The Runaway Montana Bride

‘The Runaway Montana Bride‘ brings ‘The Starr Brothers of Montana‘ to a close (at least for now – I’ve learned to never say never where series are concerned). Although this series spans many years in the creation (and one title change), I’ve always enjoyed the Starr family, the tight bonds that hold them together no matter what happens in life, the friendships they have throughout their small home town, but especially how fiercely they love with total devotion… even when faced with obstacles along the way.

Garret was expecting an experienced outdoor hiker/journalist for the article about his tour company – what he got was as far from that ‘knows what the heck to do’ guy as you could possibly get. Truth is that Lilou didn’t expect to be heading to the country for her assignment, she’s more the luxury resort type. But then she also didn’t expect (although she shouldn’t have been surprised) the disrespect her beloved aunt received from her now former fiancé and his family. That was a lightbulb moment and Lilou wasn’t hanging around for excuses, she was done. But she also needed to get out of town as well – and that’s when the most unlikely assignment landed in her lap. When Garrett, Lilou, and Simba meet – that’s going to be classic… slapstick, anger, or love is still up for debate though.

I liked Lilou, yeah, she made a mistake in falling for James and his money, charm, and attitude but she’s seen the reality of what her future would have held and she got out. When the ‘resort’ turns out to be something far different, when her fancy shoes are traded for hiking boots that cause blisters, when the other off-grid hikers on this trip turn their noses up at the newbie, when her dog (who she wasn’t supposed to bring along) gets in trouble – when life happens, the good, the bad, the ugly – Lilou deals, and deals far better than most people would under the same circumstances.

Garrett just wanted to take his business to the next level through this article. He wasn’t planning on falling in love, especially not with a city girl who doesn’t have a clue how to survive out in the wilderness areas of Montana. But she gets under his skin, a bet might have started it all but they work well together and maybe, if they actually try they could forge a lifetime together – after all, opposites are supposed to attract, right?

I had fun with Garret, Lilou, and yes, Simba, too. If you’re in the mood for a really good love story, one that will make you smile, cringe, laugh, and maybe cry a bit – then ‘The Runaway Montana Bride’ should be on your radar.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Tule Publishing. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

I received this arc from Tule Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This is the final book in the Starr Brothers of Montana series. I ended up rereading the series so all the stories were fresh in my mind. I enjoyed finally reading Garrett’s story. He is an extremely likable character, as were all his brothers. I enjoyed brief mentions and appearances of all his family members in this book. The heroine is Lilou, a travel journalist from Manhattan, who focused on reviewing luxury resorts and fine dining through her Instagram presence. I was very fond of Lilou too, sympathizing with all she had been through and empathizing with her over the scary adventure she agrees to embark on. This was a page turner that I couldn’t put down.

At the start of the book, Lilou breaks up with her fiancé James right before the wedding. She realized James and his family are snobs when they try to leave her aunt that raised her out of the wedding party plans. Lilou contacts her boss, the editor, to request an immediate assignment to get away from James and the stresses of the cancelled wedding. She was supposed to cover her honeymoon for her sponsors and her followers on Instagram. She is told the only assignment is a wilderness trip to help advertise Garrett Starr’s new company. Her coworker who handled the extreme trips had injured himself and couldn’t go after all. Even though she is a city girl through and through, she volunteers to go on the trip and write about it.

Lilou arrives at the initial meeting at Garrett’s store with her tiny dog Simba to meet the other travelers. It is apparent she is not familiar with hiking, camping or the proper attire for such a trip. Garrett explains that her dog can’t go and offers to have his brother Cody’s family watch him for the 6 days.. They drop off Simba and she goes back to her hotel to get all her supplies in a backpack. During the first day, she develops blisters from new boots and reveals that she brought Simba along, much to Garrett’s misgivings as she feared he would escape from Cody’s ranch. She continues to take pictures and the next morning climbs to a higher spot to be able to post everything with her hashtags. She and Garrett make a bet about Instagram versus a print article having a greater impact.

A couple of the more advanced hikers are not too happy that an inexperienced person is along and worry she’ll spoil the trip. As they walk, she talks a lot with Garrett and there seems to be some spark of chemistry. After the second day, she wakes up and lets Simba out but falls back asleep and he doesn’t return. The group are worried so they divide in pairs to search for Simba. When they can’t find him, she has to acceptor and they move on. I was so nervous worrying about poor little Simba.

The book is suspenseful at times, especially on the trip, as well as a story of a group bonding together, becoming friends. Lilou shows a lot of character growth throughout the book. We deduce that she had become somewhat shallow in her relationship with James and his family. But after she realizes about them she takes action back to being a better person. Then during the trip we see her her pushing her boundaries and her fears. She realizes she can do things she was previously afraid of. She also learns that she likes the different activities, rather than just hanging around a luxury resort. Garrett also changes his ideas about the ideal woman and what he thinks of Lilou. I gave this 5 stars as I loved the book and the characters.

The Starr Brothers of Montana by Joan Kilby has been a series written over several years. The fourth book The Runaway Montana Bride is Garrett Starr’s story. He owns a Montana wilderness tour guide business. Since most of the book takes place on a hiking trek the setting is awesome. When I started reading I thought this may be like a younger Meg Ryan movie, sure enough it would be a great heartwarming movie. Hallmark or Lifetime need to be fighting for the rights.

Lilou Langdon couldn’t be anymore opposite then she is of a wilderness adventure girl. If not for her spunk I might have felt sorry for her. Instead I was cheering her determination right on with each new feat she conquered. Never in a million years would I have though of Simba as her sidekick but the story would not have been the same without him. You go, little big man! There are all kinds of ways to learn that “Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” It is great though to have a little loyal friend with you as you do.

The story stays focused on family, relationships, kindness, and finding out just who you are which is what Lilou did. Garrett was an added bonus as a true John Wayne type of character. The supporting characters, especially the other hikers were wonderful.

Honestly I thought like James, the egoistical jerk, that this might be a fluff. Maybe it is but it is also one of substance that made me smile many times while reading, especially at the end. Need a feel good book which we can all use during these difficult times then this is the one for you.

4.5 Stars Simba gets an extra .5 Stars just because.
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.

The Runaway Montana Bride by Joan Kilby
She promised she’d go anywhere…
When lifestyle “it” girl Lilou Langdon dumps her wealthy, snobby fiancé days before their highly-promoted society wedding, she can’t get out of Manhattan fast enough. Desperate to escape, she begs her magazine editor for the first assignment out of town. With her designer luggage and pup in a purse, Lilou—who specializes in covering luxury resorts and glamorous travel destinations—arrives in Montana for a six day trek into the wilderness.
Adventure tour owner Garrett Starr was expecting an experienced, off-grid journalist to cover his wilderness trek. Instead he gets Lilou, a city-slicker ‘princess’ who doesn’t know a crampon from a crouton. Worst of all, she brings along her lion-haired Pomeranian, Simba. Garrett dreamed that the article would boost his business to the next level, yet Lilou appears to be his worst nightmare.
But Lilou didn’t make a name for herself by giving up, and soon both she and Garrett realize they’re in for more than they bargained for.
This is Lilou Langdon and Garrett Starr’s story.
Manhattan The wedding dress was perfect, that wasn’t the problem. Lilou Langdon eyed her full-length reflection in the angled mirrors unhappily while the dressmaker made small adjustments with pins. The strapless ivory gown was classic and elegant, made from a crushproof fabric that could be rolled up in a suitcase.
Practical but glamorous enough for the Caribbean resort where she and James planned to marry and stay on for their honeymoon.
She’d been thrilled with the dress when she’d found it.
“Nothing that extreme,” Pete said. “The owner and tour operator, Garrett Starr, is the son of an old friend of mine. I promised I’d send a top journalist to do a feature on Garrett’s next adventure tour. I haven’t even had a chance yet to tell him that Zach can’t come.
Sweetheart, Montana Garrett Starr stood in the storage shed ticking off the hiking and camping items on his checklist. Tomorrow, he and five other experienced hikers, including Zach Wilkie, a renowned off-grid travel journalist, would head out on a six-day wilderness trek through rugged mountain country. Everything was organized and ready to go. His phone rang. “Hello?” “Garrett Starr?” a vaguely familiar male voice asked. “Pete here from Wander World
magazine.” “Hey, Pete, how are you doing?” Garrett glanced to the big blue sky above the snowy peaks of the Mission Range. “The weather is looking great for our hike. I haven’t heard from Zach yet.
The Runaway Montana Bride by Joan Kilby is a 5 star book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Joan’s Books with Tule:
The Secret Son
Starrs of Sweetheart, Montana
The Starr Brothers of Montana
A Baby for Christmas
The Starr Brothers of Montana
The Bull Rider’s Return
The 79th Copper Mountain Rodeo
The Starr Brothers of Montana
Long Lost Christmas
The Runaway Montana Bride
The Starr Brothers of Montana

I was given an advance reader’s copy of this book, book 4 of The Starr Brothers of Montana can be read as a stand alone.
When James and his mother treats Lilou’s Aunt May with disrespect she breaks her engagement to James and to get out of town fast she gets her boss to send her on the only writing assignment available and it happens to be a wilderness trek in Montana instead of one of her usual fancy writing gigs and this leads to a lot of the fun of the read .
Garrett Starr the leader of this hard trek with rock climbing and riding the white water rapids, is heart throb material and let’s just see what he can do to make Lilou into a outdoor girl who forgets her ex in no time, I won’t mention the bear hear but just say this is an enjoyable read.