For several years now I have enjoyed the romances set in modern day Marietta Montana and the surrounding small towns. Well, I might as well admit to my addiction to these stories in truth for I find them touchingly full of everyday normal folks kind of love stories – and who doesn’t love that. When I saw A Rancher’s Surrender I hesitated. Not because I didn’t think it would be a good story, but because the American West is not my usual reading preference. Yet… I was also drawn to learning about the Montana Territory that was the actual basis for the lives and families of the people I love to read about from today’s Montana. So I took a chance. And I’m very glad I did… and chalk up yet another addictive series to follow.

Jillian was good with animals. Pets, wildlife, livestock – didn’t matter, she has a natural affinity to helping them when they’re injured, in pain or simply keeping them healthy. She learned almost everything she knew about animals at her father’s side, and what he couldn’t teach she researched on her own. It was unfortunate that she was denied the chance to attend school based completely on the fact of being female. Instead she took her father’s lessons to heart and with determination, spunk and perhaps a prayer or two she applied for a vet position in a small town in the Montana Territory. If she used an initial for the first name… well, sometimes you just have to prove yourself on the job instead of on your gender. Or so she told herself.

To say Wade was furious to discover that the vet he’d helped hire was in fact female would be an understatement. It didn’t help her cause one bit that she was also beautiful, stubborn and brave enough to pull this off.

She had honestly believed that once the ranchers and townsfolk saw that she was capable and able to tend to their animals’ needs that things would work out. Unfortunately, she was wrong on that and it didn’t take long for disaster to strike and make everything worse. It just might need a miracle and the love of one good man to save any part of her dreams.

Montana Territory in the late 1800’s is far, far different from the tight knit communities of the area that we have come to love. I found myself quite annoyed with the people of this area. In my head, I knew the times were so very removed from today, yet that didn’t stop the feeling that folks were just being stubborn, unfair and holding on to notions that heading out West should have shook them free of. And of course there are always troublemakers no matter the era.

Wade and Jillian really are perfect for each other. Their banter and growing romance while overcoming some major differences of opinions was touching, sexy and felt completely real. It’s always a sweet touch for me to see the protective side of any male character come into play. Maybe I’m not as modern as I like to think. *grin*

I’m definitely looking forward to the next story in this series. I don’t know if A Rancher’s Surrender has won me over to the American West stories… but if has won me over to this particular series for certain.

*I received an e-ARC of A Rancher’s Surrender from the publisher, Tule Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

I will admit I like the people of the present day Montana stories better than those that Jillian encountered in A Rancher's Surrender by Michelle Beattie. I realized that the time period would affect the different beliefs of what men and women could do but these people were mean spirited. I live in the east but have always thought the territories in the west were more open and not so set in biases; such as being more willing to give women the right to vote as an example. This book seems to prove that line of thought to be a misconception. So from that aspect, I was disappointed that Jillian did not have early support from the town people.

In the relationship between Jillian and Wade, I enjoyed reading how Wade turned around in his overall thinking of Jillian. From there it is a slow growth of respect and love that seemed touchingly real. In the pacing and writing of this story, it flows quickly with a satisfying conclusion at the end.

This is the first book by Michelle Beattie that I have had the pleasure of reading. The fact that it was published by Tule Publishing was the selling point for me. Now that I have read the book, Ms. Beattie’s writing style will bring me back, even when I want to take a stick to certain characters in A Rancher’s Surrender.

I loved this book. There is nothing I enjoy more in a book than a strong, brave heroine. Jillian was that for sure. She was a vet and didn't care that everyone thought it was a man's job. She held her head high and did her job. She was smart, brave, and a fighter. She fought for what she believed in and she fought for the job she wanted. She didn't let being a woman stop her. That was a big deal back then as this book was set back in 1882. Women didn't have rights then like we do now. So I love the sass and bravery that Jillian showed against her oppressors and she had a ton of them. Wade took me a little longer to warm up too. Though he was sweet, and a great father to his daughter, he was set in his way of thinking. He felt a woman's place was at home. It bugged me that it took him so long to see the light. He was so stubborn and I just wanted to shake him at times. Jillian and Wade made a cute couple. I wish there would have been more relationship build up. They didn't spend much time together in the 1st 1/2 of the book. Overall an enjoyable sweet read. I am looking forward to Scott getting his own book and I would love to see Silver get her own hea maybe with a sexy dark haired sheriff.

A very well thought out and written Western historical romance, it was a very enjoyable read!

A Rancher's Surrender by Michelle Beattie contained likeable characters who faced many challenges in a somewhat testing time period. Wade and Jillian were smouldering. Multiple story lines with some likeable secondary characters who also had integral moments in the story. A Rancher's Surrender was a good first look at the Frontier Montana Story series.
Review copy received from Tule Publishing via Netgalley for an honest rating

I loved A Rancher's Surrender. It's been lovely going back in time in a town I have grown to love over the past three years. Mind you, Marietta Montana in the 19th century was just as filled with prejudice against women choosing to have a profession as so many other places were then.
My heart went out to Jillian as she tried to settle into her new home and become the town vet when the men all felt her place was to mind hearth and home and nothing else. Still, this town has a reputation for breeding strong women, and there were several in this story that stood by their principles and supported Jillian in her endeavours.
Wade too was faced with his share of troubles as well as a hefty dose of his own prejudice. I truly wanted to box his ears at times!
The story surrounding these two kept me on my toes. There were times I couldn't believe people could be so nasty and others where I was reminded of the inherent good in most people. Mostly though, I just focused on enjoying a darned good story.

This is the first book in the series, although I read the 2nd one first I was not confused. This is the story of Jillian, a young veterinarian, set in the 1800s. Needless to say the men are not happy to see a woman, and that is the background of the intimidation and passive violence against her. Wade, a young widower with a young daughter, owns a ranch nearby, and becomes the love interest for the story. Of course they have issues, and of course there is conflict, but the path to their HEA is interesting and fun to read. Highly recommend this book and author.