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Lauralee
SHE BRAVED THE HEIGHTS OF A PASSION BEYOND REASON...
Lauralee Parker knew too well what drink could do to a man. Her own husband had died at the door of a town saloon. With hymns and hatchets, Lauralee and the women of Halpern's Ferry closed down all the taverns--all but the one Jay McCallum was determined to save.
After his brother, a saloonkeeper, was found brutally slain, Jay had come to town ready to accuse Lauralee--only to be captivated by her winsome beauty. The proud, powerful man melted Lauralee's defiant heart with the aching hunger of his love--and with the sweet, urgent ecstasy they shared.
But even as she surrendered to her rich and wild desire, Lauralee's joy was shadowed by the haunting mystery of Jay's brother's death...a mystery whose shocking outcome could forever destroy her future's radiant promise.
Lauralee Parker knew too well what drink could do to a man. Her own husband had died at the door of a town saloon. With hymns and hatchets, Lauralee and the women of Halpern's Ferry closed down all the taverns--all but the one Jay McCallum was determined to save.
After his brother, a saloonkeeper, was found brutally slain, Jay had come to town ready to accuse Lauralee--only to be captivated by her winsome beauty. The proud, powerful man melted Lauralee's defiant heart with the aching hunger of his love--and with the sweet, urgent ecstasy they shared.
But even as she surrendered to her rich and wild desire, Lauralee's joy was shadowed by the haunting mystery of Jay's brother's death...a mystery whose shocking outcome could forever destroy her future's radiant promise.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1986
20 people are currently reading
244 people want to read
About the author
Linda Lael Miller
553 books3,228 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 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 26, 2024
Good reading
I enjoy reading books with a twist to them. A real good historical romance, with some suspense mixed in are the best loved it
I enjoy reading books with a twist to them. A real good historical romance, with some suspense mixed in are the best loved it
August 5, 2024
Really the question is, What wasn't happening in this book?
So much was happening, yet it didn't drive me crazy. Jay and Lauralee were a bit instalove, but it still worked. We do see some other side love stories, which I didn't mind so much. The murder mysteries were pretty crazy. I don't know if this will be for everyone, but I enjoyed the craziness of this story. I honestly didn't know what was going to happen next.
So much was happening, yet it didn't drive me crazy. Jay and Lauralee were a bit instalove, but it still worked. We do see some other side love stories, which I didn't mind so much. The murder mysteries were pretty crazy. I don't know if this will be for everyone, but I enjoyed the craziness of this story. I honestly didn't know what was going to happen next.
August 25, 2024
Changes in Time
There are murders, dangerous secrets, and plenty of steam in this historic story of the coming of age in Northwest America.
There are murders, dangerous secrets, and plenty of steam in this historic story of the coming of age in Northwest America.
June 16, 2019
Lauralee Parker is a widow who lost her husband to drink. Now, she leads a temperance movement (The Prayer Raiders), that wants to eradicate all saloons from the area. Tim McCallum is the only person standing in her way; he owns the Mud Bucket saloon; it is across the road from Lauralee's house. When Tim is brutally murdered, his brother Jay McCallum investigates -- to no avail. He decides to reopen his brother's saloon and watch to see what happens.
At first, Jay is sure Lauralee is the murderer. As he learns more about her, he realizes his first inclination is wrong. Jay learns that Virgil, Lauralee's dead husband, was free with his attentions to the ladies of the town. One of them is Adrienne Burch, a wealthy widow and Virgil's paramour.
Alexander, Lauralee's 10-month-old child, becomes extremely ill; the only way to save his life is to get him to Spokane quickly. Because the stage would take too long, Jay asks Adrienne Burch if Lauralee, Alexander and he can take one of the widow's boats (that hauled logs to the sawmill). By the end of Alexander's hospital stay, he is deaf.
Jay's family home is in Spokane; while there, he invites Lauralee to be a guest. Before long, Lauralee realizes the McCallum house in turmoil. Mrs. McCallum is hostile to Lauralee and her child; Mr. McCallum is a US senator who wants to retire. Jay has another brother, Chance, who seems to be in competition with Jay. Married to Kate, he stays away from home for extended periods. With so much strife in the family, Lauralee is relieved when it is time to return home.
There are several interesting sub-plots that weave in and out of the bigger picture. Altogether, this makes for an engaging story. Although the book was interesting enough, This novel is one of Miller's earlier books; I gave it 4 stars because it just didn't measure up to her later work.
At first, Jay is sure Lauralee is the murderer. As he learns more about her, he realizes his first inclination is wrong. Jay learns that Virgil, Lauralee's dead husband, was free with his attentions to the ladies of the town. One of them is Adrienne Burch, a wealthy widow and Virgil's paramour.
Alexander, Lauralee's 10-month-old child, becomes extremely ill; the only way to save his life is to get him to Spokane quickly. Because the stage would take too long, Jay asks Adrienne Burch if Lauralee, Alexander and he can take one of the widow's boats (that hauled logs to the sawmill). By the end of Alexander's hospital stay, he is deaf.
Jay's family home is in Spokane; while there, he invites Lauralee to be a guest. Before long, Lauralee realizes the McCallum house in turmoil. Mrs. McCallum is hostile to Lauralee and her child; Mr. McCallum is a US senator who wants to retire. Jay has another brother, Chance, who seems to be in competition with Jay. Married to Kate, he stays away from home for extended periods. With so much strife in the family, Lauralee is relieved when it is time to return home.
There are several interesting sub-plots that weave in and out of the bigger picture. Altogether, this makes for an engaging story. Although the book was interesting enough, This novel is one of Miller's earlier books; I gave it 4 stars because it just didn't measure up to her later work.
February 24, 2017
This was a good book. Just average as a love story goes. I do love this author and have read lots of her books. I enjoyed this story, but there just wasn't much excitement in it for me. It would make a good beach read. makes the time go b fast.
August 15, 2016
Lauralee is a strong character. I liked reaching her story. the topic of alcoholism in a romance novel is seldom and I think it wss portrayed in a good and not over exposing way.
the storyline evolves and touches other family members and tragedies as well which makes it a great read. it also explains why it's bit as detailed or in depth. just too many things going on.
I enjoyed it.
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the storyline evolves and touches other family members and tragedies as well which makes it a great read. it also explains why it's bit as detailed or in depth. just too many things going on.
I enjoyed it.
Ich habe ein Buch bei BookCrossing.com registriert!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13925446
April 20, 2016
I really don't know what to say about this book. I did not love it but I liked it. I definitely like Linda's later books better
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June 9, 2017Anything from this author is a wonderful read, with interesting characters and stories that never disappoint.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews