Member Reviews
Next in line for a Miller happy-ever-after is Kaiden Miller. But it might not come so easy for him and Julia Garcia. She’s in town to take care of her father so sticking around, even for a sexy cowboy, isn’t in her plans. The rancher has definitely met his match!
4 stars!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
This was a wonderful addition to the ranching family of the Millers who live in Morgan Valley. While this is a part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone BUT I would highly recommend reading the prior books. Not only to be able to understand the family dynamics, but they are wonderful stories as well.
Kaiden Miller, is the third son in the family. Not only does he help work the ranch with his brothers but he is a carpenter as well. He is asked to help redesign a neighbor’s house whose patriarch, Juan Garcia, has MS and now has to rely on a wheelchair to really get around now. Julia Garcia comes home as it is her father that needs the help. Julia is an attorney who lives in the San Francisco area and hasn’t come home all that much. She and Kaiden have had an unusual history as Kaiden was friends with her brother Juan before their falling out.
These two have a communication problem that they have to bridge. Kaiden is known to be the family jokester to help ease tension in the family and he won’t tell Julia how or why he and his brother had a falling out. The sparks between these two proud people really lead to frustration as they live in two different areas of California and neither can see how to get around that.
This is a sexy read. I would recommend this to anyone over the age of 18. It was also written in my favorite dual POV format. This helped to fully understand the characters and to see their side of the frustration.
The Rancher Meets his Match is the fourth book in Kate Pearce’s Millers of Morgan Valley series. This book centers around third son Kaiden Miller. With family patriarch Jeff having determined the ranch will go to eldest son Adam, Kaiden has no expectations of family except to be treated well by them. Although a trained and sought after carpenter, Kaiden continues to live at the family home and carry out hours worth of chores, often picking up the slack from other brothers (there are five brothers, one sister).
Neighboring rancher Juan Garcia, who has dealt with MS effects for years, has taken a steep downturn and now needs to use a wheelchair most of the time. Town doctor, Dr. Tio, contacts Kaiden regarding making handicapped modifications to the ranch house to make life easier for Juan. Kaiden is eager to help, after all that’s what neighbors do, but when Juan’s daughter Julia, now a high powered San Francisco attorney, comes home to help her father transition, Kaiden is opened up once again for heartache.
This is a heartfelt story told with feeling about the close knit community and the relationships established early in life that can evolve to something special. With a well entwined plot, Ms. Pearce has woven a story that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Such a good story with well developed characters and a lovely Sierra Nevada setting, I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!
Kaiden used to be the jokester in school. Never taking anything seriously. Julia was his best friends sister and off limits, no matter how much he secretly liked her. Years later they come face to face. The chemistry is still there, but their reasons for not getting together aren't. I really enjoyed how Kaiden isn't intimidated by Julia's assertive attitude. He actually enjoys getting her dander up. He helps her to let down her guard and to see things differently. These two are very sweet together. Great story!
On the surface they may seem like an apples and oranges pairing but Kaiden and Julia have chemistry to spare. However that is only part of the story. They each have issues to resolve before they can attain their HEA. The book is fleshed out with familial drama, interference, support and love creating a story that engages and entertains. I enjoyed this opposites attract romance.
The Rancher Meets His Match by Kate Pearce is another in the Millers of Morgan Valley series and features Kaiden Miller and Julia Garcia. Kaiden is the valley's wood worker and carpenter/project manager. He is busy at this moment with the restoration of the Morgantown movie theatre, which was being repurposed into apartments for affordable housing. Dr. Tito stops by to let him know that Juan Garcia, a local, is in need of him for upgrades to his home. Juan has MS and can no longer function outside of a wheelchair. Kaiden is happy for the work. He loves variety and the more he works the more he can stay away from the ranch and his cantankerous father. When he showed up to look at the job, he ran into Juan's daughter, Julia, who was now a big city lawyer, far from Morgantown. He had had a crush on her in high school. Looked like he still had a crush on her. She was beautiful.
Morgantown is utopia, the ideal community: everyone cares about one another and they care about the people they don't even know. They want their community to be economically viable and environmentally sound, all while raising cattle. The era of the small ranch is past and developers are everywhere, waiting to pounce. Julia is home for a couple of weeks to help her father. She gets paid well so she has plenty of money to keep the ranch going. Her brother Miguel is missing in action. He dad wants Miguel to take over...he's the son. Miguel has no interest. Kiaden is a little ADHD and very stubborn, but very responsible and very skilled. He loves his family no matter how they aggravate him but his about done with his father's crap. Julia has goals and works hard to achieve them.
As much as she wants the ranch, she also wants to move forward with her career, which she must to keep paying her father's bills. Kaiden and Julia are oil and water and it is obvious from the get go. No matter how much they want each other, it is simply not practical. Pearce writes this situation extremely well. The reader can feel the issues with every interaction. They are both excellent, strong characters with plenty of support from family and friends. Maybe too much. Excellent read if you love cowboy romance and the Morgans and the Millers. Excellent read if you are new. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free ARC of The Rancher Meets his Match by Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #theranchermeetshismatch
First, I have to say, I love reading Kate Pierce books! While I have read all of the Millers of Morgan Valley series, "The Rancher Meets His Match" is my least favorite. It was still a good read, but I didn't really feel the connection and the angst between Kaiden and Julia that I usually feel when reading a book in the series. Kaiden and Julia both seemed to have other priorities, which is understandable, but there was just too much disconnect between them for a real romance. It kind of felt like their romance was an after thought for both of them. Overall it was an sweet enjoyable read and they do have a HEA. **I was gifted "The Rancher Meets His Match" via NetGalley and leave my review based on my reading.** 3.25 Stars!
Quick, enjoyable read about a misunderstood cowboy and a big city lawyer. Will Kaiden ever figure out why Julia Garcia held a grudge against him since they were young? It sure was fun finding out!
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing this arc.
This is the fourth book in the series and it deals with Kaiden who is always joking or coming across as a jokester. Really though you feel that there is more to him than what has always been given. He is also a master carpenter and though he does work on the ranch and I think he enjoys ranch work it seems that he really enjoys building and working with wood. He also enjoys talking his father down from his blow-ups.
Julia Garcia has returned to Morgantown to help her father Juan Garcia because his MS has gotten worse and will be in a wheelchair more often than not. She realizes that the home is just as it was when she left ten years ago. Now not only is she dealing with a father who is ill and does not want any help with the ranch from a woman especially his daughter, but she must also deal with Kaiden who is at their home to help with some remodel to make life easier for her father being in a wheelchair.
There is a history between Julia and Kaiden, also between him and her brother Miguel. You come to find out that her brother is not a good person. At the same time, you find out about the people at the law firm that Julia works at. When you get closer to the end you start to see the change in the characters the growth in them as if there were real people and for me, that was what made this a really good story along with the end and the way Kaiden change and what he did really made it for me. Overall a really good book.
The fourth book in Millers of Morgan Valley, The Rancher Meets His Match is Kaiden and Julia’s story. Overall the story was good and the character interaction enjoyable, but I didn’t feel the depth of connection with the main characters was lacking here. I will read more of this series and recommend you read this story for yourself as this is just my opinion and you may love it.
A great addition to the series!
The Rancher Meets His Match is the fourth book in The Millers of Morgan Valley series but you can read it as a standalone. You might enjoy it more if you read the other books first but you don’t really have to.
Kaiden Miller is the son who doesn’t always feel appreciated by his family. He looks like his father (an irascible man who shouts at everyone) but tries his best to be nothing like him in personality.
Julia Garcia is a successful attorney; she moved away from Morgan Valley several years ago. She back now for a visit to help get renovations going on her father’s house to make it more wheelchair accessible.
Kaiden and Julia have known each other since they were kids but Julia’s always thought that Kaiden didn’t like her. Kaiden always did his best to not show how much he liked is best friend’s sister.
I really liked the vibe between Julia and Kaiden. They throw sparks off of each other – both sexual and angry ones – and just can’t seem to get their act together and decide whether to like or hate each other. The story really kept my attention and was a real page-turner for me.
Both Kaiden and Julia have family issues that play into their actions and I love the interaction between all of the characters. I have really enjoyed this spin-off series from the Morgan Ranch one and hope it continues. After reading this book, I’m really curious about Julia’s brother, Miguel, and I hope we get a story for him at some point.
A review copy was provided by the author and publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.
The Rancher Meets His Match is the fourth book in Kate Pearce’s Millers of Morgan Valley and while I’m a hige fan of Ms Pearce and her writing, this one just didn’t meet my expectations. For me personally, there was little chemistry between Kaiden and Julia and the miscommunication scenario was overdone and drawn out. Basically, while the drama surrounding the work scenario was good, the couple’s interactions were less than satisfying. Overall, this is just an OK story for me.
Kaiden Miller has always been the one to make a joke of everything. Julia Garcia has returned home to help take care of her ill father. She’s been holding a grudge against him since high school. Kaiden had a high school crush on her. When they see each other again after many years, its going to take settling their differences to see if they have a future. What happens when The Rancher Meets His Match.?
Kate Pearce Morgan series shoots off a new series of the Millers of Morgan Valley with a second founding family. She follows the Miller family through life, love and family drama. They’ll lean on each other and find love along the way. These characters must work through family and individual issues. Sexy cowboys/ranchers who find the women or man of the dreams. Take another trip to Morgan Valley and meet the Miller family. The first book of the Millers of Morgan Valley series, The Rancher Meets His Match.
The Rancher Meets His Match is Book 4 of the Millers of Morgan Valley series by Kate Pearce. While this story stands perfectly fine on its own, I love the opportunity we get to revisit with past characters in not only this series but prior Morgan Valley series.
Kaiden Miller was adorable. Even though he may be the family comedian and the one who can manage to do the impossible, calm down their father, he certainly has a lot more depth to him and I loved that we finally get to see the man behind the mask. Miscommunication abounds and sparks fly between Kaiden and Julia making this an engaging story that I didn't want to put down. Great addition to the series!
Rancher Meets His Match is the fourth book in the Millers of Morgan Valley series, which is a spin off series. This is Kaiden's book.
Kaiden Miller is the third son in the Miller clan and he's known as the jokester and peace keeper. And it seems he's done with both. The story follows a lot of growth for him, and the turmoil of dealing with a belligerent father who underappreciates his family. Throw in the girl he's always pined for coming back to town to take care of things for her father and you've got yourself the ingredients for a good story. I'd recommend reading these in order or you'll be a little lost. Overall a good read, was slow at times and the ever present can't you just TALK to each other issues, but we have to have drama somehow.
I’ve enjoyed The Millers of Morgan Valley series, I do love a series that continues through spin-off characters, I freely admit that. The Rancher Meets His Match is the fourth title, Kaiden and Julia’s romance, and I’m frankly torn on this one.
I loved Kaiden, he’s the son who works with Dad, he’s an accomplished carpenter as well as working the ranch. Many consider him the jokester of the family as he often covers other emotions with laughter, pranks, and jokes. There are layers to Kaiden, and he rarely allows anyone to see them all.
Julia has moved beyond her hometown. She’s a lawyer who has recently been overlooked for a promotion. As her father’s MS is affecting him badly right now, Julia has returned home to care for him and to put some space between her and that job which no longer seems so great. The last person she expected to encounter was Kaiden, who back in high school laughed off her interest in him (according to her brother, Kaiden’s friend) and said some very mean things about her. She’s got a long memory but this Kaiden is doing everything he can to help her father so perhaps the past should stay in the past.
Everything is there for a sizzling second chance romance. But I simply couldn’t feel it this time. Friends with benefits, yeah. But two people who love each other and won’t compromise a way to be together don’t really deeply, life long commitment love each other, in my opinion. Misunderstandings, lack of communication brought them both so much hurt and pain. And it’s an argument that is timeless, “If only they had talked and really listened one sentence would have saved so much heartache.” I know that’s not how the story goes, but it certainly was very strong in my mind throughout The Rancher Meets His Match.
So, yeah, I’m torn. I enjoyed so much of this story yet kept being pulled out of that same story by small things that added up. It’s a good story, don’t misunderstand me – but I didn’t fall in love with Julia and Kaiden, and I really wanted to.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Kensington Books via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.
I love that we see Kiaden and Julie in this book, as well, as the previous couples. Lots of drama and intrigue in this book and a rocky road to their HEA.
Both Kaiden and Julia grew up without their mothers in their lives so it seems like they both are emotionally vulnerable which makes them very wary and untrusting of getting into a relationship. Never having this type of problem, I got frustrated at time with them as they were so set in how they responded to any hint of romance.
A couple of things that I wished were either resolved or explained a bit more - the big fight that caused Miguel and Kiaden to be at odds is mentioned when they meet again but never fully explained to Julia which I would have like to know a bit more of what Kiaden hinted at. Then, the threats from Miguel were never resolved, and I guess we are supposed to rely on the fact the Julia is a good lawyer and can take care of this but again, I like things spelled out and resolved! (Maybe this will come up again in the next book???)
I loved that Kaiden gave Adam advice and that Adam actually took it to heart and listened. You would think that Kaiden would also realize it was good advice and act on it but it took him a bit longer...lol
Wonder if the next book will be about Danny or Evan?? Either way, I look forward to the next book in this series!
4.5 stars
One of the notes I jotted down while reading this story was as follows, “ROFL, sometimes I forget how much this author cracks me up!” And that’s the truth. Yes, her stories touch my heart and make me swoon. But that little something extra is the laughs. (A note for when you are reading, this was in reference to the scene where the heroine is having a conversation with a man named Scott. So much fun!)
Kaiden was best friends with Julia’s brother Miguel back in the day. He had a falling out with Miguel back in high school (which is never fully explained here, but we are given the gist of what happened in bits and pieces) and Julia has looked at Kaiden as an enemy of sorts ever since. While Julia left town soon after high school to go to college and pursue her career in law, Kaiden is still living in Morgan Valley helping on his family ranch and doing carpentry work. He’s the happy-go-lucky guy who never takes himself or anything else too seriously. She’s the strait-laced, career-oriented professional who has everything planned out well in advance. Or course, when they are thrust back into each other’s orbit there are sparks.
Once again, in this series, I’m reminded how much I cannot stand Kaiden’s parents. Each book seems to give the reader more insight into his dad’s justifications of his actions, but I still cannot find him redeemable. Or his mom, who up and left when the kids were still all teens and younger. In that, Julia has something in common with Kaiden. Her mom also left, but in a much more above-board way. I still don’t understand her choices, but at least she was honest and kept contact with her kids. I guess my point in this paragraph is to say, it’s no wonder these two aren’t more screwed up than they are. They’re not the best at communication, but it could have been so much worse.
Somehow, I never disliked Julia. It would have been easy to do if her character had been written by a lesser author. But, even with her blinders on about certain things, she still always seemed like someone I could be friends with. And, as the story progressed and she opened her eyes to some realities, she became a much more sympathetic character. In fact, there came a point where the reader sees that, in some areas, Julia is actually the underdog. As much as I like Juan 99% of the time, his bullheaded approach to his son and daughter the other 1% drove me nuts. Julia is a saint when it comes to keeping her mouth shut with her dad.
The dynamics of the Miller family are constantly becoming clearer, all while shifting to suit the new additions and changing times. I enjoy watching them stand up to their father, one by one. And, I think here more than in some of the other stories, stand up to each other. I know their sister had a rough road to travel with all those older brothers. But it seems to me that Kaiden was put in a box long ago and nobody ever looked in that box to see if it was the right fit for him. They took for granted that he would take the brunt of things to keep the peace because it was easier for them to let him do the heave lifting. They’re not bad people, but humans who naturally see their own world with different eyes than the person right next to them. I love watching this family’s emotional growth.
This is a quiet story about communication and relationships. It's about family and how it shapes a person's character and behavior. I struggled a bit with Kaiden and Julia's chemistry in this story but I was drawn to their individual characters and how they gave to their families. The ultimate crisis in the book bothered me a bit but Kaiden redeemed himself in the end. Overall the growth of the characters given their family dynamics was worth the story.
Kaiden is the third brother of the Miller family. The family of five brothers & one sister have had a hard time of it with their volatile and gruff father Jeff, and mother Leanne leaving the family. Kaiden dealt with relationships with humor. He found it opened doors to reduce conflict which he hates. Overall he's the most like his dad and therefore works hard to control his anger.
Enter Julia Garcia who pushes all his buttons. Kaiden is a master carpenter and is helping Julia's dad, Juan with disability access to his home now that his MS has flared and he must use a wheelchair. Julia has come home from San Francisco where she's an attorney, to help her dad get settled into his new normal. She and Kaiden have history. She thinks he doesn't like her because that's what her brother Miguel told her. Miguel & Kaiden used to be best friends until they had a huge fight. Miguel is a special ops agent in the military and never comes home to visit. Juan is dead set on leaving the ranch to Miguel so he would be the 5th generation to run the ranch. Miguel isn't interested AT ALL but Juan refuses to see it. Julia on the other hand is moving heaven and earth to keep her dad at the ranch and footing the bill so he can. Kaiden has always been drawn to Julia but Miguel was in the way. Now he and Julia seem to fight more than they get along until they find themselves in a situation depending on each other. Things change but they still live hundreds of miles away from each other.
Miguel comes home, and things get complicated. He tells lies and starts strong arming his dad. Kaiden doesn't handle it well . Kaiden is questioning everything in his life and finds himself at odds with his family and uncertain about Julia. Eventually he has to sort himself out with his family and how he feels about Julia to make amends.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I enjoyed reading this book. Love the characters. This book had a great pace and kept me turning pages till the end. I was a little disappointed in the ending, not how it ended just that it ended kind of abruptly. I thought it might have needed an epilogue to tie up some of the loose ends. Overall though a great read.