What do you think?
Rate this book
McKettricks #14
A Lawman's Christmas\Daring Moves
The sudden death of the town marshal leaves Blue River, Texas, without a lawman…and twenty-five-year-old Dara Rose Nolan without a husband. As winter approaches and her meager seamstress income dwindles, she has three options. Yet she won't give up her two young daughters, refuses to join the fallen women of the Bitter Gulch Saloon and can't fathom condemning herself to another loveless marriage. Unfortunately she must decide—soon—because there's a new marshal in town, and she's living under his roof.With the heart of a cowboy, Clay McKettrick plans to start a ranch and finally settle down. He isn't interested in uprooting Dara Rose and her children, but he is interested in giving her protection, friendship—and passion. And when they say "I do" to a marriage of convenience, the temporary lawman's Christmas wish is to make Dara Rose his permanent wife….
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
About the author
Linda Lael Miller
547 books3,286 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 27, 2013
Nice two for one. Both stories were easy reading that left you wanting more. Linda Lael Miller is always fun to read.
September 16, 2024
3.5 stars rounded down.
This is a well-loved series and I think this book would have meant more to me if I was more familiar with the McKettrick family.
Initially this book felt very wholesome a la Harlequin Heartwarming.....but the epilogue definitely spiced things up (so maybe Harlequin Historical). Either way, this is not a criticism, merely an observation in trying to determine whether LLM write open vs closed door romances.
I'll definitely continue to read more of LLM rather extensive backlist. : )
This is a well-loved series and I think this book would have meant more to me if I was more familiar with the McKettrick family.
Initially this book felt very wholesome a la Harlequin Heartwarming.....but the epilogue definitely spiced things up (so maybe Harlequin Historical). Either way, this is not a criticism, merely an observation in trying to determine whether LLM write open vs closed door romances.
I'll definitely continue to read more of LLM rather extensive backlist. : )
December 27, 2018
This is a sexy and fun book. I love how relentless the hero is with the heroine. It’s one of my favorite Christmas books now.
June 22, 2015
Two pretty nice vacation reads in one. Of the two, the first (A Lawman's Christmas) was best, in my opinion, but both were good for some quality R&R.
The first, set in 1915, showed some nifty writing, and excellent characters. While it would have been nice if the lawman had actually done some lawman stuff (to legitimize his whole purpose being there), the general flow of the story made up for the small weaknesses. The hero was likeable and the heroine was sympathetic, and the two girls were wonderfully precocious without being obnoxious, and the dialogue was consistently enjoyable.
The second, Daring Moves, was a more standard contemporary romance, between a gun-shy young woman and a wealthy widower. The characters were pleasant, and, though written in 1990, it's aged pretty well. This one was less of a stand-out than the first, and feels a bit imitative of the genre, but it was certainly readable. The biggest weakness, for me, was the constant sex, which felt like avoidance of actual issues by the main characters - I realize that people do do this in real life (i.e. just have sex instead of talking things through), so it rang true; it just got a bit tiring, after a while.
I always admire Miller's writing, and enjoy her books. It's interesting to see how much more confident her writing got between 1990 and 2012.
If you're looking for an annual holiday romance fest, and like genre romance, I'd recommend them - though, it should be noted that the first story is much more Christmas-focused than the second (in which Christmas comprises only a section of the overall story). Both are worth reading, with the first novella being very enjoyable, and the second being affective, if less memorable.
The first, set in 1915, showed some nifty writing, and excellent characters. While it would have been nice if the lawman had actually done some lawman stuff (to legitimize his whole purpose being there), the general flow of the story made up for the small weaknesses. The hero was likeable and the heroine was sympathetic, and the two girls were wonderfully precocious without being obnoxious, and the dialogue was consistently enjoyable.
The second, Daring Moves, was a more standard contemporary romance, between a gun-shy young woman and a wealthy widower. The characters were pleasant, and, though written in 1990, it's aged pretty well. This one was less of a stand-out than the first, and feels a bit imitative of the genre, but it was certainly readable. The biggest weakness, for me, was the constant sex, which felt like avoidance of actual issues by the main characters - I realize that people do do this in real life (i.e. just have sex instead of talking things through), so it rang true; it just got a bit tiring, after a while.
I always admire Miller's writing, and enjoy her books. It's interesting to see how much more confident her writing got between 1990 and 2012.
If you're looking for an annual holiday romance fest, and like genre romance, I'd recommend them - though, it should be noted that the first story is much more Christmas-focused than the second (in which Christmas comprises only a section of the overall story). Both are worth reading, with the first novella being very enjoyable, and the second being affective, if less memorable.
November 10, 2012
It was only $.99 so I picked it up. Amazon did not say I had purchased it before. Then I started reading and it sounded familiar. OH, I had read it last year when it was packaged as a single volume. This one was packaged with an old Miller book, Daring Moves.
I did enjoy reading A Lawman's Christmas again. More than I enjoyed reading Daring Moves. Daring Moves is not a good book. The level of detail in uneven. Miller can tell you all about food and fashion and hair styles. But buying a home and moving in is ignored. They happen with lightning speed and zero difficulty.
Amanda's behavior is erratic and childish with her constantly running away. Yet with one look and three little words, the couple ends up together and forever in love.
I did enjoy reading A Lawman's Christmas again. More than I enjoyed reading Daring Moves. Daring Moves is not a good book. The level of detail in uneven. Miller can tell you all about food and fashion and hair styles. But buying a home and moving in is ignored. They happen with lightning speed and zero difficulty.
Amanda's behavior is erratic and childish with her constantly running away. Yet with one look and three little words, the couple ends up together and forever in love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2015
So, I thought the first story was actually pretty good. I would have given it a 3 star if it had been alone. However, the second story was terrible, and I could not even finish it. I ended up scanning the story. Glad I didn't finish reading it. I would have given it a one star alone.
The first story, although good, left some unresolved questions. I think she was planning on making this a full novel and either needed something to quickly put out or she lost interest in it, so adapted it as a short story. Either way, it was still cute. The best part of the book was one of the main characters shared a name with my daughter.
The first story, although good, left some unresolved questions. I think she was planning on making this a full novel and either needed something to quickly put out or she lost interest in it, so adapted it as a short story. Either way, it was still cute. The best part of the book was one of the main characters shared a name with my daughter.
January 7, 2015
My rating is strictly for "A Lawman's Christmas", which I enjoyed reading. Personally, I thought the female main character was a little boring, but it didn't detract from the story for me. I felt the warmth of Christmas and happy endings as I read it. I do love the McKetterick series of books that Linda Lael Miller has written. Can feel the time period as a read the story. Didn't care for "Daring Moves" - very dated and didn't care for either character very much - should of been updated before being paired with "A Lawman's Christmas".
November 1, 2013
3.5 stars for "A Lawman's Christmas", a short but enjoyable historical romance. Didn't finish "Daring Moves", the bonus reissue of a 90s contemporary. I felt the characters hopped into bed too fast considering all the hangups they both had.
While this is part of a series, I haven't read any of the other books, and I wasn't lost, so I think it can stand alone.
While this is part of a series, I haven't read any of the other books, and I wasn't lost, so I think it can stand alone.
January 13, 2013
I was a little disappointed with Linda Lael Miller on this book. I've loved her McKettrick series but this book just seemed so stilted. I felt the same way about Daring Moves. To me neither story read very smoothly - almost like a first time author.
Read
November 2, 2012Miniseries: McKettricks of Texas
January 9, 2013
Awesome book
October 16, 2019
a typical christmans story from Linda Miller.
Read
December 27, 2014Miniseries: McKettricks of Texas
Category: Historical Romance
Category: Historical Romance
April 18, 2016
I really enjoy this story it was a fast read!! Great read for the holidays!!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews