I was disappointed in this book. Didn't realize there would be a "supernatural" twist involved and I don't enjoy that genre.
I also am getting tired of the everyone is richer than you can imagine trope. While I understand that in books you have to suspend your disbelief to a certain degree, having characters with unlimited money is so boring and unrealistic.

Entertaining, romance/women’s fiction novel that I really enjoyed. Solid plot and likeable characters. Magical elements support the flashbacks between time.

Bitter Gulch, Montana is a ‘pretend’ Old West town with citizens who ‘play’ the characters for tourists. When Madison Bettencourt leaves her fiancé at the altar, she runs across the street from the venue to a bar! She meets handsome Liam McKettrick there and proceeds to get drunk with her best friends. Madison’s grandmother, Coralee is a wealthy heir to a silver fortune, and sadly, lives in an assisted living home there, diagnosed with dementia.

Twenty-four years before, Madison met a young girl, Bliss, whose circumstances were filled with a drunk, mean father, and an absent mother. Madison is kind to her, and therefore puzzled when she finds a goodbye note and a friendship bracelet left near Painted Pony Creek, and Bliss has disappeared.

Liam acts as the town marshal and bartender. He’s drawn to Madison as soon as they meet. He’s moving his estranged children into his home in Bitter Gulch even though his daughter despises him and shows her resentfulness constantly by acting out. His son just wants to be loved by his daddy.

Madison hears talk of a mystical realm around the cemetery in the woods near the creek bend. She’s always wondered what happened to Bliss. On her deathbed, Coralee warns Madison about the danger around those areas.

As the story’s revelations culminate in the last 20% of the book; all the secrets and questions are revealed and answered. The answers are astonishing! This is a thought-provoking, entertaining, and emotional novel. I highly recommend to readers.

I honestly reviewed a digital ARC provided by NetGalley and Harlequin/Canary Press. All opinions are my own.

Where the Creek Bends is another fine book from Linda Lael Miller. She is an excellent storyteller and this book is no exception. The setting is Painted Pony Creek, a richly described background for recent novels. The story line involves several current issues, aging relatives with dementia, single parenthood, dealing with children surviving trauma, difficulty with relationships and second chances. Miller also added a paranormal element neatly woven into the story. As in previous novels, she handles this well. Her main characters, Madison and Liam and his daughters, and Bliss/Caroline, are well rounded and appealing. And Liam is a McKettrick. A very satisfying story. Strongly recommended for readers who like a good Western romance.

Linda Lael Miller brings us the story of Madison who has returned to care for her ailing grandmother after another disaster in love. When she meets Liam at her lowest point, they both cannot deny the attraction that sparks between them. Life seems to get in their way when Liam is trying to reconnect with his children and Madison is trying to find a childhood friend who seemed to vanish without a trace. We get to follow Liam and Madison as they try to figure out what life has in store for them. We also get to see what life has in store for Bliss, Madison's childhood friend who seeks refuge by the creek nearby and finds herself in a world so different from the one she knows that it entices her to be a part of it. What will happen with Madison, Liam, and Bliss? Will Madison ever find out what happened to Bliss? Will Madison and Liam be able to find a way to have a future together with Madison's dream of having a family coming true? Will we find out the truth about Bliss?

Linda Lael Miller brings us to Montana and the Bettencourt and McKettrick families. You are drawn into their world as you follow each person on their journey. We get to follow Madison and Liam as they try to figure out what to do with the attraction they have for each other especially with what life has thrown in their way. We see what life is like for Bliss until she meets Madison and finds herself in a whole new world that is familiar yet unfamiliar. You keep turning the page to see what happens next in their lives until you realize that you are near the end and you do not want their stories to end. You certainly want to keep their stories going even after you have reached the end of the book.

I have read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for this privilege.

Loved it!

This book has a lot going on and I for one was here for every twist and turn!
Madison was a great character, from the second we meet her!

Liam was a walking, living dream!

I loved every character and I hope there is another book about this town!

good mystery about the house and cemetery . Loved the romance between them. Loved that Liam was dealing with his own loss and trying to figure out to raise the kids. She is dealing with the loss of a family member and figuring her life after calling off a wedding. This book was trying to be 2 different things from votex in the woods to raising a family. I wish that the author would have picked just one them. I enjoyed bliss /Caroline more than the romance and wanted to know more about the woods. I wanted to know about her and liam and the family.

Where the Creek Bends is an ambitious exploration of family, loss, and the mysteries that shape our lives. Madison Bettencourt returns to her Montana hometown to care for her ailing grandmother, grappling with her own shattered dreams and lingering regrets. While reconnecting with her roots, she stumbles upon a childhood mystery surrounding her friend, Bliss Morgan, and uncovers secrets in the walls of Bettencourt Hall. Alongside this, she meets Liam McKettrick, a widower striving to mend his relationship with his children after years of emotional turmoil.

There’s so much happening in this novel, which is both a strength and a drawback. Miller introduces a range of poignant issues, but at times it feels like too much to fully digest. Madison’s life is a patchwork of heartbreaks and unresolved questions, from a recent breakup at the altar to her uncertain career future. She’s navigating life’s complexities while supporting friends battling their own struggles, and she’s haunted by memories of Bliss, who mysteriously disappeared in her youth. Then we have Liam, a man who seems to be perfect for her and is slowly winning her heart. And this is just one perspective in a story woven from three.

The second storyline, centered on Bliss, offers a beautifully haunting look at a neglected child who escapes her harsh reality by stumbling through a rift in time. Her journey adds a layer of magical realism that kept me turning the pages, yet I wanted more—more development, more time for her story to breathe.

Finally, we have Liam, working through the loss of his ex-wife, attempting to reconnect with his children, and developing a sudden, intense romance with Madison. Liam’s perspective gives insight into his pain and efforts to rebuild trust with his children. His young daughter, grappling with abandonment and anger, is an especially compelling character. However, the romance between Liam and Madison, though sweet, felt rushed; three dates don’t equate to “madly in love” for me, and the pacing left their connection feeling somewhat surface-level.

In all honesty, this felt like two separate novels crammed into one, and as a result, some storylines fell short. I wanted one book focused on Madison and Bliss’s paranormal mystery, and a second that fully develops the tender but complicated romance between Madison and Liam, along with his relationship with his kids. The wealth of storylines and shifting POVs often left me craving more time with each plot thread.

The ending, felt abrupt and unfinished, and I couldn’t help but wish for an epilogue to tie things up. That said, Where the Creek Bends still held my interest—Bliss’s story is particularly memorable, and there’s a warmth to Miller’s writing that shines through. This is a novel brimming with intriguing ideas, but the many twists and turns sometimes diluted the impact of what could have been an even more powerful narrative.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC!

Madison Bettencourt has a lot going on in her life - everything from being a runaway bride/falling for a widower with two children to caring for her grandmother through dementia/handling her own business affairs long distance from Montana. Being back at her grandmother's house, Madison recalls a childhood friend Bliss who disappeared without a trace. A generation or two of Bettencourts have known the dangers of roaming the land around the estate's cemetery and traveling through time. Is this an actual possibility? Could Bliss have ending up lost in time?
The story of the widower Liam and his children is also told - with the heartbreak of loss/separation and improvement through therapy.
Not all my questions were answered - Were there any problems getting Jeffrey and his mother out of Madison's condo or were they true to their word? What happened to Olivia? Even with a few things left to ponder, there was a satisfying ending.
Thanks to Canary Street Press, Linda Lael Miller and NetGalley for this ARC.

Linda Lael Miller always writes a solid story and Where The Creek Bends is no exception. The story of Liam McKettrick and Madison Bettencourt has an element of time travel that blends well with the homecoming of Madison as well as Liam's two emotionally damaged children.
I enjoyed Where The Creek Bends and thank #NetGalley and #Harlequin for the opportunity to early read this book.
Five star rating from me.

Linda Lael Miller has been one of my favorite authors since I first started reading “grown up” romance novels. I did a little celebratory jump when I saw her ARC for Where the Creek Bends in my inbox. Madison is a runaway bride who meets Liam McKettrick in the living history town of Painted Pony Creek. After she drink enough alcohol to loosen her tongue, she tells Liam how she can’t possibly marry a mama’s boy and Liam loses his heart. What follows is their story, but also the story of Madison’s lost childhood friend, Bliss, and Liam’s attempt to restore his relationship with his young children who have been living with their grandparents since their mother died.

Where the Creek Bends is exactly what you expect to get with one of Miller’s novels. Light hearted romance (no hot and steamy scenes that make you blush) set in the countryside with land for miles, you’ll fall in love quickly with the story. There are some definite full circle moments and existing another McKettrick is always one helluva ride. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on December 31, 2024.

#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #WheretheCreekBends #LindaLaelMiller #HarlequinTradePublishing

It was an okay story but not really what I expected. The ending was abrupt but overall likeable characters. Thanks to Netgalley for letting me review book and publisher

This book was not what I expected from this author. The storyline was good and I enjoyed the book, but it was different from others I have read by her. I did feel that the ending was a bit abrupt. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

We continue with the Mcketrricks. This is Liam’s story. He lives in Painted Pony Creek now, widowed with 2 kids. Madison Bettencourt is now back in town. Her grandmother is suffering from dementia, and Madison is remembering a friend from many years before. I felt that this book has not stayed true to the first book with Liam. I felt that his story could have helped wrap up Madison’s story better. There are also discrepancies between the books. I also felt that this book just stopped abruptly. It needs an epilogue.