Jake Holloway’s term as marshal in Bedford Creek, Montana is almost over, and he can’t wait for the day when he’s free to ride his horse and raise cattle on the homestead he abandoned when his wife died. He has decided never to remarry, but the unexpected arrival of his landlady’s sister is a foil to his peace of mind. She’s feisty, beautiful, and at times downright vexing. What’s worse, he can’t … can’t seem to stop thinking about her.
Adeline Aldrich moves to Bedford Creek to work in her sister’s boardinghouse and escape her mother’s incessant matchmaking. Enraptured by Montana’s wide skies and wild beauty, she has no intention of settling down or giving her inheritance to a man, no matter how often her sister hints she’s in danger of becoming a spinster. But when she impulsively buys a horse and asks surly, inscrutable Jake Holloway to teach her to ride, her attraction to him grows into something much stronger. Something which threatens to set her aflame with desire.
Neither is willing to give up their hard-earned freedom, nor admit the extent of their feelings, but when they are trapped by a blizzard and a grifter vows revenge against them over a slight, can they overcome their doubts and face danger and an uncertain future together?
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Adeline Aldrick was so done with her mother’s trying to get her married off that she left her Rhode Island home to live with her sister, Florence, in Montana. Her plan was to work in Florence’s boarding house and live life the way she wanted without anyone telling her what to do.
Jake Holloway is the town sheriff and doesn’t plan to ever marry again. Once was enough as it has left painful memories for him. The first time he meets Adeline he decides she is a spoiled, city girl and has no use for her at all.
I enjoyed this story as it is well written, flows smoothly, has great characters, which are fun and colorful, and is a very easy read. There is a part of this story that isn’t something I enjoy reading about and had I known it was a part of the story I probably wouldn’t have chosen it to read. However, that is my opinion and it doesn’t take away from the overall love story between Adeline and Jake.
I received an ARC from the author and Book Sirens for an honest review, which this is.
Loved this romantic tale of a small town during the time in our history when the West had as yet not become entirely civilized. We meet several of the residents with varying backgrounds who come to make the place a great place to settle down. Two such people come from a place of hurt and are unwilling to surrender what they perceive as independence. Dramatic circumstances abound that push and pull as their relationship. Loved the slow burn of love expressed by more than one couple. Definitely not your typical western romance!
I received an advance review copy for free and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
Burning Desires in the Montana Territory
A woman’s heart once broken is slow to mend. Such is the case with Adeline. She has mourned her dead fiance for six years, and she has rejected one offer of marriage after another. Which is why she left Rhode Island for the Montana territory. What happens next in her life is the plot of this western fiction.
There is so much to like about Montana Burning by L.S. Young:
I really liked all of the characters, even the villainous ones were believable.
I enjoy the story and the well described location.
There was just the right balance of angst verses sweetness.
The dialogue took center stage with a measured amount of internal turmoil.
The danger and required action were also believable.
What put me off was some of the sexual content, which was not really needed. It felt as if the author was undecided about including it, but still wanted to write it. Of course, other readers of this book will need to come to their own conclusions.
Content alert: This book is for mature readers who are not easily offended. In addition to some vulgarities, there are also some sexually intimate F/M and F/F scenes.
Disclosure: I received this book for free from BookSirens. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.