A Refuge in Montana

This is a lovely book by Allie Pleiter, both inside and out (great cover). It’s a sweet second-chance inspirational romance that brings together the most unlikely pair—a widow and the man she believes is responsible for her husband’s death. 

When veterinarian Vicky Siden learns that Nick is back in town, the anger and grief over her husband’s untimely death resurface. She struggles to keep her focus on her work and her young son, Taylor, rather than on the handsome newcomer who was once her husband’s best friend. Nick’s arrival brings a cacophony of emotions and two unexpected visitors to the family’s Three Sisters Rescue Farm. Though he’s pledged to cover three months’ worth of expenses for the animals’ board and rehabilitation, he hopes that some time away from his job with the park services will help him heal as well. Nick wants to make amends with Vicky, and she wants to put the pain behind her. What they don’t expect is the growing feelings they have for one another

What I love most about this book is that a horse named Buddy and a donkey named Dunk are the catalysts that bring Vicky and Nick together. And throughout this short but tender journey, all four get second chances at life and love. 

My only selfish wish is that there would have been more settings other than the farm and local diner, giving the reader a purview as big as the Montana sky, but I still must read the first two, where I’m sure I’ll find a more expansive backdrop.

All in all, there’s a lot to love about this book, especially if you like romances and love animals. The protagonists are very identifiable, each with their own baggage, and they navigate grief in distinctive yet realistic ways. The rescue farm, which is the setting for the other two in the Three Sisters Rescue Farm series, is colorfully illustrated through the author’s words and makes the perfect backdrop for characters’ (human and animal) second chances and emotional healing. 

Book and Image Courtesy of Harlequin and NetGalley