Always a Cowboy (Carsons of Mustang Creek Series #2)

by Linda Lael Miller

Overview

He's the middle of the three Carson brothers and is as stubborn as they come—and he won't thank a beautiful stranger for getting in his way! 

Drake Carson is the quintessential cowboy. In charge of the family ranch, he knows the realities of this life, its pleasures and heartbreaks. Lately, managing the wild stallions on his property is wearing him down. When an interfering so-called expert arrives and starts offering her opinion, Drake is wary, but he can't deny the longing—and the challenge—she stirs in him. 

Luce Hale is researching how wild horses interact with ranch animals—and with ranchers. The Carson matriarch invites her to stay with the family, which guarantees frequent encounters with Drake, her ruggedly handsome and decidedly unwelcoming son. Luce and Drake are at odds from the very beginning, especially when it comes to the rogue stallion who's stealing the ranch mares. But when Drake believes Luce is in danger, that changes everything—for both of them.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781460394137
Publisher:	Harlequin
Publication date:	01/18/2023
Series:	Carsons of Mustang Creek Series , #2
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	266
Sales rank:	39,156
File size:	726 KB

About the Author

The daughter of a town marshal, Linda Lael Miller is the author of more than 100 historical and contemporary novels. Now living in Spokane, Washington, the “First Lady of the West” hit a career high when all three of her 2011 Creed Cowboy books debuted at #1 on the New York Times list. In 2007, the Romance Writers of America presented her their Lifetime Achievement Award. She personally funds her Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women. Visit her at www.lindalaelmiller.com.

Date of Birth:

June 10, 1949

Website:

https://www.lindalaelmiller.com/

Editorial Reviews

10/17/2016
Readers are drawn back to Mustang Creek, Wyo., land of cowboy boots and wild stallions, in Miller’s second, less satisfying novel about the Carson family ranch (after Once a Rancher). Luce is a Californian who follows her heart out to the ranch, which is owned by one of her mother’s oldest friends. She plans to study the effects of wildlife on ranching and vice versa. Little does she suspect that Drake, the ranch’s caretaker, will scare off the herd of wild horses she’s trying to study. Drake has little time for anything other than his ranch, his family, and his dogs. So when Luce intrudes on his slice of heaven, he’s none too happy about it—until he realizes that, under her sass and outsider ways, they’re a good bit alike. The book’s climax is decidedly underwhelming. The details of life on a working ranch lend an air of authenticity, but those details overwhelm the plot to the point where there’s nothing left but boy-meets-girl and a stunning view of the ins and outs of a highly prosperous western homestead. Agent: Irene Goodman, Irene Goodman Literary. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"[A] marvelous contemporary western trilogy launch...fraught with amazing chemistry." -Publishers Weekly, starred review, on Once a Rancher

-Library Journal on the Montana Creeds series

"A fine conclusion to Miller's latest trilogy. It is peopled with likeable characters. Animal lovers will enjoy the creatures that make up a delightfully integral part of the story." -RT Book Reviews on The Creed Legacy

"Miller's prose is smart and her tough Eastwoodian cowboy cuts a sharp, unexpectedly funny figure in a classroom full of rambunctious frontier kids." -Publishers Weekly on The Man from Stone Creek

"Miller's attention to small details makes her stories a delight to read. With engaging characters and loveable animals, this second story in the Creed Cowboys trilogy is a sure hit for legions of cowboy fans out there." -RT Book Reviews on Creed's Honor

"Fans of Linda Lael Miller will fall in love with The Marriage Pact... Her ranch-based Westerns have always entertained and stayed with me long after reading them." -Idaho Statesman on The Marriage Pact

From the Publisher

08/01/2016
Down-to-earth Drake Carson has no use for a tenderfoot city girl wandering around his sprawling Wyoming ranch studying a herd of wild horses for her PhD dissertation, especially not one as attractive or self-possessed as Luce Hale. However, Luce is there at Drake's mom's invitation, and she's not about to leave until she wraps up her research—which, to Drake's surprise and annoyance, also includes his ambivalent relationship with the wild horses, especially the majestic stallion who's been kicking down fences and making off with some of the ranch's best mares. But neither Drake nor Luce can ignore the chemistry that burns between them and eventually grows into something altogether different. Spirited dialog, realistic brotherly banter, and foreman Red's quirky cowboy observations contribute to the enjoyment. The story includes scenic descriptions so visually arresting that they will have readers heading for the Equality State. VERDICT Once again, Miller's deep knowledge and love of the West shine through in a refreshing, tender romance that sees another Carson brother blissfully bite the dust and seamlessly brings fans up-to-date with characters they've come to love. Miller (Once a Rancher) lives in the Spokane area.

Library Journal