A Montana Family

I loved the characters, the plot, and the lovely setting. Don't miss this memorable romance.

... Ms. Rustand has written a generous, exciting romance with believable characters you can't help caring about. A reader looking for an emotional, satisfying novel with which to while away an autumn evening won't do better than A MONTANA FAMILY, regardless of which state is on the cover.

It took sixteen years for Dr Jolie Maxell to move back to Paradise Corners, Montana. Her family's appeal to move closer and the death of a patient caused her to reevaluate her priorities and stimulated the change of location. As she watched her patient Wendell Hill die with no money but a plethora of mourners, Jolie had realized there would be few to mourn her if she passed. Such a realization caused her to seek her family, despite the many years of troubling relationships. What she found was animosity on the part of her hometown, suspicion and rumors abounding. Her brother's in huge trouble and her father's trying to ignore a serious heart condition. She also found the dream she thought would never be hers. Building contractor Matt Dawson came to Paradise Corners seeking relief from a questionable Chicago neighborhood for his children. Four years ago his wife passed away from cancer. She'd been his love, his inspiration and his dream come true, and her passing left both him and the children bereft. Having had one beautiful relationship, Matt doesn't expect another to come his way, although the children could really use a mother. But when his daughter becomes ill, Matt finds himself relying on Jolie for more than just medical care. A multi layered plot lends A MONTANTA FAMILY by Roxanne Rustand complexity and charm. The secondary characters, including a sheep guarding llama and puppy afraid of dust bunnies, bring a bit of humor to a tale filled with deep, intense emotion. The secondary human characters neatly tie the novel to the other parts of the miniseries without bogging down the pace of the plot, allowing the novel to read well as a stand alone, or part of more complex work. Further, the hero and heroine are well-balanced, believable characters living with ordinary challenges and extraordinary circumstances. The hero's daughter's diabetes also lends realism, both propelling the plot and creating an interesting secondary plot line. Very highly recommended.