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Parable, Montana #4
Big Sky Summer
The "First Lady of the West," #1
New York Times
bestselling author Linda Lael Miller, welcomes you home to Parable, Montana-where love awaits. With his father's rodeo legacy to continue and a prosperous spread to run, Walker Parrish has no time to dwell on wrecked relationships. But country-western sweetheart Casey Elder is out of the spotlight and back in Parable, Montana. And Walker can't ignore that his "act now, think later" passion for Casey has had consequences. Two teenage consequences!
Keeping her children's paternity under wraps has always been part of Casey's plan to give them normal, uncomplicated lives. Now the best way to hold her family together seems to be to let Walker be a part of it-as her husband of convenience. Or will some secrets-like Casey's desire to be the rancher's wife in every way-unravel, with unforeseen results?
Keeping her children's paternity under wraps has always been part of Casey's plan to give them normal, uncomplicated lives. Now the best way to hold her family together seems to be to let Walker be a part of it-as her husband of convenience. Or will some secrets-like Casey's desire to be the rancher's wife in every way-unravel, with unforeseen results?
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 28, 2013
337 people are currently reading
1968 people want to read
About the author
Linda Lael Miller
551 books3,232 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 232 reviews
May 30, 2013
I really like this series and like it a lot. It centers around a few men and women in the town of Parable, Montana who individually landed here through one circumstance or another. Each has had issues from their past resurface to create obstacles for romance in the present. There is one constant, however...some of the most delectable cowboys west of the Mississippi River.
The Set Up
In this fourth book, Casey Elders, a red-haired, feisty Country & Western singer recently bought a home in Parable. The plan was to give her children, 14-year old Clare and 13-year old Shane, a place to call home after being on the road touring all their lives. She chose this city because it's where Walker Parrish's ranch is located. He's their father but no one knows that, including her children, and Walker is fed up agreeing to keep a secret he never wanted a part of.
The Issues
How do you explain to your children that the family friend they've adored is really their father? Especially since having a father and a family has always been their dream. Walker and Casey have a turbulent history but the weight is on Casey for creating the obstacles in their romance and the lie.
What Worked
Casey and Walker's relationship was complex, steamy (never had issues between the sheets) and uneasy. She was all about maintaining her independence and Walker was such the confident cowboy he reduced her to a puddle with just a smile. Their kids were pretty interesting, too, and their differing reactions to the news complicated the story even more. The downside of celebrity is also presented, shining a light on issues that never occurred to me and the impact on their daily lives. The couples from the earlier stories appear here with updates on their situations and, although they really don't have substantive roles to speak of, it added to the enjoyment.
What Didn't Work Quite So Well
Casey frustrated me quite a bit. While her rationale for hiding the children's paternity was logical, it didn't fit the man Walker was defined to be and she was stubborn to a fault. And, his passivity was annoying at times and seemed out of character.
Bottom Line
Loved the story, Casey and Walker as a couple and parents, their children and the conflicts. Everyone involved paid a price for the decisions Casey made and no one gets off easy. When they come together as a family, it's messy, heartwarming and romantic. The bonds between the friends make this series special, along with the Western scene and culture as a foundation. Loving it. I’m ready for Brylee!
(I Received an ARC from NetGalley)
The Set Up
In this fourth book, Casey Elders, a red-haired, feisty Country & Western singer recently bought a home in Parable. The plan was to give her children, 14-year old Clare and 13-year old Shane, a place to call home after being on the road touring all their lives. She chose this city because it's where Walker Parrish's ranch is located. He's their father but no one knows that, including her children, and Walker is fed up agreeing to keep a secret he never wanted a part of.
The Issues
How do you explain to your children that the family friend they've adored is really their father? Especially since having a father and a family has always been their dream. Walker and Casey have a turbulent history but the weight is on Casey for creating the obstacles in their romance and the lie.
What Worked
Casey and Walker's relationship was complex, steamy (never had issues between the sheets) and uneasy. She was all about maintaining her independence and Walker was such the confident cowboy he reduced her to a puddle with just a smile. Their kids were pretty interesting, too, and their differing reactions to the news complicated the story even more. The downside of celebrity is also presented, shining a light on issues that never occurred to me and the impact on their daily lives. The couples from the earlier stories appear here with updates on their situations and, although they really don't have substantive roles to speak of, it added to the enjoyment.
What Didn't Work Quite So Well
Casey frustrated me quite a bit. While her rationale for hiding the children's paternity was logical, it didn't fit the man Walker was defined to be and she was stubborn to a fault. And, his passivity was annoying at times and seemed out of character.
Bottom Line
Loved the story, Casey and Walker as a couple and parents, their children and the conflicts. Everyone involved paid a price for the decisions Casey made and no one gets off easy. When they come together as a family, it's messy, heartwarming and romantic. The bonds between the friends make this series special, along with the Western scene and culture as a foundation. Loving it. I’m ready for Brylee!
(I Received an ARC from NetGalley)
June 10, 2013
I am a huge fan of Miller’s McKettrick series, but the last few rounds of her books are starting to feel very formulaic. Take a divorced single mom raising kids on her own, step-kids abandoned by biological parents, an abused/neglected dog found in parking lot or side of the road, add a sexy cowboy and a fairly generic small town and stir until done. It’s not that Miller’s latest books are bad. They’re not. They’re well written, sweet romance stories, but every book has started to feel exactly the same. That is why, for me, Miller has moved from an auto-buy to a wait for the library copy.
Overall the book is perfectly fine, albeit entirely predictable. My only real complaint is with Casey’s character. I really hate it when thirtysomething women have sex and then immediately are all “oh, no, what did we do?” Sister, you are a grown women who was fully cognizant of what you were doing while you were doing it. Own it and move on.
See the rest of my review for this series at: http://www.sexybooktimes.com/?p=192
Overall the book is perfectly fine, albeit entirely predictable. My only real complaint is with Casey’s character. I really hate it when thirtysomething women have sex and then immediately are all “oh, no, what did we do?” Sister, you are a grown women who was fully cognizant of what you were doing while you were doing it. Own it and move on.
See the rest of my review for this series at: http://www.sexybooktimes.com/?p=192
June 22, 2017
Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog:
http://romancingthereaders.blogspot.c...
There is just something about her books that keep my coming back for more. As you can see I don't always read them the day they get out but I usually buy them the second they come out, even if it will take me years to read it. I just hate not having them. I need them. Silly I know.
What can I say, she writes a good story.
Big Sky Summer is book #4 in the Parable, Montana series and each book keeps getting better and better. I really have been enjoying the series as a whole. I'd like to say I have a favorite book but I don't. The book I just finished becomes my favorite until I read the next one.
One day maybe I'll be caught up with her...I'm laughing here!!!
What I loved about this story is the emotions it dragged out of me. At times I have to say that I didn't care for Casey. The lies she told her children really pissed me off. I get that she thought it all for the best, but most of it was for selfish reasons. Now, I'm not saying it would have been better to go into something when you're not ready for it, I just mean sometimes we have to look at our motives and think about them.
I want talk deeper about the story but don't want to ruin anything for anyone. You really need to read it for yourself.
Now don't get me wrong, Walker shared some of the blame for the lies, it was just that he too was lied to so you have a tiny bit more sympathy for him. The whole thing was a mess. Lies have a way of coming back and biting you on the ass.
I did like how as a family they worked through everything. No matter how made they were at each other, they stood next to each other when times called for it. You really will enjoy this story.
Big Sky Summer can be read on it's own but I wouldn't do it. I'd read the series in order because you really do learn a lot about these people in each book you read. You'll get a fuller picture of the town and the people who live in it.
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There is just something about her books that keep my coming back for more. As you can see I don't always read them the day they get out but I usually buy them the second they come out, even if it will take me years to read it. I just hate not having them. I need them. Silly I know.
What can I say, she writes a good story.
Big Sky Summer is book #4 in the Parable, Montana series and each book keeps getting better and better. I really have been enjoying the series as a whole. I'd like to say I have a favorite book but I don't. The book I just finished becomes my favorite until I read the next one.
One day maybe I'll be caught up with her...I'm laughing here!!!
What I loved about this story is the emotions it dragged out of me. At times I have to say that I didn't care for Casey. The lies she told her children really pissed me off. I get that she thought it all for the best, but most of it was for selfish reasons. Now, I'm not saying it would have been better to go into something when you're not ready for it, I just mean sometimes we have to look at our motives and think about them.
I want talk deeper about the story but don't want to ruin anything for anyone. You really need to read it for yourself.
Now don't get me wrong, Walker shared some of the blame for the lies, it was just that he too was lied to so you have a tiny bit more sympathy for him. The whole thing was a mess. Lies have a way of coming back and biting you on the ass.
I did like how as a family they worked through everything. No matter how made they were at each other, they stood next to each other when times called for it. You really will enjoy this story.
Big Sky Summer can be read on it's own but I wouldn't do it. I'd read the series in order because you really do learn a lot about these people in each book you read. You'll get a fuller picture of the town and the people who live in it.
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May 7, 2013Rhayne‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
2.5 Stars
Big Sky Summer is book four in the Big Sky series. I am a huge fan of this series and a huge fan of Linda Lael Miller. Unfortunately, I’m not a huge fan of this book. I try to remind myself that it is fiction and that not everything has to be believable. However, there were so many situations in this book that left me shaking my head. That combined with many random parts thrown in for no reason, made it virtually impossible for me to connect with it at all.
I’m not giving up on this series or this author, with every series there always seems to a book that is not the favorite. I’m hoping that is the case for me and this book.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
2.5 Stars
Big Sky Summer is book four in the Big Sky series. I am a huge fan of this series and a huge fan of Linda Lael Miller. Unfortunately, I’m not a huge fan of this book. I try to remind myself that it is fiction and that not everything has to be believable. However, there were so many situations in this book that left me shaking my head. That combined with many random parts thrown in for no reason, made it virtually impossible for me to connect with it at all.
I’m not giving up on this series or this author, with every series there always seems to a book that is not the favorite. I’m hoping that is the case for me and this book.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
June 23, 2013
This is book 4 in the continuing Parable, Montana series. If you have been following the series you are probably like me and have been waiting for Walker and Casey's story. Thank goodness Walker has a lot of patience where Casey is concerned because it's been a long long time to a happy ending for these two and upon reading their story you might not be sure there will be one. Both seem to half one foot in and one foot out on their relationship. Casey's kept her two kids paternity under wraps for almost 15 years. Walker knew but when along with it thinking it was for the best but was kept around as a family friend. I didn't agree with this idea for the book but it is what it so i decided to sit back and see how it panned out. I was actually pretty happy with how it's handled. Each of the two kids had different reactions to the news when told and then the fall out. They marry which was odd for the convenience of showing the public they are a family unit. Behind it all though Walker and Casey both made mistakes with each other and had issues from their pasts mixing in with those decisions. Finally though they figure out what's important and how they feel and it all comes together of course. I like the way it ended up and i adored Walker. The man is just about a saint with patience and understanding.
September 25, 2013
I always love Linda Lael Miller books, but this is the first one I just couldn't completely get into. I couldn't help it, I just didn't like either Casey or Walker. Even if Casey didn't want to give up her budding career how could she think it would be good or even healthy to deny her children's father? Walker had just as much right to raise those kids as she did. No where does it say you have to marry the person you have kids with or give up your career to have kids. All she did was hurt everyone involved by denying both her kids father. Walker was no better in all this. He complained that he wanted to be involved in his kids life, yet he did nothing at all in order to actually do that. If he really wanted to be a father he would have demanded that he be able to help raise the kids. It was like he enjoyed being the victim of the whole situation, but in the end only the kids were the victims of idiot parents. Maybe I am thinking too much about all this and should have just enjoyed the story as it was written, but through the whole book this was all I could think about and it ruined it for me.
October 5, 2018
I’ve read 1-4 of this series and, though there are a couple more left, I’m stopping with this one.
These books are all the same!! It starts out with “I hate you, go away, I’d never date this person, yuck, yuck, yuck”, then Opal decides they need to marry, the obligatory sex scene is the same for each couple, they decide they love each other, they get married. Oh yeah, there are always children involved and a homeless dog gets taken in and adopted in EVERY SINGLE BOOK. This lady is making a fortune recycling the same story over and over. I’m done.
These books are all the same!! It starts out with “I hate you, go away, I’d never date this person, yuck, yuck, yuck”, then Opal decides they need to marry, the obligatory sex scene is the same for each couple, they decide they love each other, they get married. Oh yeah, there are always children involved and a homeless dog gets taken in and adopted in EVERY SINGLE BOOK. This lady is making a fortune recycling the same story over and over. I’m done.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2013
I loved this story even though I wanted to slap the heroine on the back of the head for being so selfish and also the hero for putting up with her selfishness.
April 5, 2021
This was my first book by Linda Lael Miller,won’t be my last ♥️ I truly enjoyed it....Cowboy Up
May 31, 2013
Very good book. There's a lot of heat between Casey and Walker as they now have to deal with their feelings for each other and with the consequences of their longstanding relationship. Casey has been on the road for years, raising her two children as best she could. She's tired of the lifestyle now that she has met all the goals she set for herself. She wants to give the kids a stable home and the chance to go to school and make friends and just live a normal life. She settles in Parable, where her "friend" Walker lives. She has done a great job of keeping the secret of who her kids' father is, not wanting them to become part of a media circus. But now that they have settled down Walker wants his proper role in their lives.
I liked Casey. She has been a terrific mother, raising Clare and Shane to be pretty good kids. They don't seem to have any of the problems that most celebrity kids seem to have. They have known Walker for most of their lives, but only as a family friend. When she got pregnant (both times) she wasn't ready to settle down and convinced Walker that staying anonymous was the best way to handle things. Now she realizes that that maybe wasn't the best way to do it. Both kids have made it clear that they wished they had a real father. She goes to Walker and agrees with him that it's time they tell the kids the truth. Casey is really scared. She is afraid that the kids will hate her for not telling them the truth. She also knows that she still can't resist her physical attraction to Walker. They have always been physically compatible but can't be together for five minutes without finding something to argue about. Casey tends to start the fights as a way to keep Walker at a distance. Casey has a lot to deal with once the truth comes out. Her son seems to take the news well, but her daughter is having a hard time with her feelings of betrayal. Casey decides that she and Walker should marry to protect the children, but she doesn't want to risk her heart on a real marriage. She soon realizes that her heart is already at risk because she has loved Walker all along and wants nothing more than to be a real wife to him.
Walker has long wanted to be a real father to his kids. He is tired of just being the family friend and wants to tell the kids the truth. He finally tells Casey that she has to tell them. I liked the fact that he lets her know that they will do it together, that he is not going to try to take the kids or anything like that. He just wants to be a real dad. I really enjoyed seeing him become that father rather than just the cool friend. He soon realizes that being a father is a little more complicated than he thought but I thought he handled it very well. I also enjoyed the way that he made sure that Casey knew that he was there for whatever she needed for the kids or for herself. I also liked the way that he finally admitted to himself that Casey's desire to keep his fatherhood secret had allowed him to not have to deal with the hard things. Once they married he finally got a taste of the things she had had to deal with all those years, especially the tabloid reporters. This made him appreciate her even more. I liked the way that he finally admitted his love for her.
One of the best things about the book was the way it showed how hard both Casey and Walker had to work to make their relationship a success. Both of them had to learn to compromise and both of them had to learn to actually talk to the other one. Casey also had to face up to her mistakes even though she had made them with the best of intentions. I liked both kids also. They were both realistically done without being obnoxious or too sweet. I also enjoyed catching up with the characters from previous books. I'm looking forward to the next book and seeing Brylee finally get her own happy ending.
I liked Casey. She has been a terrific mother, raising Clare and Shane to be pretty good kids. They don't seem to have any of the problems that most celebrity kids seem to have. They have known Walker for most of their lives, but only as a family friend. When she got pregnant (both times) she wasn't ready to settle down and convinced Walker that staying anonymous was the best way to handle things. Now she realizes that that maybe wasn't the best way to do it. Both kids have made it clear that they wished they had a real father. She goes to Walker and agrees with him that it's time they tell the kids the truth. Casey is really scared. She is afraid that the kids will hate her for not telling them the truth. She also knows that she still can't resist her physical attraction to Walker. They have always been physically compatible but can't be together for five minutes without finding something to argue about. Casey tends to start the fights as a way to keep Walker at a distance. Casey has a lot to deal with once the truth comes out. Her son seems to take the news well, but her daughter is having a hard time with her feelings of betrayal. Casey decides that she and Walker should marry to protect the children, but she doesn't want to risk her heart on a real marriage. She soon realizes that her heart is already at risk because she has loved Walker all along and wants nothing more than to be a real wife to him.
Walker has long wanted to be a real father to his kids. He is tired of just being the family friend and wants to tell the kids the truth. He finally tells Casey that she has to tell them. I liked the fact that he lets her know that they will do it together, that he is not going to try to take the kids or anything like that. He just wants to be a real dad. I really enjoyed seeing him become that father rather than just the cool friend. He soon realizes that being a father is a little more complicated than he thought but I thought he handled it very well. I also enjoyed the way that he made sure that Casey knew that he was there for whatever she needed for the kids or for herself. I also liked the way that he finally admitted to himself that Casey's desire to keep his fatherhood secret had allowed him to not have to deal with the hard things. Once they married he finally got a taste of the things she had had to deal with all those years, especially the tabloid reporters. This made him appreciate her even more. I liked the way that he finally admitted his love for her.
One of the best things about the book was the way it showed how hard both Casey and Walker had to work to make their relationship a success. Both of them had to learn to compromise and both of them had to learn to actually talk to the other one. Casey also had to face up to her mistakes even though she had made them with the best of intentions. I liked both kids also. They were both realistically done without being obnoxious or too sweet. I also enjoyed catching up with the characters from previous books. I'm looking forward to the next book and seeing Brylee finally get her own happy ending.
March 13, 2013
4 STARS
Big Sky Summer (Swoon-Worthy Cowboys #4)
I have enjoyed this series. I have read all four so far. It starts with a wedding of Sheriff Boone Taylor and Tara Kendall. We see a lot of the same characters from previous books. I like catching up with old friends seeing what the characters have been doing since the last book.
Walker Parrish was attending the wedding as guest and friend of Boone. His sister does not come to weddings since she was left by the alter when Hutch
called off the wedding to her in this church two years ago. Now he is one of the best man for Boone the other best man is Slade.
Casey Elder is singing at the wedding. She is a famous singer that had moved to town a few years ago. She wants her two teenagers going to school for the first time. Casey has done a good job at keeping the secret of who the father of her two children is. Hardly anyone knows. In fact she hid the news to the father by lying to him that it was some other guy till it happened a second time.
Walker when he found out both children were his he wanted to get married and bring them back home to his ranch. Casey wanted to keep singing. She agreed to let Walker be close to her kids as a family friend. He has always wanted more. He loves his kids.
Casey's daughter Clare 14 has given up on wishes. She tells her mom she has wished since she was little for a dad. Casey realizes that she made a mistake and needs to tell her children that Walker is their father. She is afraid that her kids will hate her for telling them lies for years about their father.
Casey and Walker met at the rodeos around the country when she was just starting out singing and Walker was being in the rodeos. They were great in bed but out they wanted different things. In fact when Casey came over to Walker's ranch to tell him that he was right they fell into the same patterns sleeping together and then fighting.
They have a lot of issues they need to work out as a family. It is not easy for the kids to realize that their mom lied to them. Walker did to. Walker did not even tell his sister about them. She thought she was a honory Aunt to them not a real aunt.
Does have some love scenes in it, has horses and rodeos,ranching and small town helping those in need. In other words it is a romance book written by Linda lael Miller.
I was given this ebook to read and asked to give it honest review by Netgalley.
05/28/2013 PUB Harlequin Imprint Harlequin HQN 384 pages ISBN: 0373777655
Discription below taken off of Netgalley.
welcomes you home to Parable, Montana-where love awaits.
With his father's rodeo legacy to continue and a prosperous spread to run, Walker Parrish has no time to dwell on wrecked relationships. But country-western sweetheart Casey Elder is out of the spotlight and back in Parable, Montana. And Walker can't ignore that his "act now, think later" passion for Casey has had consequences. Two teenage consequences!
Keeping her children's paternity under wraps has always been part of Casey's plan to give them normal, uncomplicated lives. Now the best way to hold her family together seems to be to let Walker be a part of it-as her husband of convenience. Or will some secrets-like Casey's desire to be the rancher's wife in every way-unravel, with unforeseen results?
Big Sky Summer (Swoon-Worthy Cowboys #4)
I have enjoyed this series. I have read all four so far. It starts with a wedding of Sheriff Boone Taylor and Tara Kendall. We see a lot of the same characters from previous books. I like catching up with old friends seeing what the characters have been doing since the last book.
Walker Parrish was attending the wedding as guest and friend of Boone. His sister does not come to weddings since she was left by the alter when Hutch
called off the wedding to her in this church two years ago. Now he is one of the best man for Boone the other best man is Slade.
Casey Elder is singing at the wedding. She is a famous singer that had moved to town a few years ago. She wants her two teenagers going to school for the first time. Casey has done a good job at keeping the secret of who the father of her two children is. Hardly anyone knows. In fact she hid the news to the father by lying to him that it was some other guy till it happened a second time.
Walker when he found out both children were his he wanted to get married and bring them back home to his ranch. Casey wanted to keep singing. She agreed to let Walker be close to her kids as a family friend. He has always wanted more. He loves his kids.
Casey's daughter Clare 14 has given up on wishes. She tells her mom she has wished since she was little for a dad. Casey realizes that she made a mistake and needs to tell her children that Walker is their father. She is afraid that her kids will hate her for telling them lies for years about their father.
Casey and Walker met at the rodeos around the country when she was just starting out singing and Walker was being in the rodeos. They were great in bed but out they wanted different things. In fact when Casey came over to Walker's ranch to tell him that he was right they fell into the same patterns sleeping together and then fighting.
They have a lot of issues they need to work out as a family. It is not easy for the kids to realize that their mom lied to them. Walker did to. Walker did not even tell his sister about them. She thought she was a honory Aunt to them not a real aunt.
Does have some love scenes in it, has horses and rodeos,ranching and small town helping those in need. In other words it is a romance book written by Linda lael Miller.
I was given this ebook to read and asked to give it honest review by Netgalley.
05/28/2013 PUB Harlequin Imprint Harlequin HQN 384 pages ISBN: 0373777655
Discription below taken off of Netgalley.
welcomes you home to Parable, Montana-where love awaits.
With his father's rodeo legacy to continue and a prosperous spread to run, Walker Parrish has no time to dwell on wrecked relationships. But country-western sweetheart Casey Elder is out of the spotlight and back in Parable, Montana. And Walker can't ignore that his "act now, think later" passion for Casey has had consequences. Two teenage consequences!
Keeping her children's paternity under wraps has always been part of Casey's plan to give them normal, uncomplicated lives. Now the best way to hold her family together seems to be to let Walker be a part of it-as her husband of convenience. Or will some secrets-like Casey's desire to be the rancher's wife in every way-unravel, with unforeseen results?
May 31, 2013
Linda Lael Miller has long been a favorite author of mine. I recently reviewed the wonderful Creed Cowboy series and loved it. When asked to review this series, I knew my only answer was going to be YES! Bring it on!
Linda Lael Miller writes a wonderful story about love and family. She is an expert at developing characters and crafting a sex scene with love and tenderness. And, she incorporates her flare for humor in the most unlikely of situations, 'The spirit might be willing, but the flesh was weak. Hell, the flesh - her flesh - wasn't just weak, it was flagrantly wanton. Given a voice, every part of her would have been shouting a hallelujah chorus of "Bring it on, cowboy!"'
And, you have to love a rough and tough cowboy who has a dog named Doolittle. Casey, a well-known country-western singer, and mother to Clare and Shane, has a lot to deal with once the kids find out that the wonderful Uncle Walker is really their father. "What, exactly," she (Casey) began wearily, "do you hope to accomplish by being so difficult?" "I'm letting you know that I'm unhappy," Clare said pertly. "We're having a dialogue." "You've been watching too many Oprah reruns," Casey ansered, perching on the edge of the bed, not too close, but not too far away, either. "You might want to take in one or two episodes when you get the chance," Clare answered airily. "Oprah was always big on telling the truth."
For those of you who are already fans of Linda Lael Miller, you will not be disappointed in the newest book. For those of you who have yet to experience her stories, you are in for a treat. The story is well-crafted and the characters are unique and lovable. Big Sky Summer is full of love, family, adventure, and mischief - in other words, a great book.
"As if he'd felt her gaze, Walker turned his head and their eyes met. She nodded and lifted the champagne glass slightly. Here we go, she thought, wishing he'd walk away, hoping against hope that he'd weave his way through the crowd toward her instead. Her breath snagged on a skittering heartbeat when Walker started in her direction."
"Walker looked at Mitch. Mitch looked at Walker. And, finally, the two men shook hands. Was she imagining it, Casey asked herself, or had she just heard the sound of antlers locking in combat?"
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. Read more on my blog at: http://mylife-in-stories.blogspot.com...
Linda Lael Miller writes a wonderful story about love and family. She is an expert at developing characters and crafting a sex scene with love and tenderness. And, she incorporates her flare for humor in the most unlikely of situations, 'The spirit might be willing, but the flesh was weak. Hell, the flesh - her flesh - wasn't just weak, it was flagrantly wanton. Given a voice, every part of her would have been shouting a hallelujah chorus of "Bring it on, cowboy!"'
And, you have to love a rough and tough cowboy who has a dog named Doolittle. Casey, a well-known country-western singer, and mother to Clare and Shane, has a lot to deal with once the kids find out that the wonderful Uncle Walker is really their father. "What, exactly," she (Casey) began wearily, "do you hope to accomplish by being so difficult?" "I'm letting you know that I'm unhappy," Clare said pertly. "We're having a dialogue." "You've been watching too many Oprah reruns," Casey ansered, perching on the edge of the bed, not too close, but not too far away, either. "You might want to take in one or two episodes when you get the chance," Clare answered airily. "Oprah was always big on telling the truth."
For those of you who are already fans of Linda Lael Miller, you will not be disappointed in the newest book. For those of you who have yet to experience her stories, you are in for a treat. The story is well-crafted and the characters are unique and lovable. Big Sky Summer is full of love, family, adventure, and mischief - in other words, a great book.
"As if he'd felt her gaze, Walker turned his head and their eyes met. She nodded and lifted the champagne glass slightly. Here we go, she thought, wishing he'd walk away, hoping against hope that he'd weave his way through the crowd toward her instead. Her breath snagged on a skittering heartbeat when Walker started in her direction."
"Walker looked at Mitch. Mitch looked at Walker. And, finally, the two men shook hands. Was she imagining it, Casey asked herself, or had she just heard the sound of antlers locking in combat?"
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. Read more on my blog at: http://mylife-in-stories.blogspot.com...
July 26, 2013
Big Sky Summer by Linda Lael Miller features some of my favorite things in a story, small towns, romance, and cowboys. I have had the pleasure of reading all the books in the Big Sky series and I have enjoyed each one. I always love returning to a town to catch up with some of my friends from previous books. Linda Lael Miller does a great job of giving updates on friends from past books in the series as well as telling a wonderful story about the main characters.
Walker Parrish has been spending time with Casey and their children for many years. However these teenagers don't know that Walker is their Dad.
Walker and Casey's always spark when they are together but sometimes those sparks turn into heated arguments other times they turn into babies.
Walker is a handsome cowboy who has a ranch to run and animals to take care of. Casey is a super star trying who was in need of some quite time. She and her children have moved to Parable, Montana where Walker (the children's dad lives). When the children find out that Walker is their Dad there are some touchy moments and lot for everyone to take in. I thought Linda Lael Miller did a great job of showing all the emotional issues that would be involved in a secret of this size.
I loved that Walker and Casey sizzle, they just have to figure out what their feelings are for each other. It takes awhile for them to get on the same page and get their family together but it was an fantastic story to read.
I can not wait for the next in this series, I'm not sure but I think it my be Brylee Parrish's turn to find her happily ever after.
If you like small town, western romances I think you will enjoy this one. I have yet to meet a Linda Lael Miller book that I didn't like.
Walker Parrish has been spending time with Casey and their children for many years. However these teenagers don't know that Walker is their Dad.
Walker and Casey's always spark when they are together but sometimes those sparks turn into heated arguments other times they turn into babies.
Walker is a handsome cowboy who has a ranch to run and animals to take care of. Casey is a super star trying who was in need of some quite time. She and her children have moved to Parable, Montana where Walker (the children's dad lives). When the children find out that Walker is their Dad there are some touchy moments and lot for everyone to take in. I thought Linda Lael Miller did a great job of showing all the emotional issues that would be involved in a secret of this size.
I loved that Walker and Casey sizzle, they just have to figure out what their feelings are for each other. It takes awhile for them to get on the same page and get their family together but it was an fantastic story to read.
I can not wait for the next in this series, I'm not sure but I think it my be Brylee Parrish's turn to find her happily ever after.
If you like small town, western romances I think you will enjoy this one. I have yet to meet a Linda Lael Miller book that I didn't like.
June 15, 2013
3.8 stars
It all started with a broken condom, a career and scared cowboy. Walker one fine cowboy and rancher has alway kept the secret Casey wanted. She wanted the world to never know who her children's father was. The pain of watching them grow, and flounder without being able to be there was difficult. It is getting harder to hold his tongue, now that they are living s close. he wants to claim his children.
Casey, a singer, famous and hunted by reporters, wants things to stay as they are. She is afraid her children will hate her after they learn of her lies. She cowers in her fear, dragging the inevitable out. She runs out of time when a reporter figures out just what has been going on and spreads it across the internet. She makes a choice and charges ahead with it.
*What a ride this one was*. It was the first one of her series where I didn't like the female lead. She was selfish, career centered and cruel. Some may disagree on that she does some charitable good things here. Too me, she was terrible, she stole important life times away from the father, and the comfort of a father from her children. Why? Her career. Then her reasoning behind her action just fell flat for me. She treated Walker and the children terrible. Yes, she irked me ! I loved the book anyway.
It all started with a broken condom, a career and scared cowboy. Walker one fine cowboy and rancher has alway kept the secret Casey wanted. She wanted the world to never know who her children's father was. The pain of watching them grow, and flounder without being able to be there was difficult. It is getting harder to hold his tongue, now that they are living s close. he wants to claim his children.
Casey, a singer, famous and hunted by reporters, wants things to stay as they are. She is afraid her children will hate her after they learn of her lies. She cowers in her fear, dragging the inevitable out. She runs out of time when a reporter figures out just what has been going on and spreads it across the internet. She makes a choice and charges ahead with it.
*What a ride this one was*. It was the first one of her series where I didn't like the female lead. She was selfish, career centered and cruel. Some may disagree on that she does some charitable good things here. Too me, she was terrible, she stole important life times away from the father, and the comfort of a father from her children. Why? Her career. Then her reasoning behind her action just fell flat for me. She treated Walker and the children terrible. Yes, she irked me ! I loved the book anyway.
August 5, 2015
I love Montana so this series really works for me and it has really hot heroes and strong heroines. I like that LLM doesn't do the whole insta-love thing (that just aggravates me).
Country singer Casey Elder can't keep her pants on around Walker Parrish and has turned up pregnant twice already. Unfortunately she withheld that fact from Walker and raised the kids on the road. Now she has moved a stone's throw from Walker and things are heating up.
I love the fact that regardless of the heat between them, Casey and Walker weren't a slam dunk. They had issues to resolve before things could progress any farther. The conflicts with the two kids were well done also. LLM is my author when I'm looking for a comfort read.
Country singer Casey Elder can't keep her pants on around Walker Parrish and has turned up pregnant twice already. Unfortunately she withheld that fact from Walker and raised the kids on the road. Now she has moved a stone's throw from Walker and things are heating up.
I love the fact that regardless of the heat between them, Casey and Walker weren't a slam dunk. They had issues to resolve before things could progress any farther. The conflicts with the two kids were well done also. LLM is my author when I'm looking for a comfort read.
May 14, 2013
2.5 STARS
Big Sky Summer is book four in the Big Sky series. I am a huge fan of this series and a huge fan of Linda Lael Miller. Unfortunately, I’m not a huge fan of this book. I try to remind myself that it is fiction and that not everything has to be believable. However, there were so many situations in this book that left me shaking my head. That combined with many random parts thrown in for no reason, made it virtually impossible for me to connect with it at all.
Entire review posted here: http://www.guiltypleasuresbookreviews...
Big Sky Summer is book four in the Big Sky series. I am a huge fan of this series and a huge fan of Linda Lael Miller. Unfortunately, I’m not a huge fan of this book. I try to remind myself that it is fiction and that not everything has to be believable. However, there were so many situations in this book that left me shaking my head. That combined with many random parts thrown in for no reason, made it virtually impossible for me to connect with it at all.
Entire review posted here: http://www.guiltypleasuresbookreviews...
January 11, 2014
I love a good light romance novel. This wasn't it. The basic formula for the book was good but the storyline lingered and didn't deliver. The heroine Casey was not developed enough to be real to me. The hero walker was a typical cowboy but the dialogue was overdone. There were a lot of pages and even more dialogue but nothing that cemented the characters or their forced family unit.
March 1, 2020
I would say rating is 3.5. Story is very good. Characters are good but I found the writing a bit rambling. Found myself skipping through parts simply because they weren't relevant to the overall story. I would still recommend.
September 8, 2013
Another wonderful book about the residents of Parable, though I think it strange for a cowboy not carrying a gun where he might need it against snakes, or wild beasts
June 5, 2018
Absolutely amazing just like all her books loved it.
June 24, 2013
Walker Parrish and Casey Elder were once old flames, but even though they had two children together, Casey’s music career has got in the way of their relationship developing into anything serious. But now Casey is back in Parable, Montana and her children are becoming more aggressive with their requests to know the name of their father. Although Walker figured out that he was Clare and Shane’s father, he’s respected Casey’s wish to keep it secret to avoid media scandal. Now that his children want to know his identity, he’s determined to make up for all the lost time. But Casey isn’t so confident—will her children still love her when she admits that she lied to them all these years? And what will Walker being in her life mean for her relationship with him? The flame that first lit up all those years ago is still burning, but Casey isn’t sure she wants to be involved with Walker again. But once the media hears about the truth of Clare and Shane’s parentage, Casey knows she has to do some damage control. Will Walker be happy with her plan?
Although I’m not the kind of woman who swoons over cowboys, I do love a good Western romance, particularly if it’s set in the beautiful state of Montana. This novel had all the makings of a great story—secret children, reunion of old flames, small-town setting and a marriage of convenience. But unfortunately, Big Sky Summer failed to hold my attention for very long. Although this book only totals in at 320 pages, it took me an entire week to work through it because I struggled to sit down and read more than few pages at a time. Normally this would be the kind of book I’d breeze through in a couple of days, but there were several aspects of the storytelling that made it difficult for me to enjoy this novel.
I tried to overlook the bizarre situation in which Walker had been the only person to know that he was Clare and Shane’s father, and the fact that he had never fought for them to know his true identity. Although he’d always been in their lives as a family friend, he seemed like such a traditional, family-man that it didn’t entirely make sense that he hadn’t fought harder to be known as their father. Still, since the premise of the story is that Clare and Shane don’t know who Walker really is, I ignored this rather contrived conflict and tried to enjoy the story. Still, some aspects of the book just didn’t add up. Why does Casey suddenly feel the need to reveal Walker’s identity right then? The kids aren’t badgering her to reveal the identity of their father; they’re just being wistful. And when she does admit that Walker is their father and he gets the chance to spend time with them on the ranch, why does he suddenly tell Casey that he’s angry with her for forcing him to keep his identity a secret? All throughout the book, he’s supportive of Casey finally telling the truth, then out of the blue, he suddenly says that he’s angry. Casey and Walker make up so quickly that this conflict seems rather pointless. Similarly, I never completely understood why Casey felt she had to marry Walker in order to make the situation look respectable to the media. As much as I love a good marriage of convenience, this one felt incredibly forced. The conflict in this book was all over the place, and didn’t always make sense. If you like hidden parentage plots, you might be able to overlook this aspect of the story, but I’m afraid it felt too contrived to me.
Complaining that a romance is predictable is a bit like complaining that there’s too much mystery in a Nancy Drew novel. Still, the romance in Big Sky Summer is overwhelmingly predictable, to the extent that I didn’t really care what happened next to Walker and Casey because the answer was so obvious. One thing I love about the romance genre is how authors can reuse the same ideas and storylines and make them into something new. Unfortunately, Walker and Casey’s relationship didn’t feel new or refreshing. Partly this is because most of the romance occurs in the past. This is a fatal flaw with reunion romances: the hero and heroine just pick up where they left off X number of years ago, and there’s very little opportunity for the reader to see their romance progressing. Most of Walker and Casey’s relationship is based on their sexual chemistry, and they don’t really have any sort of emotional connection (besides their commitment to their children), so up until the last chapter of the book, most of their relationship consists of them falling into bed together and refusing to talk about their feelings. If you like sex-fuelled romances, this is the book for you, but it felt too much like a Harlequin Presents novel for my taste. I wanted to get to know Walker and Casey and care about whether or not they got together, but this never really happened.
This book isn’t all bad—otherwise, I would have rated it much lower. Although this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone, and it benefits from having a fleshed out setting and cast of secondary characters. I definitely got the feel of being in small-town Montana, and could imagine the church, police station and even the rodeo at the end of the novel. Although we didn’t get to know a lot of the secondary characters, Doris, Opal and Brylee definitely caught my attention, and I was intrigued by a couple of characters who obviously have storylines that are going to come to a head in later books. Linda has obviously spent a lot of time working on this setting and the characters that inhabit the town. I’m only sorry that this book didn’t allow me to engage with them fully.
The few times that Walker and Casey truly felt real to me were when they were engaging with their children, and this is definitely one of the strong points of the novel. Shane’s excitement over having a cowboy for a father and Clare’s teenage angst over being lied to by her mother felt incredibly real, and I only wish that I could say the same for their parents.
Although there are several reviewers who have been similarly disappointed with Big Sky Summer, a lot of people seem to have loved this book. It does fulfil a lot of popular romance tropes (secret children, cowboys, small-towns, reunions, marriage of convenience) and while they didn’t work for me, I have a feeling that those readers who prefer romances that are fuelled by sex and like the appeal of Casey’s music career will lap this book up. Although I didn’t connect with Walker and Casey and found most of the conflict to be contrived, I would be willing to give Linda Lael Miller another try sometime.
Disclaimer: This is a mainstream novel and includes three sex scenes and a few instances of mild swearing.
Review title provided by HQN.
Although I’m not the kind of woman who swoons over cowboys, I do love a good Western romance, particularly if it’s set in the beautiful state of Montana. This novel had all the makings of a great story—secret children, reunion of old flames, small-town setting and a marriage of convenience. But unfortunately, Big Sky Summer failed to hold my attention for very long. Although this book only totals in at 320 pages, it took me an entire week to work through it because I struggled to sit down and read more than few pages at a time. Normally this would be the kind of book I’d breeze through in a couple of days, but there were several aspects of the storytelling that made it difficult for me to enjoy this novel.
I tried to overlook the bizarre situation in which Walker had been the only person to know that he was Clare and Shane’s father, and the fact that he had never fought for them to know his true identity. Although he’d always been in their lives as a family friend, he seemed like such a traditional, family-man that it didn’t entirely make sense that he hadn’t fought harder to be known as their father. Still, since the premise of the story is that Clare and Shane don’t know who Walker really is, I ignored this rather contrived conflict and tried to enjoy the story. Still, some aspects of the book just didn’t add up. Why does Casey suddenly feel the need to reveal Walker’s identity right then? The kids aren’t badgering her to reveal the identity of their father; they’re just being wistful. And when she does admit that Walker is their father and he gets the chance to spend time with them on the ranch, why does he suddenly tell Casey that he’s angry with her for forcing him to keep his identity a secret? All throughout the book, he’s supportive of Casey finally telling the truth, then out of the blue, he suddenly says that he’s angry. Casey and Walker make up so quickly that this conflict seems rather pointless. Similarly, I never completely understood why Casey felt she had to marry Walker in order to make the situation look respectable to the media. As much as I love a good marriage of convenience, this one felt incredibly forced. The conflict in this book was all over the place, and didn’t always make sense. If you like hidden parentage plots, you might be able to overlook this aspect of the story, but I’m afraid it felt too contrived to me.
Complaining that a romance is predictable is a bit like complaining that there’s too much mystery in a Nancy Drew novel. Still, the romance in Big Sky Summer is overwhelmingly predictable, to the extent that I didn’t really care what happened next to Walker and Casey because the answer was so obvious. One thing I love about the romance genre is how authors can reuse the same ideas and storylines and make them into something new. Unfortunately, Walker and Casey’s relationship didn’t feel new or refreshing. Partly this is because most of the romance occurs in the past. This is a fatal flaw with reunion romances: the hero and heroine just pick up where they left off X number of years ago, and there’s very little opportunity for the reader to see their romance progressing. Most of Walker and Casey’s relationship is based on their sexual chemistry, and they don’t really have any sort of emotional connection (besides their commitment to their children), so up until the last chapter of the book, most of their relationship consists of them falling into bed together and refusing to talk about their feelings. If you like sex-fuelled romances, this is the book for you, but it felt too much like a Harlequin Presents novel for my taste. I wanted to get to know Walker and Casey and care about whether or not they got together, but this never really happened.
This book isn’t all bad—otherwise, I would have rated it much lower. Although this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone, and it benefits from having a fleshed out setting and cast of secondary characters. I definitely got the feel of being in small-town Montana, and could imagine the church, police station and even the rodeo at the end of the novel. Although we didn’t get to know a lot of the secondary characters, Doris, Opal and Brylee definitely caught my attention, and I was intrigued by a couple of characters who obviously have storylines that are going to come to a head in later books. Linda has obviously spent a lot of time working on this setting and the characters that inhabit the town. I’m only sorry that this book didn’t allow me to engage with them fully.
The few times that Walker and Casey truly felt real to me were when they were engaging with their children, and this is definitely one of the strong points of the novel. Shane’s excitement over having a cowboy for a father and Clare’s teenage angst over being lied to by her mother felt incredibly real, and I only wish that I could say the same for their parents.
Although there are several reviewers who have been similarly disappointed with Big Sky Summer, a lot of people seem to have loved this book. It does fulfil a lot of popular romance tropes (secret children, cowboys, small-towns, reunions, marriage of convenience) and while they didn’t work for me, I have a feeling that those readers who prefer romances that are fuelled by sex and like the appeal of Casey’s music career will lap this book up. Although I didn’t connect with Walker and Casey and found most of the conflict to be contrived, I would be willing to give Linda Lael Miller another try sometime.
Disclaimer: This is a mainstream novel and includes three sex scenes and a few instances of mild swearing.
Review title provided by HQN.
December 9, 2017
Casey Elder, big country singing star, has come to Parable, Montana with her two teenage children, Clare and Shane, to settle down. She wants the children near their father, rancher and cowboy Walker Parrish; the trouble is no one except Casey and Walker know he's their father. Casey and Walker need to maneuver their complicated relationship, and maybe let the children know they have a real dad.
Every once in awhile, I like to read a cowboy romance, and Linda Lael Miller is one of my go-to's. But honestly I wasn't sure what to make of this one. I was never clear why no one guessed Walker was their father, especially as Shane looks like his dad. I also never got exactly why Casey thought the lie was necessary or why Walker went along with it. There was some rationalization, but it was pretty weak. Therefore, neither Casey or Walker were very likeable (especially Casey). Why it took them fifteen years to come clean boggles the mind; also the fact that neither seemed to find anyone else during that time even though the kids spent a few weeks on "uncle" Walker's ranch every summer.
There were a few other weird plot holes: the sudden approach by Casey's manager, the fact that Walker's sister never questioned the kids being her niece and nephew, the mean sheriff who wanders in and out of the story with no particular point. I do enjoy Ms. Miller's writing and I want to see what happens with Brylee, but this was not the best cowboy romance I've read.
Every once in awhile, I like to read a cowboy romance, and Linda Lael Miller is one of my go-to's. But honestly I wasn't sure what to make of this one. I was never clear why no one guessed Walker was their father, especially as Shane looks like his dad. I also never got exactly why Casey thought the lie was necessary or why Walker went along with it. There was some rationalization, but it was pretty weak. Therefore, neither Casey or Walker were very likeable (especially Casey). Why it took them fifteen years to come clean boggles the mind; also the fact that neither seemed to find anyone else during that time even though the kids spent a few weeks on "uncle" Walker's ranch every summer.
There were a few other weird plot holes: the sudden approach by Casey's manager, the fact that Walker's sister never questioned the kids being her niece and nephew, the mean sheriff who wanders in and out of the story with no particular point. I do enjoy Ms. Miller's writing and I want to see what happens with Brylee, but this was not the best cowboy romance I've read.
December 3, 2021
Begins with Boone and Tara's wedding with the twins, Elle and Erin, Griffin, and Fletcher making up their instant family along with her dog, Lucy and his terrier, Scamp. A party that includes the countryside follows at Casey's Mansion. Walker Parrish is the father of Casey's children as we earlier learned and her son, Shane looks exactly like Walker did at that age and they are close knit even if the boy doesn't know.
It takes two to tango and while one might get pregnant once by accident twice...? Lying to her children for 14 years was unfair to them and their father and reaping the world-wind inevitable as secrets rarely remain forever secret especially when family resemblances are so obvious.
While fame and fortune have their advantages having a mother so famous attending Disneyland without being mobbed would be an impossibility has its drawbacks. Living life on the road quite another matter meaning no stable home or permanent friends and no dad.
Can hot sex smooth out this couple’s rough edges. After pages describing their rolls in the hay the HEA feels simplistic and contrived.
It takes two to tango and while one might get pregnant once by accident twice...? Lying to her children for 14 years was unfair to them and their father and reaping the world-wind inevitable as secrets rarely remain forever secret especially when family resemblances are so obvious.
While fame and fortune have their advantages having a mother so famous attending Disneyland without being mobbed would be an impossibility has its drawbacks. Living life on the road quite another matter meaning no stable home or permanent friends and no dad.
Can hot sex smooth out this couple’s rough edges. After pages describing their rolls in the hay the HEA feels simplistic and contrived.
March 9, 2023
I want to thank Linda Leal Miller, author for the gift of a paper back copy of Big Sky Summer ~ Parable, Montana ~ Book 4 that I received as a surprise in the mail. I am writing this review giving my honest reaction to this book.
Walker Parrish and Casey Elder started a relationship fourteen years ago before she returns to Parable, Montana. They have a daughter Clare and a son Shane, now teenagers that Casey has raised by herself on the road as a country music star. It is now time to tell the kids that Walker is their father; this sets the plot for the rest of the story. Problems follow with the kids, with the new marriage, with the press and adjusting to a new lifestyle for all of them. Big Sky Summer has lack of communication, interfering friends with good intentions, a deep love for each other and their children and best of all a happy ending.
Walker Parrish and Casey Elder started a relationship fourteen years ago before she returns to Parable, Montana. They have a daughter Clare and a son Shane, now teenagers that Casey has raised by herself on the road as a country music star. It is now time to tell the kids that Walker is their father; this sets the plot for the rest of the story. Problems follow with the kids, with the new marriage, with the press and adjusting to a new lifestyle for all of them. Big Sky Summer has lack of communication, interfering friends with good intentions, a deep love for each other and their children and best of all a happy ending.
July 19, 2025
Can I whine? We all cry and participate in go fund me drives when a parent is ripped from children's lives from accident or illness. and I'm not talking about splitting from dead beat parents. I get having a baby via sperm donation because we haven't met a suitable life partner. but why are we comfortable denying our children that which would be an obvious loss if it was taken from them. do we really think the other half of the species is dispensable?
no, I don't get Casey. for the major part of the kid's lives they had no dad when in reality they had one, but the kids weren't important enough to her to have him factor in their lives. An avuncular uncle is no substitute.
desperate times? sure one parent can muddle thru. but to unnecessarily deny kids when they long for the missing mom or dad. That is selfish and cruel.
no, I don't get Casey. for the major part of the kid's lives they had no dad when in reality they had one, but the kids weren't important enough to her to have him factor in their lives. An avuncular uncle is no substitute.
desperate times? sure one parent can muddle thru. but to unnecessarily deny kids when they long for the missing mom or dad. That is selfish and cruel.
January 10, 2018
Walker Parrish hat einmal nicht aufgepasst und bekommt dadurch eine bzw. zwei Überraschungen. Seine Jugendliebe Casey hat ihn eröffnet Vater zu werden. Nach Jahren des Schweigens erzählen sie es ihren Kindern und wollen eine Familie werden.
Walker und Casey sind zusammen eine explosive Mischung. Man weiß nie wann es los geht. Zwischen den beiden fliegen nur so Funken. Walker ist ein Cowboy und Casey ist eine berühmte Sängerin. Zwei Welten treffen aufeinander und man fragt sich ob die beiden es schaffen werden. Außerdem habe die beiden ja zwei Teenager Kinder, die plötzlich einen Vater haben und das wird auch nicht gerade einfach. Eine nette Geschichte mit viel Tiefen und Höhen, aber kaum Überraschungen.
Walker und Casey sind zusammen eine explosive Mischung. Man weiß nie wann es los geht. Zwischen den beiden fliegen nur so Funken. Walker ist ein Cowboy und Casey ist eine berühmte Sängerin. Zwei Welten treffen aufeinander und man fragt sich ob die beiden es schaffen werden. Außerdem habe die beiden ja zwei Teenager Kinder, die plötzlich einen Vater haben und das wird auch nicht gerade einfach. Eine nette Geschichte mit viel Tiefen und Höhen, aber kaum Überraschungen.
June 19, 2018
what a cringe worthy book. I only read this for a challenge. I normally never read romance this kind of book is the reason why. s mom who puts career over family, and a father that doesn't nothing about and then complains about it. these two characters are as stupid as they come. biggest cringe worthy thing is they made love twice before this story happened and the condom broke both times and she got pregnant, when it happens for the first time in the story it happens again come on seriously. Well now I need to rinse my eyes out find something that I can get my teeth into.
July 2, 2019
This was a nice summertime read: not my favorite Linda Lael Miller book but a swift and satisfying one. Having enjoyed many of her books before, I dove in with gusto and I think the story started out strong. I loved the setting of Parable, Montana with its cowboys and small-town vibe. Then somewhere in the middle it started to meander and turn into a should she/shouldn't she whiney story so I lost interest and had to force myself to continue. By the last third, it did come back together in a satisfying if completely predictable end.
July 20, 2023
3rd Time Reading this one
I’ve read this series several times. They’re good stories and I highly recommend them.
Having said that and will use the excuse that I’m old and crotchety, I’ll voice some criticism.
First, a sheriff in a rural Montana town keeps his gun in a locked safe beneath the front seat of his truck. Seriously!
Second, everyone seems to be throwing away food. They loose their appetites. That’s just wrong.
Third, the females don’t believe in violence. That’s not what country girls would believe.
I’ve read this series several times. They’re good stories and I highly recommend them.
Having said that and will use the excuse that I’m old and crotchety, I’ll voice some criticism.
First, a sheriff in a rural Montana town keeps his gun in a locked safe beneath the front seat of his truck. Seriously!
Second, everyone seems to be throwing away food. They loose their appetites. That’s just wrong.
Third, the females don’t believe in violence. That’s not what country girls would believe.
April 10, 2021
Not your typical story line yet a familiar comfort in the way the story is told by this great author. How do you tell someone, let alone your own children, that you have lied to them about the identity of their father from the day they were born? How does a family heal and move on? How do you find the courage to admit that you have loved someone from the moment you met them? Walker, Casey, Clare, & Shane are all about to find out.
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