Montana Untamed

Bear Grass Springs #1

by Ramona Flightner

An independent baker. A skittish horse tamer. Can they tame their fears and allow love to flourish?

Annabelle Evans arrives in Bear Grass Springs, Montana Territory, in 1884 hoping to reunite with her long-estranged sister. Expecting to attend her sister’s wedding to Cailean MacKinnon, she is shocked at Cailean’s pronouncement. With his “I’m not marrying a whore” echoing in the General Store, Annabelle discovers that her hoped-for reconciliation will not be as she had imagined. Not one to retreat from a challenge, Annabelle opens her own business, intent on remaining near her sister to repair their damaged relationship and succeeding without the support of a husband.

Cailean Mackinnon swore off marriage twelve years ago when he fled the Isle of Skye in Scotland. A successful livery owner, he is determined to focus on his work and his siblings, adamant that he has no room in his life for love. However, he cannot suppress his fascination for the resourceful and determined Annabelle who, in turn, cannot avoid a reluctant admiration for the strong, virile, loyal Scot. A fateful kiss witnessed by the gossiping town busybody forces their mutual attraction into the open.

Annabelle’s independent spirit precludes a man in her life, and Cailean’s closed-off heart refuses to allow any woman in. Yet love can be tenacious and timeless, overcoming fears, if only Annabelle and Cailean both choose to take a risk.

Montana Untamed is a full length, historical western romance novel, with NO cliffhanger ending.

Genres: Romance, Historical, Historical Romance, Westerns, Historical Fiction, Ebooks, Western Romance

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 7, 2018

About the author

Ramona is a historical romance author who loves to immerse herself in research as much as she loves writing. A native of Montana, every day she marvels that she gets to live in such a beautiful place. When she’s not writing, her favorite pastimes are fly fishing the cool clear streams of a Montana river, hiking in the mountains, and spending time with family and friends.

Ramona’s heroines are strong, resilient women, the type of women you’d love to have as your best friend. Her heroes are loyal and honorable, the type of men you’d love to meet or bring home to introduce to your family for Sunday dinner. She hopes her stories bring the past alive and allow you to forget the outside world for a while.


Connect with Ramona: her webpage: www.ramonaflightner.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorramonaflightner; on pinterest: www.pinterest.com/Ramonaauthor or on twitter: @ramonaflightner. She loves to hear from fans!

Reviews

[Mei · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice story about tortured hero and a strong woman! I love strong woman, so I liked it! :)

Cailean lost his wife and child a long time ago, but cannot let their goest rest.

Annabelle is looking for her sister, but when she finds her she's shocked to discover that her sister is the town prostitute!

So their roads cross because of her sister's lie that she's to be wed with Cailean... Obviously he's not happy to find that out!

Their story is intertwined with the small town malvolent gossip, but also some nice friendships that Annabelle acquires.

I was really angry with Cailean when he abandoned Annabelle when she told him she was pregnant! How could he shout such venom at her??!!! That was so not hero material!!!

The best part was his brothers. They were so accepting of Annabelle and their half sister. Really positive figures who tried to help both Annabelle to forgive Cailean and Cailean to let go of his goasts and win Annabelle back!

All in all a nice wester romance!

[ᑭᑌᑎƳᗩ [Punya Reviews...] · Rating 4 out of 5]

My reviews are honest & they contain spoilers. For more, visit:


Montana Untamed is the first book in Ramona Flightner’s new historical romance series, Bear Grass Springs. I’m always excited to read a new release from her, and this new installment wasn’t any different. I wasn’t surprised to find a great setting and lovely characters, even with some hiccups that frustrated me equally till the end.

I’m a huge fan of Ramona’s Banished Saga series. It’s still ongoing but already has around 8 installments. While reading, I felt that Bear Grass Springs is (or will be) different than Banished Saga. In the Saga, H and h don’t get their HEA in the same book they’re featured it. TBH, Banished Saga has no specific H and h because it revolves around quite a few families; where we met quite a few couples and their ever evolving relationship over the years with new generations welcoming new era. It has always reminded me of Downton Abbey. I read some complaints about the earlier installments where people weren’t too happy not seeing any HEA. Bear Grass Springs is more traditional in that sense because it does mainly focus on one couple and their HEA. I think traditional Romance readers will not be disappointed on that regard.

Set in 1884, the story opens up when we find Annabelle, who moved from Maine in search of her long lost elder sister Fidelia, has just arrived in Bear Grass Springs Montana. Fidelia left home years ago after a spat with their uptight father. Known as the beauty between the sisters, Fidelia had a beau and ran away with him. Annabelle, who is quire reserved and not counted as the beauty with her plump figure, has silently been in support of their father. Even then, she working and making a name as the best baker in her town. The background, throughout the story, was a bit vague since it’s mostly revealed from the sparse mention between Fidelia and Annabelle. All I could garner that after their father died, Annabelle finally felt free enough to search for Fedelia whom he’d much abandoned to her fate. Annabelle has had enough time to ponder and regret her decision. She wanted to make amends badly. A while ago Fidelia had written that she married, or was going to marry, someone in Bear Grass Springs. Annabelle didn’t have a whole lot of info but still, decided to leave her hometown permanently so she could come live with Fidelia. She did however know the name person Fidelia was going to marry.

The day she arrived, Annabelle became the butt of a cruel joke when she discovered a bitter truth. The man who is supposed to be married to, or at the least engaged to Fidelia, the town livery owner Cailean MacKinnon straight-out denies any relationship with Fidelia. On further investigation, Annabelle found that Fidelia has never been engaged to anyone since her beau Aaron died some years ago. A woman without anyone to help her, she’d turn to the oldest most profession out there to survive; prostitution. Now she works at the only bordello of the town and with her beauty, she’s rather known among the folks here. A distraught Annabelle tries to figure out what to do since she broke all ties with her past in hopes of settling down where her sister was. She even tries to see Fidelia, whose contempt towards her sister was very palpable. Since Annabelle withheld any support in the past, Fidelia blamed her quite a bit for her own ordeal. She also refuses any help or any plea from Annabelle to leave her current profession completely shutting her out.

In the meantime, Annabelle had to think of a way to survive too. She came here to settle down and no one is budging her from it. Not until she could figure out how to convince Fidelia to leave with her. But the money she brought will not last long if she isn’t earning any. To make a living, Annabelle turned to the only skill she was a master at; baking. With the convenient lack of a good baker in town, Annabelle soon finds a way to support herself by setting up a shop. And her bakery is a hit almost from the get go, the deprived townspeople swarming in for a taste of her baked goods. As demands for her delicious goods grew, Annabelle soon had enough on her plate. But her sister was never far from her mind. How can she make Fidelia believe that her that this is not the end of her life; that there’s salvation for her if she’d only let Annabelle help?

While trying to sort her life out, Annabelle meets new people and begins making friends, maybe a few enemies too along the way because of her ties to Fidelia. However she was only able to develop a love-hate relationship with Cailean because of their initial standoff the day she arrived, that was also because of Fidelia. She also makes acquaintance with Cailean’s younger brothers Alistair and Ewan, who seemed to be lot nicer than their eldest brother. Alistair was serous but he didn’t take life as seriously as Cailean did, neither was he grumpy all the time. And Ewan, being the youngest brother, was the most carefree one. Also the family joker. :D Yet despite their ambivalent feelings towards each-other, Annabelle and Cailean were aware of a spark of attraction whenever they met that simply couldn’t be denied.

I found Cailean’s background to be rather vague as well. Maybe more will be revealed about him and Annabelle as we read more books in the series. It seemed that Cailean’s family was forced to leave their home in Scotland in search of a new life. First he and Alistair left after their father died, settling in the new territory of Bear Grass Springs. Soon, Ewan joined them too. Their only sister, the youngest Sorcha remained with their mother until her death a few months ago. Since then Sorcha had also travelled to be with her brothers, though she’s quite unhappy about her new life and abode. She’s a terrible cook and the brothers were desperately looking for help in that department; without offending their little sister’s feelings of course. :P After experiencing the bliss, that is Annabelle’s cooking and baking, all the brothers—well I won’t count Cailean who was more of a grumpy bear— Alistair and Ewan convince Annabelle to come and give Sorcha some lesson. To say that the first meeting between the girls didn’t go well would be an understatement. Sorcha, young and foolish, was too rash to judge Annabelle in the lines of ‘a whore’s sister who must be of the same nature’. She’s rude to Annabelle to a point that she leaves the first day without any lesson at all. But after a scolding and apologies from Alistair, Annabelle soon returns to give Sorcha some tips and tricks in cooking and baking.

While all these were going on, one day something unthinkable happens. It seems fate had other plans for Annabelle and Cailean who had no intentions of marrying anyone, let alone each-other. Cailean, because he was married once and lost his wife to childbirth. He deemed her his one true love and the experience of losing her to such a tragedy left him terrified. He promised never to go through it ever again. On the other hand, we can only imagine why Annabelle didn’t want anything to do with men. She was not fond of her father, and witnessing her sister’s ordeal, she felt it’s better to be independent and be the master of her own destiny. She’s already earning good and someday she may even be able to buy a house of her own and retire. What if she feels the stirring of that something for a cranky livery owner? It’ll have to stay where it is now. If only life was always that easily planned. So, on a nice day full of dance and celebration, one thing led to another and they found themselves kissing each-other’s faces off, only to be caught by the town’s biggest gossip; a mean widow whom everybody liked avoiding much as possible. After that Annabelle had no other choice to save whatever was left of her reputation. She didn’t agree to Cailean’s rather ho-hum proposal at first. However, after a few kisses it seemed that practical minded Annabelle couldn’t think of anything else either.

Soon after they marry though, things started going downhill. A few weeks passed by in bliss but then, it was becoming painfully obvious that Annabelle and Cailean married too early, too soon. That they didn’t really know each-other all that well. The misunderstandings between them were growing, with each not wanting to communicate with the other properly. The first part of the ‘big mis’ was Cailean’s doing. When Annabelle, with much joy and hopes of finally having her own family, announced her pregnancy, Cailean seemed to fall back into that enormous black-hole of fear and despair that consumed him after Maggie’s death. Old memories rushed back and he found himself ignoring Annabelle, and equally cursing himself for letting it happen again. Annabelle was at first hurt, then shocked, then in despair... finally angry enough to leave him to return to her small room inside the bakery. Moreover, in a feat of rage, Cailean may have been an a$$ by saying something in the lines of Annabelle never being able to measure up to, let alone replace, ‘his Maggie’. Or whatever he said, Annabelle interpreted it that way. Talk about me shaking my head and being frustrated about the whole thing! What a mess!!

The next part was Annabelle’s own stubbornness. When after months of neglect to herself, she loses the baby, she starts blaming Cailean for every bad thing that happened to her so far. From a routined life where she was settling down well, now her life has turned upside down. She had no peace of mind, let alone any happiness and TBH, I could see where it was coming from. I couldn’t blame her when FINALLY Cailean came to his senses and tries to convince her to return to him and she outright refuses. Kept refusing him over and over again. By then I thought that the poor guy has had enough of his own medicine. Sigh. After all, he had apologized and tried to show her he cared, despite his callous behavior.

Let’s just say that for a good bit in the middle of the story until the last chapters, our H and h weren’t happy. They were miserable and so was I. I wish that wasn’t the case, that they knew each-other to some extent before getting married. There were times when it felt like they weren’t really meant for one another; Annabelle a bit too awkward and stilted where men were concerned and Cailean a bit too hot-headed to curb his big mouth. There were times I had wished it wasn’t a clean romance because there were precious few moments where I felt any chemistry between them. TBH they were more apart than together.

Saying all that, I know this is just the beginning of a new series. I met some amazing characters like Cailean’s brothers Alistair and Ewan, Alistair’s fiancée Leticia too. They will have their story in book 2, Montana Grit. I’m also eagerly waiting for Ewan and Fidelia’s stories. Sorcha too! I You will meet some great secondary characters as well. The storytelling was light in most part, even if the whole story wasn’t exactly light-hearted because of the ongoing issues in Annabelle and Cailean’s fragile relationship. Even though they finally conquered their personal fears and understood that they’re way happier together than apart, frankly I’m still in doubt of them ever having a stable relationship.

But don’t let my review be in the way of your enjoying the story. I just had to mention what was bugging me in the story but that may not be the case for you at all. Apart from that, I loved the setting, the overall vibe of a growing town of the Wild West era. Enjoyed knowing the people in it, good or bad. Ramona has an easy way of promenading you through their day to day lives, as you’ll not only find in this new series, but also in Banished Saga which I recommend wholeheartedly. 4 stars for Montana Untamed, and I hope to read more in this series soon.

Review copy received from the author, thanks Ramona. x

[Dorine]

DNF - not my kind of story so I didn't get far enough into it to rate.

[Delta]

DNF’d in Chapter 2 and skim-read some more to see if it continued to be weird. The writing is a bit off.

The author seems to love the word glare. Everyone glares, glared, or is glaring at one another—even when not angry. Here is one example from chapter 1 in which the heroine, Annabelle, sees her room at the comfortable and tastefully decorated motel in a moment when she doesn’t seem to be angry (except for the glaring).

“After she shut herself inside her rented room, she removed her coat and hat, setting them on the chair in the corner of her small room. The sole window looked out over the neighboring rooftops, and she glared at her view of the Boudoir. She washed her face in the clean water from the ewer on the bureau and then collapsed on the comfortable bed.”

I used the search feature in iBooks and counted approximately 100 times the author used a form of “glare” in the story. Although some of the prose is very smooth, there is an underlying choppiness in which settings change quickly without much description, or the word choice just isn’t quite right.

Annabelle’s sensibilities and expectations are not consistent with the 1884 setting. In Chapter 8, she indicates that she hopes her sister, who is well known as a whore working in the town bawdy house, will “change her profession” so that they can have dinner at one-another’s houses—as though changing to a different job would be all that was needed to make her respectable again and able to have relationships with town folk outside of the bawdy house and saloon crowd.

By the time I reached Chapter 2, I still could not connect with Annabelle and the weird feel of the book, so that was the stopping point for me.

This is a free read that is not worth your time.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always a sucker for tales of hardships and love before the 1900's.

This book took me through laughs, content, anger, and grief as I read through the life of Annabelle, Fidelia, and the MacKennon family. In their little own of Bear Grass Springs-over the course of a year so much comes to surface and show its colors between the two families coming to terms and marrying into the other.

I couldn't possibly going a spell without at least reading a chapter of this book on my phone when I had a break from work or other duties. If someone asked me about what book I would suggest that involved family, romance, and the ability to make the reader feel involved. This book would be at the top of the list.

The greatest thing about this book is that it is not heavy with romance. Many novels that inquire about the latest acts between wife and husband or even the occasional mistress- would focus all its engird on the romance and fantasy. This book was nothing like that. That is why I give this book a 5 star rating.

[Kathy Brickert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good story!

Wow, lots of highs and lows in this one but always with hope! I over this story and look forward to more in the series! Good read!

[Diane Horne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Montana Untamed (Book One) By Ramona Flightner

Four stars, this book was really good, good old-fashioned romance with a touch of drama...All the characters connected to something whether it was emotional or through just knowing each other...Cannot wait to read book two.

[Susannah Carleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story about love and family with, unfortunately, a big misunderstanding that takes too long to resolve.

The characters, both main and secondary, are intriguing, and the main characters are well-drawn.

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Musings

This is a lovely story with engaging characters and an emotionally charged plot. There is a lot of obstacles to the hero and heroine "s happy ending.Happy ☺reading 📚!

[Cissie Breland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

I love the way the characters are passionate about everything. This is in their devotion to family, work ethic, and forgiveness.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A historical western romance, “Montana Untamed” is a beautiful stand-alone tale about love and seeking trust and redemption.

Read full review in the 2018 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Denise Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

Was a clean book. Very interesting and loved the characters. Would recommend to anyone if you want a book to keep you glued.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is dramatic, entertaining and engrossing. Cailean is untrusting, stubborn, dedicated and caring. Annabelle is naive, strong, independent and sweet. All of the characters are intense in their beliefs, but these two are the most adamant. When Cailean hears that she came to town for a wedding between him and her sister, he's livid with her. Because he is not engaged to anyone, let alone her sister. And he never will be. Until he decides to kiss Annabelle after a social gathering, and they get caught. They find themselves attracted to each other, however it's anything but smooth sailing for them. She's only wants to be free and not dependent upon a man. He only wants a casual relationship, meaning his heart is not involved. The storyline is exciting and unpredictable, it grabs your attention from the beginning, and keeps it page after page.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Hidden Gems. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annabelle Evans, a single young woman travels to Bear Grass Springs, Montana in search of her sister and finds an unexpected and unpleasant surprise. Her sister is not a respectable married woman but one of the girls working at the Boudier, which puts Annabelle's acceptance into the community at risk in Montana Untamed of the 1880's.

Cailean MacKinnon is the oldest brother of the MacKinnon family and not her sister's intended, as Annabelle thinks. This starts an confrontational relationship between Annabelle and Cailean that develops with the emotional ups and downs to make it a very interesting plot. I love strong female main characters and handsome male partners with morals and hiding a gentle side for the right woman.

[Dustyloup · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the progressive feminist twist to the characters, even if it's a but unbelievable for the time.

[llamallamacallurmama · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Most of my reviews contain detailed Content Notes (including CW/TW) sections, which may include spoilers. I have tried to mark them appropriately, but please use caution.**

2.75

Ebook

Summary: Arriving in town in search of her sister, Annabelle is shocked that said sister is a sex worker, and not about to marry Cailean MacKinnon (random highlander in Montana). He takes offense that Annabelle would think he was going to marry her sister. Somehow, they end up getting caught kissing and forced to marry.

Stats: HR, M/F, open door, part of a series but stands alone.

Notes: There’s definitely some over-perfection of the FMC here, and martyrdom over the sex worker sister. There are also two instances of DV between the MCs (FMC on MMC) which aren't handled at all. The MMC and his family don’t make tremendous sense (they’re overly “highlander” far after the end of that period), and the overall plot is slow, but I finished, so it wasn’t terrible - I won’t, however, be continuing the series or picking up the author again.

OTT and Spoilery Content Notes:
1884, slut shaming, a lot of negative talk around sex work/sex workers, general manhandling, 37M/significantly younger FMC, alcohol, grief, death of previous partner, death of infant/stillbirth (?), death of parent, sexual harassment, threat of SA, marriage of convenience, MMC has paid for sex, mention of child abuse (withholding food, slapping/striking), parent with substance abuse problems (alcohol), physical abuse of sex worker, pregnancy, miscarriage, DV/IPV/domestic violence (FMC slaps MMC on several occasions), illness, caretaking, medical care

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for a book that to complete a reading prompt and I came across Montana Untamed in my ebook library and decided to give it a try. I enjoy historical western romances and hadn't read Ramona Flightner before and I was pleasantly surprised.

Montana Untamed is the love story for Annabelle and Cailean. Annabelle arrived in Montana alone and searching for her sister. Her first day in town, she runs into Cailean and while their initial interaction was not friendly at all, there was some attraction. Annabelle opens a bakery, to great success, while Cailean owns the local livery with his brother. They circle around each other and after they share a kiss at a local celebration, they end up in a marriage of convenience.

OK, I love the marriage of convenience trope and I was hooked at that point. I didn't want to put the book down because I had to see how they'd get past the convenience to find their happily ever after. Was it perfect? No. It got repetitive quite a lot. BUT, I was totally drawn in and am curious enough to try more of the series.

[Bonnie Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story about starting over, forgiveness, and putting the past to rest. The characters are wonderful, including the McKinnons, the central family. Add to them a new woman in town looking for her sister, plus a few friendly folk and some horribly rude and judgmental ones. The characters struggle with their pasts and with their interactions with each other. Emotions are buried deeply and continue to throw wrenches into current relationships.

Overall I really liked this book. A good storyline and rich characters keep it moving. It’s the first book in a series, however it seemed to end rather abruptly for me. Not exactly a cliff-hanger, but the secondary characters are in following books. I had to drop a star because it needs quite a bit more editing. The author has a good writing style, but an editor could make this terrific.

[Danielle Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I became emotionally involved with these characters, especially Annabelle. This story is a real heart breaker and I understood why Annabelle had a hard time forgiving him. His words to her when she told them about their expecting child were unforgivable. What followed was just his guilt for forsaking her and the child. Even though Annabelle has forgiven Cailean for the evil he purported on his own wife. This reader does not forgive him. I don't believe the author expressed Cailean regret enough for Annabelle to forgive him. Grace is Annabelle's spirit and she is a woman to admire. The hero of this story is no hero at all and ought to fall on his knees and thank God above that a woman such as Annabelle loves him.

[Charline Bonham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annabelle is looking forward to reuniting with sister after several years but in for a surprise when she goes to the general store and makes inquiries. She only has a letter she found in her father's papers after his death. Why would she think it was not true? She is shocked with their news and will not believe it. Caitlean MacKinnon has little use for love. After his wife died in childbirth, he will not put himself in that position again. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is forgive. The story deals with being able to forgive and move on but they almost wait too late. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.

[kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A soft 5

I was surprised by this book. In a good way. It started out as "I'll never get over my first wife" . Not my favorite trope. With a compromised marriage thrown in. I always like those.
However the story went much deeper then that. It's about family. It was about forgiveness. Forgiving real hurts not stupid misunderstandings. It's about trying to change someone you love who doesn't want to change and keeping the door open to your relationship. Hard to do when you are undeniably in the right.
This is a new author for me and she has a real feel for relationships. Looking forward to reading her next book.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annabelle found a letter in her father’s papers after his death from her sister that she had not seen or heard from for several years. She moved out west and was looking forward to reuniting with the Fedelia. She went to the general store to make inquiries on where she might find her – saying that she was there in time for the wedding to Caitlean MacKinnon. She was shocked with Mr. MacKinnon over heard that and let her know that it was not true.

There are many turns of events, with a lot of laughs, anger, grief, and content between Annabelle, Fedelia, and the MacKennon family. There is a lot of good old-fashion romance in Bear Grass Springs with in a years’ time. Good Reading.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baking

This is a very well written book by Ramona Flightner and I really enjoyed reading it. A young woman, a sister, a young man, fallen women, a livery stable, two younger brothers, building a bakery, meeting people, argument, getting caught, a wedding, always thinking of late wife and babe, talking to a hurtful sister, being hurt, loving him, having a baby, a horrible argument, moving out, losing a baby and very ill, living alone again, realizing love for her, can there be forgiveness? Will there be a happy ever after? I would recommend this book to everyone. Buy the book and enjoy a really good book.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annabelle came to Montana to attend her sisters wedding. However she can’t find her sister. When she is asking about her sister the prospective groom walks into the store and denies that status emphatically. It turns out her sister is a whore. This gets them off to a very poor start. Annabelle decides to open a bakery. She is determined to get her sister out of the business. The attraction between her and Caileon leads to a compromising situation that forces them to marry.
This is an easy to read book that is enjoyable.

[may f. barnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The McKinnon family is great

I enjoyed this read, even though there was a great deal of what I will call back story tension. This is called a stand alone read; I don't consider it to be one. The problem of Fedelia is left up in the air as is the book long apparent hidden problem with Leticia and marriage as well as the questions of Sorcha finding a man and Eowan a woman. Then there's the Jameson family. My biggest problem with the book as that it seems to just stop, not end with all of the above still up in the air...not a stand alone story.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Annabelle heads west to find her sister Fidelia, she is in for a shock. She gets to the town where Fidelia is and asked for directions. When she announces that her sister is engaged to a certain rancher, everyone, including the rancher is astonished. What she finds out after that is gut-wrenching.
Annabelle starts her own business as a baker. She thrives for the most part…much to the disappointment of Mrs. Jameson, the town troublemaker and well-known gossip.
Another good book that will keep your interest by Ramona Flightner.

[Norma Wiegert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great start to the Bear Grass Springs series set in the 1880's. Annabelle arrives in Bear Grass Springs expecting to attend her sister's wedding, but upon her arrival finds her sister living and working in a Boudoir. Intent on helping her sister, Annabelle decides to stay in Bear Grass Springs and open a bakery. Chilean MacKinnon, the oldest of the MacKinnon children does not want to marry, but an he resist the charming and beautiful Annabelle as she attempts to reconcile with her sister. You will want to read the next book in the series to find out what happens next.

[Linda Rorex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annabelle Evans travels to Bear Grass Springs, Montana in 1884 to attend her sister’s wedding but finds out the wedding is cancelled by her former fiancé Cailean MacKinnon. Annabelle opens a business near her sister to mend her relationship with her sister. Cailean left the Isle of Skye, Scotland to start a livery business with his siblings and has no time for romance. Cailean and Annabelle are attracted to each but will they start a romance? I really enjoyed this fantastic western historical romance novel.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful read with great characters. I enjoyed Annabelle, she is a very strong character who has to learn to forgive and forget. Cailean needs a swift kick in the bit. He cannot forget the past and will not enjoy the present. Love the way the author worked out their love story. There are little stories included and hopeful those characters will have their own story. Would recommend to all who love a western romance.

[Barbara "Cookie" Serfaty Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Montana Untamed (Bear Grass Springs, Book one)

The love story of Annabelle and Cailean. Annabelle come to Bear Grass Springs looking for her sister. When she met Cailean MacKinnon and tell him is is to marry he sister she is inform that her sister works at the local whore house and Cailean is not marry to her.
Cailean said "He will never marry" but a a town dance he is caught with Annabelle and now he must marry her. Can he find love when he does not want it? Great story.