartbreak over his wife’s death, are real and lovable without being too clever or too cute.
And Avalon/Snowball, the dog brings up the rear for the unforgettable sec. characters.
As for the H’s own hurting of the h (knowing she's in a fragile state of mind), I found it deserving of more groveling. But he just wanders back with a charming grin and some Knight-Hero moves, and gets forgiven and taken back – into her bed.
But by the end, I was glad I’d read this book and known these characters – especially Echo, Rianna and Avalon.
* 'Most Americans spoke English. Jesse spoke Texas Hold ’Em. Fluently.'
So is Texan-speak equivalent to cowboy-speak? Because this book is Arizona based. Just asking, as a non-American.
**The blurb is a bit misleading and confusing. When the book opens, we learn that the H keeps flying away often to run the family company – and would rather be a businessman than a cowboy. Only midway, he decides to settle as a rancher and give up going away so much to concentrate on his hitherto neglected daughters.
The story takes a while to settle in its skin. Being a part of a big hist-contemp series, the author felt the need to explain/mention certain things again and again, which is irksome. Also the characters, though individually well drawn, took time to mesh into a tangible landscape. But midway, the book gets more engaging, even with all the tropey-cheesiness.
Ther are times this book made me smile, enjoy the banter and the Texan-speak*. It also made me swoon – even the easy-peasy romance and hea.
But what made it a winner is when it started twisting and squeezing my heart - and not just because the h herself is overly emotional and fragile. The few New Age hs I’ve read before have been more cutesy-meets-brassy. So this h’s always-close-to-tears persona and loneliness both draws and chaffs. But like the book she endures.
The h is named Echo, which is just short of weird-quirky. But when the story behind her being ‘Echo’ gets explained , I found it intensely poignant. All the angst is provided by her past and how it shaped her. And I totally got her reason to wait to use her real name again.
The H’s ex mother-in-law was a much-needed positive and supportive character. The H’s daughters, who bore the brunt (read neglect) of his own heartbreak over his wife’s death, are real and lovable without being too clever or too cute.
And Avalon/Snowball, the dog brings up the rear for the unforgettable sec. characters.
As for the H’s own hurting of the h (knowing she's in a fragile state of mind), I found it deserving of more groveling. But he just wanders back with a charming grin and some Knight-Hero moves, and gets forgiven and taken back – into her bed.
But by the end, I was glad I’d read this book and known these characters – especially Echo, Rianna and Avalon.
* 'Most Americans spoke English. Jesse spoke Texas Hold ’Em. Fluently.'
So is Texan-speak equivalent to cowboy-speak? Because this book is Arizona based. Just asking, as a non-American.
**The blurb is a bit misleading and confusing. When the book opens, we learn that the H keeps flying away often to run the family company – and would rather be a businessman than a cowboy. Only midway, he decides to settle as a rancher and give up going away so much to concentrate on his hitherto neglected daughters.
October 15, 2017
I enjoyed this installment in the McKettrick series with an exciting ending and the whole pink car business was cute but the first half moved kind of slow and I didn't feel the hero gave enough atonement. I'm not convinced he changed his habits toward loved ones. Single father Rance is attracted to the new book store owner Echo who just moved to town.
September 23, 2011
Rance McKettrick can't believe the little pixie standing in front of him, with her pink VW and interesting outfits, he can almost forgive her crazy driving. When he decides to give her his opinion, she has no issue letting him have it causing the successful businessman to balk a bit.
Echo Wells has had enough heartache in her life and wants a second chance at finding a place that she can call home. Even though the ruggedly sexy cowboy has her flushed with desire, she doesn't plan to repeat the same mistakes twice.
I always like Linda Lael Millers books and this was another great one, the ending was a little too wrapped up in a big pink bow but aside from that entertaining throughout. Both Echo and Rance have their own demons they need to slay, together though they can do it.
Echo Wells has had enough heartache in her life and wants a second chance at finding a place that she can call home. Even though the ruggedly sexy cowboy has her flushed with desire, she doesn't plan to repeat the same mistakes twice.
I always like Linda Lael Millers books and this was another great one, the ending was a little too wrapped up in a big pink bow but aside from that entertaining throughout. Both Echo and Rance have their own demons they need to slay, together though they can do it.
July 10, 2024
I've said it before and I'll say it again....FANTABULOUS.
May 4, 2021
This is a classic McKettrick romance and I have really loved them all. The characters are very real and the family pride and connections to the home ranch and ancestors warms your heart. This one has an "opposites attract" theme which is endearing and leads to a warm, fuzzy ending. The two daughters are adorable and the local characters (the village) help each other out and care about everyone. It is fun, romantic and entertaining.
April 27, 2024
The McKettricks are some of my favorite romance books. I lobe their family and all of Linda Lael Miller’s books.
July 14, 2011
This is the 2nd in a little mini-series that Miller has written about some modern McKettrick men. It isn't necessary to read any of the rest of the series or other books about the McKettrick's, but it is a little nice for background. To me, this was actually one of the better ones.
Echo Wells has just moved to town to open a bookstore, and in the process she nearly runs over handsome Rance McKettrick. Ranch is a widower with two young daughters who spends his time mostly away from his home on big business deals. He doesn't really need to work, but it helps with the pain of losing his wife. Initially wary of Echo he finds himself attracted to her and wanting to protect her. But there's not much to be protected from in their town, or is there?
Echo was a great character. Unlike most of the other women roles in the McKettrick series, she wasn't volatile or super-independent. Not that those things are bad at all, it just made for a nice change from the other books. Rance is a little less likable but at least Miller takes the time to explain why he acts the way he does. He has a lot of conflicting emotions, which is pretty realistic compared to some of her other characters. The side characters in this book actually aren't as prominent as they usually are but they are characters we are all familiar with from the other books (if you've read them that is). They were just kind of there instead of moving the story along. I do have to say that I liked Echo's dog though; maybe its just because she's an animal but I thought her mentions in the book were very sweet.
For a plot this one was actually pretty tame. There wasn't a whole lot of serious action or adventure or large plotlines; but there were some minor plotlines carried throughout the book. Which made it seem more like real life than a book because often big events don't happen to everyone and its more the minute day to day life that people deal with. This was a romance so if you're not into the more risque type of reading, you probably don't want to read this one. Miller's writing style is pretty easy to read though and makes for a good book when you just want to relax.
Not a bad book in the series. I definitely enjoyed it and it helped me to look forward for more from her.
McKettrick's Pride
Copyright 2007
376 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2011
Echo Wells has just moved to town to open a bookstore, and in the process she nearly runs over handsome Rance McKettrick. Ranch is a widower with two young daughters who spends his time mostly away from his home on big business deals. He doesn't really need to work, but it helps with the pain of losing his wife. Initially wary of Echo he finds himself attracted to her and wanting to protect her. But there's not much to be protected from in their town, or is there?
Echo was a great character. Unlike most of the other women roles in the McKettrick series, she wasn't volatile or super-independent. Not that those things are bad at all, it just made for a nice change from the other books. Rance is a little less likable but at least Miller takes the time to explain why he acts the way he does. He has a lot of conflicting emotions, which is pretty realistic compared to some of her other characters. The side characters in this book actually aren't as prominent as they usually are but they are characters we are all familiar with from the other books (if you've read them that is). They were just kind of there instead of moving the story along. I do have to say that I liked Echo's dog though; maybe its just because she's an animal but I thought her mentions in the book were very sweet.
For a plot this one was actually pretty tame. There wasn't a whole lot of serious action or adventure or large plotlines; but there were some minor plotlines carried throughout the book. Which made it seem more like real life than a book because often big events don't happen to everyone and its more the minute day to day life that people deal with. This was a romance so if you're not into the more risque type of reading, you probably don't want to read this one. Miller's writing style is pretty easy to read though and makes for a good book when you just want to relax.
Not a bad book in the series. I definitely enjoyed it and it helped me to look forward for more from her.
McKettrick's Pride
Copyright 2007
376 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2011
October 13, 2008
First off, I hate the names Rance and Echo. Rance? It sounds like a disease. Echo? puh-lease.
Anyway, I did enjoy their story. Rance is an executive with his family's empire and is also a widower with two young girls. Echo breezes into town in her pink VW bug, and opens a books store. This is an opposites attract romance. He is uptight and stuffy; she is the 'new age' hippy that sells love spells.
I look forward to reading Keegan's story in final book.
Anyway, I did enjoy their story. Rance is an executive with his family's empire and is also a widower with two young girls. Echo breezes into town in her pink VW bug, and opens a books store. This is an opposites attract romance. He is uptight and stuffy; she is the 'new age' hippy that sells love spells.
I look forward to reading Keegan's story in final book.
April 30, 2014
Echo bought a bookstore on-line and came to Indian Rock to start a new life for herself. She meets Rance McKettrick who is a widower with two girls. Echo has a big heart and is afraid of being hurt again and Rance is still running from the death of his wife. But true love prevails in the end.
June 28, 2011
I really loved this book..it would have gotten 5 stars but the ending seemed abrupt to me. It was heartwarming, heartbreaking..I even cried. Would definitely recommend it
April 2, 2015
Have read quite a few in the McKettricks series and like them all. Like how all of the McKettricks are so different, yet so much alike. Will read more about them and more Linda Lael Miller.
August 7, 2022
Echo Wells is heading for a new start in Indian Rock after a bad break-up in Chicago when she finds an abandoned dog at a truck stop in New Mexico. She can't leave the dog; she reminds her too much of herself - lonely and abandoned.
Almost the first persons he meets in Indian Rock is Rance McKettrick, scion of the famous and very wealthy McKettrick family. They don't exactly hit it off. Rance is still grieving for the wife he lost five years earlier and is using work to fill up his time which leaves his seven and ten-year-old daughters in the care of his wife's mother more often than not.
Echo and Rance have had very different pasts. Echo was orphaned at four and reluctantly raised by an aunt and uncle who already had four children of their own. She hasn't seen them since she left for college at eighteen. Her loneliness wasn't eased when her fiancé abandoned her at the altar of a wedding chapel in Las Vegas. She's hoping for better in her new life in Indian Rock, but it is starting with her adopting a dog that likely belongs to someone else.
Rance was raised surrounded by a bunch of cousins and other family. He has suffered loss; his sister Cassidy died of leukemia when she was seventeen and he was in college. He also lost his wife to a horseback riding accident.
I liked the way the two of them grew to like and trust each other. There were a bunch of interesting side characters from Rance's cousins to his mother-in-law and other townspeople who both welcomed Echo and encouraged her relationship with Rance.
This was a nice contemporary romance from a very prolific author.
Almost the first persons he meets in Indian Rock is Rance McKettrick, scion of the famous and very wealthy McKettrick family. They don't exactly hit it off. Rance is still grieving for the wife he lost five years earlier and is using work to fill up his time which leaves his seven and ten-year-old daughters in the care of his wife's mother more often than not.
Echo and Rance have had very different pasts. Echo was orphaned at four and reluctantly raised by an aunt and uncle who already had four children of their own. She hasn't seen them since she left for college at eighteen. Her loneliness wasn't eased when her fiancé abandoned her at the altar of a wedding chapel in Las Vegas. She's hoping for better in her new life in Indian Rock, but it is starting with her adopting a dog that likely belongs to someone else.
Rance was raised surrounded by a bunch of cousins and other family. He has suffered loss; his sister Cassidy died of leukemia when she was seventeen and he was in college. He also lost his wife to a horseback riding accident.
I liked the way the two of them grew to like and trust each other. There were a bunch of interesting side characters from Rance's cousins to his mother-in-law and other townspeople who both welcomed Echo and encouraged her relationship with Rance.
This was a nice contemporary romance from a very prolific author.
October 23, 2019
This is an older book that I pulled out of my TBR box. As with most LLM's books, wonderful characters, a compelling story, snappy dialogue combine to make an enjoyable read.
Echo Well's lost her parent's at a young age and was thrust onto het aunt and uncle, who with children of their own, made her feel like a burden, so as soon as she turned 18, and received a small inheritance from her mother, she left for college and never looked back. She had a good job in Chicago and a successful online business of love charms, but after her fiance, left her at the altar in Los Vegas, she decided to chuck it all and moved to to little Indian Rock. where she plans to open a bookstore. Along the way she picks up an abandoned dog and names her Avalon. Meanwhile the McKettricks are in a battle among themselves, whether to sell the family's corporation. Rance, was widowed several years ago, and has buried the grief in work, and mostly leaving his two young daughters to be raised by their maternal grandmother. On the first day that Echo comes to town, the two collide. Echo is charmed by Rance's daughter's who, but he has his own demons, that having him blowing hot and cold to her. Can she trust him, not to break her heart?
Echo Well's lost her parent's at a young age and was thrust onto het aunt and uncle, who with children of their own, made her feel like a burden, so as soon as she turned 18, and received a small inheritance from her mother, she left for college and never looked back. She had a good job in Chicago and a successful online business of love charms, but after her fiance, left her at the altar in Los Vegas, she decided to chuck it all and moved to to little Indian Rock. where she plans to open a bookstore. Along the way she picks up an abandoned dog and names her Avalon. Meanwhile the McKettricks are in a battle among themselves, whether to sell the family's corporation. Rance, was widowed several years ago, and has buried the grief in work, and mostly leaving his two young daughters to be raised by their maternal grandmother. On the first day that Echo comes to town, the two collide. Echo is charmed by Rance's daughter's who, but he has his own demons, that having him blowing hot and cold to her. Can she trust him, not to break her heart?
March 16, 2023
I really loved the heroine Echo, but Rance was a bit harder to like. His two daughters and his mother-in-law filled in the gaps there. The idea of love charms that rocketed out of control but had such unexpected results was truly hilarious. What a concept! Plus, I fell in love with Avalon/Snowball as did everyone in the book. I had never heard of a white lab before but was appalled that anyone would pay a thousand dollars for one. Although the pace of the book was good, the logic fell through in places, probably because I didn't understand where Rance was coming from. He seemed to bounce back and forth in his thinking and actions where Echo was concerned for no real reason.
September 30, 2019
Echo's story was moving, heart-warming and altogether lovely. Avalon/Snowball was also a star! Rance and Echo's scenes were definitely steamy and filled with tension without too much angst, which suited me fine!
It really hit me when Maeve and Rianna found out about Julie. However, I do agree that the ending seemed a lite rushed. I also wonder how without the steamy scenes, whether the relationship would hold up. Don't get me wrong, there was chemistry, but I was looking for something a little more. Despite this, I enjoyed myself and was touched by Echo's story - 3.5 stars.
It really hit me when Maeve and Rianna found out about Julie. However, I do agree that the ending seemed a lite rushed. I also wonder how without the steamy scenes, whether the relationship would hold up. Don't get me wrong, there was chemistry, but I was looking for something a little more. Despite this, I enjoyed myself and was touched by Echo's story - 3.5 stars.
November 6, 2018
Rance McKettrick's wife Julie died five years ago. She fell off her horse and broke her neck. She left Rance and 2 daughters, Maeve and Rianna behind. Rance is always on the road for business neglecting his daughters. Echo Wells has moved to Indian Rock to open a bookstore and to sell her mail-order love charms. She drives a pink VW and is a free spirit. This was a fun heart warming and emotionally filled book. Loved it.
May 16, 2017
The first three-fourth of the book was boring. Not enough about other family members, events in their lives, etc. But the last fourth of the book finally got interesting and exciting with a robber, a near drowning, a wife begging for forgiveness of her husband, loss of a uncle, a list and found dog being found, a marriage of Jesse and Cheyenne and more.
November 14, 2024
great book
Like all Linda Lael’s books this one was great. Rance a widower and father to two young girls couldn’t get out of his own way. His wife died several years before and he didn’t get over her. Until a hurricane named Echo arrived in Indian Rick in a bright pink car. Over time what evolved was a lot of adventure and finally love.
Like all Linda Lael’s books this one was great. Rance a widower and father to two young girls couldn’t get out of his own way. His wife died several years before and he didn’t get over her. Until a hurricane named Echo arrived in Indian Rick in a bright pink car. Over time what evolved was a lot of adventure and finally love.
Read
April 5, 2015Echo Wells relocated to Indian Rock from Chicago. She was left at the altar and chose to move and start over again. She purchased a store front location in which to open a bookstore. She also had a web site from which she sold Love Potions. She picked up a stray dog along the way that she discovered was a white lab after giving her a bath. She called the dog Avalon and found out that the dog was pregnant. She posted notices on the web that she had found the dog.
She arrived in town just as Rance Mckittrick was dropping off his two daughters, Mauve (10) and Rianna (8) and his deceased wife's mother's (Cora) place. The Curl and Twirl was next door to Echo's bookstore. He had just gotten out of another lecture for leaving the girls with Cora again. He hadn't been around much since his wife died.
He was attracted to Echo and tried to stay away but with Cora doing things that brought them together and the girls seeing a lot of her while staying with Cora, they were bound to run into each other often. With the arrival of Echo, things started to change for Rance and he made a decision to let some of his business go and try his hand at ranching again. He had the property and he would be closer to home and his girls.
While Avalon was on the road she was picked up by Bud Willand and he is the reason she was pregnant. He and a friend found another purebred lab and got her pregnant with intentions of selling the puppies for money. Bud had lost his job. Bud found out about the ad and came to claim Avalon. The dog tried to bite Bud so Echo wouldn't let the dog go with him. Rance also paid him off. When the money ran out, he came back and broke into Echo's place and Rance's brother and cousin had just picked up Echo to take her to dinner to interrogate her due to her involvement with Rance. Bud was caught and put in jail. Rance was called and came home from Tiawan where he had run off to to escape his feelings for Echo. Bud made bail and tried to break in again at Echo's place. This time Rance was there to stop him. He went back to jail. His wife came to see Echo and asked her to let Bud off. She came with a note from his old boss stating that Bud's job was available again and he would leave her alone once he got back to work. She dropped the charges and he left town.
Part of Rance's problem with having a relationship with Echo was based on the fact that his first wife and he were having problems when she was killed. She had asked Rance for a separation because she was lonely while he was working and she was at the ranch alone. She was communicating with a man named Sam in California by e-mail. He didn't want to share information about their problems and he thought no one knew. He felt guilty about her dying. She had fallen from a horse and broken her neck at a horse show. Rance didn't know about the communications. He only knew that his wife had asked for a separation. He got up the courage one night to go through her computer and found the e-mails. He printed them and gave them to Cora. He found out that Cora already knew about them. Mauve found them in Cora's purse that night and told Rianna. Rianna ran away and it was storming. Rance was out rounding up his cattle so she called Echo. Echo drove from town trying to find Rianna who had headed to town in her pink, battery operated car. Avalon found Rianna who had overturned her car and was stuck in a creek. Echo got to her just as Rance, Jesse and Keegan arrived. They were OK, just wet and cold.
Echo's parents had died and she was raised by her aunt and uncle. She was not given much love by them and left home as soon as she was able. One thing that she had wanted when she was a young girl was a doll. She never got it. She resented her aunt and uncle for getting her things and she felt their children were given more. She received the doll one day out of the blue. There was a card with a note from her uncle apologizing for never providing much for Echo. Echo called the number on the card and the phone was answered by Hospice. Echo's uncle told her that he had always felt bad and he and his wife had divorced. He didn't see his children any more and he was dying of brain cancer. He didn't want to see her. He just wanted to apologize and tell her to have a good life.
Echo had also been contacted by Avalon's real owners and found out that her real name was Snowball. Snowball had four puppies the night she pulled Rianna out of the creek. Snowball's real owners eventually showed up to pick up Snowball and promised that the would return in the spring and give one of the puppies to Echo because they were too young to leave with her then.
The town found out that Echo was selling love potions and people arrived by the bus loads to pick up the love potions. Echo felt bad but they seemed to work for lots of folks. She sold a couple to people in town and they got dates for a dance coming up. The dance was the same day as Echo's 30th birthday. Rance asked Echo to go and he also asked her to marry him. Echo finally told Rance that her real name was Emma Wells.
The book ended with Jessie and Cheyenne's wedding.
She arrived in town just as Rance Mckittrick was dropping off his two daughters, Mauve (10) and Rianna (8) and his deceased wife's mother's (Cora) place. The Curl and Twirl was next door to Echo's bookstore. He had just gotten out of another lecture for leaving the girls with Cora again. He hadn't been around much since his wife died.
He was attracted to Echo and tried to stay away but with Cora doing things that brought them together and the girls seeing a lot of her while staying with Cora, they were bound to run into each other often. With the arrival of Echo, things started to change for Rance and he made a decision to let some of his business go and try his hand at ranching again. He had the property and he would be closer to home and his girls.
While Avalon was on the road she was picked up by Bud Willand and he is the reason she was pregnant. He and a friend found another purebred lab and got her pregnant with intentions of selling the puppies for money. Bud had lost his job. Bud found out about the ad and came to claim Avalon. The dog tried to bite Bud so Echo wouldn't let the dog go with him. Rance also paid him off. When the money ran out, he came back and broke into Echo's place and Rance's brother and cousin had just picked up Echo to take her to dinner to interrogate her due to her involvement with Rance. Bud was caught and put in jail. Rance was called and came home from Tiawan where he had run off to to escape his feelings for Echo. Bud made bail and tried to break in again at Echo's place. This time Rance was there to stop him. He went back to jail. His wife came to see Echo and asked her to let Bud off. She came with a note from his old boss stating that Bud's job was available again and he would leave her alone once he got back to work. She dropped the charges and he left town.
Part of Rance's problem with having a relationship with Echo was based on the fact that his first wife and he were having problems when she was killed. She had asked Rance for a separation because she was lonely while he was working and she was at the ranch alone. She was communicating with a man named Sam in California by e-mail. He didn't want to share information about their problems and he thought no one knew. He felt guilty about her dying. She had fallen from a horse and broken her neck at a horse show. Rance didn't know about the communications. He only knew that his wife had asked for a separation. He got up the courage one night to go through her computer and found the e-mails. He printed them and gave them to Cora. He found out that Cora already knew about them. Mauve found them in Cora's purse that night and told Rianna. Rianna ran away and it was storming. Rance was out rounding up his cattle so she called Echo. Echo drove from town trying to find Rianna who had headed to town in her pink, battery operated car. Avalon found Rianna who had overturned her car and was stuck in a creek. Echo got to her just as Rance, Jesse and Keegan arrived. They were OK, just wet and cold.
Echo's parents had died and she was raised by her aunt and uncle. She was not given much love by them and left home as soon as she was able. One thing that she had wanted when she was a young girl was a doll. She never got it. She resented her aunt and uncle for getting her things and she felt their children were given more. She received the doll one day out of the blue. There was a card with a note from her uncle apologizing for never providing much for Echo. Echo called the number on the card and the phone was answered by Hospice. Echo's uncle told her that he had always felt bad and he and his wife had divorced. He didn't see his children any more and he was dying of brain cancer. He didn't want to see her. He just wanted to apologize and tell her to have a good life.
Echo had also been contacted by Avalon's real owners and found out that her real name was Snowball. Snowball had four puppies the night she pulled Rianna out of the creek. Snowball's real owners eventually showed up to pick up Snowball and promised that the would return in the spring and give one of the puppies to Echo because they were too young to leave with her then.
The town found out that Echo was selling love potions and people arrived by the bus loads to pick up the love potions. Echo felt bad but they seemed to work for lots of folks. She sold a couple to people in town and they got dates for a dance coming up. The dance was the same day as Echo's 30th birthday. Rance asked Echo to go and he also asked her to marry him. Echo finally told Rance that her real name was Emma Wells.
The book ended with Jessie and Cheyenne's wedding.
June 13, 2017
Cuando llegues a mi lado
Muy linda donde los protagonistas tendrán que enfrentarse a un pasado doloroso para superarlos y tener un futuro pleno.la he disfrutado mucho.
Muy linda donde los protagonistas tendrán que enfrentarse a un pasado doloroso para superarlos y tener un futuro pleno.la he disfrutado mucho.
November 30, 2017
Best cowboys Series.
December 9, 2017
Good plot and interesting characters make for a good read!
January 8, 2018
Straightforward contemporary western romance.
February 10, 2018
I do love a good cowboy romance and this is one of the better ones that I've read in quite a while.
March 7, 2018
MCKETTRICK'S PRIDE
Enjoyable western romance, good characters, loved the dog. One glaring problem, Echo left in the middle of the night from Rance's ranch-without a car?
Enjoyable western romance, good characters, loved the dog. One glaring problem, Echo left in the middle of the night from Rance's ranch-without a car?
June 28, 2018
As usual, yes this was cheesy and tropey and the romance moved way too fast but I can’t help it with these smutty romance novels. They make me laugh and cry and want to fall in love.
October 24, 2018
Again I really wish GoodReads offered a half star rating. This was better than a 3 but not quite a 4 for me.
November 13, 2018
I really enjoyed this romance about Echo, who moved to a new town, and Rance, who was still grieving his wife's death. It was fun to read with some suspense.
March 11, 2019
This was a fun read. I especially enjoyed the many guesses of what Echo's real name was.
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