Bold Montana Bride, a 1991 Zebra Lovegram by Karen A. Bale, takes a downturn in quality from the author’s previously reliable romances.
Rating:
Published: 1991
Illustrator: TBD
Imprint or Line: Zebra Lovegram
Published by: Kensington
Genres: Historical Romance, Western Romance
Pages: 448
Format: Paperback
Buy on: Amazon, AbeBooks
Reviewed by: Blue Falcon
TOTAL SPOILER ALERT ⚠
The Book
This review is of Bold Montana Bride by Karen A. Bale, a Zebra Lovegram western romance from 1991.
The Plot
Bold Montana Bride is set in Roarke, Montana. The first person we meet is the book’s heroine, Madeline Kate “Maddie” Broderick.
Maddie lives with her grandmother, her father, John, and her older sister, Meredith. John’s wife and the girls’ mother, Sarah, had abandoned them years earlier. By the end of the first chapter, Meredith leaves, too.
John is trying to force Maddie to marry a neighboring rancher because John needs the money.
Opposing him in this idea are Maddie–who at 17 doesn’t wish to marry–and the hero of the book, Flint McCormick. He is one of John’s employees who makes an offer for Maddie after hearing about John’s plan.
Maddie may not get to marry anyone as she is kidnapped by three men and forced to go to Canada.
Fortunately, Flint rescues her before any really bad things occur to her.
Later, several family secrets shake Maddie. Meanwhile, Flint starts to realize that he does have romantic feelings for her.
Maddie and Flint marry, but the beginning of their marriage is rocky due in part to Meredith’s reappearance. Meredith causes a great deal of unhappiness to John, Maddie, and Flint before she is exiled from the Broderick Ranch.
Maddie doesn’t trust that Flint loves her. She hurts both herself and him before eventually realizing her love for Flint.
And only then do they have their Happily Ever After.
The Upside
Maddie and Flint are both strong characters. As she usually does in her writing, Ms. Bale successfully brings her characters to life.
The Downside
Maddie is a bit naive and whiny. Worse, she trusts the wrong people–namely, Meredith. This causes Maddie to act in a hurtful manner toward Flint, who truly loves her. In fairness, Maddie is quite young; just 16 through 18, during the book’s duration.
Bold Montana Bride lacks the emotional depth that Ms. Bale’s earlier works had, in my opinion.
Sex
There are two rather mild sex scenes in this book.
Steam Factor: No need to wear a sweater. It’s above room temperature.
Violence
Near the end, a bear attacks the ranch, and Flint and Maddie shoot and kill it. The scene is not graphic.
Bottom Line on Bold Montana Bride
Bold Montana Bride is a paint-by-numbers romance for Karen A. Bale. Unfortunately, this was just the beginning of a period where the remainder of her published works fit this style. That doesn’t make them horrible books, but they are not as good as her earlier novels.
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| Overall: | 3.1 |
Synopsis
HE AWAKENED HER PASSIONS
High-spirited Maddie Broderick refused to follow her father’s advice and marry a rich man — even though that was the only way to save the Broderick ranch. She would manage on her own before she married for money. But her stubbornness nearly got her killed when she braved a raging blizzard to rescue her cattle and barely managed to find shelter in a cave. Then handsome half-breed Flint McCormick came to her rescue, the way he always had … but this time it was different. This time the rugged ranchhand’s touch made her strain toward him, longing to feel his sinewy body pressed against her own. And all at once, Maddie knew that her lifelong friend and protector must become her first and only lover no matter what the consequences!SHE SURRENDERED TO HIS KISSES
BOLD MONTANA BRIDE BY KAREN A. BALE
Flint had watched little Maddie grow up, always looking out for her and protecting her from harm. But when he finally tracked her through the snow to Eagle’s Nest and wrapped his strong arms around her shivering body, he felt a surge of passion that was a far cry from brotherly affection! Her first kiss told him that Maddie was a woman now — and that she wanted him as much as he wanted her! Flint vowed that once he’d warmed her rosy flesh with fiery caresses, he’d enflame her with ecstasy until she burned to feel the heat of his ultimate embrace…and willingly became his own BOLD MONTANA BRIDE.
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