She’s a big city photographer determined to document the West. He’s a no-nonsense rancher focused on growing the family ranch. Neither intends to back down first.
Molly O’Sullivan is an independent young lady. Determined to follow her own path, she leaves the privileges of her parents’ Chicago home to document the West with her photographs and stories. No one will stand in her way, including the much too handsome, obnoxious rancher from the most prominent family in southern Montana.
Elijah Beckett has no plans to change his life. A hard-bitten rancher, Elijah works long days alongside his mother and siblings to keep the ranch growing. In no scenario do his plans include marriage and children… until his life is upended when a vivacious city woman bursts into his life.
To his disappointment, not rustlers or bank robbers nor being surrounded by a group of Crow Indians thwarts her plans. Molly is gracious, determined, and annoyingly beautiful, which irritates Elijah all the more.
As the town accepts her with open arms, Elijah realizes there is but one course of action left.
Wait her out and celebrate the day she boards the train for anywhere except his small Montana community.
Wild Spirit Revival, Book One in the Montana Becketts, Wild Spirit Ranch historical western romance series, is a full-length novel with an HEA and no cliffhanger.
patricia rose –
this is a wonderful story. molly is a photojournalist who has come west to capture the beauty of the west. Elijha is a cowboy and has a ranch with his family. has molly goes around taking pictures of everyone they are all welcoming except Elijha. but then she comes to the ranch to talk to the orphans who work there and they start to get to know each other. if you like cowboys , robbers , horses ,indians.and a fire you will want to read the book looking forward to the next book i was given a copy of the book but this is an honest review
MJ –
A really great beginning to a new series. I can’t wait to read more about the Beckett family. I loved Elijah and Molly’s story. These two have different ideas of what they expect and want their future to be but in time begin to realize that their goals aren’t as far apart as they think. I anxiously await the next book.
Marlene Larsen –
It’s exciting to begin a new series. There are brothers, a couple sisters, Mom and a newborn babe added to the Beckett family. Molly O’Sullivan comes to town with her camera ready for any and all exciting events. It’s 1880 and women are running businesses and publishing newspapers. With Molly producing wonderful photos, all is good in Mystic Valley. She even took pictures of some Crow Indians that were passing through the countryside. I’m looking forward to more adventures in Montana early years.
Rita Meston –
Molly arrives in Montana with her camera equipment ready for new adventures. She encounters grumpy rancher Elijah, one of the Beckett brothers from Wild Spirit Ranch. He finds fiercely independent Molly irritating at first but as she starts taking photographs around the town and eventually at the ranch, he begins to find her fascinating too. Molly in turn starts to realise there is another side to Elijah, a softer and very protective one that she is increasingly attracted to. As opportunities present themselves for Molly to further her career, Elijah finds a way to support her and for them to build a life together.
Joyce Fritz –
Being a photographer as well as a determined independent woman, Molly O’Sullivan is determined to capture the west traveling all by herself. Elijah Beckett is a rancher working alongside his mother and siblings protecting against rustlers. The town welcomes Molly with open arms but Elijah isn’t impressed. It doesn’t take long for him to change his mind and when she ends up in danger, he realizes she means more to him than he thought. Will he be willing to help her get the photos she wants as well as securing their happily ever after.
Amanda –
Molly has left her family in Chicago to go West and take photographs. She first meets Elijah when she’s chasing the thief from the train. He’s no help at all, going so far as to.imply she’s mad! She hopes to never see him again. She has enough to do taking photos and sending them back East. Forging her path in a male dominated world, but she finds that in Bozeman there are women running businesses.
She settles down and meets a few people but keeps running into Elijah, each time her feelings change, but she doesn’t want them to, and she definitely doesn’t want to let a man tell her what she can and can’t do!
Elijah starts to admire her but he has a ranch to run, he’s quite stoic. They’re a great pair.
A great read from Shirleen
Gail K. –
Molly O’Sullivan came to Wild Spirit Ranch expecting to capture images of the largest ranch in this part of the frontier. Instead, she found herself grappling with a man who challenged her at every turn. Elijah Beckett wondered why this city girl had gotten under his skin. She was everything he tried to avoid. “There’s something about her,” he found himself saying. “Can’t quite put my finger on it.” I enjoyed the story, the tension, and the American West history. Imagine a young woman alone & taking a picture of Crow Indians! Wild Spirit Revival has the beginnings of a great series that I highly recommend. I received a complimentary ARC of this book and have voluntarily given my honest opinion in this review.
Catherine Shea –
What a great start to a new series with the Becketts of Wild Spirit Ranch in Montana The Becketts are a big family owning the largest ranch in Mystic. Elijah works hard at the ranch and is stern in keeping it going. Molly a strong adventurous woman photographer new in town clashes with Elijah. Neither one looking for a relationship as they are forced to work together realize the attraction leads to love. Great read truly enjoyed the book and am looking forward to next book in the series.
Anne Morrison –
Really enjoyed this first book in a new series where the main characters are Molly, a photographer determined to travel was to document the west and write newspaper articles to accompany he photographs and Elijah whose family have built ups a successful ranch in Montana. They are so different and Molly certainly manages to rub Elijah up the wrong way and he can hardly wait to see the back of her but despite that they are drawn together in challenging situations and love blossoms between them. The historical detail is very interesting and enriches to book bringing to life all the challenges faced by the community at that time as the town grows and develops. Would highly recommend reading WildSpirit Revival and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
Becky Claxon –
This was an interesting book in Montana in the old west. It was surprising how Molly traveled to Montana from Chicago by herself to photograph the west and tell its story. When Molly first met Elijah, they sure didn’t get along well. Once Molly went to the Beckett ranch to get some interesting stories and photographs, Elijah got to know Molly and became friends with her. The town grew to love her with her photographs and stories. She definitely had more adventures than she would have ever imagined. This is an interesting book about the west and a romance that I encourage you to read.
Andrew Agnew (verified owner) –
A fine start to a new series. Just as endearing as all her other series. The old west, with people moving out west, Indians, outlaws, cattle and danger, but most of all, love of friends, family and community, working together, for a better life.
So well written, you just want to go back in time and help out, and enjoy the community spirit, even through the tough times.
Paula –
Wild Spirit Revival is the first book in the new Montana Becketts, Wild Spirit Ranch Series by Shirleen Davies. Wha a great story it is too. I liked Molly O’Sullivan’s spunk from the very beginning. I will admit that I felt the same as she did about Elijah Beckett when she first met him. However, like her I begin to see there was more to this silent man than simply grumpiness.
The setting is wonderfully vivid so that I could easily see in my mind’s eye the towns Molly visited on her travel to the western frontier, especially Mystic, Montana along with the Beckett Ranch. While looking at the daily life and survival of the people there in 1880 through Molly’s eyes and camera lens, the main problem in the story stayed on one of rustlers and outlaws. I like that too. I also appreciated that Molly was not expected to automatically give up her dreams when she married but Elijah and her both incorporated their two dreams together. Now I can’t wait for the next in the series to be released.
Cathy –
Molly was a force to be reckoned with, a photographer on a mission to document the west no matter what.
Elijah worked the ranch and had a reputation as a grump. Molly disrupts his quiet hard working life especially as his family and the town like her. Can they find a way to work together and will love find a way in a harsh environment.
Really enjoyable book, get reading !
Leah H Smith –
Wild Spirit Revival is a great first entry in the new Wild Spirit Ranch series set in historical Montana. Intrepid photographer Molly O’Sullivan has embarked on a westward journey to document wild West with photographs and stories. She ends up in charming Mystic, Montana where she runs into Rancher Elijah Beckett takes an immediate dislike to the beauty, while simultaneously being intringued with her. I truly enjoyed their back and forth relationship and their slowly growing friendship. The biggest selling point for this book is the absolutely gorgeous desriptions that inspired Molly’s work and the strongly written Beckett clan! I also liked the way the women were presented as strong and fully involved in all aspects of daily life! The Becketts are a family worth building a series around and I am anxious for more!
Janine Waters (verified owner) –
I really enjoy Shirleen Davies stories. Each one is better than the last. You are drawn into a family and community that care for each other and about each other.I am really looking forward to the next story
Louise King –
I’m excited to read this new series. A great read with interesting characters who are not always what you might expect! It is really interesting to see how they respond to the issues that arise in the ‘new’ western frontier.
Bonnie Blackledge –
Wild Spirit Revival is the first book in a new series by Shirleen Davies. It takes place in Montana in 1880 when Molly O’Sullivan travels there from Chicago to photograph the Wild West. As is typical in most books by Ms. Davies, the action starts from the very beginning and lasts until the end.
I fell in love with Molly from the start. She is feisty and doesn’t seem afraid of anything – a woman after my own heart. She knows what she wants and is not afraid to go after it. From the first time she meets Elijah, they share a confrontational relationship and appear to dislike each other. Their paths continue to cross until they realize there is more to their relationship than they anticipated.
From my experience reading this book and the prequel Montana Bound Marshall, I am certain this will be a series I will enjoy. I can’t wait until the second book in the series is released.