Linda Lael Miller Books & Scholarship

Until a few weeks ago I had never read anything by Linda Lael Miller. Her books for the most part appeared to be historical westerns and that's not a category I like to read. A friend loaned me her book Deadly Gamble and I really enjoyed it. I think one of the reasons I liked it so much is that it's set in Cave Creek, Arizona. It's part of the Phoenix area which is where I lived for many years. There's a little extra draw for me reading books where I'm very familiar with the setting. The other bonus was that it was not a historical but set in present day. 

I never would have picked up the book on my own since it looks like a western. That brings me to a pet peeve of mine; books whose covers in no way reflect the actual content. Just looking at the cover you'd think it's about a cowgirl who lives in an abandoned desert town. The story is actually about Mojo Sheepshanks (who does not wear chaps, by the way), a young woman with a mysterious past and a wacky alias that she chose for herself as a child. She has a few unique gifts including getting slot machines to pay out for her and talking to dead people. Mojo is the kind of heroine I like, nothing keeps her down for long. It's a great series that's more mystery than romance, I've already read the second book Deadly Deceptions and I'm looking forward to the next one. A cool tidbit about the author, she gives scholarships for women seeking to improve their lives through education. For more info you can visit her website www.lindalaelmiller.com.