A Sweet Montana Christmas

A Sweet Montana Christmas By:Roxanne Snopek

Have not heard of Roxanne Snopek before but have a feeling will be hearing her name more often. A Sweet Montana Christmas is a beautiful story. Melinda and Austin are a married couple. Austin business has went under and he blames himself. Austin feels he has let his wife and family down. Melinda only sees the man she loves in pain and wants to help him. With a little love and faith anything is possible. Highly recommend.

Melinda and Austin are married and Austen's buissness sinks making him feel like a failure but Melinda never cared about knee or any of that, just just loved hi and wanting to make things better for him but not knowing how. Austin on the other hand feels like he's failed her and it takes him waking up to see he never wants to lose her.

A Sweet Montana Christmas by Roxanne Snopek

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Melinda and Austin are married and Austen's buissness sinks making him feel like a failure but Melinda never cared about knee or any of that, just just loved hi and wanting to make things better for him but not knowing how. Austin on the other hand feels like he's failed her and it takes him waking up to see he never wants to lose her.

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This is a heartwarming story that will have you cheering for second chance romances.

Austin Sweet was a financial wizard in a company he and his cousin developed, but wizard or not financial downfalls effect us all. He has prided himself as being the provider for he and his wife Melinda, a maternity nurse in an inner city hospital in Chicago. All of a sudden he is unemployed, and she is the provider. Their lives become pushed farther and farther apart until a near tragedy at Mel's work sends her home to stay with her mother. Their only hope is to live on Austin's grandfathers property in Montana, maintaining it and preparing it to be sold. Mel refused to accompany him. Austin is living on a dilapidated farm, with questionable running water, only an old cast iron stove for heat, goats, honey bees and an old dog named Jackson. He is lost; he's not divorced, not even officially separated, but alone. He regrets their fast paced lives with no time for each other.

Mel is tired, heartsick and misses Austin terribly. They really need to talk. With the encouragement of her Mom she heads to Montana. The house is quite a shock, but Austin's warm welcome and happiness seeing her gives her courage. She suddenly sees this monstrosity as a diamond in the rough. They both dive into preparations for the farm's annual Christmas Open House. The honey alone will bring in much needed income. It was delightful to see Logan, Samarra, Jade and "part Labrador Retiever, part border collie, part luck of the draw" Bob, Jades therapy dog ( Finding Home.)Their Christmas open house is a huge success, but the excitement doesn't end when the party's over!

This is a fast read and I found myself smiling a lot with an occasional tear. The joy of restoring the house, meeting friends and re-discovering the love they always had pulls at your heartstrings. A great read for a night in front of a nice warm fire and Christmas tree.

Pat Fordyce

Ah, another wonderfully written book by Ms. Snopek. A Sweet Montana Christmas is the heart-warming, tension-filled story of Melinda and Austin Sweet—a recently separated couple who’ve had their share of hardships and are willing to give it one last go before they give up entirely on one another. It is a story of love, friendship, and family, and I ate up nearly every minute of it.

As with all of the author’s books, the writing was impeccable. The story moved along at a good pace, it was easy to read and follow along with, and the colorful narrative and dialogue seemed to melt effortlessly into the background. I was absolutely absorbed in the storytelling.

The only problem I had with the book, and trust me, it was very much –my problem-, is that I’m not a big fan of romance stories that start after-the-fact of the couple’s relationship. Melinda and Austin were already married, already in love at once point, and I didn’t know them as a couple. I wish I’d gotten to know them when they were first in love… I think it would have helped cement their relationship for me. That’s not the author’s fault though. That’s every bit my own problem, and I recognize it—and so I’m not marking points off the overall score.

That aside, the story was beautifully written and full of both heartwarming and steamy moments between Melinda and Austin. The cast of characters, though brief, seemed authentic. I wanted it to work out for the couple, and though there were a few niggling details that bothered me (like the fact that Austin had magically become more muscle-bound in the time between he and his wife had last seen each other) overall, the story was a short, but engaging delve into the small-town Montana life, and I enjoyed it. I’d be happy to recommend this short little story to anyone looking for a sweet holiday-themed read, and I encourage you to take a look at the rest of the author’s work. I have had the privilege of reading quite a few of her works over the last two years, and everyone of them has been remarkably well written. If you like cozy romance stories, you’ll enjoy this.

Loved it! This is a sweet story of a couple who have run into a rough patch in life basically losing everything and trying to find a way to make it through, together. Wonderfully written, it's a great story of hope of love for the holiday season. I highly recommend this one.

A Sweet Montana Christmas by Roxanne Snopek is a wonderful story of second chances and forgiveness that just happens to take place during the Christmas Season. While the season adds to the story, it by no means dominates the storyline. I truly loved the characters, Austin and Melinda. Life has a ways of wearing people down and apart. I loved the realistic way that they found each other again and pulled together to save their marriage.

Their sweet Christmas would have been better without his parents, but the events with them makes this story even more infused with realism. Spouses usually come with a family. Melinda went the extra mile with her in-laws in this story.

I would love to see them a few years down the road, perhaps at another open house for the honey farm. These characters feel like friends more than someone I just read about. What about their neighbor, does he get a HEA too?

4 Heartwarming stars

A Sweet Montana Christmas was a touching and heartwarming read.

This was a story about a married couple finding their way back together, it was about hope, love and friendship.
I really enjoyed the characters and the storyline.

Roxanne Snopek is one of my must read authors and once again she's written a wonderful story that leaves her readers full of happy feels.

Thank you Netgalley and Tule Publishing for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I really enjoyed this tale of a broken marriage and two people who desperately want to put it right, even if they don’t know how. There’s never any doubt of the love on both sides, but that doesn’t mean it’s all plain sailing. There’s trust to be rebuilt, hope to be rediscovered and a future that just doesn’t bear thinking about.

With two likable characters going through hard times, this book is all about fixing things up, repairing breaks and rebuilding things to be better than new. It starts off bleak and sad, but is filled with hope by the end – a perfect piece of Christmas fiction. It’s not the usual offering I’m used to from these Montana Born books, but I enjoyed it just as much.

Book Review: A Sweet Montana Christmas by Roxanne Snopek

''Twas the month before Christmas, when all through the house need cleaning, dusting and a trap for a live mouse.
The goats just had two kids that needed care While the Queen Bee makes sure that honey is there.

That was the scene that Melinda saw when she went to see her estranged husband Austin at his family's Sweet Montana Farms. And though it has only been a month since they separated, Austin had turned into a rustic farmer complete with a full beard from the clean shaven sophisticated Chicago-based financial advisor.

What to do, what to do? She still loves him and she knows the he feels the same. But the failure of his business hit him hard; a double whammy to his pride and self esteem. So how can Melinda tell him a life changing news? Isn't a drastic career change for Austin enough shock already?

A sweet read, no pun intended. It's a story about communication; that love is not enough if you don't talk to each other. Because that's what Melinda and Austin need to do to get their happily ever after. But will they follow their own advice?

A Sweet Montana Christmas is Rated T for Teens. There are no sex scenes in this book.

A Sweet Montana Christmas is a touching, gentle, moving and beautiful story. I felt for both Austin and his estranged wife Melinda from the moment they were introduced to me. Driven to succeed Austin is broken when his financial planning business collapses and he loses everything. Mel has also ad it tough, coping not only with Austin and the emotional problems he carries from his business failure but also with her own worries. The book opens with them separated, Mel returning to her moter's home while Austin finds himself caretaking and fixing up his grandfather's farm near Marietta, licking his wounds and missing Mel. The setting for this book intrigued me. I love old houses and have long dreamed of renovating one so when Austin and Mel started on thus one I was right there with them. They are two likeable characters struggling to rebuild their life together. I cheered them on and got really involved in terms story. A great read!

***I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion***
4.5 stars

A Sweet Montana Christmas is part of the Montana Born Christmas series and it's my favorite in the series.

Austin Sweet lost all his money when his Chicago financial services business collapsed and it seems he's about to lose his wife as well.

Austin's dad sent him to take care of his grandfather’s rundown honey farm and his wife Melinda moved to live with her mother and didn't come with Austin to the farm so Austin is shocked when Melinda shows up at the farm and tell him she wants to stay with him on the farm and help him.

Austin and Melina need to get the house and farm ready for the traditional Sweet Christmas Open House and in the process to decided their plans for the future.

I enjoyed reading about Austin and Melinda and how they were trying to work past their marriage problems and be together. I loved the fact that Austin was willing to stand up to his parents when he thought they weren't treating Melinda with respect.

I also enjoyed reading about the Sweet Christmas Open House and how Austin and Melinda took a run down farm and made it a home for them.

A Sweet Montana Christmas is a great holiday novella that will make you happy!

I love second chance stories and A Sweet Montana Christmas is a wonderful example of a married couple who because of many outside causes have drifted apart and one last ditch effort to try and put their lives back together again. I know that sounds like it might be a heavy story and in some cases it is but more than that it is two people learning to accept their situation, learning to trust each other again, and remembering the reason they fell in love in the first place. I really enjoyed this couple’s road back to happily ever after.

Austin Sweet has had a horrible year with losing his business, not being able to provide for his wife and moving to take care of his grandfather’s farm because he has no place else to go and his father offered him this chance to regroup. I’m going to state up front that Austin is throwing himself a pretty good sized pity party but when his estranged wife, Melinda, shows up and announces they should try and reconcile it becomes evident that she is exactly what Austin needs.

I very much enjoyed watching these two rediscover the love they once had for each other and experiencing the simple joys in life, something I’m not sure they ever really did before. They both have some big time struggles to overcome and yet somehow when they are together and communicating they seem more manageable. I love that even though “country” life wasn’t something Melinda wanted she put forth ever effort to make the best of what they had and to give it a fair shot because she realized it was something that made Austin happy. The fact that Austin did everything to help Melinda feel more at ease including inviting some other women to their home in hopes of her finding friends showed how much he loved her and wanted her happy. Sure their life wasn’t perfect and they had some outside forces that didn’t help their situation.

A sweet and wonderful story of two people believing and trusting in each other to do what was right for their relationship and in the end realizing that being together was way more perfect than being apart.

The perfect story to get you ready for the holidays. I love a great Christmas movie now and then but to fall Into a good book on a snowy winter morning is the way to go... I loved this book from start to finish Austin and Melindas story is one of life's curve balls. After loosing his job and his money he leaves his wife with out saying good bye and takes his fathers offer for the family farm. Alone and ready to give up for the most part his wife shows up and takes him back or does she. I loved the story from start to finish and just what I needed!

So Austin Sweet is at a new time low he looses everything and feels like he doesn't know what to do. His parents given him and opportunity to help them with the "family farm" but it takes him off the grid in a since. When one morning his wife who he thought he would never see again shows up with news and he is so glad to have her back, at least he thinks she back he does everything in his power to show that the is a man good enough for her. I love this story I feel like he fights for his marriage and Mel does too, I love that the storyline gets to the heart of the matter but keeps you guessing and you don't loose interest in the story at all. This book hands down has to be one of the best christmas books I have read. I think there is very little about this book you will find that you don't like.

This is a story about a couple struggling with real life issues that are affecting their relationship. Austin has a financial planning company that has failed. He and his wife Melinda have lost everything. Melinda has gone to work as a nurse to help support the family. She is pregnant but hasn't told Austin. Austins father offers him the opportunity to fix up his Grandfathers run down honey farm. It is a temporary fix to their problem. Melinda doesn't go with him at first, but decides to follow Austin. Austin is determined to make his wife proud of him again but is trapped between his family and his wife.

Heartrendingly beautiful story, not really about second chances, but of a new life, with core values, true happiness, and love.
Melinda and Austin had lost everything material in their lives, and they nearly lost each other as well. Now they are trying for this new life, new culture, new opportunity, a new kind of intimacy in their marriage. And it's not easy, or doesn't happen over night. But they talk, they love, they work, and they achieve something very precious, more dear to them than any money can buy.
I loved the hard work they put into the farm and into them selves, and their marriage. And the Christmas pictures the author painted, while somewhat primitive, so adorable, and beautiful. I snuggled up reading this while it was snowing outside, and this story took me straight to the countryside, once again wishing I was in Montana for the holidays
~ Five spoons!

Austin Sweet is a man who has lost everything – his company, his dignity, his house, his car and is on the brink of losing his wife. His financial failure strikes at the core of him – his ability to provide for his family. He is in Marietta, Montana to fix up the dilapidated family farm for sale, at his father’s request. Melinda Sweet was not unscathed in the scandal of the loss of her husband’s company. She stepped up to become the breadwinner until an incident at work causes her to take time off. She follows her husband to Marietta to see if they could salvage their marriage, but also because she has life-changing news. Austin really loves his wife and is willing to work on rebuilding their marriage. He does his best to make her comfortable in their new surroundings, even encouraging her to make new friends. I liked Melinda because she was brave and generous. Life in the country was not what she wanted but she made it work. I loved watching them rediscover their love for one another and adapt to the simple and easy pace of life away from the big city.
I can’t help but see the parallels between the farm and their relationship. The farm became rundown due to neglect and the same thing happened to their marriage. As they invest in the farm, they also invest in rebuilding their marriage and forging relationships with family and new friends. A Sweet Montana Christmas is the perfect reminder that Christmastime is the perfect time for rebirth and new beginnings.

A story that shows what happens to many "modern" marriages and that dealing with issues head-on & together can lead to meaningful marriage. They both learn to provide what the other person needs. A heartwarming Christmas story filled with hope, no matter how bad things seem.

4.5 stars A heart warming story about the couple involved in a marriage torn apart by the collapse of a financial business and lack of communication which is given a second chance out at the rundown honey farm in the Montana hills. They love each other but will they communicate and share their love to rebuild their marriage despite the adversities they’re experiencing or will problems again intervene to split their relationship?

Austin Sweet feels he’s let everyone down, even though the failure of his business wasn’t actually his fault. He’s lost his job, home, social position, everything and is in danger of losing his wife, too. She’s a midwife and collapsed at work after being attacked, she’s scared to do the job again and ran away to stay with her Mum because Austin wasn’t really talking to her. Now she’s going out the join him on his grandfather’s honey farm, unsure of what the future holds for her and her husband.

The characters are made so realistic by this fantastic author, you feel every emotion along with them, their hopes, fears and angst, beautifully portrayed to the readers in this superb story. The couple are going through hard times and have to work together to rebuild their relationship and their new home. They are learning together about the farm, the animals and each other. A great story of hope for the festive season - I really enjoyed it and will be looking out for other books by this author in future!

I fell in love with this sweet couple right off the bat. I love that Melinda has such a big heart and pours that into her job of being a delivery nurse. It just seems like the perfect fit for Melinda and her big heart! Austin and Melinda have fallen on hard times because of Austin's business being put out of business. This causes hardship between the two and Austin does the only sensible thing at the time and moves to his grandfather's farm where there is no rent and an income to support himself. Melinda goes to her mom's house at first but her mom soon makes her realize that her place is with her husband and she ends up going to be with Austin at his grandfather's farm. The two of them soon realize that they had let the pressures of everyday things get in the way of their love for each other. Austin never stopped loving Melinda and vice versa but they were unsure with each other where they stood. Once they are back together on the farm and have no one but each other to rely on, they soon realize that their love for each other has always been there, they just had to notice it and keep it alive.
The way that Austin cares for Melinda once she arrives is so loving. He does everything for her and treats her like a queen. Melinda falls in love with Austin more and more each day as they renew their love for each other. I love the farm life depicted in this book and the small town heart warming love that is shown by all. Melinda does not have very many friends since they are way out on the farm, but one person she does meet, she gets to share her love of babies and being a nurse with her because she is expecting her first child and has tons of questions for Melinda. When Melinda and Austin pull together for the great sale on Christmas Eve at the farm, they are meet with an obstacle that they will not soon forget. I love how they got to bond over this miracle. This was such a good Christmas read. I really loved this heart warming story and it was just what I needed at a time like the Holidays. Thanks Roxanne for a great read!!

*** 1/2

Review:

Between the loss of Austin’s business and Melinda’s long hours at the hospital, communication between them completely breaks down, leading to their separation. The aftermath lands them both in Montana; Melinda with her mom and Austin on his grandfather’s old farm. Austin feels that he irreparably damaged their marriage so needless to say he is shocked when Melinda shows up at his grandfather’s farm, a few months after their separation, with a very, very unexpected surprise.

As they navigate a new stage of their relationship, they work together to clean up the farmhouse and get it ready for sale in the spring. At least that’s Melinda’s plan. Austin isn’t so sure he wants to leave. He’s finding that the work on the honey farm agrees with him and he could stay there for the long haul. Together they’ll have to decide their plans for the future if those plans include each other.

At first I had a hard time empathizing with Austin’s melancholy repetition of, “A husband provides.” He feels that he failed his wife because he couldn’t provide for her financially, hence (according to him) breaking up his marriage. It’s such a traditional, old fashioned and sexist way to look at things and it drove me slightly batty. But other than that, Austin did not come across as sexist in any other way. He was actually pretty fantastic. In the end the moral is that they are equals in their relationship. They provide for each other. Providing for their family isn’t something that Austin should ever have to shoulder alone.

Melinda was an interesting heroine. She was singularly focused on her career; a trait I often admire in female characters. Unfortunately, her focus is so narrow that she is, at first, unwilling to even consider any other options. It was the unwillingness to consider those options that was frustrating. But just as Austin has to learn that they are a team, in some ways Melinda has to learn the same thing.

And that is what I enjoyed most about this book. The fact there isn’t only one answer to obtain happiness. There is no right or wrong answer to their situation. The point is that together they are a team and together they can decide what is best for them and their future.

This was a great addition to my winter reading. It fulfilled a number of traits I’ve been looking for in adult romance.

Christmas story? Check.

Married couple? Check.

Montana setting? Check.

Country living? Check

That last one…As Austin and Melinda bust ass renovating the old farmhouse and farm, I found myself feeling extremely jealous. Snopek tells their story in such a way that made all their hard work look exciting and fulfilling without romanticizing it or making it seem easy. I wanted to throw a “For Sale” sign up in my front yard and start scouring the ads for remote farmhouses in Montana. To be fair, this is on the bucket list for me and the Executive Officer but reading A Sweet Montana Christmas made me want it RIGHT NOW!

This was my first Roxanne Snopek book and I enjoyed it so much that I will be reading her other books as soon as possible. If you are looking for a satisfying Christmas read this month, I highly recommend Melinda and Austin Sweet’s story.
~Nat

A Sweet Montana Christmas by Roxanne Snopek is a story of a couple, Melinda & Austin Sweet, who are down on their luck. Austin's company went bankrupt and as a result he pulled away from Melinda because he felt like he couldn't provide for her. Melinda became the breadwinner in the family and worked nights as an OB nurse. The couple drifted apart and the reader comes in when Austin has moved to his family farm in Montana and Melinda is living with her mom. This story was good and I liked both Melinda & Austin and their love for each other is evident throughout the story, even as they're talking about a divorce. This is a good example of how lack of communication and pride can cause a couple to break up. It was nice that there was not one huge fight, like there are in many romance novels, because it wasn't one issue that got in the way of this couple. They worked through some of their communication issues slowly and put in the work required to make their marriage work. This story gets 4 stars and is an easy read.

**My thanks to NetGalley and Tule Publishing, for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

Melinda and Austin Sweet have been through hell and back and the book starts where the couple are on a temporary break. Austin is currently in Montana on his late grandfathers ranch and has been for the last month. After having lost everything his father has asked that he look after the place until spring where they will sell and split the money.

Melinda arrives after a the month split at her mothers urging and it is only when she sees him again is she reminded just how much she loves her husband. She never blamed his for their new circumstances, but both just got a little lost with everything that happened.

With a new purpose, Melinda makes the best of what she has and sees only the good qualities in her man. Both pick up their pace, learn new things and work hard especially as they start talking again.

Both show how with unending love you can battle through the harsh times and make them better. Its a warming holiday novella that is perfect to read in front of a warm fire and get a glimpse of another character from the Three River Ranch series.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1141984401

This is a wonderfully sweet and emotional read. A second chance redemption story, A Sweet Montana Christmas hits the spot.

Melinda and Austin Sweet "have it all". They live in Chicago in a big, expensive house. They have money; they have the life. He is a financial wizard in business with his cousin; she is a nurse specializing in difficult births. Even though they are on opposite schedules, they are very much in love. And then it all comes crashing down. The financial services firm is done, from one bad investment, and they lose everything. Melinda is sent home from the hospital after a mistake.

Now at his Grandfather's honey farm in Marietta, Austin despairs. His wife is not with him; he hates the farm, and loves it too; he has an open house to prep for that he didn't know about; and he almost kills a hive of bees.

When Melinda shows up at the farm, it's a wake up call for Austin. He wants his wife back but he is also starting the love the farm and the life in Marietta. (Something not lost on his manipulative parents.) But there are more surprises to come for both of them and Christmas is a magical time, a time for love.

This is one of the best books from this year's Montana Born Christmas books. I thought Melinda and Austin were perfect for each other and they both had character arcs that worked.

This was the first book I have ever read featuring an already married couple trying to reconnect. I loved it. Super sweet love story about moving through change and beyond failures. I would definitely read books from this author again in the future!

A wonderful written story of a broken marriage that needs to be fixed. Austin has lost everything on a corporate fall, so he accepts his dad's gift of turning around his grandfather's dilapidated cabin. His wife Melinda, OB nurse does not follow immediately, until her mother tells her, she needs to tell her husband her news. Melinda shows up and the mutual attraction is still there. A little Christmas magic and a new baby will help bring this couple back together.
This is the sixth book in the series of Christmas of Montana Born, a stand alone book but it was great to see the other residents of Marrieta. I highly recommend you read this book this Christmas season.

Finding your way back to each other and realizing what you had was not lost only misplaced for a while. The important things in life are not fame and fortune but what you create, family, friendships and becoming someone who is proud to hold their head up high. A sweet story of discovery.

If a man moves to the forest, and his wife isn't there to share his spaghetti-os, are they still married?

A SWEET MONTANA CHRISTMAS by Roxanne Snopek is a wonderful, sweet Christmas romance. It's the sixth story in the Montana Born Christmas series, but it can be fully enjoyed as a standalone.

A SWEET MONTANA CHRISTMAS is the second chance at love story of Austin and Melinda Sweet, a married couple who had separated after going through a rough time when Austin's business, Sweet and Morgan Financial Services, had to close its doors during the economic downturn. It's the story of a couple discovering how to communicate again and learning that it's more important to have each other -that, when you evaluate what really matters in life, accumulated stuff is not in the running.

Melinda had gone to stay with her mother when Austin moved out and took over the running of his father's dilapidated farm in Marietta, Montana. She was not ready, though, to give up on their marriage - however broken it may be - and she shows up unannounced on his doorstep hoping that the secret she has not yet shared with him, will cause Austin to give their marriage another chance.

Austin is a broken man. He feels worthless because he has lost social standing in the community and can no longer be the primary breadwinner. Coping with the furious investors - many of whom had been friends - and going through bankruptcy has been the last straw. When his parents offer him the chance to run their farm and fix up the place before they sell it, he jumps at the chance leaving his wife behind. She was used to the finer things in life and he knew she wouldn't want to live in the fixer-upper cabin that he would be living in. But... then he finds her on his doorstep...

Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from this read:

The great conundrum: sex makes men feel loved; communication makes women feel loved.
---

"Mel," he murmured against her cheek, "everything I need in the world is right here, in my arms."
---

"No smiling!" said Melinda. "Look stern, everyone."...
He kissed her. "Our American Gothic."
"Sweet Montana Farms style." And she kissed him back.

One of my favorite scenes was when Melinda discovered that a supporting character's son was on the autism spectrum. My son is on the autism spectrum and it's rare to see it mentioned in books. I appreciated that Melinda processed that knowledge and did not change how she treated the mother and son as evidenced by this short excerpt:
The deliberate cadence of Jade's speech, plus the subtle behavioral tics suggested a spot on the autism spectrum. Her opinion of Samara went up another notch.

This is a book that educates without letting the reader know that they're learning. I discovered interesting information about raising bees for honey AND raising baby goats AND about baking reading this book! No worries, it's totally painless and quite entertaining!

Roxanne's writing is captivating with genuine, relatable characters set in the mountains at Christmastime. Can a sprinkling of Christmas magic and surprising news repair their broken marriage? You'll have to read this charming tale to find out! I highly recommend A SWEET MONTANA CHRISTMAS to anyone who enjoys contemporary, warm-fuzzy romances.

A cute, quick and heartwarming reading everything you need for a christmas read.