Customer Reviews

Montana Rose (Montana Marriages, Book 1)

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I've always loved the Western historical romances complete with horses and cowboys and tough frontier women, especially set in Montana. This one just shot to the top of my list. If you think it's going to be a sweet little romance without a little bruising and grit, then you are mistaken. These are flesh and blood characters! The issues and the people come to life and instead of feeling distanced from them ("that was just sooooo long ago,") I could almost taste the dust kicked up and feel the punches, and the chill from the cold.

Cassie was my favorite character in that she seemed real, having known those who've been abused. Her abuse at the hands of her first husband made her not only cover her real personality, masking who she was, but made her think she was fragile, like a china doll. It takes a man who truly loves her (Red) to show she can not only survive Montana's cruel side, but can thrive, grow, and learn to love back. The spiritual aspects of the characters in this story truly brings it home. If you love historical romance and the frontier spirit, you'll love this book, too.

Every time that I pick up and read a book from Mary Connealy I am in awe at the topics and issues that are addressed in such a loving and in depth manner. This specific book deals with marriage, courage, abuse, healing, strength, and new faith. The lives of the characters are so real and so easily comparable to real life that it is extremely difficult to remember that it supposedly just a fictitious story in novel format.



Cassie is a woman who was brought up in a closed environment where she was unable to think or be for herself. She was then thrust into a life where the static existence that she formerly knew was practically ripped to shreds as piece by piece she learned to think for herself. Belle is a wounded woman who has endured so much pain at the form of broken hearts in marriage that any hope she once had has dwindled. It is now time for her to either accept the painful defeat of life or find hope in an attempt of grace in action. This book tells the story of Cassie and gets a good foot in the door of the tale behind Belle's life. (Cannot wait for another book in the series to find out more!!)



Many people know and think about abuse and how it is a physical pain, but often they forget about the emotional and spiritual scars that are endured as well. Within this tale, various characters find ways of adapting and moving forward in life from years of proverbial abuse. Some make the right decisions and some do not. Watching these characters and their mistakes and correct actions can cause a reader to grow as well.



This book is filled to the brim with situations where a reader can learn through someone's pain instead of their own. Also in the style of Mary Connealy, conversations and events fill a reader full to giggling whether they want to or not. Their were points where I'm not sure if I should blame my own pregnancy or not for the giggles brought me to tears. For me personally, another best part of this book was reading about two characters and their own experiences with pregnancy. This is the first book with a birth that I have been blessed to read that was more than she's pregnant and in the last chapter has the babe. I was enthralled by the experiences and interactions that it proved to provide with neighbors and spouses.



And now, I impatiently wait for the next book in the series or other from the imaginations of Mary Connealy!!

"Fire up your love of romance with Montana Rose, where Cassie Griffin, a seemingly spoiled pregnant woman, is widowed one day and wedded the next. Marrying handyman Red Dawson seems the only alternative to Cassie's being hitched to a brutal rancher. But can this "china doll" bear exchanging smooth silk for coarse calico? Red was reluctant to be yoked to an unbeliever, but sometimes a man has no choice. Will Red change Cassie's heart by changing her name? Wade Sawyer is obsessed with saving Cassie from a marriage of convenience. How far will he go make her his own?"



I really enjoyed this book by Mary Connealy. She writes a story full of love, forgiveness, fun, grace and blessing.

The characters are lovable and their lives are easy to follow in this wonderfully written old-west book.

I love how Cassie learns about God's love for her through the other people who come into her life. She sees God's love in action and she responds to God's call on her heart. As the reader, we get a glimpse of what God can do to change someone's life, to set them free and to make them a new creation in Him.

I look forward to reading more from Mary Connealy!

5 STARS
Its a Christian romance with a good story. It kept me wanting to see what happens next. I would like to read more books by Mary.
It starts with Cassie mourning her husband dead. Everyone in town new her husband was always spending money on her and he had loans everywhere.
Their is not a lot of women in this small town in Montana. The men were gathering around her saying she had to choose right after the funeral. Cassie or China Doll some called her was in shock.
Muriel the shopkeeper's wife tried to help her and wanted Red the grave digger to marry her. Red did not want to especially right their at cemetary. Than Wade and his father Mort Sawyer said, She is marrying him. Mort carried her to his horse. Now Mort was big rancher and people were scared of him and his men. Cassie tried to get away and Red Dawson came and rescued her from him and asked Cassie to marry him. So right their at the grave she got married again.
Cassie at 12 lost her mom and Griff became her guardian and married her at 15 and moved them to Divide Montana. He spent all of her inhertance and morgage all her belongings. So now she had nothing but a dress and was pregnant.
Red is a honest hard worker. He went around and paid off her debts that her husband made. Red worked and barted for all he had and now had a small home,full pantry 500 cows. Red preached on sundays. delivered groceries on sat.Clean stables.
you really care about Cassie and Red and the people of divide. I would like to see how things turned out for Belle.
I enjoyed this story I was given to read in exchane of honest review from Netgalley.

'Montana Rose' is a Christian historical romance set in 1875 Montana Territory.

I hadn't noticed that this was a Christian romance before I started reading, and in fact it wasn't until the second half of the book that it really picked up and ran with the Christian message. I wasn't planning to read another overly Christian story for awhile, so I am actually pleased I didn't know in advance otherwise I would have missed out on a fantastic book.

I really did enjoy 'Montana Rose'; it had me hooked from the beginning. The characters are well developed and I really felt connected to them. It is a very strong story line with lots of emotion and a great meaning. I also loved the humour; it had me laughing out loud a number of times through the book.

I highly recommend 'Montana Rose' by Mary Connealy.

Cassie's husband took the easy way out.

Well, now, that's not exactly true. He may have left her without teaching her anything about the life or chores of the ranch but he's left her with the ranch he bought with her money. He left her in Montana with beautiful silk dresses, of course, they can't be worn when milking a cow. He made sure that she was never seen anything a 'lady' wouldn't do including talking to the lowly. Then again, no one in Montana ever measured up t his standards so she had no friends. He let her pregnant but without protection.

Worst of all, he left her completely unprepared. Cassie wasn't prepared to saddle a horse and ride to town for help because he didn't think riding was ladylike. He made sure to tell Cassie what he wanted to be buried in, how she was to dress, and how much to pay the gravedigger but he forgot to mention how she was to pay him. He forgot to mention that the single men in the area would literally fight over her at his graveside service or that she'd be married again with hours of his death while standing on his grave. He also forgot to mention that he'd mortgaged everything they owned - even her family bible, family portraits, and clothes - and hadn't even begun to pay.

What a way for Cassie to start her new life - in shock.

Sometimes its hit or miss with Connealy's work. This one was a hit for me. It taught some very important lessons about being yourself and was a very inspiring book for me.

Cassie had been controlled for all of her not so long life. Now eighteen and pregnant, she has to watch as her husband is being buried. As it is rural Montana the dirt isn't even all settled before numerous men start clamoring to be the one to marry her and take care of her. Luckily, Red Dawson steps in before one of the less than savory men takes off with her against her will. She's frightened of Red at first and he's taken aback at her meekness and cringing, but together they learn about having a true relationship.

I really related with Cassie and her need to please people. It seems that she gave up a lot to try to make the people in her life happy and that still didn't work for her as they just kept taking more and more without giving back. And Red gave me hope that there are good people out there who love unconditionally and don't grow angry for minor things. I realize its just a story, and these are characters, but they had to be based off of real people in some way and that's what makes the story nice for me.

The plot was interesting although the bad guy was kind of off here and there for me. It was nice to see Cassie grow as a person and how the book reflected the changes and struggles that she had as a person. I would say that that was more of the plot than the plotting bad guy. The writing of course was charming and down to earth and made you really care about the people in the book. It is Christian fiction so it was a quite heavy theme of Christianity in the book. But it didn't seem preachy to me and because it was written the way it was, it wasn't oppressing.

Definitely a strong tale of growth and inspiring. This is probably the best one of hers I've read so far.

Montana Rose
Copyright 2009
318 pages

Review by M. Reynard 2011