A Lawmans Christmas by Linda Lael Miller

From lindalaelmiller.com:

The sudden death of the town marshal leaves Blue River, Texas, without a lawman…and twenty-five-year-old Dara Rose Nolan without a husband. As winter approaches and her meager seamstress income dwindles, she has three options. Yet she won’t give up her two young daughters, refuses to join the fallen women of the Bitter Gulch Saloon and can’t fathom condemning herself to another loveless marriage. Unfortunately she must decide—soon—because there’s a new marshal in town, and she’s living under his roof.With the heart of a cowboy, Clay McKettrick plans to start a ranch and finally settle down. He isn’t interested in uprooting Dara Rose and her children, but he is interested in giving her protection, friendship—and passion. And when they say “I do” to a marriage of convenience, the temporary lawman’s Christmas wish is to make Dara Rose his permanent wife…

This book is exactly like every other Linda Lael Miller book. It's cute, it's fun, the characters are likeable, and the story is very predictable. =) That said, I really liked it. I would have liked it better if I had read it instead of listened to it (because I very muchly don't like the narrator that does all the Linda Lael Miller books) but I still enjoyed it.
This McKettrick book takes place in 1914 or 1915 with the grandson of Angus McKettrick (which is who the series starts with and every book refers back to him). Clay decides he needs to get away from the Triple M in Arizona and make his own way in life and find a girl who won't run away with one of his cousins. He agrees to be the town marshal in Blue River, Texas, and upon arrival meets the spunkiest little 6-year old girl he's ever met. Turns out, her dad was the marshal before, and she and her mom, Dara Rose, and sister are still living in the house that's promised to Clay as part of his contract from the town council. Clay immediately decided that Dara Rose is the woman for him, but she's going to need a little convincing.
This was a fun book. Mostly a clean read, although it seems like the epilogue might not be. I would recommend to anyone, and give it 4 stars. Enjoy!

A Tailor-Made Bride by Karen Witemeyer

July 14, 2011

From Goodreads:                                                                             When a dressmaker who values beauty tangles with a liveryman who condemns vanity, the sparks begin to fly!

Jericho "J.T." Tucker wants nothing to do with the new dressmaker in Coventry, Texas. He's all too familiar with her kind--shallow women more devoted to fashion than true beauty. Yet, except for her well-tailored clothes, this seamstress is not at all what he expected.

Hannah Richards is confounded by the man who runs the livery. The unsmiling fellow riles her with his arrogant assumptions and gruff manner, while at the same time stirring her heart with unexpected acts of kindness. Which side of Jericho Tucker reflects the real man?

When Hannah decides to help Jericho's sister catch a beau--leading to consequences neither could have foreseen--will Jericho and Hannah find a way to bridge the gap between them?

From Misty:

"So sickeningly cute.  I just love romances."

I had the picture and description posted before I realized this was all I wrote for my goodreads review.  But looking at it, I'm thinking it's a pretty honest response.  I've maybe read better books, better romances, but THIS is how I like them to go.  THIS is how I like characters to fall in love.

In any case, the book obviously made an impression on me.  Karen Witemeyer sounds like a stand up lady and I found myself just as interested in her (based on a one paragraph bio) that I went ahead and took a chance on this book.  Of course, I'd have taken a chance on it based on that cover alone.  One of my favorite covers of all time.  I might tolerate dressing up if we had still had dresses like that.  I'm thinking of bringing the pioneer bonnet back in.  What do you think?