Review: Montana Creeds: Logan

Title: Montana Creeds: Logan
Author: Linda Lael Miller
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Montana Creeds/Book 1
Published: February 2009
Contemporary Romance Challenge

From the back cover ~

After years of wandering, Logan Creed, a cowboy with a dusty law degree, has returned home. To put down roots, to restore his family’s neglected ranch… to have kids of his own proudly bearing the Creed name.

Divorced mom Briana Grant has heard the stories about her gorgeous neighbor. So Logan’s kindness with her young boys is a welcome surprise, especially when her ex reappears. And when an unknown enemy vandalizes her home, Logan shows Briana—and the folks of Big Sky country—just what he’s made of.

I read this book for Brie's Contemporary Romance Challenge. It's odd but I find I'm reading more and more contemporaries lately. I think this challenge has helped me find new authors to try and old favorites to go back to. So thanks Brie for hosting the challenge!

Linda Lael Miller books and I go way back. Decades. I may not know her personally but I know her books well. Up until a few years ago I had read everything she had written. A comfort read is what I would call Ms. Miller. She's an author that I know there is a excellent chance I will take pleasure in whatever she writes. Her books may not always end up on my keeper shelf but I'll almost always receive satisfaction from them. That was the case with Logan's story.

Logan Creed has decided it's time to head home. Back to the ranch where he was raised. The ranch where no one has lived for years, that is in complete disrepair and is in danger of falling apart. Logan has a huge job ahead of him. He must get repairs done to the house, the barn, outbuildings and he has to talk to his two brothers regarding all the changes he wants to make. His brothers, who he hasn't talked to in years, are also part owners of the ranch. The problem is that they don't want to talk to him so he has to be clever. He has to get them on the phone and stop them from hanging up on him. The three brothers were close once but not since their father died. That's when Logan made a mistake that cost him that closeness with his brothers. But now he's back in Stillwater Springs and is unwavering in his determination to get his brothers and the ranch back.

Briana Grant is a mother of two boys and the ex-wife of a loser. Her ex-husband, Vince, left her and her sons standing outside the local Wal-Mart. Talk about public embarrassment. But with the help of Dylan Creed, Briana was able to get her life together and make a home for herself and her sons. Briana thinks Dylan took pity on her and her boys when he gave her the keys to his small house on the Creed land along with the old truck that was in need of some work. Briana was able to get a job at the local casino and can now support her small family without the help of her ex. Which is good since his contact and child support is few and far between.

When Briana and Logan meet they strike up a tentative friendship. They are neighbors and while they both may admit to themselves there is an attraction, publicly they are simply neighbors. One of the things I liked about Logan and Briana's relationship is that they did start out as friends. Oh, the attraction was there, they're both good looking so it's normal for them to be attracted to the other but they really got to know each other and came to care for the other. Logan got to see Briana with her sons and learn how important they are to her and the lengths she is willing to go to in order to provide a good life for them. And Briana slowly pulled the story of what happened between Logan and his brothers out of him. She sees how much he cares for his brothers and wants to repair those relationships. Logan is a bit of what I consider a typical cowboy. Laid back and slow to talk. And also slow to share. So the fact that he didn't open up right away to Briana stayed true to his character IMO.

The two subplots of Briana's home being vandalized and her ex-husband showing up were okay. Some of what went on with her ex just made me roll my eyes but I went with it. My main interest was in finding out what would happen with Logan and Briana. I knew they would end up together and everything would work out in the end I just wasn't completely sure of the details. So I guess comfort reads to me are all in the details. I know how they will end but the details leading to the end are what keep me coming back.

The next book in the series is Dylan's with the third book Tyler's. There is also A Creed Country Christmas book slatted to release this November. The first three books are out now and I've got Dylan's waiting patiently for me at the library. Why the library? Why not buy it? Mostly because while I want to read Dylan's story I wasn't left with a burning desire to read it. Knowing I will eventually read it is good enough for me.

For Ms. Miller huge backlist check out her website. Some of my all-time favorite historicals are by Miller. Her Orphan Train and Quaid books are wonderful. Highly recommend.

Rating: B+