Montana Rose by Mary Connealy is one of those books that sticks with you years after you read it. The premise isn’t as simple as it seems in the blurb, but I won’t spoil anything by explaining the differences. Just trust me that this is a book that stands out in the crowd. Well written and entertaining, the lessons learned through the lives of these characters will get you thinking and stay with you long after the last page is turned.

If you’re a fan of Christian historical romance, this is the book for you, and when you’re through don’t forget the next two books in the Montana Marriages series. They are just as wonderful and you can’t help but love how the stories unfold and the characters develop throughout the trilogy. ( )

This was a difficult book to get through. I've tried this author before and was in the mood for something humorous, but there was very little humor in Montana Rose. In fact, I don't really understand how the title is supposed to fit with the story considering the female protagonist is often referred to as china doll. I guess that's beside the point.

I love Christian Fiction and Christian Romance, especially when it's done well, Deeanne Gist and Colleen Coble being two of my recent favorites. Connealy's writing is usually upbeat and humorous, but this story seems forced, with lots of repetition and in-your-face preaching style that made me feel beat up by the end of the book. I'm all for including scripture in the story, but in this case, it overpowered a story that already had problems.

I'll start with the first scene, which stretched far beyond believable. I just can't accept that an entire town of men, especially men living in the 1800's, would be so brazen as to insist on marrying off a widow, in the cemetery, mere minutes after burying her husband. That was just ridiculous to me. Sure, maybe Wade and Mott were believable as villains by making their demands, but all of the single men? Nope. Still don't believe it, but I did keep reading. I read this book for a book challenge, otherwise, I wouldn't have finished it.

My biggest problem with the story is Cassie's character. She drove me nuts. I understand that she was abused by her first husband, brainwashed to the point of stupidity, and that she then "checked out" of having her own opinion, but when things in her life began to change we don't see real character growth. There were a few cute scenes between Red and Cassie, but instead of watching them grow together, we get repetitive discussion and one-sided conversations that are heavy on scripture and judgment. Then one day, "poof" it's all better? Did I miss something or does Cassie have Multiple Personality Disorder?

Finally, I will admit to having a huge soft spot in my heart for Belle. I like her strength, her daughters, and her ability to weather the storm, but there isn't a resolution to her story. I'm assuming she gets her happy ever after in the next book, which I'll probably read if for no other reason than to see Anthony get planted beneath the Husband Tree with the rest of Belle's husbands. What a slime ball he turned out to be. I don't like that Belle is taking his actions and blaming herself though. Regardless of anything she did or didn't do, he has the same obligation to take the high road as any other Christian. If she learns something about herself, great, but she shouldn't take on his mistakes.

Montana Rose just isn't an example of the author's best work. I blame most of my displeasure with the book on Cassie's characterization. I like strong heroines and her self-debasing thoughts made it nearly impossible to overlook the other issues and just enjoy the story. ( )

This is a book that is one that touches the soul ( )

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. ( )

Cassie husband dies and leaves her broke and pregnant. All the men of her small town want to marry her since there are not a lot of women around. Red saves her from having to marry her neighbor so he can have her land. Cassie soon finds out how broke her husband was and the town’s people soon realize Cassie is not the spoiled rich girl they thought. Red has admired Cassie from a far since she had first moved to the area and now he is learning there is more to her then he first thought. Will these two find a true marriage or will Cassie’s lack of self esteem keep them apart?I enjoyed this book a lot but there where parts of the book that moved a little slow. The underlying subject of this book was a little hard to swallow. Cassie’s first husband had “made” her obey and Red works to get her to understand that what he did was not okay and that she is allowed to be her own woman and that he would never hurt her. It was fun to see Cassie come out of her shell and start to take charge of her life.As is the authors style she also starts to introduce the main characters of the other books in this series. Wade who will be the main character in the 3rd book is one of the men who wanted to marry Cassie before Red stepped in. He is a scary man but you start to see there is a good man under all the hurt. I had trouble with the huge turn around this character took as well as how fast he went from a scary villain to a friend. I have read the whole series that follows this one and when I realized who Wade was my mouth fell open.We also get to know Belle who will be the main character in the 2nd book. It was a little hard in the first book to read about all 3 characters, but the author did a good job and I did not feel the main story of this book was over shadowed. You definitely need to read this series in order or you will miss part of the story. Over all another great book by Mary Connealy! If you have not read any of her books your missing out!DISCLOSURE: I was provided a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley to review it. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. ( )