Habits are hard to break. Those born out of necessity or
survival are practically indestructible like a hard shell
meant to protect from harm or hurt. Physical or emotional
pain is something in human nature to avoid when at all
possible a self-defense weapon.
This is a story about new beginnings and none occurring
without a great deal of angst and work and determination.
But anything worth doing is worth doing well right? Linda
Lael Miller knows how to do cowboys and their women well.
She has perfected the art. Anyone who loves a story with
strong cowboys or cowgirls has to be familiar with Miller's
long list of tales just begging for another installment in
a fabulous series. Families are her keystone and in Big Sky
Secrets she so talently shows us how difficult family can
be but in the end how important.
Ria and Landry are both quite similar in this regard.
Penetrating that shell was going to take a lot of work and
time.
Landry's family basically consisted of an absentee father,
deceased devoted mother and older brother Zane. Both Zane
and Landry grew up with love but little else. Ria grew up
in great wealth and the love of her mother but was barely
accepted by a step sister and barely tolerated by her
father.
Ria found love with her firefighter husband whose untimely
death left her back where she had always been -- alone.
In Three Trees Montana Ria found purpose and friends, all
she really felt she needed. Investing her heart in a new
relationship would only leave her vulnerable for the
inevitable at least in her mind. When Ria and Landry first
met there was an instant attraction but Ria was so raw she
turned that into instant conflict. From that point on Ria
and Landry were like flint. Sparking for a verbal battle
and each returning to their own corner to lick their
wounds.
Fast forward one year and we are going to be treated to a
wonderful tale about faith and trust and relearning to love
again in Big Sky Secrets. They do say love is lovelier the
second time around but some mistakes are difficult to avoid
repeating.
Landry is very careful with handling of his newly
discovered feelings for his neighbor Ria. He knows there is
something there between them but he is pragmatic enough to
realize that Ria has some secret battles or demons to
conquer before she is ready or willing to even try starting
a relationship.
Landry is a pretty cool character. Actually Ria thinks he
is quite smug. But he is smart enough to know how to keep
his distance while at the same time leaving an impression.
Hopefully the stars will align. Ria would use a plant
metaphor.
It was nice to revisit some very familiar and dear
characters in Linda Lael Miller's book six of Parable
Montana but no worries if this is your first foray in this
series. Big Sky Secrets definitely stands on its own.
Miller has infused this book with just the right amount of
heart and lust to keep everyone very satisfied. Once again
she has brought us two very dynamic characters who will win
your heart with their crisp dialog and snappy
personalities.
The "First Lady of the West," #1 New York Times bestselling
author Linda Lael Miller delivers the stunning finale of her
acclaimed series set in Parable, Montana—where love awaits
Self-made tycoon Landry Sutton heads to Hangman Bend's Ranch
to sell his land to his brother Zane. Though he's got cowboy
in his blood, Landry plans to return to city life before the
dust even settles on his boots. Of course, he didn't count
on falling for Big Sky Country…or Ria Manning.
Ria's starting to settle into country life herself…until she
has a close encounter of the terrifying kind with a buffalo.
Turns out the peeping monster belongs to the cowboy next
door—and he has her running even more scared than his bison.
She wants a home where the buffalo don't roam, and the men
don't either. Could Landry's homecoming be her heart's
undoing?