Title:  Montana Rogue
Series:  Big Sky Mavericks #6
Author:  Debra Salonen
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  October 8, 2015
Publisher:  Tule Publishing
My Rating:  5 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

Roommates with benefits. A temporary arrangement between two people with time on their hands. Who could possibly get hurt?

“Get your Zip On” – That’s Tucker Montgomery‘s slogan for the new zip line he’s building near Marietta, Montana. But before Tucker can get the first pole in the ground, he suffers an injury that could cost him everything, until help arrives in a surprising–but gorgeous–package: Amanda Heller. They’ll share her grandmother’s guest house while he supervises the old Victorian’s restoration… all with the added benefit of exploring a sizzling mutual attraction.

Amanda Heller knows her exile to Montana is her family’s excuse to spare them the embarrassing fallout from her very public breakup with her ex-boss’s son that left her jobless and living in her parent’s Manhattan home. But then Amanda strikes a bargain with injured, sexy businessman Tucker Montgomery, who needs a place to stay while recovering. A hot summer fling seems just the thing for Amanda and Tucker, something to enjoy for a month or two tops. Most certainly not long enough to fall in love.

Read on for my thoughts on Montana Rogue.  No true spoilers, promise.

Tucker couldn’t believe his luck.  Laid up with a bum ankle now – now, right when he needed to be onsite getting his zipline business up and running.  In dance and wildfire fighting timing is everything – but right now, his timing sucks.

Amanda isn’t having the best of luck either.  Without a job, thanks to dumping her ex-boss’s son rather spectacularly she might add, hadn’t exactly endeared herself to her parents or many other people back in Manhattan.  Now, here she was in Marietta, Montana looking after the grandmother she hadn’t seen in years.  She’s a big city girl with a even bigger big city attitude, on the surface at least.  She really has no clue how to live in a small town where people know your family from years back and most know all your business as well.  She has some adjusting to do.

I loved Montana Rogue.  Tucker is a sweetheart who has lost too much in his life.  Now he has a chance to lay down roots of his own with a woman who fascinates and frustrates him within the same five minutes.  Amanda doesn’t know how to just be herself.  She’s stumbled a lot in her life and now it seems she’s found exactly where her place could be – if only Tucker was a permanent attachment, instead of the temporary fling they had agreed upon.

Each has unresolved issues in their lives, ones that won’t be decided overnight.  Time, love and understanding of the reasons that things happened in the past as they did is going to be a part of their lives.  Amanda’s grandmother, the sweet soul Molly, will have issues long after this story ends.  And Tucker will have his on ongoing family connections to sort out over time.  So, I want to say that this is a lovely romance, but it really is so much more.  Since I’ve known the author, Ms Salonen, to tackle ongoing issues that will continue as a thread through several stories.  I’ve a feeling we’ll be seeing Molly again.

Again, I loved this story and this couple.  Plus anything that takes me back to Marietta, Montana is a winner in my opinion – I want to move to that small town with the handsome men and lovely ladies.  I would highly recommend Montana Rogue to anyone who loves a simply, basic love story with the complications of life added in.  There is no sweeter romance than one that could happen to your best friend or even you.

(Just my own notation – many people, myself included consider the very short, remembering type of story Her Forever Gift to be #5 in this series, which would for me make this one Montana Rogue #7 – it’s all a matter of personal opinion, folks.  But for those that keep track of numbers that’s my explanation – it’s not the official numbering but the keeping track of stories in order line up to me)

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

Available for the Kindle