3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Could have been SO much better, May 1, 2011
I know I'm asking for trouble by posting a negative review on a book well-loved by so many, but it bothered me so much, thinking about it has actually kept me up at night. I'm writing this just so I can sleep again!
A little about me as a reader: I'm a huge fan of Louis L'Amour westerns, old-fashioned classics by Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott, the Little House series, and the Anne of Green Gables books. I also like Karen Harper and Mary Higgins Clark mysteries, and some Fannie Flag books. My favorite genres are historical fiction and mystery/suspense - with a little romance mixed in - as long as the book is free of profanity, descriptive sex scenes, and sappiness.
I fully expected to love this Mary Connealy series given the positive reviews here, the Christian perspective, and the interesting story plot as described on the back cover. Unfortunately, I couldn't get past the overuse of certain words and phrases, and the personalities of the two main characters. Some parts of the book I found downright ridiculous. Each night I picked it up, I wavered between putting the book in the donation bin or reading on to see if it got better. I ultimately chose to finish the book, but it quickly landed in the donation bin along with books 2 and 3 of the same series that I never read.
To her credit, I think Ms. Connealy has great plot ideas, an engaging writing style, and a keen sense of humor, but she could greatly benefit from a really good editor - especially with regards to overly-repetitive use of particular words and phrases. I became so annoyed by the phrases "china doll", "Cass honey", and "God, let it be a girl", I almost screamed! I still cringe thinking about them. The writing would have been more powerful had the author (and her editor) limited these references to a maximum of three of each phrase for the entire book - two would have been even better.
I also tired of the frequent repetition of certain descriptions and scenes. I kept thinking, "Okay! I've got it!" and "Not this again" when met with yet another mention of Belle's disgust with men and her warnings to her daughters about marrying - often using identical phrases, word-for-word, used earlier in the book.
As for the main characters, they too held promise, but grated on my nerves by the middle of the book. I was SO relieved when Cassie FINALLY grew a backbone - something I would have appreciated one or two chapters earlier than it occurred.
What bothered me most, though, was Red's constant coddling of Cass. By the end of the book, his relationship with her felt more father-like than romantic. Yes, I know he was supposed to be the antithesis of domineering Griff, but he ended up being a lot like him - just way nicer.
I also quickly tired of his constant mention of Cassie's sweetness and beauty. I started viewing her as weak and sickly sweet, and him as a father figure rather than a passionate love interest. I would have liked to see more personality flaws, frankly. It would have made them far more interesting characters.
The after-birth scene REALLY turned me off. The mention of him brushing her hair and washing the baby was sweet, but the cleaning of her private parts and her squirming as he did so just went too far. It wasn't immoral; it just would have been so much better had that part been left out. It was really hard for me to view the book as a romance novel after that.
Wow. This book bothered me even more than I realized. I didn't mean to write a novel of my own here, nor did I intend to bash the author. Again, I truly feel Ms. Connealy is a gifted author, but like any writer, needs an equally talented editor.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Montana Rose is Great!, August 28, 2010
This book is actually the first in a series but I had read #2 (The Husband Tree) first. Silly me. It's best to go in order, right? Like cutting in line at a store check out, it can lead to upsets. Well, I found this to not be much of a issue in this case. The only person who can get upset is me and I loved it anyway.
As with anything that is Mary Connealy related that I've read so far, Montana Rose can stand on it's own. Poor 'china doll' Cassandra. Through the first half of the book, she's widowed, accosted by a bunch of tobacco chewing, dirty, miners who want a wife and sex toy, then married to the guy who dug her husband's grave--while standing on her husband's grave!! Now she has to figure out how not to get punished by him for every little wrong. Oh yeah, she's pregant, too. There's where it got really good.
Red, a minister-in-training/rancher, had protected her from the miners but, now had a wife. This little 'china doll' wants to be helpful but she's completely inept. Red realizes that his little 'china doll' has been neglected, her spirit beaten down, lied to about how women are expected to behave, and deliberately uninformed about life-brainwashed into being an ornament, not a wife. How's he going to end up with a God fearing helpmate? You'll just have to read it and see. I laughed out loud all the way through Chapters 22 and 23 when she's having the baby.
4 Stars for Story Depth- I feel like I know all those characters as if they live nearby. The subplot of Belle and Anthony is full of conflict too.
3 Stars for Heat- This story didn't call for heat as much as tenderness, patience, and perserverance and Montana Rose is full of it all.
4 Stars for the God factor-I love how God is portrayed by Red all through this book and eventually Cassie sees God for who He is too.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An enjoyable western romp.., August 7, 2009
This review is from: Montana Rose (Montana Marriages, Book 1) (Paperback)
From the outside Cassie Griffin looked like she had everything. A nice house, silk dresses and all the pretty things money could buy. Everything that is except a loving husband. Griff was a rough man who always made his "china doll" feel unworthy. Then one day Griff dies. Cassie is left pregnant and penniless. Because the preacher is in town they feel like she should marry up with one of the cowboys. Her choices are not too great (especially a rich ranchers son named Wade Sawyer) but when Red Dawson steps up to the plate she agrees to marry him. Red is a fine man who slowly teaches Cassie how a real man should love his wife. Can he help her become more than just a submissive mouse? Will Cassie ever feel worthy of Red's love? And what will happen when Wade decides that the "china doll" should belong to him?
This was a very enjoyable story. I fell in love with Red. Who wouldn't! The secondary characters were interesting too. Especially Belle. The rough and tough gal who always manages to marry worthless men. I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of her. As with all of Mary's books she mixes a generous portion of humor, mayhem and a dash of suspense.
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