Title:  Montana Rebel
Series:  Big Sky Mavericks #9
Autho:r: Debra Salonen
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  January 24, 2016
Publisher:  Tule Publishing
My Rating:  4.5 stars
Source:  NetGalley, Purchase Kindle Edition
Cover Description:

Don’t look down and don’t give up.

Justin Oberman‘s credo for living his adventurous–some might say death-defying–life to the max served him well until the unfortunate outcome of a climb made him walk away from the sport he loved. A lucrative new job offer could pave the way to a more traditional life in Marietta, Montana, where his two best friends have fallen in love with the women of their dreams. But settling down always seemed more daunting than Everest and not worth considering until a mysterious lady in red walks into his life on New Year’s Eve. Suddenly, that happily-ever-after stuff Flynn and Tucker have been raving about looks within reach.

The first fall is always the hardest.

Nikki Magnesson Richards has loved Justin Oberman most of her life. First, from the safety of her brothers’ old tree house. Later, with unrequited teen-age angst. Her poorly thought out attempt to get him to notice her cost them both dearly. Now, a dozen years later, her fairy godfather boss has orchestrated the most romantic meeting possible–the Big Sky Mavericks Masked Ball for Charity. A kiss at midnight with her very own Prince Charming isn’t too much to ask, is it? But what are two star-crossed lovers supposed to do when one kiss isn’t enough?

Read on for m y thoughts on Montana Rebel.  No true spoilers, promise.

Montana Rebel is full of so many layers.  On the surface  this is a modern day Cinderella story complete with Fairy Godfather and a magical Masked Ball.  As we start to move down through the layers of this story we find a very long love-crush that with one impulsive decision changed lives, a guilt that never truly was self-forgiven and two people who through their connection have grown, become successful in their own right and yet there is that lingering feeling of.. if only things had been different.

Justin has walked away from a profession, a desire that he loved.  Past events and one gut feeling have changed the direction of his life.  He’s been offered a chance to continue to do what he loves but in a different manner, with far different outcomes.  Nikki has been given the chance to work with Justin, through the imagination, resources and money of a man who loves his employees like family, she will have that opportunity to finally know the answer to.. what if.

I am admittedly always thrilled to return to any story in my favorite town of Marietta, Montana.  Big Sky Mavericks has been one of my favorite series and one I love to return to again and again.  We will once again run into characters from previous stories as we see where their lives have taken them since we last met.  Do you have to have read the entire series to enjoy this particular story?  No, not really.  Yet, I believe you’ll want to go back and experience the others at your first chance.  The stories are that good, and the threads throughout are of family, love and compassion.  What’s not to love about those types of visits to Marietta?

It’s a given that eventually Justin and Nikki will get their happy ever after.  But the journey to get there is full of emotions, growth and the discovery that love is going to happen when it’s right, not a second before.  And when it’s right, you hold on to it for dear life.

If you love realistic, emotional and charming Contemporary Romance, then Montana Rebel is perfect for you.  I highly recommend this story and the entire series.  You’ll be captured and love every minute of it.

*I received an e-ARC of Montana Rebel from the publisher, Tule Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

Available for the Kindle