Gabe Wilde has never been more ready for a change. Thirty-three and in the midst of a divorce, he’s packed up his second-grade daughter and come home to Birch Bay, Montana. New house, new career, new life. Only, with changes come stress. His daughter is struggling with the transition to their new norm—and Gabe is out of ideas as to how to help.Erica Bird is mired in her own worries. After … After impulsively leaving the teaching job she loved, she may finally be free from her cheating ex, but separated from her family and everything she’s ever known, second guesses linger. Substitute teaching in Birch Bay is fine for the time being, but what will her future hold?
When Gabe’s daughter winds up in Erica’s class, the two meet—or rather, reunite. Neither has forgotten their college romance or the tender feelings they once shared, but will their complicated pasts destroy their second chance? Or will old desire lead to a new love when each needs it most?
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I like all Western Romance.
4.5 stars
After reading this story, it makes sense to me why the author waited to give us Gabe’s story. After reading the first book I was really rooting for him to get his HEA, so I was a bit surprised when the second book was Nick’s story. While all of these books are emotional and have some heavy subject matter and all deal with the Wilde siblings coming to terms with their terrible mother, this book and the first book really delve into the mom stuff on a deeper level. Having this story play out directly after Dani’s story in Montana Cherries may have been too heavy.
As I said in my review of Montana Rescue, you really should read this series as a whole instead of these books as standalone stories. There is so much that we learn as the series goes along in regards to the upbringing of the Wildes and the way it shaped who they are now. And honestly, you cannot comprehend the vileness of Gabe’s ex-wife without having read the other books. Just like, in this story, Erica didn’t quite get Gabe’s views on his ex. To be fair to Erica, Gabe is so messed up from his childhood and realizing he basically married a copy of his mom that he doesn’t really talk about these things with her until things come to a head.
Erica and Gabe had a relationship in college, but their breakup seems like it was amicable enough and they both went on to other relationships. Which makes it a bit of a surprise to both of them how much chemistry is still sparking between them. Neither of them feel they’re really in the right place in life to start a relationship, but since they had a friendship in the past they seem to easily fall back into sharing their days with each other.
The most heartbreaking and most difficult parts to read are about Jenna, Gabe’s daughter. That little girl brought me to tears more times than I could count. Erica was amazing with her, even when Gabe didn’t agree with her assessments. For his part, Gabe was in such a difficult position of giving his daughter love while setting boundaries. Jenna had been through so much and lost so much that Gabe had a hard time finding the line between being a pushover and giving Jenna what she needed.
Of course, this author likes to mess with me. Where I really thought the next story would be Cord’s, instead it will be Jaden’s. I guess Cord isn’t quite ready for his HEA. And let’s face it, other than Dani I’m sure he has the most messed up mommy issues he has to deal with. So maybe we need that break again.
I’m so glad I found this series and really need to find the time to read this author’s other books soon.
https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.com/2018/09/20/montana-mornings-book-review/
I love this series and was so happy to receive an advance copy to review. For generations the Wildes have owned a cherry orchard in Birch Bay Montana, but something went very wrong in the last generation (you can read my review of Montana Cherries). Their mother, a mother of 5 children, had Narcissistic Personality Disorder, which physiologically damaged each of her children. You can read about how Dani and Nick overcame their trauma in the previous books. This book centers on Gabe. We saw in the previous books that he had essentially married a woman, Michelle, who is just like his mother and the whole family is struggling to protect his daughter Jenna from her neglect. In an effort to save his marriage, he moved to California, but this marriage could not be saved. While in California he got a teaching degree and after finding his wife unfaithful and leaving their daughter alone so she could meet with her lover, he has filed for divorce, and now has come back with Jenna to Birch Bay.
Meanwhile, Erica Bird has also suffered through a bad marriage with an unfaithful husband, who had an affair with her best friend, who is now pregnant. He has basically spoiled her home town and beloved job for her, so she impulsively accepts a temporary job in Birch Bay. How does she know about Birch Bay? While in college, she dated Gabe, came home with him several times and they both thought they might be in love with each other- but “it was too easy”. So they broke up, she went back home to marry her home town boyfriend and he met Michelle.
Not only do they find themselves living across the street from each other, but Erica is Jenna’s teacher. It is a very bumpy road, but together they work to heal Jenna from her anger issues and rekindle their feelings for each other. But Michelle is not through with them yet ….
I received a free advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review. I highly recommend this series. Unlike some romance books, it actually has substance and not filled mostly with sex. I have never been west of the Mississippi, but the descriptions are so vivid that I can picture the location in my mind, as if I have been there.