Scars run deep.
There are some you can see and some you can’t.
Braden Carter has both.
His physical ones are easier to deal with than the ones that torture his mind.
He moved to Thickwood, Colorado, for one reason and one reason only.
To be alone.
Ophelia Jessup is a free spirit.
Her road to Thickwood has been a series of chances.
In her mind, life is hard. The only way to survive is to laugh … to laugh and love.
Some people call her stupid—a silly modern-day hippie.
Ophelia doesn’t mind. In fact, she embraces the nickname.
She’s never met anyone more in need of love than Braden Carter.
He warned her away. She ignored him.
He told her he couldn’t be fixed.
But Ophelia is determined. She’s going to heal Braden’s scars.
One kiss at a time.
more
Brayden is a firefighter that was involved is an horrific accident that left him scarred and emotionally broken, so he is a former firefighter I should say. This accident sent him high up on a mountain to live a live alone. He builds his new live away from the outside world and prying eyes.
Now Ophelia is a woman straight from a different time era. She is a wandering web designer who is a very free spirit. Camping out on the mountain with BOGO she is looking for an adventure only to come face to face with her greatest adventure yet.
Braden and Ophelia are complete opposites but they do say they attract. All he wants to do is live his life away from prying eyes especially after his accident. She is this happy person that always sees the good things in life. Something that he didn’t know he needed till she stumbled into his life with her pet pig. I laughed, I cried, I wanted to throw my Kindle, and it played like a movie. This book had me wanting to go search the mountains for my own mountain man.
I love Jordan Marie and have read everything from her. This book was no different. I love it when an author participates in a series like this because you get a taste of writing from each author. And it’s just enough to wet your whistle on each. These series usually can go one of two ways, all authors take it completely left and you get lost or bam its an amazing hit and they all come together.
This is a great read, it’s short, sweet and have lots of steam. I love how author Jordan Marie mix it up sometimes, she’s always surprising us with new books. Well done Author Jordan Marie, 5 stars
The 1st Thickwood, CO is Jenika Snow The Mountain Man’s Obsession, This is the second story by Jordan Marie with Braden Carter and Ophelia Jessup and her pet pig, that you don’t call or mention he a p. i. g…The character female is Ophelia is a modern day hippie with a free spirit person she came to the mountain and she meets Braden male character whom have a tragic past ,and a few scars that he (Braden) became a recluse mountain man keeping to himself. Then Braden meets, or should I say helped Ophelia ,and her sweet pet pig . This is a hot ,and steamy story. Very hot, funny, and exciting to read. I love this especially a scarred hero, sexy male and beautiful characters.
Love heals
Great story. Ophelia and Braden are perfect. Their story was funny, heart warming, sexy and romantic. These are characters I definitely would love to see more of. Recommended for sure.
A Sweet and “Awwww” Inducing Story of Love Overcoming Trauma…
When I first came across this series, I found it very similar in story landscape and feel to that of Jenika Snow’s “Bear Clan” books. And at first, I will admit I wasn’t fully convinced that a whole series of plain ol’ mountain men, no matter how gruff and grumbly, would be interesting enough to hold my attention. But then two things grabbed me out of my hesitation. One, each book in this series is written by a different author making each installment a unique take; and two, each is steeped in angst, such as overcoming some deep rooted odds, physical and/or emotional trauma, loss, etc..
This particular book, “Branded by the Mountain Man” by Jordan Marie, is the second installment in the series. It is the story of Braden, a former firefighter torn from his world by a horrific accident that left him scarred and emotionally broken. An accident that plunges him into a solitary world high on his mountain, where he builds a new life hidden far away from prying eyes. And Ophelia, a free spirited, wandering web designer, straight out of another era. Who, with her trusted companion Bogo, camps out high in the mountains of Thickwood looking for a bit of adventure on her way to Denver, but finds herself face-to-face with the closed off and grumpy mountain man instead.
What follows is actually a surprisingly sweet and “awww” inducing story of love overcoming trauma. A heartfelt and well plotted tale of a woman truly seeing a man for what he is, her soulmate, and not the scars on his body or mind. It is also a story that will see you absent mindedly rubbing your chest, and perhaps even shedding a tear or two, over the enormous pain buried deep inside Braden’s soul. A man lost to the world after events so devastating, he is unable to see past his own physical image. Instead hiding himself away like a long forgotten child’s toy.
Here Jordan Marie writes something poignant yet witty. Full of quick and sarcastic rich dialog that will have you cracking up with laughter. The chemistry she presents between Ophelia and Braden is palpable. The care and tenderness, the absolute emotional honesty she presents from each character, spell binding and irrevocably entrancing. It is also a quick and easy read that will have you sighing with girly joy by the end.
A highly enjoyable way to spend a couple of rainy afternoon hours (or any other hours).
Quick read – about hour. So more like a short story.
A growly, grumbly mountain man?
Yes PLEASE!
Braden was absolutely perfect, scars and all.
Ophelia was the quirkiest and sassiest heroine and put Braden in his place. I loved watching Braden’s hard outer shell slowly break off, revealing his swoony, soft and caring center.
And Bogo…he kinda stole the show sometimes.
This short and sweet and sexy read is exactly what I needed.
Opposites do attract! Braden is the loner by choice, scarred inside and out. A former fireman, injured on the job and retired. Enter Ophelia, a free spirt, modern day hippie. Must not for get to mention Bogo, her pet. They both have an attraction but Braden fights it because he can’t see beyond his scars. Ophelia doesn’t give up and yes they get a HEA! I definitely recommend this novella.
Braden wore a suit of angry armor to cover his scars on the inside and out. He hid from the world on his mountain. But one quirky little lady and her peculiar and precocious pet not only intercept his world but they turn it upside down. Ophelia definitely dances to a different drum but her loving and happy personality seem to seep into Braden’s body and brain. There’s no way he can deny this woman and the HEA he can give them both.
Branded By The Mountain Man
Branded By The Mountain Man is Jordan Marie’s addition to the Thickwood, CO Series, and it’s another hot little Jordan Marie novella…That pretty much says it all…She’s the queen…
Big, sexy, grouchy mountain man, Braden lives on the mountain, alone, intentionally…After the former firefighter’s accident left him scarred, both inside and out, he has, basically, become a recluse…until pretty, hippy dippy, free spirit, Ophelia drives her VW van onto his mountain…and turns his world upside down…
I loved this book, the couple, their story….everything….Braden and Ophelia are so different and so perfect together….And I gotta say, that book cover is hot!!! It was easy to imagine him as Braden…It’s a good book…
Talk about checking all my boxes in one novella! We have a quirky heroine and a scarred and lonely hero in Ophelia and Braden. Not to mention Ophelia’s crazy “dog” and the vintage VW bus she drives. Braden fights his feelings for Ophelia like a trout on a fishing line. Once he gives in though, he really goes all in. Ophelia is strong and sweet, she doesn’t take too much rude behavior from Braden. She knows her worth and Braden has to work for it a little bit. Another awesome story from the amazing Jordan Marie!
She finds more in Thickwood than she thought
Ophelia is travelling through Thickwood and stops to enjoy the mountain and all that that entails. She finally realises she’s lost and Bogo, her pet, is giving her looks of frustration when they run across a bonafide grouchy mountain man
Braden doesn’t like letting people in and has basically withdrawn from society apart from one friend Judd. He finds he’s more attracted to Ophelia than he likes even though she comes across as slightly cuckoo and a bit hippy
A great short story with a bit more BACON filling that expected
I really loved Ophelia, she is definitely quirky and had me giggling. Braden has hidden himself away after his accident and I loved his grumpy side when he meets her. It’s an internal struggle which kept me pulled in. It’s a great quick read, some light laughs, a little depth with dealing with his isolation and a perfect bit of spice. A must!
This is the 2nd in this fascinating series and is Brandon and Ophelia’s story. Brandon is grouchy and with scars which run deep, and when he finds free spirited Ophelia on his mountain, he has no choice but to take her to his home. This is a good story which is humorous, steamy and with witty banter which had me intrigued throughout. I cannot wait to read more int his series.
Shining through the clouds
The author really did a fantastic job with this book! She brought humor and sunshine into one man’s world of hurt and pain, making for a wonderful short read. I love that no matter the gruff exterior Ophelia was able to work her way under Braden’s skin and leave her mark. with unusual pets and a little bit of miscommunication the author, and the characters, really won my heart. This book is a fantastic addition to the collection and I can’t wait to see what the author brings my way next.