Review, Author Q&A, & Giveaway: The Marriage Pact by Linda Lael Miller (CLOSED)

Title: The Marriage Pact   

Author: Linda Lael Miller    

Series: The Brides of Bliss County, #1     

Published: May 2014, Harlequin HQN  

Format: ARC e-copy, 384 pages   

Source: Netgalley via Little Bird Publicity   

The women of Bliss
County are ready to meet the men of their dreams! See how it all begins
in this enthralling new series by #1 New York Times bestselling author
Linda Lael Miller

Ten years ago, Hadleigh Stevens was eighteen
and this close to saying “I do,” when Tripp Galloway interrupted her
walk down the aisle. Now that she’s recovered from her youthful mistake
and Tripp’s interference, Hadleigh and her single friends form a
marriage pact. She doesn’t expect Tripp to meddle with her new plan to
find Mr. Right—or to discover that she’s more attracted to him than
ever!

Divorced and eager to reconnect with his cowboy roots,
Tripp returns to Bliss County to save his ailing father’s ranch. He’s
not looking for another wife—certainly not his best friend’s little
sister. But he’s never been able to forget Hadleigh. And this time, if
she ends up in his arms, he won’t be walking away!

My thoughts: I’ve been a fan of Linda Lael Miller’s since first reading her Creed Cowboy series a while back. Since then, I’ve read a few of her other series and have really enjoyed them, so when I heard she was coming out with a new series, I was excited to read it.

This new series is about three best friends who form a marriage pact – they will only marry for love and will not settle for anything less. They will also see each other through all the ups and downs that come with finding Mr. Right. Hadleigh’s story is up first and I just loved her story. Right from the beginning when we flash back to her almost marriage at 18 before her true love, Tripp saved her from making the biggest mistake, I just knew I was going to enjoy this book. I mean, her knight in shining armor comes storming in and throws her over his shoulders and hauls her out of the church? What’s not to love and swoon about that?

I also loved the relationship between Tripp and his step-dad Jim. Jim has never once seen Tripp as anything but a real son, though Tripp has thought otherwise and it’s not until now as an adult that he finally realizes that. Some of their conversations now that Tripp has come home to the ranch are really touching and some are downright comical.

The pact itself amongst the three girls is interesting, and I love the idea of the bracelet with the charms. Melody, the jewelry designer, has made each of the girls a bangle bracelet and as each finds true love, will honor the occasion with a charm unique to the situation, that all three will get. I love this idea and can see it being a great gift idea for my sisters – picking out charms that represent something unique about all three of us so we always have a piece of us no matter where we are.

I think this series is off to a great start. I love the premise behind the series and can’t wait to see how the other girls fare with the pact. The characters that Linda Lael Miller creates are fun and relateable and she creates scenes that just keep you hooked to the book. She can make you laugh in one scene and than cause you to shed a tear or two in the next – just wait to you see who walks Hadleigh down the aisle…it melted my heart!

Books in this series:

1. The Marriage Pact
2. The Marriage Charm – due out Jan 2015
3. The Marriage Season – due out 2015

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Author Q&A

Linda Lael Miller took some time to answer the following questions about the new series and weddings…enjoy!!!

The month of June,
aka “Marriage Season,” is quickly approaching! If you could redo your wedding, where
would you do it and what would it be like? Did you plan for THE MARRIAGE PACT
to come out during the most popular wedding month of the year?

If I could redo my wedding, I’d marry a different
man.  I’d choose a salt-of-the-earth
cowboy type, most likely, and hold the ceremony in a country church.  I didn’t actually choose June for the book’s
release—my publisher makes those decisions—but I’m awfully glad it landed
there.

It’s often said
that choosing whom you’ll marry is the most important decision of your life. Do
you believe that? Do you think your characters believe that?

I absolutely
believe choosing a marriage partner is incredibly important, and so do my
characters.  Marriage is essentially a
sacred promise two people make to each other, and should be honored as such.

What is your
favorite scene from the book?

I love the opening
scene, when Tripp Galloway, the hero, ‘kidnaps’ the heroine, Hadleigh Stevens,
seconds before she can say “I do” to the wrong man.

If you could give
one piece to newlyweds for a happy life together, what would it be?

Tell the truth, no
matter what.  Trust is everything in a
relationship, and love will not survive long without it.

Can you give us a
sneak peak on what is next to come? We’ve heard there are two more Bliss County
books after THE MARRIAGE PACT.

The next two books
are: THE MARRIAGE CHARM, featuring Melody Nolan, Hadleigh’s friend and a
participant in the marriage pact, and Spencer “Spence” Hogan, the local police
chief.  They were deeply in love at one
time, but things fell apart and they went their separate ways.  Now, the attraction remains, but both Spence
and Melody are convinced they’re wrong for each other.

This will be followed
by THE MARRIAGE SEASON, the story of Becca “Bex” Stuart, the third member of
the marriage-pact bunch, and a newcomer to Mustang Creek, sexy widower Tate
Calder with two beguiling children and a singular determination to remain
single.

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GIVEAWAY DETAILS – CLOSED (US only) 

Thanks to Katie at Little Bird Publicity I have one copy of The Marriage Pact to give away to my readers. 

To enter…

• Leave a comment below & be sure to include your email address.
• Tweet, share on Facebook, or blog for 2 extra entries.
• You MUST include email address or entry will be invalid.
• I will contact winner at the conclusion of the giveaway & they will have 2 days to respond or I will pick a new winner.

This giveaway is open to US residents only and ends June 10th. 

Good luck!