Montana Mistress [Paperback]

I have read several of Devine's recent work and I am always on the look out for her older stories. I really liked the plot about the rich man ditching the rich "princess" and marrying the poor relation. The man was controling and heavy handed sometimes but then you have to remember when the book was written. Again like any Devine book the romance side is VERY HOT and not for those who like sweet stories. This is not her best work but it is one of her better ones.

It's obvious Thea Devine's novel Montana Mistress was written twenty years ago. The characters almost torture each other and even though there is a decent storyline to this novel especially between the hero and his father, this book was difficult to finish. The leads treat each other terribly which ruined this romantic tale.

Sam is a wealthy man who owns a large copper mine in Montana. He is in New York to marry Rosalind Montgomery, a society darling and daughter of an influential banker. Sam is agreeing to the marriage at the urging of his father but the reader surmises Sam is not that excited about marrying the pampered Rosalind.

Julianne Montgomery is the poor relation invited to the wedding. Over the years, Julianne has kept a correspondence with Rosalind and she has fallen in love with her cousin's descriptions of Sam. When Sam and Julianne meet they are attracted to each other and also almost hostile too.

Rosalind and Sam do not go through with their wedding, so Julianne takes matters into her own hands when she offers herself as a possible bride to Sam. These two head back to Montana with a boatload of resentment toward each other, Sam distrusts Julianne and Julianne is resigned to her fate.

The conversations the leads have with each other are angry and venomous. Julianne wants to seduce Sam and Sam is determined to resist her charms. In the first few chapters Julianne comes off as a smart woman but by the middle of this novel she is ridiculously naïve, trying to make Sam jealous with another man and she seems to have no other abilities in life but to seduce and tease men. She was one dimensional, a woman with no accomplishments other than being a seductress.

Sam and his father dislike each other but both want the respect of the other. Sam's father is in a wheelchair and he waxes poetic about his deceased wife. These are probably the best parts of the book; his memories of his Molly are touching.

Sam and Julianne spit their hateful word at each other for almost the entire book. Sam can't stay away from Julianne and neither one will admit their feelings. Julianne just cannot keep herself from trouble; she lacks discernment when it comes to men in general.

Overall this book rates but a one star. The characters were so angry I never believed they fell in love and their vitriolic words and actions went over the line several times. They were abusive to each other at times and I could not visualize this couple ever having a happily ever after.

I just finished reading this book. It was the first book that I have read by this author. I only gave this book three stars because even though I stuck with it and finished it, the story seemed kind of rushed at the end and left a few unanswered questions along with an improbable solution. The hero was verbally abusive occasionally and the heroine took it in stride even though her feelings suffered. The one thing that I really liked was the relationship between the hero and his father. Behind all the rough and abrasive talk you could tell that they really loved and admired each other. Would I recommend this book? I have read worse and I have read better so take your choice.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 3 reviews  2.3 out of 5 stars