Is she restoring “this old house” or reimagining her future with the man she left behind?Man down.When “Diamond” Jim McCall gambles on a fixer-upper for sentimental reasons, his house of cards implodes – along with his health. Ruby’s ready for a job change but agreeing to become her first crush’s apprentice might be her biggest mistake. She doesn’t doubt they can “flip” the derelict ranch house … “flip” the derelict ranch house and save Summit Construction, but at what cost to her heart? After all, Boone Fielding became the son her father never had when she left for college.
Man up.
Helping Ruby McCall and her sisters flip Diamond Jim’s “money pit” makes sense financially, but he can’t partner with someone he doesn’t trust – and Boone hasn’t forgotten his last close encounter with Ruby. But every day on the job reminds him of why he fell in love with her in the first place.
How is he ever going to let her go when the job is done?
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I received this arc from Tule Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I found his book a very enjoyable read. I always love a second Chance romance when one of the main characters returns home. In this book it was after 12 years away. I also was pleased to return to a favorite town, Marietta, Montana. It was fun to see characters again from prior stories.
Ruby originally left town and also broke up with her steady boyfriend Boone, to go to college and never returned. His father had just died and he had to change his plans to work full time at her dads construction company instead of going to college. We learn that Boone just went into partnership with Jim, Ruby’s dad.
In the story, Ruby has just been fired and decides to return home to work with her father as an apprentice in his construction company. As she arrives to her parents house, she hears them talking and she greets them and tells them that she is now unemployed. Suddenly, her dad collapses and is rushed to the hospital. Ruby’s mom Rosemary handles all the accounting for the company and she has been reluctant to turn things over to Boone. Because of Jim’s health issues it looks like The apprenticeship will be under Boone. Ruby’s 2 sisters return home to help out. It is discovered that Jim bought a property to flip, only this house was where he was raise by his grumpy uncle. He has poured in more money to make this all happen and Boone decides they need to finish the project so it can be sold to recoup the money. Ruby agrees to work with him full time and her sisters help as they can.
As Ruby and Boone spend time together, their old feelings reappear. It is hard for Boone as he doesn’t trust Ruby after how she acted in the past. We see the two work together, resolving old hurts and building on a new relationship. There is also a lot of family dynamics between Ruby and her parents, the sisters and Boone and Jim. I can see this book is the start of a new exciting series about Marietta and the McCall family. I recommend this compelling story.
I really enjoyed these characters. Ruby has been trying to live the life she thought she should, but that path has ended for her now. Her return to the family business comes just as her father has to deal with his health issues. Ruby has to face her past in more ways than one, but she is very brave about it. She takes everything that comes and does the best she can with each challenge. I really liked her humor and honesty.
Boone is a genuinely nice guy. He is thoughtful and smart. I liked that he was never mean even though he has not always been fairly treated. He is still doing the right thing no matter what other people are doing.
There is a lot of humor in here. Boone and Ruby have great banter. I am looking forward to Jade and Amber’s books because they added several layers to this story. The sisters are very funny together.
I love Ms. Salonen’s books especially this new book series centered around flipping houses.Love the storyline with Ruby McCall and Boone and their second chance at romance.I can’t wait for Amber and Trey’s storyline Meet me in Montana next.
Debra Salonen is a favorite author of mine with Marietta being one of my all-time favorite fictional places to visit so I was thrilled to see Montana Blueprint for Love (Property Sisters Book 1) by her. I knew that the characters would be down to earth with a strong work ethic and strong family ties, which of course, Boone and Ruby are. This second chance for them twelve years later is all possible because of a house in dire need of repairs. Now is their time when at eighteen they may not have made it for the long haul.
Their parents are more complicated though. Diamond Jim and Rosemary are hardworking small business construction owners who also have a harsh side. Ruby’s parents make up a big part of the story line with Boone’s mother chiming in too. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about these three but did like Boone’s stepfather from the very first as well as Ruby’s sisters. As the story progressed, it was evident how these people came to be who they are but also how they grew into being better too. There’s hope right there, that we can all become kinder, more considerate and grateful as we age.
Wonderful story even with the quirky hasty event at the end. The way it was done fit Ruby to a T. Now I can wait for the next Property Sister to have her story. Then to also see how the reality TV show comes into play. Interesting, very interesting.
An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Montana Blueprint for Love by Debra Salonen
Is she restoring “this old house” or reimagining her future with the man she left behind?
Man down.
When “Diamond” Jim McCall gambles on a fixer-upper for sentimental reasons, his house of cards implodes – along with his health. Ruby’s ready for a job chang
Man up.
Helping Ruby McCall and her sisters flip Diamond Jim’s “money pit” makes sense financially, but he can’t partner with someone he doesn’t trust – and Boone hasn’t forgotten his last close encounter with Ruby. But every day on the job reminds him of why he fell in love with her in the first place.
How is he ever going to let her go when the job is done?
This is Ruby McCall and her sisters and Diamond Jim McCall’s story.
Ruby McCall checked the digital clock on the Prius dashboard: 10:07.
When was the last time I drove this road on a weekday morning?
She couldn’t remember. Ever since her first year of college at Montana State, she’d made routine visits home to Marietta—an hour or so drive away. But those visits had become less and less frequent after she’d landed a management position with Homestake Insurance, headquartered in Bozeman.
“Please let Dad be at work,” she murmured under her breath.
Known for his short temper and strong opinions, Diamond Jim McCall didn’t embrace change even the good kind with aplomb. Ruby had grown up using her mother as both a sounding board and an advocate for any decision Ruby made that might run contrary to Diamond Jim’s initial wishes.
“May in Montana is decided by the weatherman’s roulette wheel. Blizzard one week. Top down on the convertible the next,” her father liked to say.
I highly recommend reading.
Montana Blueprint for Love by Debra Salonen is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy.
Debra’s Books with Tule:
Montana Cowgirl
Big Marietta Fair
Big Sky Mavericks
Montana Cowboy
Big Sky Mavericks
Montana Darling
Big Sky Mavericks
Montana Maverick
Big Sky Mavericks
Her Hero to Love
Love, Montana
Her Rogue to Tame
Love, Montana
Montana Miracle
Big Sky Mavericks
Her Rebel to Kiss
Love, Montana
Montana Secret Santa
Love at the Chocolate Shop
Sweet Summer’s Kiss
Love at the Chocolate Shop
Montana Blueprint for Love
Property Sisters of Montana
Meet Me in Montana
Property Sisters of Montana
This is book one of Property Sisters series and a real nice start off to the series with this second chance romance. And might I say it is so easy to love a Debra Salonen book, some how they just steal their way right to your heartstrings and start playing them.
I was given an early reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Ruby and her two sisters have such different personality’s ,it just makes me want to get hold of the next book in the series, but alas I have to wait.
This is one of those books you don’t want to put down , much less have it come to an end.
The first book in a new series and I think it’s off to a good start. Montana Blueprint for Love introduces a lot of characters. And of course, we get a cameo here and there with some of our favorite Marietta citizens from past stories.
An aspect I would have appreciated additionally in this book was to have more interaction and dialogue with Ruby and Boone and a bit less with everyone else. Of course, I understand that first books are the ones that give us glimpses into the next books but I felt this book could have had a bit less of that. I’m being selfish I guess, because I wanted more of the H/h.
I loved watching Ruby and Boone try to navigate a relationship that wasn’t romantic despite their buried feelings for each other. They were careful and hesitant around each other. And at the same time, looked forward to when they worked together every day. Ruby’s father made some very poor choices and now Ruby, along with her sisters and Boone are having to literally and figuratively “fix” the mess he made.
The premise of the book was interesting. The way the H/h and Jim evolved as characters was engaging and believable. My favorite character in this book was Boone. He was kind, considerate, selfless and a gentleman. Without giving anything away, I will tell you that Boone had every reason to be angry and if he decided to walk away from Ruby and her family, I couldn’t blame him nor would I have thought less of him.
The chemistry between Ruby and Boone was a slow burn and didn’t ‘set fire’ until much later in the book. I actually enjoyed the slow pace of their relationship growing into something more. The pace made this story believable.
I have read this author several times before and always enjoyed her books. Ruby has two sisters who will have their stories told in the next books in which we were given glimpses into. That said, I know we will be seeing a lot more of Ruby and Boone and I am going to be looking out for those books which I know we won’t have to wait too long for. One of my favorite aspects about Tule Publishing is their ability to publish the next books in a series in a timeframe that won’t have you having to reread previous books to catch up. Most of my favorite series are published by Tule.
This is my honest and unbiased review. Thank you for taking the time to read it. 🙂
Simmering love from years prior rekindles to a flame for a perfectly matched couple.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This story was the perfect start for this new series . We are introduced to the McCall sisters. Three strong women, daughters of a construction company owner. Each left home to make a name for themselves.
When Ruby returns home, after being fired from her a job she really didn’t like, her father is very upset and ends up collapsing. This brings the daughters back to Montana banding together when they discover their father’s business is about to be in ruins due to an unknown flip of his.
Boone Fielding was Ruby’s first love . A boy she left behind and now is forced to deal with when she finds out that he is now half owner of the construction company.
But Ruby’s father’s secret investment is likely to cause the company to bankruptcy, before the ink is dry.
Aside from the romance, it’s a story about family dynamics. How the childhood and the past does in fact mold the individual as adults. Sometimes with dire consequences . Misunderstanding , and lack of communication making things worse.
Will having a second chance be possible or will the past the family loyalties hinder that outcome?
A well written story with complex characters perfect in their imperfections.
I am looking forward to more stories in the series.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Tule Publishing. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
I had the privilege of receiving an advance copy of Debra Salonen’s Montana Blueprint for Love. This story takes us back to the beloved town of Marietta, MT. Old friends reappear, and we are introduced to Ruby Jean McCall and Boone Fielding, two young people who share a romantic past, family medical crises, and controlling parents. Simultaneously, but separately, they both reach crossroads in their lives. Will they each find the support they need? Will they find that support individually or together? Will they both lean on her father, “Diamond” Jim McCall, or will the tables turn… will larger than life Jim McCall desperately need his oldest daughter Ruby, her sisters Jade and Amber, and his “adopted” son Boone Fielding? Add in Boone’s old motorcycle from his teenage years, Jim McCall’s grandmother’s Bible, an old family home that is being remodeled and sold, a lifetime of eclectic scrap iron sculptures, and enough angst and unconditional love to keep the heat simmering for Ruby and Boone. For my money, Boone Fielding rivals Flynn Bensen as a hard-working, good as gold male character. The type of man that Marietta is known for. Ruby Jean (Yes, the old Seals and Croft song is playing in my mind.) shares her father’s drive and bravery. When her mind is made up… she’s a force to reckon with. Being back in Marietta, at Big Z’s, felt like home. I can’t wait to read the other stories in this series! Enjoy!
This is the first book in a new series by Debra Salonen and if it’s any indication of what’s to come, I’m in. Two high school sweethearts set their forever plans and dreams aside when they each feel compelled to follow a different path after graduation. Years later they are thrown back together as they tackle the renovation of a dump of a house and learn to put the past where it belongs.
Too many subplots and inconsistent characters. Gave it a 3 star because its setting is Marietta, Montana.
It doesn’t dive deep enough. More Hallmark movie than book. Give me heat, give me angst. Crack their heads open and leave them bared to the world. If you aren’t going to show their emotions then get me in their heads. Don’t say they avoid emotions and keep going. Needs so much more show that it isn’t even funny.
ARC for honest review with no compensation received from Tule Publishing
Montana Blueprint for Love is book 1 in the new series Property Sisters by Debra Salonen an great start for this new series!
Ruby McCall comes back home, looking to get back her life and rediscover her passion for the family construction business and who does she see but her first love, Boone Fielding who is a partner in her family’s business. Can she repair their relationship, work on a flip house together and build a future for the business and with Boone?
Lots of characters and the beginning of the storylines for the future books in this series. Can’t wait to see where we go from here!
Sometimes you have to come home again to find yourself.
Normally when you hear construction, you think oh the guy is a construction worker or a builder. But not in this new series from the talented Debra Salonen. Ruby McCall has always done what her father asked of her including going to college and working in a job that she hates. A job that is making her literally ill. But she has decided to come home and work for her dad in the family business – home building.
When Ruby left for college, she left behind her high school boyfriend, Boone Fielding. Boone had planned to go to college with Ruby but things changed on the home front which meant he stayed behind. Boone stayed on and was working with Ruby’s dad. He had over time worked his way up and was in the process of becoming a full partner in the business. Boone has several ideas about making the homes they build and alter green homes. But he is also fighting a battle against “Diamond” Jim McCall who is very old school.
By the time Ruby arrives home, she finds out that her dad has changed. Diamond Jim has bought a house to flip that is not going to be an easy one to flip. Diamond Jim and this house have a lot of history. But the stress of trying to flip this house on the side and by himself leads to health issues for Diamond Jim which results in Ruby and her sisters working with Boone to accomplish this flip.
Ruby and Boone realize that they still have feelings for each other and need to find a new place for their adult relationship now among working out a business relationship.
The characters in this novel are wonderful and it is an easy read. It is an enjoyable read and is a wonderful curl up in your favorite reading spot read for a weekend read.
I am looking forward to the rest of this new series by Ms. Salonen.
I did receive a copy of this novel in advance from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.