Mandy Magro knows rural Australia so well and it shows in the settings for her stories. Weathering The Storm is largely set on a cattle station in outback Queensland and beautifully showcases the glorious red earth and brilliant blue skies. This book is a lovely mix of tropes; Romeo and Juliet vie with forced proximity and second chances to create a charming romance for Montana Walker, a Sydney features journalist, and Mason Wilde, cattle farmer and former champion bull rider. These two had an intimate relationship around ten years before this story opens, with Montana thinking at the time that Mason was “the one”. That is until he left her without a word. When she finds herself assigned to cover an outback reality show called Way Out Yonder Wife, which is set on his property, she is less than thrilled. With both of them banned by the producers from fraternising, she feels like she might be able to get away with being there without him noticing. Of course that doesn’t go as planned and it’s not long before they discover that the passion and emotional connection they shared years ago is still there. Both Mason and Montana are fabulous characters, and it was easy to empathise with them as they negotiated some tough situations. The supporting cast, particularly Mason’s father Henry, was also mostly easy to like. While there were moments where I thought the plot was a bit implausible, I really enjoyed reading this book.

I loved this book so much! Montana grew up in the country but now lives in the city and is a reporter who gets sent to report on a new reality show that is very much like Farmer Wants a Wife. It’s all good until she realises that the farmer is Mason, who she was involved with in the past. Both characters are lovely and I love how the storyline throws the female reality contestants into all the things you expect from a Farmer style reality show. Throw in some not great tv execs and you’ve got a great story which I absolutely loved.

Montana Walker is a Sydney journalist and not happy when she has to cover a new TV dating show and discovers it’s being filmed at the bachelor’s family’s cattle station in the Queensland outback and he was once a bull rider. Montana fell in love with one when she was eighteen and surly it couldn’t be the same guy and Australia’s a large place and there has to be more than one heart-breaking bull rider?

Mason Wilde is annoyed when he’s nominated and chosen for a new dating program, he’s to give four beautiful ladies an idea of what it’s like to be a country girl and keep the producers and viewers happy. Mason knows he stuffed up years ago, he walked away from the perfect woman for him and he’s shocked when he spots her working among the crew. Mason is going on dates, riding horses and swimming in the dam and not with the lady of his choice.

I received a copy of Weathering the Storm from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an unbiased review. I have been a fan of TV dating shows, but I have always wondered what goes on behind the scenes, and dangling a sexy farmer in front of a group of ladies is going to cause drama and tension and when it comes to chemistry and love it can’t be forced and is the whole concept fake and an act?

Mandy Magro explores this in her latest rural romance and the two characters have to overcome obstacles and everything thrown in their paths and Montana has to forgive Morgan and he needs to win back her trust. Read the page turning and sizzling hot book to find out what happens and five stars from me and I highly recommend.

heartfelt rural romance that intertwines themes of love, redemption, and second chances against the vivid backdrop of the Australian outback. The story of Montana Walker and Mason Wilde reconnecting amidst a reality TV show is both engaging and emotionally resonant, capturing the complexities of past relationships and the hope of new beginnings.

I found this to be a heartwarming rural romance set in the Australian outback, well mostly anyway.
The descriptions of the countryside and sunsets made them easy to imagine.
I especially liked the Epilogue.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an absolutely gorgeous story this was.
The descriptions of the outback were superb and made me feel like I was there, seeing the gorgeous sunsets, experiencing riding a horse, racing like the wind for the sheer joy of it.

I love the idea of the TV show and totally feel for Mason when he is thrown in the deep end by his family!

Montana is such a wonderfully strong woman who knows what she wants with her career and isn't afraid to go after it.

Not wanting to give any spoilers away, I will just say that it was fun watching Mason and Montana tiptoeing around each other, trying to keep their past a secret.

Well done Mandy, a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.