Review: A Creed in Stone Creek by Linda Lael Miller

A Creed in Stone Creek
Linda Lael Miller {Facebook | Twitter}
Publisher: HQN Books
Publication Date: February 22, 2011
Kindle {p.384}
Source: Publisher/NetGalley
Genre: Contemporary, Western
Characters: Melissa O'Ballivan, Steven Creed
Challenge: 50 States, 100+, Contemporary Romance, Ebook
My Rating:

When single attorney Steven Creed becomes the guardian of an orphaned five-year-old boy, he trades his big-city law firm for a ranch near his McKettrick kin in the close-knit community of Stone Creek, Arizona. Taking care of little Matt and fixing up his run-down ranch house with its old barn loosens something tightly wound inside him. But when Steven takes on the pro bono defense of a local teen, he meets his match in the opposing counsel—beautiful, by-the-book county prosecutor Melissa O’Ballivan. It’ll take one grieving little boy, a sweet adopted dog and a woman who never expected to win any man’s heart to make this Creed in Stone Creek know he’s truly found home.

Steven has just adopted his late best friend's five year-old son and moved to Stone Creek to raise him. He notices an attractive woman while out to breakfast with his new son, who just so happens to be the Stone Creek prosecutor Melissa O'Ballivan. After a really bad breakup with a lawyer in the past, he's a little apprehensive about getting involved with another one.

Melissa too has experienced a bad breakup with a man who had children, that has left her afraid to put her heart back out there. Before long Melissa is unable to resist Steven or five year-old Matt.

The dynamic between Steven and Matt is something to behold. You can't help but to feel both Matt and Steven's pain at their shared loss. And the instant affection and attachment Matt had to Melissa was also an added bonus.

I did love Steven's cousin Brody, and I hope to find out what is the cause of the rift between him and his twin brother Connor. All the additional background characters added something to the overall story. Melissa's sisters, Tessa and Tom, Andrea and Bryon, all had pivotal parts to play.