Montana Rose

Mary Connealy wrote Montana Rose after reading Janette Oke’s Love Comes Softly, and once I knew that, I could feel the tenderness of that inspiration underneath the dust, danger, cattle, chickens, and gunfire.

A pregnant widow. A marriage to a near stranger. A desperate need for shelter.

But this is Mary Connealy’s West, so the tenderness comes with flying dirt, ranch trouble, danger, humor, and a whole lot of cowboy commotion!

Cassie Griffin has spent so long surviving fear that she barely knows how to live without it. She has been taught to stay small, to stay quiet, to doubt her own mind, and to believe cruelty when it dressed itself up as authority.

Then Red Dawson begins speaking truth to her with gentleness, patience, and show more Scripture rightly handled. One of the most powerful parts of the story is when Red tells Cassie that Griff liked the part of the Bible about a wife submitting to her husband, but ignored the command for a husband to love his wife as Christ loved the church. Then Red points her back to Jesus. “You know how Jesus treated people, don’t you? … He was always kind. He always acted out of love.” That line is the heart of why this story mattered to me.

Cassie had heard Scripture used in a way that wounded. Red helps her see the character of Christ. Truth. Kindness. Sacrifice. Love.

I loved watching Cassie begin to understand that her thoughts mattered … she mattered. That not knowing how to milk a cow did not make her stupid. That God had given her a mind. That her opinions did not need to stay buried just because one cruel man never wanted to hear them.

And Red. Sweet, steady Red. He is kind. He prays for wisdom. He clings to God’s will. He refuses to call sin anything softer than sin. His gentleness has backbone, and I loved that.

In Red’s home, through patience, truth, Scripture, and steady kindness, Cassie begins to see the difference between God’s Word twisted by sin and God’s Word lived in obedience to Christ. Love protects. Love is faithful. Love endures. Love never fails.

When kindness looks like Christ and is ruled by truth, fear loses its authority, and courage grows for the glory of God.

I received a digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on the writing and the story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability. show less

When Cassie's extravagant, free-spending husband dies, leaving the young 18-year-old pregnant and penniless, she's forced to choose a husband the very next day who can offer protection and provide for her baby. Red Dawson offers to marry her, only to save her from the rough treatment she's sure to encounter from some of the other men. When he takes his spoiled bride to his sod home, he wonders if he's made a mistake. The worst of it is that she doesn't share his faith. Red is determined to teach Cassie how to be a proper Montana ranch wife, but neither of them is prepared for what the future holds....

I enjoyed this book so much for many different reasons. First of all, the characters practically leap off the page. They are show more multi-dimensional, and Mary Connealy really does a fantastic job of creating people you care about. The heart of this story is Red and Cassie, but the secondary characters were just as wonderful. Cassie forms a friendship with some of the local women, and they are just as endearing. Secondly, the romance is to die for. Red is such a patient man, and he's very considerate and careful with Cassie. I love that from the beginning, he always calls her, "Cass, honey." He cherishes her and in every possible way, puts her needs before his own. Thirdly, although the romance is its principal draw, there are parts of this book that are very funny. Cassie has never had to do manual labor, and when she tries to help Red with the ranch work, it always ends in disaster. To make matters worse, she feels sorry for her husband, believing him to be accident prone! Finally, there is a villain who causes suspense. I don't like plots that are too easy. Every story needs a challenge, and Wade provides that conflict for Red and Cassie.

All the above factors create an enjoyable read that seeks to show God's love, not just tell about it. It's inspirational, but not preachy. The author's easy writing style and pacing added to the story's appeal. The story switches from Cassie's view to Red's to other characters as well, giving you a well-rounded story. I can't wait to read the next in the series, as the characters played such a role in this first book. show less

Spoilers.
This is an obligatory review. This book wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been. It is pretty dopey, and the religion is very superficial. But the story, mostly, is cute and the main characters are likeable. There isn't really a conversion story because the girl isn't consciously bad, she is just dumb and mis-informed. I didn't like 2 things: one is the portrayal of her first husband. He didn't make sense to me. Did he just marry her for the money & didn't even really like women? Is that the subtext, that this thoroughly unlikeable character wasn't strong in his desire for women? He didn't make sense to me, except as a caricature (which, admittedly, this book has lots of). The other is the horrible subplot with the strong show more woman (I forget her name) and the bad husband. He was so bad and he almost killed her -- so what would the end be? The other bad guy got redeemed but not this one? How can she go on with him? What is the right answer? I would have liked to have seen her find faith & strength to realize that any reasonable carrying out of gods plan would be to have her move him out of there & seek a better life. show less

One of the best stories I’ve read about redemption, forgiveness and faith is found in this book. I love how the author delivers a powerful message of trusting God. The opening pages share the grief Cassie has endured in her young life. Married at such a young age she has faced abuse physically as well as emotionally. During this time period young women were forced into marriage mainly to help their family financially. No wonder Cassie is a shell of herself who is afraid to speak up for herself. Will Cassie learn to stand up for herself and not allow others to treat her so disrespectful.

Red is the hero in this book. One glance at Cassie was all he needed. His heart breaks for her as he hears others in the town saying such unkind show more things about her. Out of impulse perhaps, he stands up to marry her right on the grave of her dead husband. He believes he is doing the right thing so he can keep her safe. I love how Red is gentle with Cassie and treats her with compassion and understanding. We all need someone like Red in our life.

I’m not sure I would be thrilled to find out that my new home was in a cave. Can you imagine the look on Cassie’s face when she discovers her new home? Being pregnant causes some concern for Red but he does his best to make her comfortable. They do have moments where tension is high and as they get to know each other. One of Red’s biggest qualities is faith. He wants Cassie to know God but takes it slow so she can find her way to Him.

There is a little danger in the story as one man is consumed with jealousy. He wants Cassie for himself which will put Cassie in a test of trusting her new husband. She has never felt wanted or important and carries this feeling of being unworthy. I appreciate how the author gives us characters with real problems filled with emotion. In the book we discover clear examples of the Fruits of the Spirit which illustrates how we are to treat others.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. show less

I read straight through this entire book in one evening, and I felt light-headed afterwards, like I'd been looking over the characters' shoulders while I went. At first, Cassie irritated me to no end; any woman who tries so hard to be obedient to someone who continually demeans her...I had to forcibly remind myself that she didn't have the benefit of the feminist movement or a strong, supportive mother her whole life.
I've never actually read Love Comes Softly, which Mary Connealy cites as inspiration for the opening plot, but if it's even half as engaging as Montana Rose, I'm sold already! I fell in love with Red right along with Cassie, and I feared for them both every time the scene cut to Wade, watching from afar. We have a term for show more men like him in the twenty-first century! Stalker!
But the final scene, the explosive ending...well, I don't know if anyone saw it coming. I sure didn't! And I have to admit that Mary's solution was far more Christian and completely more satisfying than my own reaction of "Oh, just shoot him, already!"
This wasn't just an exemplary work of historical fiction, but it was also a work of inspiration that no one who reads it will soon forget! I can't wait for the next in the series, and I've already checked Petticoat Ranch out from the library! show less

True confession time: I only requested this book because I have an unrequited love affair with all things Montana. I didn't really pay any attention to the description of the book beyond the title, so it was a bit of a surprise to realize as I read that it was (in my view) a Christian romance. I lowered my expectations accordingly (having found previously that books with such an overt point of view, whatever it is, tend to have less-than-stellar writing and plotting) and kept reading.

How refreshing, then, to find that Montana Rose is a very good book. It is well-written, and the characters appealingly drawn. In a nutshell, a woman in 19th century Montana finds herself widowed and pregnant, an unacceptable condition in that time and show more place. She is forced into marriage with a local fellow (at her husband's funeral, no less!) who is a virtual stranger, and struggles to make a life for herself and her family.

The Christian message is not subtle, but it fits smoothly within the narrative rather than sticking out like a sore thumb. It's true, though, that I don't have any beef with a Christian viewpoint, being one myself though not evangelical. Someone with a strong non-Christian worldview would probably find this book's message overbearing.

As I said, there were some interesting plot "twists." I dreaded the inevitable preaching about a woman learning that it is her Christian duty to be submissive and obedient to her husband, but that wasn't the message at all. Cassie's new husband, Red, is much more interested in molding Cassie into a wife who can be an equal partner for him in their hardscrabble frontier life.

Still, it's hard for a Christian novel to generate much reader suspense over whether the good guys will prevail and the bad guys be thwarted. There's really only one way for it all to work out, so the emphasis for me as a reviewer became whether the journey is enjoyable even when the destination is preordained. In the case of Montana Rose the answer, quite happily, is yes. show less

I thoroughly enjoyed "Montana Rose." It is definitely reminiscent of the author's acknowledged inspiration, "Love Comes Softly", but with a flavor all its own. The characters were dynamic and believable, and the integration of religion seamless, as is so rare in many purported Christian novels. Even the supporting characters had strong presences in the story, despite its obvious focus on the relationship between Red and Chrissy. I look forward to reading the remainder of stories that were only partially fleshed out in Montana Rose.

M. Connealy's writing style is memorable and engaging, and I don't think I'll spoil anything by saying that the chapter that focuses on Cassie's labor is one I will never forget!!