Review: Always a Cowboy by Linda Lael Miller

Title:Always a Cowboy

Author:Linda Lael Miller

Series:The Carsons of Mustang Creek, #2

Published:August 2016, HQN Books

Format:ARC E-book, 384 pages

Source:Netgalley via Little Bird Publicity

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.

My thoughts:This is the second book in Linda Lael Miller’s latest trilogy and I am really enjoying it. I just love her books because they are light, easy reads with sweet romances and hot cowboys – really, how can you go wrong with that?!? And after reading all the crazy crime fiction I’ve been reading lately, this is a nice palate cleanser and there’s nothing wrong with that!

Again, like in the previous book, almost right away, our hero and heroine meet. And I like that…you know if you’ve read the back cover that Drake and Luce are going to end up together…that’s not the point. The whole point of the story is their journey and that’s why I read these books – what is their journey to HEA going to be – because each and every one of these books is a different journey. And Linda Lael Miller gives us a great journey for each of her characters.

I loved the back story that brings Luce and Drake together. Drake is a serious cowboy through and through…it’s in his blood and it’s his life. He lives and breathes it. Luce is also very serious and passionate about her choice of career and while the two do intersect, it is the source of great conflict at first. But there is also much chemistry and sparks, too. These two balance each other out perfectly and end up being a great match…and it turns out the serious cowboy has some old-school charm up his sleeve when it comes to romance!

This story was the perfect blend of seriousness and humor, a good tale with lots going on so as to keep you fully engaged throughout. I am looking forward to reading the next, and final, book in this trilogy…though at the same time, am bummed that it will be my last visit with this gang. Isn’t it funny how with these series you so quickly get invested in their lives? Oh well, hopefully that just means Linda Lael Miller has another series in the works, right? 

Books in this series: 

1. Once a Rancher
2. Always a Cowboy 
3. Forever a Hero – due out April 2017