Caught between friendship and falling in love… Amanda Harrison’s life is changing way too fast. Discovering that she’s really one of the Montana Blackwells was hard enough. Now Blake Collins–her best friend and the guy Amanda’s secretly in love with–is engaged to someone else. But Montana cowboy country has a way of claiming its own. And being a Blackwell means Amanda must learn how to … must learn how to fight for herself…and for the love she deserves.
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I…..LOVED…..THIS….BOOK!! Do you hear me? I LOVED it!! Montana Wishes has just become one of my absolute favorite Heartwarming books!!, and I’ve read A LOT of them. Amy Vastine knows how to write a sweet romance story. But this was even more than that. This book was full of surprises that were perfectly timed to provoke every emotion imaginable within me!! I was happy, sad, hopeful, mad, glad….it was like an emotional medley of feelings. If time had permitted, I could have read the entire book in one or two sittings. That’s how invested I was in the characters and their outcome, especially since I knew it would be a good one. Heartwarming books always result in a happily- ever-after. My imagination ran wild as I envisioned the various scenes—the road trip, the Blackwell ranch, the animals (including Amanda’s Irish Wolfhound, Clancy), the cowboys, the romantic tension, and finally, the unveiling of secrets…. it was creative and realistic and entertaining, and it made me want to jump on an airplane to Montana to meet each and every character. They’ll all be alive in my memory where I’ll be hoping to revisit them in the next Blackwell Sisters installment, Montana Dreams, by Anna J. Stewart.
I loved reading about Blake and Amanda. I thought they had chemirsty. Its a heartfelt and enjoyable to read. Its wonderful written. It has a good storyline. Its a page turner.
I read and and reviewed an Advanced Copy of this book All thoughts and opinions are of my own. Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Heartwarming for letting me ready this story.
One of my favorite tropes is best friends who fall in love, so I was definitely eager for this second book in the Blackwell sisters series. Blake and Amanda had me in their corner from the flashback opener to their childhood, and I cheered them on through the rest of the story. The author does a great job of making their friendship believable in every way Their friendship (romantic feelings notwithstanding) is the kind everyone wishes for, and it’s made that much more intense by the fact that they’ve each long been secretly in love with the other. Because, why would you want to ruin the perfect friendship with possibly unrequited romance?
Combine those repressed feelings with the fact that Amanda’s life has been upended in more ways than one lately… and you have a pressure cooker reaction waiting to happen. Blake is part clueless guy and part the-best-friend-ever, and you’ll be torn between hugging him (or just staring dreamily) and knocking some sense into him. I felt the same way about Amanda. Most of the time I just wanted to hug her but there were times when i wanted to shake her a bit and tell her to let in the people who love her. Blake included. Ok, especially Blake, because kisses fix a lot 😉 It’s also fun to watch these two California kids adjust to a Montana ranch, and the added antics of Amanda’s quirky Irish wolfhound were icing on the cake.
But after all this build-up of pressure and emotion and romantical tension, the ending was too abrupt for me. I wanted more after the declarations, after the pent-up feelings didn’t have to be pent up anymore. I would have loved at least one more chapter to explore that chemistry, that deep affection set on fire, between them once all was out in the open.
Bottom Line: Montana Wishes is a sweet story of family, friendships, and the love right in front of you. While I wished there had been more to the ending, I loved spending time with these characters and getting to know the Harrison/Blackwell sisters better. The author handled some painful issues for Amanda with much-appreciated grace & sensitivity, and she also did a marvelous job of continuing the story arcs begun in Montana Welcome by a different author. You will probably want to read book 1 first but it’s not absolutely necessary if you can’t.
(I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I bought for my own collection.)
Montana Wishes by Amy Vastine is another fantastic story with another Blackwell sister finding love. This family is wonderful.
Can Amanda keep her feelings for Blake to herself?
Amanda Harrison
Amanda Harrison is the identical twin sister to Lily, but she doesn’t want to know her new paternal family as her sister does. She is one of those who always needs a plan and doesn’t get how Lily isn’t worried about how the other Blackwells’ might feel about them. Not only that but she doesn’t want to get to know any of them. I feel for Amanda on these things since I wouldn’t know what to think if my whole life was turned upside down like hers.
Blake Collins
Blake Collins has been friends with Amanda since they were thirteen and doesn’t want to let go of their friendship either. He is the epitome of the Southern California lifestyle. Blake is a surfer, loves the ocean, and he even owns a business with Amanda in San Diego. These two friends have wanted to do so many things together but maybe Blake knows that Amanda is hiding something from him that might change that. Blake is a good guy, even if he is sometimes an airhead about things that concern Amanda and her feelings.
Five Stars
Montana Wishes by Amy Vastine is the second book in this fantastic series that these five amazing authors have brought back. Amanda Harrison and Blake Collins are so sweet, and I loved reading this story. Ms. Vastine has a way of sucking you into a story and making sure that you don’t pop back out until the ending of it. So because of that, I am giving this book five stars and a huge recommendation.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Montana Wishes by Amy Vastine.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
Amanda Harrison and Blake Collins have been best friends—probably since he helped her rescue kittens. Amanda has had a secret crush on Blake for just as long. The one time they were tempted to cross the friends to more line, they decided they’d rather remain friends as they didn’t want to risk their friendship. Now Blake is engaged to marry a woman Amanda doesn’t particularly like. She knows their relationship will likely change as Blake’s fiancé will now be his “go-to” girl. Amanda also recently found out there is no cure for her fertility issues. She’s devastated as she always thought she’d have a big family. Amanda KNOWS Blake wants a big family as he was an only child. Since Amanda can’t give him what he truly desires, she vows to try and be friends with his fiancé. When Lily, Amanda’s sister, decides to marry an almost stranger and move permanently to the Blackwell Ranch in Montana, Amanda knows she has to convince Lily to return to San Diego. Amanda doesn’t like the fact that she’s a Blackwell (according to DNA) and can’t believe Lily could be so accepting of her newly found family. On the premise of checking out the ranch for his wedding, Blake goes on a road trip with Amanda with hopes of convincing Lily to return home and find out the secret Amanda is hiding from him.
This is the second in the Blackwell Sisters series. So far, it’s interesting to see how each sister accepts the Blackwell’s as an addition to their family. There is an underlying story woven into each sister’s story, so I recommend starting this series from the beginning. Amanda’s life is a total mess, but once she arrives to the Ranch and sees how in love her sister is and how welcoming the Blackwell’s are, she starts to have a change of heart. It’s a story of secrets and how devastating they can be once revealed. It also tackles real life issues, such as infertility. I actually LOVED that there was no easy fix to her infertility, but there were options. Great friends to more story. I read a gifted copy and all opinions stated are my own.
I loved Montana Wishes by Amy Vastine! It is the second book in The Blackwell Sisters series and definitely worth reading if you love contemporary clean romances set in small towns revolving around family.
Blake Collins has loved Amanda Harrison most of his life, but a few months ago after he kissed her Amanda put him in the friend zone and makes it absolutely clear that their relationship will never be more than that.
When Blake gets engaged and Amanda’s sister moves away Amanda realizes that her feelings matter and that includes her feelings for Blake that she has kept hidden for years.
I’m looking forward to reading more books in this wonderful series!
I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.
This is the very first book I have read by this author. This was well written and the characters went fabulous together. I love the way this romance was written you never knew what was going to happen. Lily and Amanda Harrison had me feel like I was right with them all the was through the whole book. I wanted to help protect them from everything that came there way. These characters fit great as sisters.
Blake Collins I loved the way he was with the girls he seem to protect both of them. But Amanda he did it in a different way. I did think that him and the friendship and partnership with Amanda was a little hard on him because of feelings for Amanda.
This made me feeling happy and sad. I was crying and laughing .
I am glad that I got to read a good Cowboy Romance.
Amy did a Fabulous job with this book I will be looking to read more of your books because I love this book very much!
Amanda hold so much in that your heart breaks with what she feels she can’t tell anyone, not her family and not Blake her best friend since forever. She goes to Montana to free her sister Lily from the Blackwell clutches and bring her home but instead finds out what family really means and that Blake isn’t just her friend and she needs to decide whether to act on finally coming clean to how she feels or lose him forever. But there is more heartbreak for her that she has been keeping secret from everyone which just makes you want to bundle her up in a big hug while shaking both her and Blake wishing to rattle sense into them before they both make big mistakes. You may not like Big E at times boy is he a smart man just knowing when people need a nudge in the right direction!!
Amanda is struggling with her twin leaving her behind when she ran away from her wedding and met her true cowboy at the Blackwell ranch. Blake is the best friend Amanda has ever had, but he announces he is getting married and it’s not to Amanda. The two go on a trip to “save” her sister and bring her home from Montana the these strangers called the Blackwells. This is a Blackwells story so you can imagine the fun that ensues. Read the ups and downs of this story and the family. Feel the emotions at play as Amanda is dealing with a devastating diagnosis that she must deal with and she thinks she had to deal with on her own. Watch the confusion on Blake as he tries to determine what is the right thing to do.
I have to say this book was hands down a tough book emotionally for me to read, and I just could not put it down. If any women has ever struggled with infertile you can relate to Amanda for sure. This author held nothing back and didn’t even try and sugar coat Amanda’s struggles. Blake was the biggest goofball it seemed but he also had a heart of gold. He wanted what he wanted and would stop at nothing to get it, well until a wrench was thrown in and then he starts to question a ton. I love these sisters and I love how the Blackwells welcome them into the family. I will be honest there was one part in the book where I wanted to smack Ben but you need to read to find out why. I also loved catching up with Connor and Lily from Montana Welcome. I can not wait to read more about these 5 sisters in the coming books. This book is a good clean read and was well worth it…. ps grab some tissues you will need them. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Amanda Harrison’s life is falling apart. She needs her best friend more than ever. Blake Collins has just gotten engaged. He’s planning to marry and start the family that he’s always wanted but he does want to loose his best friend, Amanda. However, she knows that she can’t give him what he desires most. However, she decides to keep her problem a secret. I asked myself why Amanda wouldn’t trust those she love to support her. I could see that Amanda and Blake loved each other, but we’re afraid to open up. I wanted them to tell each other what was in their heart. I was drawn to this couple. They deserved to be happy. This story made me realize the importance of communication. Amy Vastine wrote a romantic story that had both heartbreak and hope. I’m enjoying seeing how The Blackwell Sisters deal with their new family and the changes in their lives.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed.
I love the Blackwell Sisters romances. Montana Wishes is Amanda and Blake’s story of their road trip to and time in Montana to help Amanda’s sister Lily with her wedding. Blake had just proposed to Nadia but agrees to take Amanda, his best friend, to Montana. I think you can see where this story is headed! However, it is the writing that makes this book such a fun read. The characters are awesome. Amanda’s determination to fight the discovery of her Blackwell relatives as she falls in love with the ranch and learns to fight for what she wants kept me reading far into the night. I am now eagerly awaiting the next book!
I adored this book! The characters were witty, fun and engaging.
I really enjoyed Amanda’s story. My favorite trope is best friends to lovers so I was already invested in her and Blake becoming more than best buds. There are shades of a few popular rom-com movies in the plot, so the reader will definitely recognize those elements, but I wouldn’t call this book a romcom itself. Amanda and Blake have each been hiding their true feelings from each other after a failed reveal on Blake’s part. Amanda thinks she being noble and selfless in not sharing her feelings with Blake, which I understand, but I’m not going to say it’s not frustrating from a readers point of view. It’s definitely a slow moving story, but well written, which kept me interested.
A few takeaways…if you haven’t read the previous book, Montana Welcome, you can read this book alone, but you might be missing some nuances as to why Amanda is so protective of Lily and how the family secret was revealed. Also, we’re introduced (or reintroduced) to the Blackwell Brothers. Again, not necessary that you read those, but you will meet many from that branch of the family.
A trigger warning, to those affected by endometriosis or infertility. These subjects are dealt with in this book, so please be aware if this is a sensitive area for you.
This might be my favorite story among all of the Blackwell Series books, so far (including the previous Return of the Blackwell Brothers Series.) At the very least, it competes for the top spot with the first book in the previous series.
I really enjoyed the story arc and the main characters in this second book of the series. Their friendship and interactions felt authentic. I know some readers want to think that love supersedes the kind of internal conflict that Amanda experienced, as well as Blake’s acceptance of a marriage to someone else, but I found it highly plausible and also very sad. How they find their way to an intimate relationship with each other was going to be anything but clean and the author handled it well. I also enjoyed how the author seamlessly included various characters from previous books. Their appearances felt warranted and not just for the sake of a cameo. Overall, a strong and well-written addition to the series.
Montana Wishes is an engaging, easy, relaxing read that I read in an evening. It had the feel good vibe I was looking for, and of course, a HEA.
Montana Wishes is Amanda’s (Harrison’s) and Blake’s story. It’s a well-written Friends-to-more story which isn’t usually my favorite genre, but I really became invested in their relationship. I love series where previous storylines are continued, and I enjoyed revisiting Lily.
Montana Wishes is book 2 in the new Blackwell Sisters series, and can be read as a stand-alone, but I suggest you start with book 1, Montana Welcome. I’m thoroughly enjoying this heartwarming, emotional series, and highly recommend it. I’m looking forward to book 3!
True love will find a way! With the second book in the Blackwell Sisters series Amy Vastine brings the epitome of a friends to lovers story to life in MONTANA WISHES and I could not have loved it more! The characters had me from hello, the setting was gorgeous and the love they secretly felt for each other was breathtaking to watch blossom. I’m looking forward to the next sister’s story!
Amanda Harrison prides herself on being calm and collected no matter the situation, but learning that her twin sis is moving to Montana at the same time she learns the best friend she’s been secretly in love with for years is engaged to someone else just might be her downfall!
Blake Collins is an endearing guy … just a bit short-sighted to what’s been right in front of his face for so many years.
I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who loves a family filled story of strife, close knit connections and so much love and support you don’t know what to do with it all.
A sweet and heartwarming story. It has all the feels you want in a story. It has characters you will love and a storyline that you will enjoy. A great addition to the series.
While Montana Wishes can be read as a stand alone, it will mean so much more if the reader has also read book one in the series, Montana Welcome by Melinda Curtis. Book one sets the stage for this book.
It was clear to me that these two main characters were in love with each other, even though they kept themselves in the friend zone. Neither one wanted to lose the friendship of the other one.
However, both Blake and Amanda battled their own heartache and confusion in different ways and for different reasons throughout the story. I felt for both of them and was happy when a necessary conversation happened between the two of them. Having that conversation was the catalyst to actually working things out for them. The ending felt very abrupt to me. I would have enjoyed getting to read about Amanda and Blake growing from friends to more for at least a chapter or two before the rest of the story was tied up. I’m hoping to see more of them in future books.
(4.5 stars)
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Montana Wishes: A Clean Romance by Amy Vastine is book 2 of The Blackwell Sisters which is a multi author series. Amanda Harrison feels like she is losing everyone. Her mother dies, her sister is moving to Montana at to what maybe their biological dad’s family, her dad that raised her and her best friend is getting married. Did I mention the best friend’s girl does not like Amanda. Amanda and her best friend, Blake own a pet business together . they travel to Montana after closing Amanda’s sister’s place and packing her things . They also take her car and Amanda’s dog. Amy Vastine does a wonderful job of making you feel like you are there. The characters are well developed . Amy Vastine pays attention to detail so you understand what is going on in Amanda’s head. I enjoyed the journey for Amanda and her best friend. the books are fine as stand alone but you will enjoy it more if you read the series in order. I am enjoying this series.