Jasper Gulch, Montana is going to celebrate their 100th anniversary by holding a different event each month for six months. The kick-off event is the three week rodeo. Her Montana Cowboy, (Big Sky Centennial series) does a great job of laying the foundation for the rest of the books by introducing some of the characters and a mystery that will continue throughout the series. This book is the story of Julie Shaw and Ryan Travers. Julie is a sheep rancher in the middle of cattle country and mayor's daughter, headstrong and takes everything head on, even her father who is trying to marry her off to the man of his choice not hers. Ryan is a rodeo cowboy, a loner and he loves traveling all over the country with the rodeo because he is running from something in his past. He doesn't plan on settling down anytime soon until he meets Julie. They form a special friendship. They find that they have a lot in common and get along great. He loves being around her as she helps him get over things that haunt him from his past and she's also made him happier than he can ever remember being. The characters are likeable and well developed. ( )