Montana Mornings is the third book in Kim Law’s fantastic series, The Wildes of Birch Bay and an excellent addition. When I received an invitation from the publisher, via Net-Galley, I eagerly agreed to read and review. The first book in this series, Montana Cherries, struck me at my core. Montana Mornings has accomplished that as well.

Erica Bird comes to Birch Bay to fill in for a teacher who is out on maternity leave. Imagine her surprise when she discovers her most challenging pupil is the daughter of her college boyfriend. Sparks zing from their first confrontation/encounter. While she desperately wants to help his daughter, she is wary of getting too attached. After all, in addition to having a past with this guy, they also live next to each other, and she has her own issues to work through.

Gabe Wilde is trying to fill the role of Dad and Mom. After years of conflict with his soon-to-be ex-wife, he has moved home and is now a teacher and coach. This is a demanding career for a man who has a troubled child. When he learns that his daughter’s teacher is the girl he broke up with to pursue the woman he married, he knows he’ll need to proceed with caution.

Can Gabe find the right path that will not only heal his daughter but restore his faith in himself and allow him to find his way back to the woman he should have married, to begin with?

Montana Mornings touched my heart from the first page to the last. I became enmeshed with the hero and heroine immediately. The story is compelling, and the pacing is excellent. Ms. Law certainly knows how to pull her readers in and keep them to the end.

Erica’s character has many layers. She has a passion for teaching. She is loyal to her family, and she can love ferociously. She can also make bad decisions that affect her personal self-worth. Now, she must learn how to live with her bad choice and pick up the strands of her life, so she can again be the person she always thought she was. She is afraid to rush into a relationship with Gabe for a variety of good reasons. I could feel her anguish and heart-ache, her fear. I truly wanted her to find her happy ending.

Gabe Wilde carries a lot of baggage from growing up with a narcissistic mom and living with his soon-to-be ex-wife, who is just as bad. He desperately wants to help his daughter but lacks confidence that he can when she keeps acting out. His character has deep-seated issues, ones he must work through. His re-kindled relationship with Erica is problematic because he has not cut all ties with his wife. He questions what he can offer, but he craves the serenity he feels when he’s with Erica. I loved Gabe’s determination to succeed. He’s fearless when it comes to protecting his daughter. He’s willing to take a chance on love again, even though he has every reason to resist.

If you are looking for a novel that has more substance that most stories, then you will love Montana Mornings as much as I did. It was great getting to see the other characters from the previous two books in the series, and I can’t wait to read the next one. The Wilde family is a fascinating one. Happy reading!

This is book three of the Wilde's of Birch Bay series.  I loved this story about second chance love.  After finishing the book I gave a hearty sigh and an awww. Loved the Wilde series.  We met Gabe’s soon to be ex-wife in previous book (she’s a piece of work).  All Gabe wants to do is provide a hope for his daughter and start a new life.  Erica is also looking for a new start after her divorce.  Little did they know that they past would be introduced into their future.   As they both try to deal with their rekindled relationship; exes, emotional child, and insecurities challenges they rekindled love.  As time goes on they learn to patience and trust in their love for each other.  Enjoyed reading about the characters from the previous books. Recommended Read.

Since reading the first book in the Wilde’s of Birch Bay series I have been anxiously awaiting Gabe’s story.  Sometimes when you anticipate something for so long you are disappointed once it arrives.  That is NOT the case with Montana Mornings.  It was well worth the wait.  Kim Law has written a book full of substance that doesn’t disappoint.  

I’m not going to recap the storyline - read the book description or other reviews for that. Just know that the three main characters emotional and painful journeys will sweep you in.  At times I wanted to reach out and shake each one of them for their behavior and other times I wanted to hug them.  If you like a book that makes you think, that makes you laugh and cry, then you will love Montana Mornings.

This is a story that, in the end, leaves you feeling good and believing that love conquers all.  Now my anticipation has shifted to Cord’s story and I can’t wait to see what the fun and peculiar Arsula will do in the future!

While I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review, I would have happily bought it on its release day and considered it money well spent!

What an amazing series! Very well written with so much emotion and so life like. A story of love, forgiveness, healing old wounds, second chances and family. I loved every minute of it and hated to see it end.
I received a free copy of the book for my honest review.

This is the third book in Montana series by this author. Its a series that involves siblings from a very dysfunctional childhood. In this book Gabe Wilde is back in Birch Bay with his young daughter, Jenna, as a high school teacher and football coach. He is waiting for the finalization of his divorce from Michelle who happens to be a lot like Gabe's mother who is now deceased. Because of Gabe's childhood he doesn't always handle his daughter in a productive way, in other words he tends to cause more friction between them. When they get back to Birch Bay Gabe finds out his daughter's teacher is Ericka, his old girlfriend from college. This book had many issues to deal with, it wasn't just one problem with Ericka and Gabe. Gabe dumped Ericka for his ex wife and this only added to Ericka's insecurities of feeling like she is boring and no one can love her and stay with her because of it. Ericka's ex husband cheated on her and his new girlfriend is vivacious unlike Ericka. Then you have Gabe trying to deal with his relationship with his daughter which is not always good, Ericka being her teacher tries to help but Gabe is bound and determined to do everything his way because of his past relationships with his mother and ex wife. Watching Gabe and Ericka grow individually was just as great to see as watching them grow as a couple. This is such a great series of books that deals with some complex issues. Its makes the stories gut wrenching at times but with great happily ever afters.

I've always enjoyed reading anything that Kim Law has written, and this was no exception. Although this is sort of your "typical contemporary romance" I really liked that Gabe and Erica weren't automatically together. I enjoyed seeing how they developed their friendship and were able to overcome things from their past relationship. Overall, a great contemporary read.

An emotional second chance romaance that you will not be able to put down. Gabe has returned home with his little girl, Jenna and his new neighbor is Erica, a girl he dated in college. They are both fighting their own demons on former spouses, trying to do what is best. Gabe is an excellent dad to Jenna, she will pull your heartstrings!! He just doesn't want the same for her ass he had growing up.

I have been waiting for Gabe's story after reading the first two books in this series, and it was well worth the wait!! Loved the second chance romance between Gabe and Erica, they are so perfect for each other.

I highly recommend this book, along with the rest of the series!! I read with my kindle unlimited.

I have read two previous books by this author, including the second book in this series about the Wilde's. So I was happy to find this book as a 'read now'-ARC on NetGalley. Those other books I loved, but with this one, I struggled. Five reasons for the two stars:

1. It felt as if this book couldn't make up its mind. The characters are not only in doubt on marriage (hero's divorce not finalized and heroine still seeing her ex), but also with their various jobs (teacher (both), coach (hero), dance class (heroine)). Then there's also a big part about his daughter (her pupil), and side plots about his father's supposed illness, her sister, his sister, his brother and a friend of his sister. 

2. The writing style felt like a collection of scenes of 2 pages with most changes being also changes in POV and setting. It made me restless and enhanced the already uneasy feeling with all that was going on.

3. A personal pet peeve of mine is children being a big part of the conflict between hero and heroine (with secret babies and single parents as the exception). That's a personal thing, which does not have to bother anyone else reading this. To me, however, it does. So when at the 70% mark the main couple started arguing about the hero's decision of not letting his daughter's mother see and speak to the girl, and his boundaries on that not being the heroine's business. I know it's a valid point of conflict between the new partners in a relationship, but not one I want to read about, it just hits too close to home and none of the arguments used feels 'right' to me, and that makes me unable to suspend my disbelief when they eventually work it all out...

4. The hero is technically still married! They are separated but it's not finalized, and that started bothering me when the final conflict was between the hero and his ex on custody, again putting the child in the center of the conflict. 

5. At the end, I felt the main couple had not had enough quality time together to make their HEA believable. 

It's not that I am giving up on this author, but my enthusiasm has cooled somewhat.

This is the story of Gabe and his daughter. His daughter, Jenna is having problems since the divorce and he was hoping Haley, his sister's step daughter would be in the same class since Haley had a calming effect oh Jenna. Gabe is also trying to get ready to be a teacher. Erica Bird has also come back to Birch Bay. She will be a substitute teacher at the same school that Gabe is teaching. Gave and Erica used to have a college romance. Can they get back together and work out all their problems the past has caused? Read the book to find out. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review.

I enjoyed the first book in this series, Montana Cherries, but somehow I missed out on the second one.  And while this one can easily stand on its own, I think that having read the first story helped me understand where the Wilde kids are coming from.  I'm not sure if Montana Rescue plays into Gabe's story but I know that Dani's definitely sets up the family history.  I'll say it again - this one can stand alone, Law does a great job of giving you the details you need.  Although I think having that framework would make it easier to understand where Gabe is coming from.

And you'll need it because Gabe is a very complex man.  He has been badly hurt by women in his past, first by his mother and then his wife, and now he's got a daughter who needs him desperately.  She's overwhelmed with everything she's feeling and at her age she has no idea how to deal.  It's heartbreaking to see what these two are having to deal with but Gabe is dedicated to doing what is best for his little girl.  

Erica and Gabe meet again, but the years haven't been all that kind to either of them.  While he's dealing with the fallout from his narcissistic ex, she's got her own relationship problems to deal with.  A cheating husband and a small town don't go together so she's moved to get away from the pressures of gossip & proximity.  Unfortunately as badly as she wants to, it's hard to just turn off her feelings so she's trying to figure out how to let go.  The sexy man and wounded little girl next door help to take her mind off of it but she quickly finds herself getting involved.  

There are so many emotions that run through this book and Law has you twisted up in knots before you know it.  I desperately wanted them to find the peace and love they deserve, but it takes a lot of effort to overcome their histories.  Little progresses though make things worthwhile and before you know things are looking up all around.  It's not going to be easy but nothing good ever is!

This is the third book in the Wildes of Birch Bay series by the author and it gives us a look into the life of the oldest sibling Gabe. We met him in some detail, in the second book where hints of trouble in paradise abounded and we now see him returning home from an aborted , fruitless trip to California, where he had hoped to salvage his marriage and family.He comes back to the family hometown  and tries to restart his life with his daughter Jenna, doing the things he has always wanted to do , which is teaching and coaching.Also new to the area is Erica who is divorced from her cheating ex and making a fresh start as well.Erica and  Gabe were once an item but he broke her heart and they did not part on the best of terms.So, because Jenna is in Erica's class, both these former lovers find themselves interacting frequently.Jenna is reeling from the after-effects of the separation and is displaying some unhealthy behavior that causes Erica and Gabe  repeated discord, all while battling the renewed attraction between them.
I found Gabe to be overly solicitous when it comes to his daughter while quick to judge and condemn Erica for the least infraction.I admire Erica for maintaining her stance in the face of this opposition, because truly any normal human being would have walked away from this kind of aggravation.The author showed her to be a compassionate,caring and discerning person, just what Gabe needed but resented. I had some moments of frustration with Gabe's response to some situations ,but I could understand and grant a reprieve as long as the same behavior did not keep repeating.Erica was able to make a positive change in Gabe's family and with the interference and assistance from the other family members, Jenna not only conquered her grief, but happiness was found and justice was duly served.
This honest review was courtesy of a free copy provided by Netgalley.

This is a great book; this is the third book in the Wildes of Birch Bay series written by Kim Law. Gabe Wilde has never been more ready for a change. Thirty-three and in the midst of a divorce, he’s packed up his second-grade daughter and come home to Birch Bay, Montana. New house, new career, new life. Only, with changes comes stress. His daughter is struggling with the transition to their new norm and Gabe is out of ideas as to how to help. Erica Bird is mired in her own worries. After impulsively leaving the teaching job she loved, she may finally be free from her cheating ex, but separated from her family and everything she’s ever known, second guesses linger. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Again Kim Law marvelously takes on a story about on the damage done by a narcissistic mother and wife in Montana Mornings (The Wildes of Birch Bay, Book 3). I was thrilled to see Gabe take his daughter and run as far away from his ex-wife Michelle. Of course, the new school and life presents its own problems. Erica Bird is not without her own ex troubles. Gabe and she reconnect through his daughter, making this a second chance story. 

Kim law does not sugar coat any of life’s harshness but I love how her characters strive not just to survive but to thrive through it all. Hopeful but not starry eyed romance this is one authentic read. I can recommend it to anyone who believes that HEA do happen, they just don’t always come easily. 

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley.

Montana Mornings is a touching and realistic look at how relationships change, sour, and fall into our past – although not always without fallout or consequences. For Gabe and his young daughter Jenna, it means returning to Gabe’s roots, going home and starting anew. For Erica it means setting out on her own in a place that’s far from the life she knew, far from the actions of a cheating ex, finally free but with enough second guesses to make her question her brave step. Sometimes you have to leave the past behind in order to find a better future. Unfortunately, that’s not always easy and Gabe, Jenna and Erica will have some difficult times ahead to face. The question becomes not can they face the future and survive, but can they allow the pain and influences of the past fall away in order to make that future together a lasting one.

The Wildes of Birch Bay series has always been filled with interesting secondary characters, and Montana Morning is no exception. We’ll run into old faces, and some new ones as well. We’ve been there with Gabe and Jenna, at least a bit, through the earlier stories in the series. I found their journey towards a new beginning very realistic, sad and necessary. Erica and Gabe had a past, and like all young romances that separate they also have lingering emotions about what was, and questions about what could be. Although their journey back together was filled with emotions, and left over reactions from their ex-es, it felt like a natural romance building, mistakes and misunderstandings along the way, but believable and emotional. It can be rather iffy to realistically portray children in romance stories (at least, I’ve found it so) yet Jenna was such a wounded soul, hurt, angry, sad and even a bit unsure of how she should be reacting to her new circumstances. While at times heartbreaking, it was also heartwarming to see the loving relationship between Gabe and his daughter. He’d do anything to ease her pain, even when he had no clue what the right thing to do was – he didn’t give up on her, and his love was never in question.

If you’ve followed the series, Montana Mornings is a wonderful addition. It’s been said that this can be read as a stand alone – and perhaps that’s true, but Gabe has been there throughout the series, and I believe you’ll get a better understanding of the whole picture if you’ve followed the series. In my opinion, at least.

An emotional, touching and satisfying romance, this is one story and a series that I would definitely recommend. Any Romance reader would enjoy it.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

wonderful second chance romance!  I was rooting for Erica, Gabe, and Jenna from the beginning.  This lovely novel is, however, about more than finding love, it's about dealing with really rotten stuff in your past and triumphing.  Law has written a thoughtful book with a good story line in a terrific setting.  Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC- I'm looking forward to more from this series.  Try this one!!

I enjoyed this next installment in this series so much, even though it took my heart and mind on a bit of a ride.  So heartbreaking in some ways, and healing in others, that at any given point I wasn’t sure what to think.  Happily, I have nobody in my life who even remotely resembles the exes in this story, and in my sheltered little world, it is difficult to imagine these types of people being real, yet I know very well that there are people dealing with difficult people creating difficult situations all the time. Some unexpected twists do finally resolve in a satisfying ending that has you cheering.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC, from which this review is based, in exchange for an honest review.

Montana Mornings by Kim Law is the third book in the Montana Series.  The series revolves around siblings that grew up in a very dysfunctional household with a narcissistic mother and how this affected their lives. 
 Book three is about Gabe Wilde and his young daughter, Jenna.  They have moved back to Birch Bay from California to reestablish their lives during a divorce from Gabe’s soon to be ex-wife, Michelle. Michelle is much like his mother and also a narcissistic individual that tries to use her daughter to get what she wants. She tries to make it difficult for Gabe to get the divorce.  In moving back to his hometown, Gabe has become a high school teacher and a football coach. Gabe struggles as a football coach and gets assistance from his brother, Cord. Jenna has feelings of being abandoned by her mother and not fitting in. Gabe tries to give Jenna a balanced life but often gives into her bad behavior due to the impending divorce.
Erica Bird has also relocated to Birch Bay as a substitute teacher. She is trying to distance herself from her ex-husband and family and rebuild her life. Erica’s husband not only cheated on her with her best friend, but also got her friend pregnant. But even after two years, Erica still has feelings for her ex which she needs to resolve.  Erica is a substitute teacher in the same school system as Gabe. She discovers that her student, Jenna, is the daughter of Gabe, who she dated in college.  With her teaching experience, Erica has been able to identify children that are having problems like Jenna.
Gabe has purchased a house next to Erica and this gives them the opportunity to renew a friendship, spend time together and see how the relationships between Erica, Gabe, and Jenna grow.  Jenna also realizes the extent her father will go to ensure his daughter stays with him in a stable home environment. 
Erica’s temporary teaching position soon comes to an end and she has to decide on where to teach next.  She finds it difficult to obtain a position, but an offer from her former school is received. This is also where her ex-husband is employed. She returns home for the interview. But does she take the position or return to Birch Bay? What happens to Gabe, Jenna and Erica? You must read this book to find out.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as well as the first two in this series.  I can’t wait for the next book.
I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.

4.5 Stars at The Romance Dish

Gabe Wilde grew up the son of a narcissistic mother, and he married a woman cut to the same pattern. After fighting for years to save his marriage, he has filed for divorce, and he and his seven-year-old daughter, Jenna, have returned to Birch Bay, Montana, where Gabe has accepted a job as high school science teacher and football coach. Gabe is cautiously optimistic about his new life, but his concerns about his daughter are deep. The effect of her parents’ divorce on Jenna are profound. She is no longer the sweet, loving child she once was. Although flashes of that child emerge often enough to keep Gabe’s hope alive, Jenna is often rude and obnoxious. Only with Haley Denton, Jenna’s best friend and step-daughter of Dani Wilde Denton (Montana Cherries) is Jenna like her old self. It is for this reason that Gabe pulls strings to have Jenna placed in the same class as Haley, a class taught by a substitute teacher, Erica Bird.

Erica divorced her cheating husband two years ago, after his girlfriend announced her pregnancy at a football game, but since he was her high school sweetheart, the son of a prominent family, and a local golden boy, she has found it difficult to move on. When she found herself more entangled that she ever wanted to be, she resigned her tenured position at the elementary school where she had won two teacher-of-the-year awards and accepted the temporary job in Birch Bay. Erica knew that she might see Gabe, but she wasn’t expecting him to be the parent of one of her students.

Gabe and Erica have a history. They dated in college, breaking up their senior year after Gabe met Michelle, the woman who became his wife. Erica returned to her hometown and married J.C. Bird, the guy she dated in high school. Now Erica and Gabe are both free, and it is soon clear that they are still attracted to one another. They are also mature enough now to appreciate qualities in each other that they valued less as college students. But neither has completely cut the tendrils of the past, and Jenna’s needs must be considered. Stolen meetings are one thing, but building a life together is quite different. Are Gabe and Erica truly ready to commit to one another?

This is the third novel in Law’s excellent series, The Wildes of Birch Bay. It is one of the more realistic portrayals of divorce that I have encountered in romance fiction. For one thing, although Gabe and Erica’s situations are different, both demonstrate that divorce is not always the clean severing of a relationship that some novels suggest. For another, Jenna’s insecurities and her acting out show how divorce can affect children. Law is particularly effective at showing a young child’s mixed emotions about the absent parent and blame assigned to the custodial parents. Gabe and Erica are likeable, sympathetic characters, but it is Jenna even when she is at her brattiest, who will break the reader’s heart.

The secondary characters are also deftly drawn. Gabe’s family proves that he can depend on them when he needs them, whether it is providing an assist with child care or taking an active role in his battle with his malicious, conscienceless ex. I really appreciated that the Wildes have necessary roles to play and add to the novel’s emotional power rather than merely reminding readers that this book is part of a series. And I loved Bree, Erica’s free-spirited, forthright sister. Some readers may be bothered by the lack of redeeming qualities in the two exes. I’m not a fan of one-note villains, but I have seen enough of narcissists (Gabe’s ex) and over-indulged, eternal frat boys (Erica’s ex) in real life to find Michelle and J.C. credible.

Montana Morning can be read as standalone, but it will offer a more nuanced, more complex understanding of Gabe and Jenna for those who have read Montana Cherries and Montana Rescue. The first is an exceptional story, and the other two are strong books that you will be glad you read. I recommend all three books, and I hope I’ll have the chance to recommend Cord Wilde’s book. He is a most intriguing character.

I was looking forward to the third installment of the Wildes of Birch Bay, because we got a good look at Gabe’s marriage in the first installment and I knew this story about him was going to be complicated.

Basically, Gabe is at the end of his divorce proceedings.  Wife Michelle is a self-centered manipulator who uses their daughter Jenna against Gabe.  We got to know what a bitch she was in the first book.  So it was no surprise that Gabe was having issues with Jenna.  Enter long-term sub teacher to Jenna, Erica, who also used to date Gabe in college.  Erica has issues herself and she has a good story of her own--a failed marriage and a no-good manipulator ex-husband.

Now, I enjoyed all the nuances of the book.  Ms. Law’s books at Birch Bay do not sugar-coat and romanticize anything at all.  Her characters are flawed and they have some big issues.  I sometimes had a hard time feeling the connection between Gabe and Erica.  While their past with each other was discussed, I felt it was trivialized and made kind of nonimportant.  So it was hard to comprehend that they both forgot about each other but then found happily ever.  There were times that I wanted to bop both Gabe and Erica over the heads!  But I did really how the book delved into little Jenna.  I really felt for the kid.

*I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.*