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.