GRR Reviews Montana Darling (Big Sky Mavericks Boo by Debra Salonen

Montana Darling set up an interesting meetcute as enemies, and the escalations are good. However, the ending was a deus ex machina that didn't even make sense!

Mia Zabrinski is starting over. She had lost her marriage, her job, and her body when she has a breast cancer scare. She hoped that the property she bought in her hometown of Marietta Montana would let her build a cabin there before winter sets in. When she spotted a squatter on her land, she's quite angry! Ryker Bensen had not gotten over the loss of his girlfriend and unborn child. He was an award-winning photojournalist with a trust fund, hiding on his land trying to find peace. When a woman accused him of squatting on "her" land, he was intrigued about the woman, and worried... He was in Africa when the alleged sale took place. When Ryker found his trust fund had been zero'ed, his worst fears seems to have been confirmed... His step-father stole all he owned from him. Ryker knew he'd have to fight, but Ryker also felt a connection to Mia that needs to be explored, even as Mia face her own doubts in pursuing a relationship. But a fling soon lead to more... but is either ready to commit?

The setup for "enemies into lovers", while cute, did not really work for me. And the deus ex machina ending made no sense. But to explain why, I have to SPOIL THE ENDING

YES SPOIL THE ENDING

YOU'VE BEEN WARNED

Yes, his step-father had been stealing from his trust fund, and sold the land from under him. He often loses big on investments, but he somehow makes it back... or gets bailed out by Ryker's mom (his wife), who has an even BIGGER trust fund. It's like. WTF? Why does Ryker's mom let her husband mess with his son's money, instead of allocating a portion of her own wealth for him to play with? You see, it made NO SENSE!

Add that to the unexplained attraction between Ryker and Mia, even though they are supposed to be enemies, and I'm afraid this story simply makes no sense.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman went home to her land, and finds a squatter there who insist the land was his; can they fall for each other?

Tropes: grief, opposites attract, fling to a thing, family secrets

Overall Rating:  2/5