Montana Star

by Deann Smallwood

WANTED: WIFE, WOMAN TO WORK BESIDE ME ON RANCH IN MONTANA. Aries read the ad Ben McCabe had placed in the paper and prayed the position hadn't been filled. She knew nothing about cooking, ranching, or being a wife for that matter. Aries had been trained by one of Philadelphia's best physicians, her father. Trained, but not board certified; trained but not allowed to practice. She longed to be a practicing physician, but no one wanted a woman doctor. Her father's death, which left her with nothing but gambling debts and a young brother to provide and care for, forced her to put aside her love of medicine. Answering this ad was the only way Aries could think of to provide for herself and her brother. She felt badly about deceiving Ben, but what she didn't know was that Ben had deceived her from the moment she'd read the ad and been sent the money to travel to Montana. There was no turning back. Aries knew that as she heard the clickety-clack of the train taking her closer to a man she knew nothing about and who wanted no part of a woman in his life -- and certainly not a wife.

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

276 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2008

Reviews

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for mail order bride stories, so when this came across my feed for a 1.50, I jumped on it. Turned out it was a great deal and a sweet read. While there is only kissing the complexity of the couple more than made up for it. Really enjoyed it and something you can recommend to your mom or grandma.

[Celia Christensen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book but I just didn't. It was predictable, filled with grammatical errors, and ended super abruptly.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

boring and somewhat predictable

[Jac K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not really sure how to rate this one... I’m giving it 3 even though it wasn’t my kind of read. I finished it, but can’t say I liked it much. Aries is desperate and agrees to a marriage because she’s broke and responsible for her 4yr old brother. Jarrett is a widow who doesn’t want another wife, but his brother and father placed the ad behind his back.

This might feel like the usual plot, but It’s not your typical western mail order bride romance. Mainly because there isn’t any romance. The MC’s don’t meet until you’re a 1/3 thru, then most of the book is filled with her “doctoring” people. Very little of the plot is focused on the H and h building or developing any type of relationship.

It didn’t even make sense for them to fall in love because they hardly spoke or saw each other. They aren’t a couple, might have had 1 peck that she thought was an apology. Then it just ends abruptly. We get literally 3 pages of them “together” a kiss and it’s over. Honestly, I think my grams would expect more romance in her romance books:)

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Formulaic

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was looking for something light & easy to read for hot summer nights when I couldn't sleep. This certainly fit the bill! I was looking for a little history on medicine in the early days in Montana, as well as where women fit into the profession. The story was a conglomeration of every romance book where the girl who doesn't realize she is pretty wins the day with her sunny disposition. She wins over the grizzled drunk doctor after one meeting & he determines to change his evil ways. She wins over the sullen, troubled but rich landowner who doesn't want the mail order bride his brother has sent for by her the above winning ways plus learning how to become an expert house cleaner and cook in two weeks after only baking cookies before coming West.

Pure pap!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A woman and a doctor

Life isn't easy for a woman in the west and is even harder for a woman doctor who has no idea how to take care of a ranch. Aries Burnett answers an ad seeking a wife after her father dies leaving her with a 4 year old brother and a mountain of gambling debts. After settling the debts, she boards a train to Montana and the hope of a new life. This is a well written romance that will easily please the reader.

[Assenette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wished there was more to the ending.

[Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book I’ve ever read by this author. I love a good marriage convenience trope. The first couple of chapters hooked me in. I continued reading and I kept thinking, when is the hero going to show up? Finally after 30%, the hero made his appearance. I loved the tension between the two main characters so I continued reading for another couple of chapters. Around 70%, I had a strange feeling that this might be a clean romance book…I am not into that when I’m not expecting it. The heroine was a bit annoying with her self-righteous ways, but I continued on. I basically had to skim the last few chapters after realizing this was a clean novel. I still give it three stars since I finished.

I’ve been reading a lot of western romance novels lately and there are some things about this book that didn’t seem to hold you for living in the 1800s. I am no expert, but the hero seem to have a lot of extra time in his hands surprised the father gave his ranch to his oldest son and just became the main cook? That was odd there didn’t seem to be any other ranch hands and the novel at least.

[doris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deanna smallwood

I thoroughly enjoy the story about a woman fought all odds of becoming a dr. , she had to overcome discrimination of being a woman dr. In a man's world in western era days. She overcome her diversity by ans. An add for a mail order bride and brought her four yr. Old brother with her to Montana to to map out a life for her with her little brother to a meet a man who would be her husband. And a town in wise, Montana and the people she helped learn woman dr. Is just as good as a male dr. Very heartwarming a moment of a little tear jerker involving how her four old brother wasn't treated kindly from the time he was born.

[Stephanie Herron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting mail order brides story

This is a very different mail order brides story than usual. In this one she is a doctor and has a strong sense of self. She brings her younger brother with her . Timmy is four and shy. His backstory is heartbreaking but it's good that he starts to thrive at the ranch. Ted and Ben, the father and brother, help her while Jarrett fights having her around. You find out a bit of his backstory as the story goes along. It's nice to see it where they take an instant dislike to each other and then discover the respect they deserve.

[Barbara Van Zandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encouraging

A woman determine to be a Dr. Finding out her father gambles aways everything Saint not wanting off we s a home,a want ad for a wife she take a huge chance answers the ad. Moves and makes the best everything and c.f. one clean about lying and not saying a thing about her brother. Time conquer all and they fall in love. And sharing a practice with the Dr. And yes humble and admits he's wrong and call her Dr. Add he did it faced everything and grew

[Lisa Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generally, I enjoyed this story. I loved the heat building between Jarrett and Aries. What I did not love was how the author switched points of view, often from one paragraph to the next. When I must stop every few minutes to reread a passage to figure out who is speaking or thinking, then Ms. Smallwood's publisher has done her a disservice. The author not only has passages in the minds of the hero and heroine, but she also uses an all-knowing narrator, Marge, Dr. Tavish, etc.

[MELISSA · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second book by Deann Smallwood and I enjoyed it as much as the first one I read, "Sapphire Blue." "Montana Star" follows the challenges of a mail order bride in Montana territory. Aries Burnett is one strong, intelligent woman raising her four-year-old brother. I will not summarize the story simply note the characters, setting and plot entertained me throughout the the story. This is a sweet romance treated with care and grace by Ms. Smallwood. Thank you for an endearing read.

[Layne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mail order

What happens to a Doctor's daughter who cannot cook and doesn't know anything about the West answers a mail order bride ad in a Philadelphia paper? What happens when she arrives with her 4 year old brother only to find out that the man who placed the add isn't the one she's supposed to marry? Oh my! You need to read this one!!! Soooo good!

[Nikki wonderland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Really good read!

I was looking for a book that was easy reading and really didn't require me to think. What I found was a really great book that, from the beginning, was a good roller coaster. In the middle it looked to be predictable but then it goes in a totally different direction. It's well worth the price of admission.

[Linda Gildner · Rating 5 out of 5]

So special

This historic American fiction so very special as it depicts one of the common reasons why young woman might answer an ad for a bride and why the character of that woman plays a significant role in the foundation of the American West, perhaps finding love, as well as her own value along the way.

[Donne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh! As historical western romances go, not the worst I've read or the best. Thank goodness it was a quick and easy read because I'd just about had enough of Arias and Jarrett's nonsense and they were dangerously close to losing their 3star rating. Ending was weird but then again, perhaps, the author was tired of them too,

[Connie D. Paben · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 5 star book.

This is a great story! The heroine is feisty, strong willed, but not obnoxious with it. The hero is cold, because of previous incidents in his life has hurt him deeply. How the two come together is what their book is about. I have read many books and this love story is a keeper.

[Bookish.Midnight. and. black · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read almost 15% but it was extremely boring so I stopped.

The heroine answers to an ad ,and goes to another town to be someone's wife because she has no living relatives and no money. She has a little brother and knows nothing about farms or how to keep house but she is skilled in anatomy and medicine.

The book has a lot of descriptions and unnecessary details.

[HellsBellsnSexySpells · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost a full chapter of the kid saying "well.... it's just that.... oh gosh I don't know how to tell you" was so annoying I almost DNFed. Overall the story was ok. We were almost half way by the time she even met the MMC and all the characters had this annoying habit of saying her name EVERY sentence

[Jacquie Aumiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the story line. I raised my children on some ranches. Wonderful life.

I felt like I was there because I have lived far out places. It is amazing to be out with God's creation.

[Jan Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story

I enjoyed this story more than I thought I would. I rarely read "sweet romantic" books but something in the description caught my interest. Am happy it did. Great characters and good flowing storyline.

[Jerry M Morello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book

It was wonderful to see a women in that time to be independent and strong. Not saying that women weren't strong, they had strength and insurance that we today cannot even imagine. This was a love story that I would highly recomend.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner!!!

I loved this book! Excellent told story of love and fear of loss in a time when life was hard and it took strong people to survive. I have a new favorite author.....Deanna Smallwood. Thanks for a feel good book.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, kept my attention. I would have liked a little more romance but the characters needed to find one another first.

Enjoyed it though. Real life, strong female characters are my favorite. The medical aspect added more intrigue. The time period needed strong females.

[Ruth Ann Isam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I definitely enjoyed the book but I was disappointed with the ending. There should have been a epilogue at least to let the readers know how the lives of the list of characters progressed. That way there would have been a sense of "closure". Or Deann could write a sequel!

[Lauren Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is decent. I noticed several typos. The thing I dislike most about Smallwood’s writing is her endings. She leaves many loose ends. It’s like she writes and writes and then has to hurry and end the book because she has a deadline. Many of her books are like this.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this story. Made me aware of the hardships a woman faced long ago. Clean story.

[Bettye J Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent

A story to enjoy. Different twists and certainly great writing. You won't be disappointed with this one. Excellent reading here.