I hate to admit it, but I have read and sometimes continue to read romance novels. I enjoy them for the same reason most people enjoy them--they are light and easy. They give me butterflies. I can read a romance novel in two days. There isn't much to them. They entertain me and make me feel all emotional inside. The sex scenes are usually way too graphic for me, so I tend to skim them. One thing most romance novels lack is a strong protagonist. That is why I am a picky when it comes to choosing a romance novel to read. However, I have found one particular novel that has a tenacious protagonist. In fact, I would say the book is one of my top favorite books of all time.
It is called Montana Sky by Nora Roberts. The story has a little of everything. It is a story about a rancher in Montana who has three daughters with three different women. As soon as they give birth to a girl, Jack Mercy kicks the women off the ranch. He doesn't want to have a thing to do with them. However, the third woman died in childbirth and he was forced to take responsibility for the youngest daughter, Willa. He was not a very nice man and treated her terribly. She was mostly raised by the ranch hands and the house keeper. There is only one way to describe her: tough.
The three are united at Jack Mercy's funeral when suddenly he is killed twenty or so years later. Tess, the oldest daughter, is from LA and writes screen plays for a living. She is not excited to go to her father's funeral in "Nowhere, MT." In fact, she is only there for the reading of the will. She even shows up late for the funeral. Lily, the middle daughter, is on the run from her ex-husband who put her in the hospital from beating her. She is shy and went to the funeral to hide from him. Willa, the youngest daughter and my personal favorite, has the most difficult time with their father's death. All she wanted was his attention and now all she can do is prove to him she can run a ranch.
The will gets read and what comes is shocking to the sisters. Everyone expected the ranch to go to Willa and the other two daughters would get a large sum of money. However, Jack Mercy decided no one gets any inheritance until they all live on the ranch for one whole year together. After the year is up, they each get a 1/3rd share of the ranch and its property. The ranch is worth millions and the only way they can get it, is if they all suffer for an entire year together. The sisters get along like oil and water. Willa and Tess go head to head almost the entire book.
Now it would not be labeled a romance novel unless there was some romance in it. What was also in the the will was the neighboring rancher had to look over the happenings with the ranch. Willa does not need anyone looking over her or her ranch, especially a young handsome cowboy like Ben McKinnen. Sparks fly as the two fight and banter and work together to not only run a ranch, but to save lives.
At this point I would not consider the book to be a favorite. It sounds good enough, but nothing special. Then Nora Roberts throws in more drama. She adds a murder mystery to the equation. Someone is butchering animals and people and leaving them on the ranch for the sisters to find. They all work together to keep each other safe and find the killer. I am the biggest chicken when it comes to suspense, but I love it! I love a good murder mystery!
The other aspect of the book that made it a fun read was the comedy. This story made me laugh out loud. The sisters constantly fight with each other. They do not get along at all. They have each other's backs when it comes to the big stuff, but beat each other up. They have the I-am-the-only-one-who-can-kill-her attitude. It is hilarious. The characters are all witty.
Add all those aspects to the story and you have one of my favorite novels of all time. I am not ashamed to admit it is under the section romance. It entertains me. It makes me laugh out loud. It makes me so scared I want to pee my pants. It made me tears run down my cheek. It made me feel all warm inside. The book put me through a roller coster of emotions and it left me wanting more. It may not be considered "high brow" but it was worth reading. In fact, I read it every Christmas Break.
The book is a perfect romance because it had a little of everything. It was super funny, scary, romantic, and it was relatable. The characters were so believable. I fell in love with some of them and hated others. If anyone is looking to read ONE romance novel, I would highly suggest reading Nora Robert's Montana Sky.
