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Book Review of Big Sky River (Parable, Montana, Bk 3)

Big Sky River (Parable, Montana, Bk 3)
Big Sky River (Parable, Montana, Bk 3)
Author: Linda Lael Miller
Genre: Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
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Helpful Score: 1


Tara Kendall left her big city life in New York to come to Parable, Montana and start over after her divorce. The hardest part of the divorce wasnt losing her selfish ex-husband, but his twin daughters that she practically raised. Now living as a chicken farmer in the country, her ex-husband sends the twins to stay with her for a bit.

Sherriff Boone Taylor was raised in Parable. He met and married his high school sweetheart, had two boys and then lost her to Cancer way too soon. He never really recovered after that loss and his boys have been living with his sister in Missoula ever since. But when his brother-in-law has an accident that is going to require surgery and extra care from his sister he finally brings his boys home where they belong.

First I have to say I absolutely LOVE Linda Lael Millers books. I wait in breathless anticipation for every new release. But this series, so far, has been mediocre at best. The first book, Big Sky Country, was OK, but it started out a little slow. The second book, Big Sky Mountain, I actually really liked and now this one, again, was just OK.

Here you have two people reunited with children who desperately need real parental love. One who is bound by blood but has been separated by choice the other is a step parent who was separated by forces unstoppable. I guess my main problem with this book was Boone. I never got over the fact that when his boys needed him most because their MOTHER died, he shipped them to a different city to live with an aunt because he couldnt cope with his WIFE dying. That is just the most incredibly selfish and mean thing I could think of a parent to do. Essentially those boys lost both their parents that day. He took way too long getting his crap together. Then the reasoning for the forced reunion was flimsy at best. They made a knee replacement into more than it needed to be. They acted like the injury was life threatening and altering.

Tara was an amazing heroine and I really admired her spirit and loyalty. The relationship between her and Boone moved a little too quickly from enemies, to friends to getting married without ever having a real date. The progression to friends seemed natural and easy enough with the kids as a buffer, but I would have preferred a little more alone time before talks of housing, marriage and babies were brought up.

The kids, the dogs and the side characters were as charming as ever and I am really looking forward to reading Caseys story, Big Sky Summer, I think she will prove to be an interesting heroine as she is already shrouded in secrets. I just hope the book lives up to its potential and like the second one proves more likable and more up to Linda Lael Millers usual talent.

Cherise Everhard, December 2012
Reviewed for the Amazon Vine Program