She left Montana a rancher’s daughter and returned a refined city woman—with a six-shooter in her skirt and a cautious heart.
When she boldly thwarts a violent holdup at a train stop, Annalee Beckett’s return to Mystic is anything but quiet. After a year in Philadelphia learning the ways of society, she steps off the westbound train and back into the wild frontier life she left behind. But the polished dresses and newfound sophistication she brings with her can’t shield her from the stark reality of a town changed or from the rugged lawman whose silent gaze still stirs something fierce in her chest.
Brodie Gaines has spent the past year keeping law and order in a town caught between ranching roots and rising silver fever. But nothing prepares him for the sight of Annalee stepping off the train, no longer the tomboy ranch girl but a poised and distant woman. Her year away may have taught her the ways of the city, but it’s the untamed land of Montana, and the people who call it home, that demand her heart. As winter storms rage, wolves descend, and rustlers threaten the Beckett family ranch, Annalee and Brodie must navigate more than just treacherous terrain. They must find a way back to each other.
Amid avalanches, ambushes, and the quiet intimacy of shared memories, two stubborn hearts will have to decide if love is worth the risk. Because in the Montana Territory, survival may come down to more than grit and gunpowder. It may require opening the heart to a second chance.
Storm in Montana is a full-length novel with an HEA.
Becky Claxon –
This is a wonderful western that showed the hard times, the people who worked hard, the loving families, and the scary times they went through. Annalee was just as strong as her brothers in most ways and had grown up with them and Brodie. Brodie was the sheriff of their small Montana town who had feelings for Annalee. Annalee also had feelings for Brodie but they both kept them to theirselves. I was reminded of all the things we take for granted. Some of the tribulations they had to go through were snow storms they could get caught in, rustlers, wolves, and others that kept me on the edge of my seat at times. If you like romantic westerns then I encourage you to read this book.
Mary Jane McLeod –
I’m so enjoying this series and all the characters of Mystic and the Becketts. I so enjoyed Annalee and Brodie’s story. These two have had feelings for each other for years but never acted on them. In the beginning she was to young. It was great to watch their relationship develop as they fought cattle rustlers and wolves. This book captivated me from the beginning. A really great read.that I didn’t want to put down.
Andrew Agnew –
Another delightful story. I don’t know if it was just me, but it seemed to be more descriptive, especially earlier on, than some others. I felt as if I could see exactly what was being described, in the country around Mystic.
Annalee, returns from a year in Philly, attending and learning about high society… but she is first and foremost, a ranch girl. But her year away has also brought her a little refinement, which some locals notice, some good , some bad.
Rustlers, are always a problem, but with winter in full force, a steady disappearance of cattle from surrounding ranches, and signs of a large pack of wolves, cause concern, especially for Sheriff Brodie Gaines. Even though, his thoughts are constantly on his old childhood playmate, Annalee.
A touching love story. A strong capable woman, and a man who can appreciate her for who she is, and allow her to be herself. The type of woman, many men long for, but most unable to live up to her expectations.
MaryEllen Cox –
This is my voluntary review of a copy I was given.
This story was enjoyable. It’s mostly an old-fashioned western adventure with a sweet romance included.
The sheriff, Brodie, is friends with Annalee’s older brother. She has always had a crush on him, but he thought she was the annoying little sister following her brother around. Everyone else knew her crush had grown into love but, they were waiting for him to realize it. That part was mostly predictable and really sweet.
All of the action-adventure stuff was * not * predictable and really exciting. And there was a lot of it. Winter in Montana is harsh!
Cathy S –
Brodie was Cody Beckett best friend. Cody sister Annalee always played with the boys growing up, riding , shooting, tracking. Annalee could hold her own. Fearlessly adventurous and never backing down from the challenges. Brodie held his attraction to Annalee at bay after all she was Cody’s little sister. Annalee from the age of sixteen was attracted to Brodie. Can they come to terms with their attraction to form a more romantic relationship. Many dangerous incidents occur throughout the book forcing them to come to terms with their relationship. Truly enjoyed the book. Thanks for the ARC.
Susan T –
This is my voluntary review of a copy I was given.
Blizzards, avalanches, rustlers and wolves with a love story thrown in – what more can a reader ask for. Fast paced story line that is hard to put down. Well written characters especially Annalee and Brodie. Another great read from Ms. Davies. Looking forward to next book (and many, many more) in series.
Linda Knight –
Another spellbinding novel from Ms. Davies as the suspense will have you on the edge of your chair. Cattle are disappearing at an alarming rate without any clues. There are blizzards on top of blizzards. Annalee returned from Pennsylvania, and Brodie is having a hard time hiding his feelings. Absolutely loved this story, it has a wonderful story line a must read.
Anne Morrison –
A great addition to the Montana Becketts Wild Spirit Ranch series. Once again Shirleen Davies has written a novel with great characters, a storyline that brings, romance, drama, danger and a real sense of the challenges faced at that time. Anna Lee has returned from a stay back east with relatives, she is more polished and refined with a wardrobe to match but in her heart she hasn’t changed, nor has her feelings for the sheriff her older brother’s best friend, both of whom she has followed around since she was a child. As always in the series there are challenges for both the townspeople and the ranchers, the winters are severe with dreadful snowstorms and icy temperatures, through in the threat of cattle rustlers and wolves and you have a great storyline that grips your attention. Shirleen has a real knack for interweaving characters and great storylines through her books and there is a real sense of community where people work together in difficult times, and enjoy celebrating together at happy occasions. Highly recommended and looking forward to the next one in the series.
Jill Eshenbaugh –
Annalee has loved Brodie since she was a little girl following him and her brother around their ranch. She spends a year on the east coast with her mother’s family and comes back, what Brodie thinks is a changed woman. But she’s not. She still carries that torch for Brodie and he does for her. Can what he perceives to be a difference in their status be overcome.
This is an easy read with great characters and plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader on their toes. Of course its a happily ever after and a bit of a page turner included. There is just a little cliff hanger so now the reader knows you really have to read the next book in the series.
patricia rose –
Brodie is the sheriff in town and has always liked Annalee but she is the sister to his friends. she has come back to town but he does not know what to think. but now they all have to face rustlers and blizzards and avalanches this story will grab you at the beginning and not let you go till the end. well written strong characters and strong family. will not say more do not want to give anything away . riveting story to the end. i was given a copy of the book but this is an honest review
Liverpoolcathy –
Anna Lee had spent a year away on the east coast learning how to be a lady, dressing well and mixing with the right people. But the ranch was home so she returned only to run into Brodie at the station. Still the silent brooding lawman. But fate has a way of drawing them together, fighting the weather, outlaws and a pack of wolves!
Will fate allow them to face their feelings for each other . No spoilers get reading and enjoy catching up with the family!
Margaret McGovern –
Marvelous historical cowboy/ranch romantic suspense. This book is mixed with so many dynamics, interesting developments, and characters. Analee is a beloved Beckett and has always been refined, but also a crack shot like her brothers. Brodie grew up with the Beckett brothers, but he took on the role as public servant, as Sheriff of Mystic City. Wolves bigger and trained by humans are stealing herds, killing, tracking, and herding humans. Evil surrounds Mystic Valley and only working together is going to save them all. I enjoyed this story tremendously and look forward to reading more books by Ms Davies.
Marlene –
Mystic, Montana, home of the Wild Spirit Ranch with the Beckett Family at the forefront, with Annalee returning home and the love of her life being Sheriff Brodie Gaines. The wilds of Montana where snow is deep, wind blows harsh, and cattle rustlers take advantage of storms to take sizable herds. The Beckett’s bond together to find the thieves, fight wolves and recover herds. There is love in the air and I enjoyed the storyline right up until The End. Excellent writing!
Kathy M –
Coming from a year in Philly to Montana is a big change for Annalee but seeing the change in Annalee is a bigger change for Sheriff Brodie Gains. He now feels Annalee is out of his league and he’s not good enough for her.
When Annalee joins the men in tracking rustlers and wolves during a blizzard, Brodie realizes she’s still a strong country girl at heart. He knows this is the kind of woman he needs in his life. As they endure harsh conditions he decides to let her know he wants to spend time with her and hopefully marry and build a family together.
This is a great written story. The descriptions are so great you can feel the danger everyone is in and the harsh weather they have to survive to protect their families and cattle. I loved the all the characters from Annalee, Brodie and all the brothers. This family will do whatever it takes to protect each other and their way of life.
I voluntarily read an arc and this is my honest opinion.
Annette –
Love this story. It’s romantically clean, sweet combined with intense adventures. This couple is well matched and make a great team. I enjoyed reading the build-up of their relationship, their mutual magnetic attraction and practical nature. Her grit with proper delivery is hilarious. Great community, full of the joy of supportive family and friends.
Rita Meston –
Annalee has returned to the family ranch Mystic after some time away with her mother’s family. She has now matured as a young woman rather than the girl she was when she left. However, her feelings for Sherriff Brodie are still there from when she spent time with him and her brother when they were growing up. Some threats to the ranch from rustlers and wolves see the Becketts and Brodie trying to overcome the difficulties together. And a relationship between Annalee and Brodie develops into a wonderful love story. This series just gets better and better.
Paula P Wall –
Shirleen Davies never fails to deliver a gem which she has amazing done once again with Storm in Montana. In the Montana Becketts, Wild Spirit Ranch third book, Annalee Beckett returns to Mystic after a year in Philadelphia. From the first chapter it is evident that that Annalee is still the spirited, plucky woman that left Mystic. Now she is also an elegant, poised woman too. Sheriff Brodie Gaines doesn’t stand a chance but falls even more madly in love with her. What a wonderful romance in the midst of everyday life and rustlers to catch. Intensely emotional but also intense action and suspense too. A perfect balance between slow-burn romance, family life and suspenseful action.
Life is still difficult in this wild west story. Not only is survival harsh in a Montana winter there is also some villains with almost supernatural abilities. This is one impossible to put down book as the Becketts, neighbors, Brodie and Annalee work together to catch and stop the criminals. I loved this story with the perfect conclusion for two of my favorite characters.
Joyce Fritz –
Returning to her home at the Wild Spirit Ranch, at Mystic Montana, Annalee Beckett stopped a holdup at a train stop. She was returning from a year in Philadelphia where she learned about society in the city but she still had the skill she grew up with on the ranch. Brodie Gaines is the sheriff in Mystic and has dealt with fights due to silver fever. Now they have to deal with wolves and they soon learn they are not ordinary wolves but ones that have been trained by a human and are bigger than an average wolf and much more deadly. You will also be able to see their love for each other blossom. A great story that has it all including avalanches and saving two brothers trapped beneath one of those avalanches. Another great story by this author who never disappoints.
Amanda –
Annalee arrives back in ‘Mystic having spent time in Philadelphia with her cousins. She is glad to be home, Brodie sees her at the railway station and realises that she’s now a sophisticated woman rather than the girl who went away. What will she see in a small town sheriff?
Rustlers seem to be more organised than they were previously and Brodie and Annie’s brothers are anxious to catch them, she’s determined to go with them, she can shoot as well as them. Brodie keeps trying to protect her but she’s not having any of it! She needs him to see her as a grown woman who can fend for herself but is happy to rely on him when she needs it. She’s loved him for years, now he needs to make his feelings known.
Another great read in the series from Shirleen.
Lisa Parker –
Annalee Beckett and Brodie Gaines grew up together in Mystic, Montana. Since Brodie is close friends with all of Annalee’s rancher brothers, she has always been around all of them. She is a tomboyish girl who is as tough and as hard-working as all of her brothers.
Annalee has always been in love with Brodie, but he never seemed to notice her. Yet, Brodie has always been attracted to her, but as the sheriff, he works twenty-four hours a day and needs to totally concentrate on his extensive and dangerous job.
Meanwhile, Annalee’s mother sends her to Philadelphia for a year to learn the refined ways of the society people who live there. However, on her way home, Annalee encounters some dangerous men who plan to rob the riders on the train. In spite of her fancy clothes and refined ways, she pulls a gun out of her pocket to shoot them, and they run away. That is when Annalee realizes that, underneath her new society veneer, she is still the tomboyish rancher.
When Annalee gets home, and she and Brodie immediately see each other again, they immediately realize that they still have strong feelings for each other. In spite of that, Brodie still maintains that his job makes him unfit to get married. However, Brodie constantly visits her brothers and her ranch, so they constantly see each other. Therefore, it is difficult for them to ignore each other.
Shirleen Davies skillfully includes many realistic, treacherous problems that threatened ranchers’ lives in the untamed land of Montana. The Becketts and Brodie encounter snow storms, blizzards, avalanches, rustlers and wolves that seriously jeopardize their lives. However, Annalee immediately discards her society ways to join her brothers and Brody as they all work together to overcome all of their treacherous obstacles.
This enthralling story is a page-turner with interesting characters, an exciting plot, and a beautiful love story that will keep Readers on-the edge-of-their-seats
Susan Dyer –
It’s no secret that I have always enjoyed Shirleen Davies’ historical western stories and STORM IN MONTANA is exactly why. Hang on tight my reading friends. This story is so intense you will be constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. STORM IN MONTANA will stay with you long after you finish reading it. It is a fantastic story filled with family and them all working together and having each other’s backs. Annalee has just returned to Montana after a year long trip to Philadelphia to learn all about the finer things in life. But that is not who Annalee is. She isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty or shoot her gun! She is tough as nails no matter how she looks to others.
Along the way while reading STORM INTO MONTANA, you will run into so many colorful characters and have to deal with a lot of tough situations. I’m not going to give away much more of STORM IN MONTANA, you just have to take my word for it so that you will not be disappointed. So much more happens on these pages that your heart will be in your throat at the same time as you are holding your breath! Overall, STORM IN MONTANA is a book I can say nothing but fantastic things about. There is so much heart in Shirleen’s writing that I was left with a huge smile on my face and my heart was very happy.
Shirleen Davies sure did her research for STORM IN MONTANA and it really shows while you are reading. You will feel as if you are right in the middle of a very snowy trip in Montana. I loved traveling along with Annalee and Brodie. Annalee might be back home, all refined, but she will forever be a ranch girl at heart! Shirleen Davies really knows how to write about love, heartbreak, and forgiveness. I can’t wait to read more by this wonderful author. Spend the afternoon on your couch with a cold drink, devouring this beautiful story. You will love every minute of it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Margaret McGovern –
Awesome contemporary cowboy romance. This is Cody and Hannah’s story. Cody gets rehired at Whistle Rock Ranch after being gone for 2 years. Hannah is shocked to see him as he left without a word to anyone. As they try to work their way back together the Ranch starts having strange happenings. The story has romance, suspense, danger, family, fear and cowboy charm. I always look forward to reading future books by Ms Davies.
Bonnie Blackledge –
Annalee Beckett returns home to the ranch where she grew up in Mystic, Montana, after spending a year in Philadelphia with her cousin learning the ways of society. She reunites with an old friend, Sheriff Brodie Gaines, as they face winter storms, rustlers stealing cattle, and trained wolves who herd cattle and attack those who try to interfere. It seems that the town of Mystic and the surrounding ranchers can’t catch a break as they fight the elements.
In the midst of it all, Annalee and Brodie strengthen their friendship into something more. The action in this novel starts at the very beginning and continues through to the end. It keeps readers on the edge of their seats and entices them to imagine what will happen in the next book in the series.
Gail –
When Annalee (Annie) Becket left Montana for Philadelphia 1 year ago, she was a girl having learned her life’s lessons on the family ranch. However, she returned from Philadelphia a woman who carried herself with quiet confidence and undeniable appeal. Just before arriving back home in Mystic, she thwarts a train robbery with the gun hiding in her traveling skirt. What would the Philadelphia socialites have though about that? Although, while the opening scene on the train was exciting, I felt it was a little disjointed and separated from the rest of the story, since no one mentioned it anywhere else in the book.
Brodie Gaines is Mystic’s sheriff. He and Annie grew up together. She used to tag along when Brodie and her brothers played. But could the beautiful woman who’s returned from Philadelphia be the same girl he knew?
It’s no secret to others that Annie and Brodie have feelings for each other, The question was, would either of them be brave enough to be hones with the other?
“Storm in Montana” is full of adventure, danger, saloon fights, avalanches, and a dangerous gang of cattle rustlers who uses trained wolves to accomplish evil (I’ve never heard of such a thing!).
Through it all, Annie shows her skill and tenacity to do what is right as she rides with Brodie and her brothers into various dangerous situations. Will she stay in Mystic or prefer high-society Philadelphia? Is she too fancy for a sheriff in Montana Territory? And what will we learn about Dr. Clementine Preston in upcoming stories? I thoroughly enjoyed this clean western and am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book and have voluntarily given my honest opinion in this review.
Sharon L Hass –
This is an outstanding tale of a blooming romance, full of action, which includes cattle robbers who have stolen from ranchers around Mystic and are now going to be hunted down.
Annalee has been gone a full year from Mystic, she left a girl and came back a woman of grace and elegance, but don’t be fooled by what you see as she still packs a gun in the skirt of her dress and knows how to use it! She thwarts a train robbery right away when they arrive in Mystic!!
Brodie is Sheriff of Mystic and he has been keeping the town freee of unwanted sorts.
Right away when Annalee arrives back home Brodie sees her, but just keeps an eye out to make sure her ride to the Beckett ranch shows up and that she is safe. They have been friends since kids and one of her brothers is his best friend.
To read their journey to accepting their feelings for each other is great, but the other things going on that they are involved in together is action that almost makes you want to hold your breath until that particular event is over! They are caught in avalanches and so much more. They save her brothers from death and it keeps going in this clean, well written Western story. You will not want to put it down until you have finished it because you can’t stop turning the pages to find out what happens next!!!