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Linda Lael Miller
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Country Strong: A Christmas Romance Novel (Painted Pony Creek, 1) Mass Market Paperback – January 21, 2020

by Linda Lael Miller (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 2,529 ratings
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“This second chance romance is set in the perfect setting of Painted Pony Creek. Curl up in your favorite reading chair and get lost in the pages of this book.” —Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author, on Country Strong

COUNTRY STRONG is the first book in a brand new western romance trilogy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller!

For the men of Painted Pony Creek, it’s never too late for a second chance…

Cord Hollister is a true cowboy at heart. As a man who has devoted his life to training horses under the big skies of Montana, he thrives on the stability of ranch life. But when a girl arrives in Painted Pony Creek with a shocking secret, Cord’s orderly life is upended. She’s the spitting image of the first woman who broke his heart—a woman he hasn’t seen in years—and he’ll do whatever he can to help her. He just can’t do it alone…

Shallie Fletcher left heartbreak where it belongs—in the past. And she’s done everything she can to reinvent herself and move on. But when an opportunity arises to partner with a therapeutic riding program for kids, Shallie can’t resist seeking out Cord for lessons. Back in school, he was the crush she couldn’t forget, even though he had eyes only for her best friend. Seeing him now floods her with memories…and fills her with hope. Could the one who got away be the one who stays?

Don’t miss COUNTRY BORN, the next book in Linda Lael Miller’s Painted Pony Creek series about three best buddies whose strength, honor and independence exemplify the Montana land they love.

A Painted Pony Creek Novel
Book 1 - Country Strong
Book 2 - Country Proud
Book 3 - Country Born
Book 4 - Christmas in Painted Pony Creek
Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 4
    Painted Pony Creek
  2. Print length
    384 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    HQN
  5. Publication date
    January 21, 2020
  6. Dimensions
    4.1 x 1 x 6.55 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    1335474595
  8. ISBN-13
    978-1335474599
  9. See all details
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From the Publisher

Can a Christmas miracle mend her broken heart?
#1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller brings you the series Painted Pony Creek
Country Strong by Linda Lael Miller Country Proud by Linda Lael Miller Country Born by Linda Lael Miller Christmas in Painted Pony Creek
Country Strong Country Proud Country Born Christmas in Painted Pony Creek
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See Details
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Customer Reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
2,529
4.6 out of 5 stars
2,275
4.6 out of 5 stars
1,531
4.6 out of 5 stars
628
Price $9.99 $8.49 $7.49 $13.29
The Painted Pony Creek series by Linda Lael Miller Book 1 Book 2 Book 3 Book 4
Could the one who got away be the one who stays? First love always burns brighter… Sometimes love is just out of reach… Can a Christmas miracle mend her broken heart?

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael MIller:
“This second chance romance is set in the perfect setting of Painted Pony Creek. Curl up in your favorite reading chair and get lost in the pages of this book.”
--Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author, on Country Strong


"Miller has found a perfect niche with charming western romances and cowboys who will set readers' hearts aflutter. Funny and heartwarming...a must-read." —RT Book Review on Big Sky Wedding

"An engrossing, contemporary western romance... Miller's masterful ability to create living, breathing characters never flags...combined with a taut story line and vivid prose, Miller's romance won't disappoint." —Publishers Weekly on McKettrick's Pride (starred review)

"Miller's name is synonymous with the finest in western romance. From the hard realities of life in an untamed land to the passionate people who bring the colorful history to life, she brings the best of the West to readers, never failing to deliver a great read!" —RT Book Reviews on McKettrick's Choice

"Miller delights readers... The coming together of the two families was very well written and the characters are fraught with humor and sexual tension, which leads to a lovely HEA [happily ever after]." —RT Book Reviews on The Marriage Season

"The Marriage Season is a wonderfully candid example of a contemporary western with the requisite ranch, horses, kids and dogs-wouldn't be a Linda Lael Miller story without pets... The Brides of Bliss County novels do not have to be read in order but it would be a shame to miss some of the most endearing love stories that feature rugged, handsome cowboys." —Fresh Fiction on The Marriage Season

"Fans of Linda Lael Miller will fall in love with The Marriage Pact and without a doubt be waiting for the next installments... Her ranch-based westerns have always entertained and stayed with me long after reading them." —Idaho Statesman on The Marriage Pact

"Miller has found a perfect niche with charming western romances and cowboys who will set readers' hearts aflutter. Funny and heartwarming, The Marriage Pact will intrigue readers by the first few pages. Unforgettable characters with endless spunk and desire make this a must-read." —RT Book Reviews on The Marriage Pact

"All three titles should appeal to readers who like their contemporary romances Western, slightly dangerous and graced with enlightened (more or less) bad-boy heroes." —Library Journal on the Montana Creeds series

"An engrossing, contemporary western romance... Miller's masterful ability to create living, breathing characters never flags, even in the case of Echo's dog, Avalon; combined with a taut story line and vivid prose, Miller's romance won't disappoint." —Publishers Weekly on McKettrick's Pride (starred review)

About the Author

Linda Lael Miller is a #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than one hundred novels. Long passionate about the Civil War buff, she has studied the era avidly and has made many visits to Gettysburg, where she has witnessed reenactments of the legendary clash between North and South. Linda explores that turbulent time in The Yankee Widow.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HQN; Original edition (January 21, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1335474595
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1335474599
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.1 x 1 x 6.55 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 2,529 ratings

About the author

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Linda Lael Miller

Linda Lael Miller

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The daughter of a town marshal, Linda Lael Miller is a #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than 100 historical and contemporary novels, most of which reflect her love of the West. Raised in Northport, Washington, Linda pursued her wanderlust, living in London and Arizona and traveling the world before returning to the state of her birth to settle down on a spacious property outside Spokane.

Linda traces the birth of her writing career to the day when a Northport teacher told her that the stories she was writing were good, that she just might have a future in writing. Later, when she decided to write novels, she endured her share of rejection before she sold Fletcher’s Woman in 1983 to Pocket Books. Since then, Linda has successfully published historicals, contemporaries, paranormals, mysteries and thrillers before coming home, in a literal sense, and concentrating on novels with a Western flavor. For her devotion to her craft, the Romance Writers of America awarded her their prestigious Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.

Long a passionate Civil War buff, Linda has studied the era avidly for almost thirty years. She has read literally hundreds of books on the subject, explored numerous battlegrounds and made many visits to her favorite, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where she has witnessed re-enactments of the legendary clash between North and South. Linda explores that turbulent time in The Yankee Widow, a May 7, 2019 MIRA Books hardcover, also available in digital and audiobook formats.

Dedicated to helping others, “The First Lady of the West” personally financed fifteen years of her Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women, which she awarded to women 25 years and older who were seeking to improve their lot in life through education. She anticipates that her next charitable endeavors will benefit four-legged critters.

More information about Linda and her novels is available at www.lindalaelmiller.com, on Facebook and from Nancy Berland Public Relations, nancy@nancyberland.com, 405-206-4748.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
2,529 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Brenda
5.0 out of 5 stars great story
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2024
Verified Purchase
This is a great story with a great storyline good character and a lot of history and emotions keep the Kleenex handy
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ShavonaT
4.0 out of 5 stars Unique Storyline
Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2020
Verified Purchase
The beginning of the book grabs you right away. The 3 main characters all thought they were seeing a ghost from their past and in essence, they were. It is a unique storyline and entertaining. However, I felt there were a few gaps in the story. Personally, I would never trust a juvenile delinquent dropout with the keys to an invalid lady's home even if he does swear to be remorseful. I also didn't quite believe how quickly Cord and Shallie were willing to forgive and forget being abandoned as children. I was very pleased with how things turned out in the end and can't wait for the next book in the series.
One person found this helpful
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nikki anderson
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy read
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2024
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Worth the read
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Colorado Avid Reader
3.0 out of 5 stars This was a letdown
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2021
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I have been a fan of Ms. Miller’s books for years and looked forward to reading this one. However, I’m chagrined to say, it was a severe letdown. There is a weak, almost non-existent storyline. The characters are flat and undeveloped. The dialogue is insipid, weak, and juvenile in places. The entire book cries out for some very strong editing. I struggled to finish it.
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars great quick read
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2024
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Great book and written well work! Page turning to know the next discovery. Easy care free read. Always the best.
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MsKaren 46
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book!!
Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2021
Verified Purchase
This is a great book about Cord Hollister and his life. It has a few mystery stories in it... Shallie Fletcher comes into his life... His 2 best friend Eli and JP are a wonderful addition to this story.. This book has many animals in it.. horses, cats, birds, Cord has a rescue farm for abused horses who help all kinds of people. Does Cord, JP & Eli ever find out if they have a daughter Carly? Will romance being Cord & Shallie together? Read and find out. I am reading the 2nd book about Eli.. Can't wait for the 3rd book on JP.
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Julia
4.0 out of 5 stars A good second-chance romance.
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2023
Verified Purchase
Love the small-town romance with such strong characters. Cord has had the same two friends since they were very small. The only time they had a disagreement was when they all wanted the same girl. The girl left and they worked out their problems. Years later, a girl shows up and says that one of them is her father. She looks just like the girl who left. There is no doubt about who her mother was, but any of them could have been her father. Cord is kind of hoping that she is his daughter. About that same time, another person from his past shows up. Shallie was abandoned in a motel room in this small town, and she is back to try to get clues as to what may have happened to her mother. It makes Cord think about his mother who abandoned him when he was young. As Cord and Shallie get reacquainted, they both start looking for their mothers. Will they find them? Will it help their futures to know their past?
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Barb P
5.0 out of 5 stars Miller knocks it out of the park again!!!
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2021
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Linda Karl Miller has been one of my favorite authors for years! I own all but 5 or6 books of hers. Mostly in print, "Country Strong" is my first Kindle buy. The story as always, features strong human & animal connections. Miller is an animal advocate. Her characters are strong on their own accords with women not afraid to challenge men equally at every turn. In "Country Strong," the young woman who breezes into town & proclaims she is the daughter of one of three close friends is that strong leading character that Miller is known for. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Top reviews from other countries

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Jane R
5.0 out of 5 stars I’ve fallen in love with Painted Pony Creek—when can I move there?
Reviewed in Canada on February 5, 2020
Verified Purchase
A charming town of genuine—and genuinely nice—people. Cord seems so much like my kind of guy that I was immediately hooked. And I can’t wait to read his two best friends’ stories. Also, as an animal lover, I enjoyed the emphasis on them. All in all, a great escape from a difficult and dismal February. Thank you Linda Lael Miller!
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Cliente Amazon
1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed
Reviewed in Italy on June 13, 2020
Verified Purchase
I hate to say this but I didn’t like this book at all... didn’t even seem like LLM wrote this... I read probably all of her books and loved them. This one seems completely off... sort of mechanical. With each chapter I kept waiting for it to get better but it didn’t... I am disappointed..I will stick to the memory of her previous books and will try to forget about this one.
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Shoan Meredith
4.0 out of 5 stars Another hit by Ms. Miller8
Reviewed in Canada on May 9, 2021
Verified Purchase
This was very good read, kept my interest and was a different store line.
Have read other by this author ànd he never been disappointed.
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Lotta Books
1.0 out of 5 stars Unglaubliche Enttäuschung!
Reviewed in Germany on December 23, 2021
Verified Purchase
Ich bin fassungslos. DAS soll LLM geschrieben haben, die Königin der Western-Wohlfühl-Romanzen?
Flache, völlig unausgearbeitete Charaktere. Platte Dialoge - und außer diesen Dialogen keine Handlung. "Wir müssen reden." "OK, lass uns übermorgen essen gehen". (Das tun sie im übrigen gefühlt 17x die Woche). Warum sie nicht JETZT reden, oder wenn sie Abends auf der Verandah sitzen? Keine Ahnung. Krass: der "Pferdeflüsterer", der die Hauptfigur des ersten Bandes ist, mistet ab und zu aus, streichelt mit seinen Kunden die Pferde stundenlang zum kennenlernen, und das war's. Das war der ganze Arbeitstag. Ach ja, und dann überlässt er die "Sessions" mit den traumatisierten Pferden und neuen Kunden seiner Freundin, einer ach so talentierten Grafikerin, die bisher fast nichts mir Pferden zu tun hatte. Ich rolle hier echt mit den Augen. Noch NIE war ein Beruf bei LLM so schlecht recherchiert und so falsch und unglaubwürdig dargestellt. Selbst in den anderen Cowboyromanen von LLM (Montana Creeds, McKettricks etc.) waren Pferde und der Umgang mit ihnen nicht perfekt, aber doch besser dargestellt, als diese gequirlte Sch...
Deshalb frage ich allen Ernstes: WER hat das geschrieben?
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Toad
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy read
Reviewed in Canada on February 6, 2022
Verified Purchase
Love books by this author!!!
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