Montana (Modern Mail Order Brides Book 2)

I wanted to like this story. I really did. In fact, I was very entertained until they went to New York. Yes, there were typos. Yes, one had to suspend all belief and a fair amount of credibility to accept the Professor vs. Country Bumpkin lingo. But that whole New York scenario - from the time they hit the Brownstone to the return to Montana - well, that was just too much for me.I wish they had explored the Toni Morrison dynamic of Pecola. Just like Morrison's character, Pecola lived in a fantasy world and moved into a very different environment than that which she was accustomed, but that's where the similarities end. The combined ignorance of the people in the community was just incredible.This story was supposedly contemporary, but with little effort, I could totally imagine the wagon train pulling up to the farm house. It's like the setting went from the 1800's to the 2000's interchangeably. Except, it's not interchangeable.What I liked about the story - was how Pecola got her wake-up call when William got her back to the ranch after the "wedding". Oh yeah, there went that romantic fantasy. And he was just as clueless about her expectations for intimacy as you'd imagine a man to be. Her being creeped out by his constant staring - yeah, that would do it for me too.I loved how she beat-feet away from the lake, leaving William to fend for himself - that was too funny. I loved how she told the truth when he asked "Was it good for you?" I liked how she wasn't discouraged by the prejudice and stupidity of the town's folks. And I liked her spunk and spirit to stick with her man even if the fantasy was blown to smithereens.I liked that William was a stand up guy who believe in his morals, standards and doing the right thing. I really, really loved how he was committed to Pecola and his relationship. He was a straight shooter from the jump. She just had to get there after a while.And this book was funny. I mean laugh out loud funny. Some of the dialogue was spot on and some of the colorful supporting characters were a bonus.Overall I enjoyed the story, but I wish it were better executed. Easy for me to say, I only had to write a comment, my opinion. As always, I applaud any author with the courage to put pen to paper and publish your heart for the world to pick apart. Couldn't be me.

I had a hard time believing this was Ms. Gaines' work. The female lead is a romance author who has earned her living writing books about mail order brides. After learning that many of her fans think her writing reads like a woman who hasn't "been laid recently " she decides to sign up to be a mail order bride herself. Enter Billy Hoe Johnson, a university professor who takes over his family's ranch.At this point, the premise of the story sounds promising. Unfortunately, it fails at every turn. I am confused as to how a university educated professor who can speak French, Italian and Spanish fluently, can be such an hick and a brute. He is completely clueless when it comes to romance and foreplay. There were so many laughable moments that I'm sure that the author never intended for them to be funny. One that comes to mind is how the female lead ran when she sees a water moccasin then not a week later she runs to save two toddlers confronted by a mountain lion with a hammer. Really?!I'd like to say that the chemistry between the leads grew accordingly but sadly it was not to be. What was ironic was that life imitated art - Ms Gaines wrote as naively as her female lead. I had the hardest time finishing it. Save yourself the trouble and skip this one.

I have fallen into the trap. Wide open spaces, hot ranchers and mail order brides have taken over my brain. This story is my second MOB book this week!Pecola was a romance writer who wanted a love of her own. Writing MOB novels from her Brookstone in Brooklyn wasn't doing it for her anymore. She was stuck in a rut and needed a change. When she eavesdropped on a couple of 'ugly ladies' talking recklessly about her latest novel, she decided enough was enough. She took the plunge and signed up for the mail order bride service.Billy Joe was a former professor who moved back home to Montana to run his family's ranch. He loved the ranch, but wanted the companionship of a woman who could understand his literary mind. He heard about the mail order bride service and painstakingly took his time to find the right woman.... Pecola.This story was charming and I wanted to cry with poor Pecola on her wedding night. Old boy was a hound who just needed a release. I was happy she was patient with him enough to show him what she liked and how to really love her. Once he got it right, he got it right!I enjoyed the secondary characters, especially Pap with his made up words and untapped wisdom. I hated how Pecola was treated when she introduced to the townsfolk at the barn raising. I may have made a few enemies with those ignorant folks. Pecola was a good one. When they started surrounding her and touching her hair and skin it was a bit much. It made me all kinds of uncomfortable, but that's what good writing does.I wanted to smack Billy Joe's cousin Avery when she attached herself like a leech to Pecola's brother Zach. When she exclaimed I ain't never been with a black man before, I wanted to shake her. She was a little over the top with her aggressive behavior to a strange man. It felt like I was watching Mandingo for a second. I'm still tripping at the shotgun wedding.This was a good book. I enjoyed the characters as well as the storyline.

I have been missing out for so long! This series is amazing! The characters are beyond hilarious and their development is good to see.

I ENJOYED MY MY WAY THROUGH THE BOOK. WISH THE STORY WAS LONGER. iT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE DETAILED WITH THE CHARACTERS.

One of the funniest stories I've read. Loved all the characters and I can imagine how they speak, it just makes me chuckle all the time. Brilliantly light hearted and witty .

Love this story