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McKettricks #11
McKettricks of Texas: Tate
This McKettrick man is about to meet his match… Don’t miss this reader favorite McKettrick tale from #1
New York Times
bestselling author Linda Lael Miller.
There aren’t enough hours in the day for everything divorced dad Tate McKettrick has to do: run the Silver Spur Ranch, do the suit-and-tie thing for his business and ride herd on his adorable six-year-old twin girls. But then Libby Remington returns to Blue River, Texas, and suddenly…time seems to stand still.
They were high school sweethearts, Tate and Libby, but he was never able to convince Libby that he loved her. He still loves her and wants to try again. Nothing—not even cattle rustlers, a killer stallion and a vindictive ex-wife—can keep him from the attempt.
Libby has her hands full taking care of her mother and running the Perk Up Coffee Shop. Caffeine, she needs. Tate McKettrick, not so much. Oh, heck—yes. But can they really hope for a second chance?
Title originally published in 2010
There aren’t enough hours in the day for everything divorced dad Tate McKettrick has to do: run the Silver Spur Ranch, do the suit-and-tie thing for his business and ride herd on his adorable six-year-old twin girls. But then Libby Remington returns to Blue River, Texas, and suddenly…time seems to stand still.
They were high school sweethearts, Tate and Libby, but he was never able to convince Libby that he loved her. He still loves her and wants to try again. Nothing—not even cattle rustlers, a killer stallion and a vindictive ex-wife—can keep him from the attempt.
Libby has her hands full taking care of her mother and running the Perk Up Coffee Shop. Caffeine, she needs. Tate McKettrick, not so much. Oh, heck—yes. But can they really hope for a second chance?
Title originally published in 2010
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 26, 2010
337 people are currently reading
1769 people want to read
About the author
Linda Lael Miller
553 books3,221 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 223 reviews
January 14, 2013
It was very bland and almost boring.
It also had my least favorite pet peev --> a hero that got somebody pregnant while with the heroine………and then married her. Like we live in the 18th century and parental rights and custody are not determinable without marriage.
Plus, really, that whole cheating drama was never resolved properly.
It was almost swept under the rug half of the time, just to surface in the most inexplicable sentences imaginable…like:
Except for telling Garrett and Austin about the car accident that had taken their parents’ lives,and telling Libby that he’d gotten another woman
pregnant and meant to marry her,relaying to Isabel the news that Pablo was dead was probably the hardest thing Tate had ever had to do.
So basically, on one side is the love of your life, the girl you are in a relationship with.
And on the other side is a chick that got pregnant on a drunken one night stand.
I would have understood if he went and told Libby what he did (and SHE subsequently dumped HIM), but for him to go and dump her in order to marry the pregnant chick is just...just...completely unrealistic! And pretty much unforgivable!
Who does things this way????!
Tate apparently. The "hero" of this (not very) FA-BU-LO-US book.
Doing right by your kids? Sure!
Marrying the mother only to divorce 6 month later? Uh-huuuuh...
What ever for? Just so you could stomp all over the heart of the girl you dated for 5+ years?
He hadn’t been married to Libby when he’d gone
swimming in the romantic equivalent of a shark tank, letting things go way too far with the wrong woman, but they’d had an understanding. She’d trusted
him completely, and he’d betrayed that trust.
Oh. Ooooh.
So, you have to be married in order to be faithful? And sure, there is an understanding when it comes to relationships, but then again….wait!
What, in the name of all that is holy, am I talking about?
And what iin the world prompted the author to write this utter maddens??? You have an understanding when you are in a relationship, but if you brake it and get somebody else pregnant -hey! What the heck!- You were not married, so no big deal??????
No. Just... NO.
It also had my least favorite pet peev --> a hero that got somebody pregnant while with the heroine………and then married her. Like we live in the 18th century and parental rights and custody are not determinable without marriage.
Plus, really, that whole cheating drama was never resolved properly.
It was almost swept under the rug half of the time, just to surface in the most inexplicable sentences imaginable…like:
Except for telling Garrett and Austin about the car accident that had taken their parents’ lives,and telling Libby that he’d gotten another woman
pregnant and meant to marry her,relaying to Isabel the news that Pablo was dead was probably the hardest thing Tate had ever had to do.
So basically, on one side is the love of your life, the girl you are in a relationship with.
And on the other side is a chick that got pregnant on a drunken one night stand.
I would have understood if he went and told Libby what he did (and SHE subsequently dumped HIM), but for him to go and dump her in order to marry the pregnant chick is just...just...completely unrealistic! And pretty much unforgivable!
Who does things this way????!
Tate apparently. The "hero" of this (not very) FA-BU-LO-US book.
Doing right by your kids? Sure!
Marrying the mother only to divorce 6 month later? Uh-huuuuh...
What ever for? Just so you could stomp all over the heart of the girl you dated for 5+ years?
He hadn’t been married to Libby when he’d gone
swimming in the romantic equivalent of a shark tank, letting things go way too far with the wrong woman, but they’d had an understanding. She’d trusted
him completely, and he’d betrayed that trust.
Oh. Ooooh.
So, you have to be married in order to be faithful? And sure, there is an understanding when it comes to relationships, but then again….wait!
What, in the name of all that is holy, am I talking about?
And what iin the world prompted the author to write this utter maddens??? You have an understanding when you are in a relationship, but if you brake it and get somebody else pregnant -hey! What the heck!- You were not married, so no big deal??????
No. Just... NO.
July 3, 2010
2 ½ stars – Contemporary Romance
I love stories with cowboys and really wanted to like this, but it's just...okay. There was way too much going on, and the romance between Tate and Libby didn't just take a back seat, it got shoved in the horse trailer. I felt like I was missing something between Tate and Libby, almost as if it was expected that the few details from their past together, was supposed to be conviction enough for me to believe in an easy reconciliation and their belonging together as a couple now, despite Tate's former betrayal.
There were several references to their previous relationship and the hurt Tate caused her in the past, but it wasn't actually addressed or dealt with. They had a few tender, mildly steamy moments, but the only real conversations they had involved all the the other events and drama going on in the story...and believe me, there's a lot. I would have liked more of Libby and Tate together, getting to know each other again, talking, dealing with past hurts, and expressing their feelings. Instead, their romance seemed rushed and just sort of got lost in the middle of everything.
This is my first read by Linda Lael Miller, and even though I was a little bit disappointed, I'll still read the second book in the trilogy, McKettricks of Texas: Garrett, and give some of her other works a try.
I love stories with cowboys and really wanted to like this, but it's just...okay. There was way too much going on, and the romance between Tate and Libby didn't just take a back seat, it got shoved in the horse trailer. I felt like I was missing something between Tate and Libby, almost as if it was expected that the few details from their past together, was supposed to be conviction enough for me to believe in an easy reconciliation and their belonging together as a couple now, despite Tate's former betrayal.
There were several references to their previous relationship and the hurt Tate caused her in the past, but it wasn't actually addressed or dealt with. They had a few tender, mildly steamy moments, but the only real conversations they had involved all the the other events and drama going on in the story...and believe me, there's a lot. I would have liked more of Libby and Tate together, getting to know each other again, talking, dealing with past hurts, and expressing their feelings. Instead, their romance seemed rushed and just sort of got lost in the middle of everything.
This is my first read by Linda Lael Miller, and even though I was a little bit disappointed, I'll still read the second book in the trilogy, McKettricks of Texas: Garrett, and give some of her other works a try.
April 17, 2019
Perfect! An awesome contemporary western second-chance romance with just the right blend of romance, angst, and chemistry to make the perfect story! Loved Tate and can't wait to read the brothers' stories.
December 28, 2016
"it’s time to book a suite at the Home for Stupid Women and learn the secret handshake."
February 11, 2010
Rating: 3 / 5
This was a fairly average book for me. Maybe a bit above average. I liked it to a certain point, but I thought it could have been much better. The story just didn't hit the spots it needed to for me.
Series Note:
This book is part of the continuing McKettrick series (which ties in to the Stone Creek series and Creeds series), but it is not necessary to have read those to read this one (and the other 2 in the trilogy).
Summary:
Libby Remington and Tate McKettrick were high school sweethearts who planned to get through college, get married and live happily ever after. Then while Tate was at law school, away from Libby, he slept with another woman and got her pregnant with twins. Tate does what he thinks is right and marries the woman, breaking Libby's heart.
Tate's marriage doesn't last, his ex-wife is a manipulative nag, and so he has been a single part-time father for several years. He and Libby mostly avoid each other but after seeing her one day, Tate decides it's time to win her back. Libby is reluctant because Tate has already broken her heart once, but Tate is persistent and Libby can't help that she still loves him. They'll have to deal with annoying relatives, Tate's ex-wife, his kids, a death and other sundry things before they can completely resolve their relationship, though.
Review:
Usually I like to write my reviews by starting off with what I liked about the book and then talking about what didn't really work for me, but I can't really think of anything that completely worked for me in this book. Pretty much every element needed some tweaking. The book never completely clicked for me. But that's not to say I didn't like it. I did, but I thought it could have been a lot better.
One thing that bugged me right off, was the sort of lack of connection to the other books. I mean, I like that this trilogy is going to be able to stand on its own from the previous McKettrick stories, but at the same time, as someone who has read all those, I wanted to know how these McKettricks of Texas tied in to the other McKettricks. I kept reading and reading, waiting for the connection to be talked about, and there would be some small reference here or there, but it wasn't until the end that you learn how they tie in together. I thought this part of the book could have been much stronger.
The start of the romance bugged me as well. It seemed so abrupt. These two have a long history together and have been in the same town for years with both being single and neither trying to reunite. Then one day Tate stops by her coffee shop to get smoothies for his kids and suddenly decides to win her back. It made no sense at all. It was too sudden and just felt off.
Aside from that, the romance was okay. I liked both characters, but didn't feel any special connection to them. Neither really stood out. Which made the romance a little lackluster. And it really annoyed me that these two never had a serious conversation about what Tate did all those years ago (cheating on her). They never talked about why he cheated, how each felt and all that. I kept thinking, how can you reunite without getting the past out of the way?
I think part of the larger problem with the book, though, was that it didn't have anything to give it any kick. The whole thing seemed so mundane, just sort of going through the trials and tribulations of daily life - Libby's crazy mom, her coffee shop, problems with her car, Tate's kids, his bitchy ex-wife, his brothers' problems, a death of a friend, etc etc. Everything came off so ho-hum and there wasn't any story hook that really breathed some life into the story. Just all very mundane.
Plus, was it me, or did anyone else think that the kids in this book (Tate's twins, and Libby's nephew) were ridiculously written? I mean, the twins are 6 or so, the nephew 4 and they all act like little adults with perfect speech, pronunciation, vocabulary, talking about things like they were adults. They all acted older than they were. It was weird.
Even though this book could have been much better for me, I still plan to read the other two. I'm intrigued about Garrett and Austin...especially Austin. I'm just hoping their stories have a little more focus than this one did.
This was a fairly average book for me. Maybe a bit above average. I liked it to a certain point, but I thought it could have been much better. The story just didn't hit the spots it needed to for me.
Series Note:
This book is part of the continuing McKettrick series (which ties in to the Stone Creek series and Creeds series), but it is not necessary to have read those to read this one (and the other 2 in the trilogy).
Summary:
Libby Remington and Tate McKettrick were high school sweethearts who planned to get through college, get married and live happily ever after. Then while Tate was at law school, away from Libby, he slept with another woman and got her pregnant with twins. Tate does what he thinks is right and marries the woman, breaking Libby's heart.
Tate's marriage doesn't last, his ex-wife is a manipulative nag, and so he has been a single part-time father for several years. He and Libby mostly avoid each other but after seeing her one day, Tate decides it's time to win her back. Libby is reluctant because Tate has already broken her heart once, but Tate is persistent and Libby can't help that she still loves him. They'll have to deal with annoying relatives, Tate's ex-wife, his kids, a death and other sundry things before they can completely resolve their relationship, though.
Review:
Usually I like to write my reviews by starting off with what I liked about the book and then talking about what didn't really work for me, but I can't really think of anything that completely worked for me in this book. Pretty much every element needed some tweaking. The book never completely clicked for me. But that's not to say I didn't like it. I did, but I thought it could have been a lot better.
One thing that bugged me right off, was the sort of lack of connection to the other books. I mean, I like that this trilogy is going to be able to stand on its own from the previous McKettrick stories, but at the same time, as someone who has read all those, I wanted to know how these McKettricks of Texas tied in to the other McKettricks. I kept reading and reading, waiting for the connection to be talked about, and there would be some small reference here or there, but it wasn't until the end that you learn how they tie in together. I thought this part of the book could have been much stronger.
The start of the romance bugged me as well. It seemed so abrupt. These two have a long history together and have been in the same town for years with both being single and neither trying to reunite. Then one day Tate stops by her coffee shop to get smoothies for his kids and suddenly decides to win her back. It made no sense at all. It was too sudden and just felt off.
Aside from that, the romance was okay. I liked both characters, but didn't feel any special connection to them. Neither really stood out. Which made the romance a little lackluster. And it really annoyed me that these two never had a serious conversation about what Tate did all those years ago (cheating on her). They never talked about why he cheated, how each felt and all that. I kept thinking, how can you reunite without getting the past out of the way?
I think part of the larger problem with the book, though, was that it didn't have anything to give it any kick. The whole thing seemed so mundane, just sort of going through the trials and tribulations of daily life - Libby's crazy mom, her coffee shop, problems with her car, Tate's kids, his bitchy ex-wife, his brothers' problems, a death of a friend, etc etc. Everything came off so ho-hum and there wasn't any story hook that really breathed some life into the story. Just all very mundane.
Plus, was it me, or did anyone else think that the kids in this book (Tate's twins, and Libby's nephew) were ridiculously written? I mean, the twins are 6 or so, the nephew 4 and they all act like little adults with perfect speech, pronunciation, vocabulary, talking about things like they were adults. They all acted older than they were. It was weird.
Even though this book could have been much better for me, I still plan to read the other two. I'm intrigued about Garrett and Austin...especially Austin. I'm just hoping their stories have a little more focus than this one did.
July 4, 2010
Hmmm, well, I have to say I'm a bit disappointed in the newest addition to Linda Lael Miller's McKettrick series. I LOVED her other McKettrick books, but this one just didn't grab me. The story was very slow going and I don't feel like Libby and Tate dealt with issues from their past.
The story is about former childhood sweethearts Libby Remington and Tate McKettrick (he's a descendent from Jeb and Chloe's line). All Libby ever wanted was to become Tate's wife, to bear his children and to live happily ever after. Well, life interrupted and they split (I don't want to give too much of the book away so I'll leave it at that). About 8 years later they become reaquainted and there are definitely some unresolved feelings between the two.
So much went on in the book that I didn't feel was very relevant in the story. Plus, the relationship between Tate and Libby just seemed to take off once they meet up again without any discussion whatsoever about what happened. With what Tate did to Libby, I just couldn't believe she let bygones be bygones (I don't believe the "oh we were just young and made mistakes" hoopla - I wanted it to be discussed!).
Anyways, the book was okay. Will definitely read the next installment (Garrett's story with Libby's sister, Julie), but I may not rush out and buy it like I did this one (instead I'll just wait for the
library to get it.
The story is about former childhood sweethearts Libby Remington and Tate McKettrick (he's a descendent from Jeb and Chloe's line). All Libby ever wanted was to become Tate's wife, to bear his children and to live happily ever after. Well, life interrupted and they split (I don't want to give too much of the book away so I'll leave it at that). About 8 years later they become reaquainted and there are definitely some unresolved feelings between the two.
So much went on in the book that I didn't feel was very relevant in the story. Plus, the relationship between Tate and Libby just seemed to take off once they meet up again without any discussion whatsoever about what happened. With what Tate did to Libby, I just couldn't believe she let bygones be bygones (I don't believe the "oh we were just young and made mistakes" hoopla - I wanted it to be discussed!).
Anyways, the book was okay. Will definitely read the next installment (Garrett's story with Libby's sister, Julie), but I may not rush out and buy it like I did this one (instead I'll just wait for the
library to get it.
May 4, 2021
This is a Cowboy Romance, and this is the 11th book in the McKettricks series. I have to say I really got pulled into this story. I really loved the characters in this book. The two main characters in this book is Tate and Libby, and they just was so great together. I loved all the animals in this book, and the Tate's twin girls are so cute. There was so much put into this book...Love, hate, death, and so much more, but it was done so well. I really enjoyed this book. There was some slow moving parts that I wish moved a little bit faster. (*)
December 13, 2020
Broadly, the author can write - what I question is how dexterous she is at writing second-chance, angst-filled romance. The story was...cute. And when I am in the mood for it, cute is great. But I was in the mood for an angst-filled tale of a flawed, groveling hero who dun-the-heroine-wrong, and how is he going to win her back. That is, unfortunately, not what I got.
The story is simple enough and I have read several iterations of the plot - some great, some not: hero and heroine are together from a young age, quite in love - H goes off to college, law school? (it wasn't clear) gets drunk, has what I think was a ONS (also sort of sketchy details) and the OW gets pregnant with twins. H and OW marry, H is miserable but stays in marriage until OW has affair. Story starts after H and OW have been divorced for 5 years, the H and h live in the same small town but have avoided each other up to the starting point of the book. I am on a roll with these books that deliver zero-angst and zero-spine on the h. Not much explanation of why, all of a sudden, she is willing to forgive and move on with the H- but there we have it. Lots of cute-ness provided by a menagerie of kids (the H's daughters, the h's nephew) and dogs (both H and h's) but not a lot by way of tension or residual anger or anything like that. The heroine does some waffling but doesn't really voice any of her misgivings to the H, leaving the reader to carry all that dissonant burden. I would have loved some flashbacks as to how they once were, I would have loved a whole lot more groveling or at least something of an explanation as to the past cheating, and I would have loved more tension and build up. There is also a lot of detail given to mundane activities – reading about feeding the dogs, taking the dogs for walks, waiting for dogs to relieve themselves. I’ve got another one of the McKettrick series in my TBR pile, and I am going to have to modify my expectations before I read it.
The story is simple enough and I have read several iterations of the plot - some great, some not: hero and heroine are together from a young age, quite in love - H goes off to college, law school? (it wasn't clear) gets drunk, has what I think was a ONS (also sort of sketchy details) and the OW gets pregnant with twins. H and OW marry, H is miserable but stays in marriage until OW has affair. Story starts after H and OW have been divorced for 5 years, the H and h live in the same small town but have avoided each other up to the starting point of the book. I am on a roll with these books that deliver zero-angst and zero-spine on the h. Not much explanation of why, all of a sudden, she is willing to forgive and move on with the H- but there we have it. Lots of cute-ness provided by a menagerie of kids (the H's daughters, the h's nephew) and dogs (both H and h's) but not a lot by way of tension or residual anger or anything like that. The heroine does some waffling but doesn't really voice any of her misgivings to the H, leaving the reader to carry all that dissonant burden. I would have loved some flashbacks as to how they once were, I would have loved a whole lot more groveling or at least something of an explanation as to the past cheating, and I would have loved more tension and build up. There is also a lot of detail given to mundane activities – reading about feeding the dogs, taking the dogs for walks, waiting for dogs to relieve themselves. I’ve got another one of the McKettrick series in my TBR pile, and I am going to have to modify my expectations before I read it.
April 2, 2010
If you expected a heartbreaking love story with subplots that gets in the hero/heroine way and that they have to overcome before getting together, then you have have it all backwards. That's what I expected out of TATE. What I got of this book was not what I read from the blurb.
I expected to read a love story. I expected tragic emotional feeling. Instead, I was wondering why the hell was I reading the hero/heroine's problems and hardly focusing on each other. My bad, I mean the Tate' problems. There was absolutely no focus on the love story. There was no tension. Fine, I don't rate down books that don't have any love story but when I read the back that has a hint of full-blown focus of romance, and I don't see it then I lower it. They both acted like the past didnt happen (Tate sleeping with another woman, married, twin daughters as a result). So I thought, okay if not that then what? This would have been a great read of real life problems and dealing with them with someone by your side as a best friend. In fact, Tate and Libby were most like best friends.
First we have Tate. He did Libby wrong in the past with another woman but doesn't regret it because of his twin daughters. He has so many fucking problems to deal with before he can reach Libby. Okay, that was my impression. Now why I was pissed. It focused too damn much on Tate's problems all the way 3/4 into the story. For him, Libby was like an afterthought. Here are his crappy problems:
Ex-wife (in fact, he focuses more on her even midway comapered to Libby)
His political brother, Garret
His slightly estranged brother Austin (a mistaken 'pointing fingers' situation)
His daughters (parental problems)
The death of a friend
His ranch
What the hell. Seriously, it focused on so many of Tate's problem. Was it to sympathize with his character? Did I? At first but then no. All the while, the romance was in the backseat. He hardly thought of Libby the entire time and if he was it was random. Once, he thought of his dead dog then he thought at least Libby was by his side. Wrong timing. I didn't like or freaking care of Tate's problems and how he dealt with them. He sounded tired everytime another came up. I got bored each time. One or two was okay but parading them after each other was not.
Onto Libby. With what happened in the past with Tate, you would think Libby would be more resistant. A strong, mature, reluctant woman. Hell no. I was introduced to a woman who acted like she was in highschool when it came to her emotional problems. She blushed, she stuttered, she acted like a teenager. Sure, at times, Libby was an adult - when it came to her problem concering her mother and supporting Tate. I thought Libby was better with only one damn problem compared to Tate's trainwreck. I pitied her because while she thought so much of Tate, he thought of others things hardly her until the author just put them together. Sure, there were dates but it was like Libby was conviniently there for him. I loved the subplot of her story and growth (only reason I gave one more star) later on. Nearing the end, I thought the book was better but was too late. It was was like two seperate people dealing with their own problems before the author meshed them up together.
The pacing was messed up. Problem upon problem was stacked upon that stilted the character growth except Libby's subplot with her mother. I finished the book. It focuses too much on Tate's ongoing problems. I just didn't care.
I expected to read a love story. I expected tragic emotional feeling. Instead, I was wondering why the hell was I reading the hero/heroine's problems and hardly focusing on each other. My bad, I mean the Tate' problems. There was absolutely no focus on the love story. There was no tension. Fine, I don't rate down books that don't have any love story but when I read the back that has a hint of full-blown focus of romance, and I don't see it then I lower it. They both acted like the past didnt happen (Tate sleeping with another woman, married, twin daughters as a result). So I thought, okay if not that then what? This would have been a great read of real life problems and dealing with them with someone by your side as a best friend. In fact, Tate and Libby were most like best friends.
First we have Tate. He did Libby wrong in the past with another woman but doesn't regret it because of his twin daughters. He has so many fucking problems to deal with before he can reach Libby. Okay, that was my impression. Now why I was pissed. It focused too damn much on Tate's problems all the way 3/4 into the story. For him, Libby was like an afterthought. Here are his crappy problems:
Ex-wife (in fact, he focuses more on her even midway comapered to Libby)
His political brother, Garret
His slightly estranged brother Austin (a mistaken 'pointing fingers' situation)
His daughters (parental problems)
The death of a friend
His ranch
What the hell. Seriously, it focused on so many of Tate's problem. Was it to sympathize with his character? Did I? At first but then no. All the while, the romance was in the backseat. He hardly thought of Libby the entire time and if he was it was random. Once, he thought of his dead dog then he thought at least Libby was by his side. Wrong timing. I didn't like or freaking care of Tate's problems and how he dealt with them. He sounded tired everytime another came up. I got bored each time. One or two was okay but parading them after each other was not.
Onto Libby. With what happened in the past with Tate, you would think Libby would be more resistant. A strong, mature, reluctant woman. Hell no. I was introduced to a woman who acted like she was in highschool when it came to her emotional problems. She blushed, she stuttered, she acted like a teenager. Sure, at times, Libby was an adult - when it came to her problem concering her mother and supporting Tate. I thought Libby was better with only one damn problem compared to Tate's trainwreck. I pitied her because while she thought so much of Tate, he thought of others things hardly her until the author just put them together. Sure, there were dates but it was like Libby was conviniently there for him. I loved the subplot of her story and growth (only reason I gave one more star) later on. Nearing the end, I thought the book was better but was too late. It was was like two seperate people dealing with their own problems before the author meshed them up together.
The pacing was messed up. Problem upon problem was stacked upon that stilted the character growth except Libby's subplot with her mother. I finished the book. It focuses too much on Tate's ongoing problems. I just didn't care.
July 12, 2011
Tate-Libby used to go out they were not married but they had an understanding and Libby trusted him,Tate also knew it but he broke it by sleeping with Cheryl and she gets pregnant and Tate marries her and then they get divorced but Tate forces Cheryl to stay in town he wants to share custody of the girls and be everyday in their life's and then after few years Libby-Tate meet again and from there they have their second chance Libby is shy,insecure and hesitant but then Tate does'nt gives up this time and they get their HEA
Good read
Good read
June 9, 2010
Good book, good characters. Libby and Tate were cute together. I think I'm gonna like his brothers, Austin and Garrett, better though. Can't wait for the next ones! BTW, when a man says "I want to make a baby with you", ummm..... I feel like getting impregnated too, lol!
January 23, 2020
I don't really read books where the titles are the names of the main character (I don't know where it came from but it is a guiding principle that has served me well.) But I got this in a box of used books I ordered from the Ripped Bodice and so wanted to at least try. And this was fine. It ran a fine line between the ex being evil and actually just not suited to motherhood and I think it mostly stayed on the right line, but there were definitely moments. It did not inspire me to change my rule.
May 27, 2020
This is a well utilized story line that could have been just so so. However, Linda Lael Miller is a masterful story teller! I liked the main characters and the supporting cast. Libby's mother even added a dose of what??? and added depth to the story. I thoroughly appreciated it when Libby told Tate that if he had not done the right thing and acknowledged his children, that they would have had no chance for reconciliation.
Well done!
Well done!
May 29, 2011
My Review:
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Tate & Libby were likable characters. The story line was interesting with lots of depth. Because this is a 3-book series surrounding these 2 families, the complexity of the family dynamics is really well thought out and thorough which made for great story development. There were a few times that the dialogue or thought processes seemed over-the-top and cheesy, but overall, I could ignore those moments and continue to enjoy the story.
Molly & Tate were high school sweethearts. She always assumed that they would get married, until Tate came home from law school with the devastating news that he'd gotten a girl pregnant and that they were getting married. Now Tate is a divorced father of 6 year old twins Ava & Audrey. He and Molly have managed to avoid each other for the 5 years since his divorce, but Tate is no longer willing to accept that as the status quo.
Molly's character and issues were a little bit harder to nail down. As a female, she's a bit confused and conflicted. She's indisputably drawn to Tate, but feels that she should be smarter than to trust that. She has given up a lot of her own dreams to take care of her sisters and father...and now her mother, and now feels conflicted about exactly where she belongs in this world. She's having her own midlife-style-crisis without the complications that Tate brings into the situation.
There were lots of details about this story that I really like:
* Tate's relationship with his brothers (which bodes well for the whole series since the next 2 books features them.)
*the book is set in a small Texas town
*Molly owns a coffee shop- one of my other passions
*the McKettricks own a large sprawling ranch- great country ambience
*the tension between Molly & Tate is really well-written
It should be fun to see where the story goes from here with all the siblings...
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Tate & Libby were likable characters. The story line was interesting with lots of depth. Because this is a 3-book series surrounding these 2 families, the complexity of the family dynamics is really well thought out and thorough which made for great story development. There were a few times that the dialogue or thought processes seemed over-the-top and cheesy, but overall, I could ignore those moments and continue to enjoy the story.
Molly & Tate were high school sweethearts. She always assumed that they would get married, until Tate came home from law school with the devastating news that he'd gotten a girl pregnant and that they were getting married. Now Tate is a divorced father of 6 year old twins Ava & Audrey. He and Molly have managed to avoid each other for the 5 years since his divorce, but Tate is no longer willing to accept that as the status quo.
Molly's character and issues were a little bit harder to nail down. As a female, she's a bit confused and conflicted. She's indisputably drawn to Tate, but feels that she should be smarter than to trust that. She has given up a lot of her own dreams to take care of her sisters and father...and now her mother, and now feels conflicted about exactly where she belongs in this world. She's having her own midlife-style-crisis without the complications that Tate brings into the situation.
There were lots of details about this story that I really like:
* Tate's relationship with his brothers (which bodes well for the whole series since the next 2 books features them.)
*the book is set in a small Texas town
*Molly owns a coffee shop- one of my other passions
*the McKettricks own a large sprawling ranch- great country ambience
*the tension between Molly & Tate is really well-written
It should be fun to see where the story goes from here with all the siblings...
April 8, 2010
Nothing in this book worked for me. There were myriad plot lines going, but none of them really developed into anything very suspenseful, poignant, or even satisfying. The characters were never convincingly developed (the children were particularly lacking), and I didn't warm to either Tate or Libby, but especially Libby. She was in turns: a competent business owner, an adoring aunt, a spineless daughter, a giggling school-girl, and, out of nowhere, a passionate woman. Every time she was with Tate she either giggled, got angry for no apparent reason, cried (again for little or no reason), or decided she had to have sex with him. Tate, on the other hand, was either having his chest swell or his eyes mist in pride for his daughters, burning with lust for Libby (after ignoring her for four years), or was being completely obtuse and walking away from Libby with a pat on the shoulder and a "You need your rest" instead of actually having a conversation.
******Possible Spoilers*******
This couple NEVER HAD A COHERENT CONVERSATION the entire book. Then, abruptly (with a stupid "angst moment" involving a child and a stallion to add drama) they confess undying love and the book basically ends. What?
Also, the plot line with the Marva was totally random and made very little sense. Would three grown women really let their mother, who abandoned them years before, move back into town and browbeat, guilt, and manipulate them into waiting on her hand and foot and cleaning up her messes?? The sisters act like spineless little girls around this woman who is selfish and spiteful, trying hard to appease her and keep her happy.
******Possible Spoilers*******
This couple NEVER HAD A COHERENT CONVERSATION the entire book. Then, abruptly (with a stupid "angst moment" involving a child and a stallion to add drama) they confess undying love and the book basically ends. What?
Also, the plot line with the Marva was totally random and made very little sense. Would three grown women really let their mother, who abandoned them years before, move back into town and browbeat, guilt, and manipulate them into waiting on her hand and foot and cleaning up her messes?? The sisters act like spineless little girls around this woman who is selfish and spiteful, trying hard to appease her and keep her happy.
January 30, 2011
2.5 stars. I don't read a lot of Westerns but I thought I'd give this one a try. Tate is the eldest McKettrick brother. The McKettricks are filthy rich (they're compared to Ewings in the book). He's divorced from bitchy wife Cheryl and has twin 6 year old daughters. His old flame is Libby Remington - they were going out until Tate "knocked Cheryl up" when he was away in college and had to marry her. I thought the conflict was a bit glossed over - after all, Tate cheated on Libby and dumped her when Cheryl got pregnant. Libby had been humiliated as the whole town knew what had happened and pitied her. Even though years had passed, I didn't quite buy the "I forgave you ages ago" thing. While I didn't think Tate would cheat on her again, I wondered if that was a proximity thing (ie, he was planning to stick close to Libby anyway) and I wondered why Libby thought he wouldn't cheat. There were a LOT of characters in this book and some of them I, frankly didn't understand why they were there. They didn't seem to add anything to the forward movement of the plot (eg, the lawnmower/ostrich lady). I think Ms. Miller has written many McKettrick books and even though this is the first in the most recent series, I wondered if the other characters had been in previous books and appeared in this one as a "catch up" for fans. The sex scenes were pretty hot and I liked how Tate was with his daughters but in the end the book didn't really grab me.
March 23, 2010
This is the first of the new trilogy of Linda Lael Miller. Although I have read the other books by her, I picked up this story thinking that she would surprise me. She didn’t. Now this story is the book about Tate Mckettrick and his one-time sweetheart. Now the story was trite somewhat, but almost believable. Tate has two brothers and his girl has two sisters. I can see already how this is going to play out over the next two books. Miller’s earlier books at least made the conflict between the ex-spouses believable. This is not the case here. I almost feel sorry for the ex-Mrs. Mckettrick. She realizes that he never loved her, would never love her, and in order to get on with her life she would have to leave her children behind. She is not a lovable character, but the story didn’t make me hate her. The story was very contrived and I can see this happening down the road. There was a feeble attempt to set up the next story, but not much. A quick read that may intrigue some, but makes me want to not pick up this author’s books again. Her books have been moving in this direction, and after this trilogy (I will need closure) I don’t see myself wasting my time on her books again.
July 23, 2012
As a character TATE was developed to the fullest. I THOROUGHLY enjoyed reading this book. I could not put it down! I stayed up to the wee hours of the morning and have wrecked my sleep habits now. Well Worth it Though! HIGHLY recommend this book to ALL.
Linda Lael Miller knows how to add complex layers to her story, that it feels like your slowly peeling away layers of an onion. You don't even care if that said onion may make you cry or not! The Remington sisters with their wordless looks and connection to each other with the just Knowing what that other sister may need or think. LOVED it. True to real life. I felt as if I KNEW these people.
Tate, just like MANY men doesn't always have the words. Loved that. Not like all the other books, where a Leading man usually has something to say. The broken sentences..WOW. Loved it. I felt as if I was watching a t.v. show or movie. I wanted to wrestle the words from his mouth. LOL The way he deals with and thinks about his ex-wife. Awesome. His love for his kids. Amazing. I don't know if I can say enough about this book. Read it! Just read it!
Linda Lael Miller knows how to add complex layers to her story, that it feels like your slowly peeling away layers of an onion. You don't even care if that said onion may make you cry or not! The Remington sisters with their wordless looks and connection to each other with the just Knowing what that other sister may need or think. LOVED it. True to real life. I felt as if I KNEW these people.
Tate, just like MANY men doesn't always have the words. Loved that. Not like all the other books, where a Leading man usually has something to say. The broken sentences..WOW. Loved it. I felt as if I was watching a t.v. show or movie. I wanted to wrestle the words from his mouth. LOL The way he deals with and thinks about his ex-wife. Awesome. His love for his kids. Amazing. I don't know if I can say enough about this book. Read it! Just read it!
October 15, 2011
My ONE gripe about L.L.M.'s books is that they're SO LONG! And parts are better than others! LOVED Tate's (and Libby's) story though! Better than Garrett and Julie's....LOVED Tate's twin girls! (Especially Ava!) Their mother was a piece of work!...As ALWAYS LOVED the dogs! Libby's OLD, overweight lab, Hildie and Audrey and Ava's puppies; Buford and Ambrose!....Of course, LOVED the appearnces of Julie, and ESPECIALLY, ADORABLE little Calvin! Paige. And Tate's brother's Garrett and Austin and Esperanza the McKettrick housekeeper/cook (more like a mother figure to the McKettrick men!)....GOOD STORY!!! BUT NOT GREAT!, Or just WOW! Like I said, one of those, where some parts are better than others...If possible you WILL want to read them in order! Starting with Tate, then Garrett, thenn the youngest McKettrick, Austin last!
February 7, 2010
I am huge fan of Linda Lael Miller, but this is NOT her best effort. I was put off my an inconsistency in Chapter 1 when she makes a big deal about a cowboy's tuxedo being a starched white button down shirt with new jeans, but later in the same scene she mentions his blue shirt. For some reason those little errors crawl all over me. I figure authors, editors, and publishers get paid handsomely to proofread their work. I admit I have typos and mispelled words on occassion, but I am (unfortunately) NOT getting paid thousands of dollars to write correctly. There were two other spots of mispelled words further into the book as well...
April 30, 2010
Her voice and characterization is so real.
April 14, 2020
I found Libby way too whiny with no clue what she wanted with her life. I actually read the book years ago in school when I had no other option, I think that was why I finished it.
December 31, 2020
Ugh I REALLY tried with this one but I just couldn't do it. I got about 2/3 of the way through before calling it quits. It's one that's been sitting on my shelf for several months and figured what the hell I'll give it a shot. Turns out I should have left it on the shelf. This book is a second chance romance where the hero (Tate) and heroine (Libby) originally dated in high school but split after the hero cheated on her with another woman and got her pregnant. We meet Tate and Libby six years after he cheated and his twin girls have been born. They live in a small town in Texas but this is for some reason the first time they have reconnected since then. Even though it has been SIX years, Libby is just as heart broken and shattered by Tate's cheating as if it had just happened. I don't want to speak for anyone else's experience but I would think that if someone was cheated on, they would be heartbroken and pissed and eventually, they would try their best to move on or at the very least, have their family members tell them it may be time to get back out there or that they may need some therapy to process their heartbreak. Instead Libby's sisters don't seem to care that she has been hung up on this guy for SIX years which is probably because neither of them have healthy romantic relationships. When Libby and Tate did get together, the sparks weren't flying but instead they just talked about the past and there wasn't any real reconciliation or moving beyond the cheating to establish a healthy relationship. I have heard that this author's earlier stuff is much better than her more recent stuff so I am willing to give it a chance.
December 29, 2019
I'm a big fan of Miller's books and can't remember one that I thought was a stinker. Tate is the first in a trio about another group of McKettrick brothers. Now that McKettrickCo went public in the last trilogy, the family members are all well off, but some are at loose ends. Tate the oldest of The Texas branch has come back to work and live on the ranch, while his middle brother Garrett has gone into politics and baby brother Austin is still out on the rodeo.
Libby Remington had fallen in love with Tate when she was but seven years old. They were sweethearts through high school and college, until she had to drop out, when her father got sick (their mother had left them when they were all little). Then Tate did something really stupid and allowed himself to be seduced by a classmate while he was in law school- resulting in a pregnancy, hasty marriage, twin girls and a divorce after his wife had an affair. Living in a small town, they have managed to avoid each other for several years. He hurt her and knows it. But the feelings are still there. In addition, Libby's mother returns, trying to make amends to the three daughters she deserted, she only makes their lives more difficult. Will Libby be willing to give Tate a second chance?
Engaging characters, especially Tate's twin girls and Libby's nephew Calvin and of course, the dogs. Easy banter and siblings ribbing provide entertainment. And the required antagonists in the form of Tate's ex and Libby's mother keep the story interesting.
Libby Remington had fallen in love with Tate when she was but seven years old. They were sweethearts through high school and college, until she had to drop out, when her father got sick (their mother had left them when they were all little). Then Tate did something really stupid and allowed himself to be seduced by a classmate while he was in law school- resulting in a pregnancy, hasty marriage, twin girls and a divorce after his wife had an affair. Living in a small town, they have managed to avoid each other for several years. He hurt her and knows it. But the feelings are still there. In addition, Libby's mother returns, trying to make amends to the three daughters she deserted, she only makes their lives more difficult. Will Libby be willing to give Tate a second chance?
Engaging characters, especially Tate's twin girls and Libby's nephew Calvin and of course, the dogs. Easy banter and siblings ribbing provide entertainment. And the required antagonists in the form of Tate's ex and Libby's mother keep the story interesting.
August 5, 2019
I give this book 2.5 stars. Another sweet story but not quite as good as some of her others. Not a lot of plot. Good summer read.
Tate and Libby had been a couple but then he went off and got a girl pregnant, he married her and they had twin girls but the marriage ended quickly. Libby has opened up a coffee shop and barely making ends meet. Tate comes into the store and asks her out. The both still love each other but can Libby trust him again. Tates ex wife goes to New York to live and be a lawyer so the girls are with him. Libby’s mother has come back to town after deserting the family when she and her sisters were very young and now she wants a relationship with the girls but they are not really into that. Tate and Libby figure out they love each other and she can trust hi. And they set a wedding date for New Years Eve.
Tate and Libby had been a couple but then he went off and got a girl pregnant, he married her and they had twin girls but the marriage ended quickly. Libby has opened up a coffee shop and barely making ends meet. Tate comes into the store and asks her out. The both still love each other but can Libby trust him again. Tates ex wife goes to New York to live and be a lawyer so the girls are with him. Libby’s mother has come back to town after deserting the family when she and her sisters were very young and now she wants a relationship with the girls but they are not really into that. Tate and Libby figure out they love each other and she can trust hi. And they set a wedding date for New Years Eve.
March 28, 2023
I felt this book wandered rather aimlessly through a lack luster story. The characters are what saves it from being totally boring. Tate swings from ups to downs, never really catching hold of any one goal until the end. I was willing for the rich guy to be the foreman, a job clearly earned by others who had worked the ranch for years, but to not do the job every day was almost more than I could take. Libby wanders from taking hold in her relationship and backing off. She seems confused most of the time. The saving grace of the book are the children and dogs and horses. Ava and Audrey are great, but Calvin was the best. I have twin granddaughters who I still have trouble telling apart unless they are standing side by side, so Ava and Audrey really hit the mark. For some reason, I fell totally for Calvin though.
April 26, 2020
Your going to want your own cowboy after reading this book.
Sexy cowboy Tate divorced with two little twin girls . The ex-wife was a little bit of a pain but not as much as she could of been. Libby was Tates long term girlfriend but when Tate went of to college he got a girl pregnant and did the right thing and married her . Libby never stop loving Tate she just had to learn to trust him with her heart again. The negative parts to the book was there could of been more drama with the ex wife . The ex-wife just Conveniently moves to N.Y.and leaves her girls with her ex husband and why did the foreman die there didn't seem to be a reason for it. I absolutely hate when there's no epilogue and what does Libby look like your guess is as good as mine.
Sexy cowboy Tate divorced with two little twin girls . The ex-wife was a little bit of a pain but not as much as she could of been. Libby was Tates long term girlfriend but when Tate went of to college he got a girl pregnant and did the right thing and married her . Libby never stop loving Tate she just had to learn to trust him with her heart again. The negative parts to the book was there could of been more drama with the ex wife . The ex-wife just Conveniently moves to N.Y.and leaves her girls with her ex husband and why did the foreman die there didn't seem to be a reason for it. I absolutely hate when there's no epilogue and what does Libby look like your guess is as good as mine.
January 25, 2021
DNF 37%
I’m honestly surprised I got this far. I didn’t feel anything at all between the H/h and I felt like they never really reconnected. What exactly was the catalyst to them wanted to reconcile? They were both living in the same small town for a while before anything happened again between the two. There was just so much mundane life going on and they didn’t spend much time in each other’s company. Also, what 6 and 4 year old children speak like this? No matter how smart the kid is they won’t sound like this. It kept taking me out even more than I already was. After a very strange sex scene where Tate threw his head back “as majestic and powerful as a stallion claiming a mare” I decided to move on. What a terrible image to have in that moment lol
I’m honestly surprised I got this far. I didn’t feel anything at all between the H/h and I felt like they never really reconnected. What exactly was the catalyst to them wanted to reconcile? They were both living in the same small town for a while before anything happened again between the two. There was just so much mundane life going on and they didn’t spend much time in each other’s company. Also, what 6 and 4 year old children speak like this? No matter how smart the kid is they won’t sound like this. It kept taking me out even more than I already was. After a very strange sex scene where Tate threw his head back “as majestic and powerful as a stallion claiming a mare” I decided to move on. What a terrible image to have in that moment lol
September 24, 2024
A cozy Texan romance following the reunion of Tate and Libby as life brings them back together. The entire cast of characters were enjoyable to read about - even if there were times I wanted to slap Cheryl for her mind games - and loved the charming small town atmosphere they resided in (think Gilmore Girls). I didn't really fully understand how the relationship between Cheryl and Tate happened when he supposedly was with Libby, but the dynamic of the twin girls being a part of Tate and Libby's reunion was adorable. While I felt there was a bit too much spicy times in comparison to casual romantic moments, I still enjoyed their relationship. In the end, I enjoyed this book enough to read the entire trilogy of this section of the McKettrick series.
November 9, 2019
Magic
I started reading these books from the Library, but they didn’t have them all. Darn!
I love these books, I am involved totally in each one. Each one is “the best”. Linda has the most amazing ability, to place you right in each scene, uttering each word and sighing each sigh. These are not soppy two bit novels, no, these are stories about real people’s lives and there is wisdom there right for the taking.
As I said in the headline: Magic, these books are just magic. Thank you Linda
Love
Susan❤️
I started reading these books from the Library, but they didn’t have them all. Darn!
I love these books, I am involved totally in each one. Each one is “the best”. Linda has the most amazing ability, to place you right in each scene, uttering each word and sighing each sigh. These are not soppy two bit novels, no, these are stories about real people’s lives and there is wisdom there right for the taking.
As I said in the headline: Magic, these books are just magic. Thank you Linda
Love
Susan❤️
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