Wild Montana Sky

Montana Sky Series, Book 1

By: Debra Holland

Narrated by: Natalie Ross

Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Stepping off the train in Sweetwater Springs, Montana, Elizabeth Hamilton is filled with relief, nerves, and the thrill of hope. Life on her dear friend’s ranch will be very different than Gilded Age Boston’s high society. But at least here, Elizabeth is far from her spiteful sister-in-law and the bittersweet memories of her late fiancé.

Nick Sanders has loved Elizabeth since he first glimpsed her portrait - not that he dare admit it. A ranch hand has no call to woo a well-born lady, especially when she’s being courted by the town’s finest gentleman. Yet there’s something in her mix of courage and compassion that won’t let Nick quit.

In Wild Montana Sky, Debra Holland’s acclaimed USA Today best-selling romance, Elizabeth faces the hardships and dangers of the West with resilience that surprises even her.

©2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.; 2012 Debra Holland

This is not a romance

I don't understand why this book is categorized as a romance. This is historical fiction with just a tiny dash of mild romance. It was a long and very boring story. The characters are not believable and the "romance" was tepid. To make matters worse the narration was terrible. Ms. Ross makes very good male voices but she made the heroine sound overly dramatic and annoying. I would return this audiobook if I could.
If you're looking for a western romance- stay away from this title.
If you're looking for a western fiction story with clean "blink and you miss it" romance then this is for you.

finish but who thinks like that?

The narration of this book was good which kept me listening. I really just had a problem with the storyline. The heroines fiance dies. And she meets his cousin because he looks just like her fiance she tries to get with him. My problem is I couldn't put myself in her frame of mind. I would never want to replace my fiance with a carbon copy. That's not real love. And she spends most of the book doing this.

A Sweet Romance

Elizabeth Hamilton, a Boston socialite, lost her first love to illness and never embarked upon another serious relationship. She is content playing hostess for her brother Lawrence, who lived the life of a confirmed bachelor. However, while on a business trip to New York, Lawrence begins a whirlwind courtship with a young widow named Genia and they quickly marry. This surprise marriage is the beginning of Elizabeth’s troubles and leads her on the path of new opportunities.

Nick Sanders works as a ranch hand for Elizabeth’s best friend Pamela and her husband John. Nick is a simple man, who has his whole world turned upside down when sent to Boston to persuade Elizabeth to move to Montana. Nick’s attraction to Elizabeth is instantaneous but he has his work cut out for him because they come from two different worlds.

Wild Montana Sky is a sweet historical western romance. There is no sex between the main characters but that doesn’t detract from the romance or story. The storyline is strong and the characters are well developed. I loved watching Elizabeth grow from city girl to country woman. This transition also mimics Elizabeth’s growth as a person. I was very pleased with how Elizabeth discovered her true feelings for Nick and how she finally recognized Caleb’s shallowness. Wild Montana Sky is a wonderful love story and a great read for any fan of the historical western genre.

Easy Listening, Sweet Historical Romance

If you are looking for an easy listen of early Montana settlers and a gentle romance, this is it. It was a good change of pace for me, as I don't usually listen to romance books. When I do, I like them to be like this one, clean and sweet, with a real story included.

Wonderful romance about a cowboy & an eastern lady

Where does Wild Montana Sky rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One the the top in my book. Totally loved this story and the narrator was wonderful.

Have you listened to any of Natalie Ross’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I have not but I sure will be, Natalie gave life to this story. Debra painted the pictures in the book with a lovely romance and Natalie painted the pictures in your mind as she told a wonderful tale of love. A wonderful voice with wonderful character voices.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes in fact when I got to the last 4 chapters I had to listen to the rest. I only listen when I drive or work around the home. When I got home from work I could not put this audio away.

Any additional comments?

I cannot wait to read or listen to more from the Montana Sky Series. Debra is a wonderful author that brings so much to her writing. She tells a tale of love, lost, pain why making you feel alive, warm as she warms your heart. You can feel the characters coming out of her stories, reaching out to take you in.

Debra writes a compelling story of hurt, pain as she takes you through Elizabeth life as her brother brings a wife home. What a shock that was, Elizabeth has always wanted a sister and prays they will be come close. She has a hard time with handing over her home to a new lady. With even a harder time when she finds out her new sister-in-law is a witch and wants her out or at the least to make her live as bad as she can. It will break your heart as the author takes you through a trying time for Elizabeth as that hateful woman makes her life a living hell. Elizabeth is single and her sister-in-law does not let her forget it. It doesn’t matter that Elizabeth lost the only man she loved when he got sick. As the story comes to light you really would like to reach out and slap that witch silly. Elizabeth writes to her best friend who moved to Montana when she got married. Her friend feels her pain and invites her out to her home in hopes she will stay.

In walks Nick who I loved, he is the warmest, sweetest man there is. He is my favorite character in this book although there were a few more I just fell in love with him. If he was real I feel sure my husband would have to do a lot of sweet talking so my eyes would not wonder. You are so going to love this man, it breaks your heart to see how much he has loved Elizabeth even before they ever met. He fell in love with her from a pictures and stories, when he meets her he falls all the way. He does his best to make her happy even if that man is not him he just wants her to have what she wants. Your heart will break for you as you watch him love from a far with no hopes of ever being the man of her dreams. How can such a fine lady such as her fall for a lonely old cowboy.

There are tons of characters you will fall in love with between the pages of this story. Some you won’t and a few you would like to slap around. The author paints a story that is so real that you forget you are reading or listening. You can’t wait to see what happens, you will smile, chuckle and fall in love with not only Montana but the people in this small town as you watch Elizabeth grow as a women and find her way to the true love of her life. This is a wonderful clean read that has passion, love, want and needs like you will never forget. This is one story that will stay with you even as you move on to other books. It is a book you will want to read or listen to over and over again.

Natalie Ross is a voice you can listen to over and over, you never get tired of hearing it. I can’t wait to listen to more audio’s from this narrator. Her many wonderful different voices will keep you entertained as she takes you through the life of these wonderful people. You will find you can’t wait to meet the next character and find out what voice you will fiind. She will keep you smiling and laughing. Between her and the author this was an OUTSTANDING book. This is one story you don’t want to miss. Pick up any of Debra’s book she is truly an amazing author, all of her book have kept me in chuckles as she writes a wonderful story and bring it to life.

Excellent Story!

This is a great sweet historical western romance read! Nick and Elizabeth's story! I highly recommend reading the prequel Beneath Montana's Sky first, so that all the characters fit in to place and you know their history. Natalie Ross also did a great job narrating the story!

A Very Sweet, Chaste Montana Romance

Where does Wild Montana Sky rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Very highly! The tale was sweet, enchanting and engrossing!

The tale held my attention through-out. The author's word-building and writing are of the highest quality. Her descriptions of Montana life were, at times, wondrous, perilous, heart-rending and romantic. Debra's descriptions of Montana's beauty and overwhelming grandeur transported me there. If you love clean-cut western romances with utterly satisfying, happy-ever-after endings, you will love WILD MONTANA SKY.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved both of these characters - but Nick was my favorite. They were each well-drawn and genuine and I connected to them easily. I hugely enjoyed watching Elizabeth relax her straight-laced eastern ways though it took her long enough! I wanted to shake her more than once the way she dreamily honed in on a shallow man when swoon-worthy Nick was right there under her nose! OMG... Nick was a honey. He was handsome, shy, smart, strong, loyal and a true gentleman. One of my very favorite quotes EVER occurred when he complimented Elizabeth's eyes.

"The sky is the most glorious blue I've ever seen." Nick must have heard her quiet words. "I used to think there couldn't be a more beautiful blue in all the world." The sound of his voice pulled Elizabeth into his presence. She said with a curious glance. "What changed your mind?" He flushed though his green gaze remained steady on her, "I saw your eyes."

What about Natalie Ross’s performance did you like?

The narrator, Natalie Ross, did a very good job. Her voice was clear and easily understood. She portrayed and differentiated between the characters exceptionally well. She inserted emotion, pauses, etc. as was called for and did a great job with accents. I especially loved how she portrayed Nick. His cowboy drawl made me melt. I would certainly look for other books Natalie has narrated in the future.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I alternately laughed and cried and swooned at parts.

Following are a few other favorite quotes illustrating the tender humor and the glorious scenery to be found within this book that made me go WOW!:
---
"I didn't mean to upset you, Ms. Hamilton," his gaze shifted back to her. "It's a beautiful sight and I thought you'd like to see it." She gasped in delight at the vista before her. Distant purple mountains framed lush green meadows speckled with brown dots of cattle. A silver river threaded through clumps of trees. In the middle of the valley, ranch buildings clustered around a large white house. Elizabeth inhaled crisp air into her lungs...
---
"We'll ride along the river. It's a mighty pretty sight..." Puffy white clouds floated across the azure blue sky. Pine-covered mountains crowned with snowcaps folded down into foothills that ringed the valley. Beneath the clouds the play of sun and shadow cast hazy blue-green patches on the mountainsides. A distant large-winged bird rode on air currents before diving into a clump of trees.
---
"What do you men wear (to swim)?" Laughter glinted in his green eyes and he slanted her a mischievous grin. "Since Mrs. Carter came here to live, we swim in old pants cut off at the knees." Warmth crept up her cheeks. Bad enough to think of a bare-chested Nick swimming in the pool without thinking of him naked.

Any additional comments?

WILD MONTANA SKY by Debra Holland is a very sweet, chaste Montana romance set in the late 1800s that will leave you smiling. The first few chapters are set in Victorian Boston, Massachusetts. The balance of the story takes place in wild and beautiful Sweetwater Springs, Montana. Both settings lure the reader right away.

WILD MONTANA SKY is the 1st book in Debra's Montana Sky Series. It can be easily read as a standalone and that is how I enjoyed it. Recently, BENEATH MONTANA'S SKY was published. It is a 125-page prequel novella to this book and is the story of Pamela and John who are the ranch owners in WILD MONTANA SKY. I hope to read it soon. The ensuing books in this series AND her Mail-Order Brides of the West series all have interconnected characters but each can be enjoyed as standalones also.

WILD MONTANA SKY is the story of Elizabeth Hamilton and Nick Sanders. When Elizabeth received the missive declaring "Laurence married!", her ordered life was upended. She had managed her brother's home since their parents' deaths but with those two words, their home had a new mistress. Elizabeth wished that his bride, Genia, would be the sister she'd never known, but that yearning was for naught. As the two women were introduced, Genia commented "You're so pretty, Elizabeth,... Why, I'd never have taken you for a spinster." Things only got worse after that. With no real friends in Boston, Elizabeth wrote her childhood friend, Pamela, who had married and moved to Montana. In response, Elizabeth received an invitation to visit her there. Hence begins Elizabeth's mesmerizing journey from a sheltered, uptight Boston blueblood to a strong, capable Montana woman.

When Nick Sanders, a cowboy in Sweetwater Springs, Montana, picked up the mail for the ranch, he immediately recognized the handwriting on an envelope as being that of Pamela's dear friend from Boston. He also noticed that the writing was tear-splotched and wondered what had upset Ms. Hamilton so. He had never met her but that didn't keep Nick from worrying about her.

Supporting characters, human and non, were captivating. Pamela's children were darling. I enjoyed reading about the horses, the two dogs, Champ and Sally, and the hen, Mrs. Pooch.

My full review has been posted at Reading Between the Wines Book Club. Check it out there!

Part one- so far so good.

I hope it continues along as it has so far. I do hope part two does not drag out who the best guy is for her too long or it could get boring. But part one gets a thumbs up👍🏼

What a lovely book!

I enjoyed every moment of this story. I had to break up the book over several days, and even dreamt of it. The characters are so personable and falling in love, hoping and awaiting the next happenings basically happened automatically. I can't wait to start the next book of the series.

Very Nice Christian Romance

It's nice to read a story with a plot that isn't focused on how often toy can get in the bedroom. This story had a lovely plot and most of the characters portrayed the kind of person I hope I am. It's nice to know the sort of challenges pioneer men and women faced on a day to day basis.

Wild sky

A lovely story filled with twists I didn't expect , when you feel like you could slap a character you know it's written well lol

Great Story

This was a lovely story to listen to, both in terms of its content and the narrator. I look forward to listening to the next book in the series.