Haven't read any of Miller's books before . . . would like opinions on this particular Cowboys series . . . please.

High Country Bride (McKettrick Cowboys, Bk 1)

Shotgun Bride (Mckettrick Cowboys Bk 2)

Secondhand Bride (McKettrick Cowboys, Bk 3)

McKettrick's Choice (McKettrick Cowboys, Bk 4)

Thanks.

Lauren - I really enjoy LLM's historical westerns, including the McKettricks. She does a very good job of developing both plot and character, along with enough detail to show that she's really done some research on the place and time. If you find you enjoy these, there are more. Just over the hill from the McKettricks and their hometown of Indian Rock lies the town of Stone Creek...

1. The Man from Stone Creek
2. A Wanted Man
3. The Rustler
4. The Bridegroom

The books listed are the historicals, like the McKettricks titles you've listed. But wait! There's more! There are contemporaries... The McKettrick descendants, their Montana cousins, the Creeds, and their Texas cousins, the McKettricks of Texas:

1. Sierra's Homecoming
2. McKettrick's Luck
3. McKettrick's Pride
4. McKettrick's Heart
5. The McKettrick Way

The Montana Creeds:

1. Logan
2. Dylan
3. Tyler

The McKettricks of Texas:

1. Tate
2. Garrett
3. Austin (due out July 2010)

In addition, Miller writes a Christmas story each year. These books are only loosely related to one of the series (same place, different time period)...

• A McKettrick Christmas - 1896 Historical (hardcover pub 2008)
• A Stone Creek Christmas - Contemporary (Silhouette Special Edition pub 2008)
• A Creed Country Christmas - 1910 Historical (hardcover pub 2009)
• At Home in Stone Creek - Contemporary (Silhouette Special Edition pub 2009)

I also recommend LLM's Orphan Train trilogy:

1. Lily and the Major (recently re-issued)
2. Emma and the Outlaw
3. Caroline and the Raider

Lauren, the cowboy books you mentioned are what got me started with Linda Lael Miller. Loved these brothers and ditto on the Orphan Train trilogy.

I love all the McKettricks...the ones you mentioned are still probably my favorites, though.

Thank you, Ladies . . . these are exactly the responses I was looking for . . . . . . much appreciated!

I've read a lot of her books and I don't think there was one that I didn't like.  High Country Bride was the first Western romance that I read. 

It's been awhile since I've read one of her older ones-but just keep in mind that she started in the Bodice Ripper age and if you don't care for those types then you might want to skip some of her original books.  Although I don't think she was ever that bad.  I happen to love the old fashioned bodice rippers though.  I've mostly just read her newer ones. 

I also liked the 1st Mojo Sheepshanks book.

I loved it!  I have read just about everything she has written.  I bought, read, and mailed "Garrett" to a PBS member this week.  Can't wait for "Austin" now.

Sheila

I read them and enjoyed them, but I prefer her other historicals and contemporaries. These particular ones you list are very realistic in the sense that people die a little more often than I care for in a romance novel. I adore all the other books by her that I've read, though. She has such a wonderful sense of humor, and there are wonderful pets in all the books. :) She is a big fan of rescued pets and they turn up everywhere. One book has an animal communicator in it! Forget the title of that one, but it is a contemporary. The time-travel stuff is good, too, as is the one with the ghost.

Oh! And the Christmas story with Santa in it was fabulous. :) LOVED that one. Another ghost-ish kind of deal.

I agree with Mary, I haven't read one of her books I didn't like. 

Add me to the LOVE HER BOOKS crowd. 

Agreed here also - her books are auto-buy for me, and looked forward to eagerly. Have read her entire booklist (I think!).  I love her writing and her heroes - cowboys - are the best!  Manly men but also with beautiful hearts.