Matt
Malloys of Montana, Book#1
By R.C. Ryan
ISBN13: 9781455591602
Author’s Website: http://www.ryanlangan.com/booklist.html
Review brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
Synopsis:
Raised beneath the big Montana sky, Matt Malloy was never meant to be a jet-setting businessman. But he’ll do anything to protect the family ranch he shares with his brothers. Coming home after a two-week trip to Italy, Matt wants nothing more than to shed his suit and tie for a well-worn pair of jeans and ride his horse up to the cabin for some alone time. The last thing he needs is a big-city lawyer invading his privacy-even if she is the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen . . .
Vanessa Kettering has devoted her life to her work. As a passionate animal rights defender, she doesn’t have room for anything else. But from the moment she meets Matt, she’s taken with this rugged cowboy’s lazy smile and tender touch. When a raging storm traps them inside his cabin for the night, one steamy kiss leads to another, sweeping them away with a force that’s as wild and untamed as the land he loves. But when the morning light comes, will she lose her heart?
Review:
A delightful contemporary romance which kept this reader engaged throughout. Even to the point of forgoing sleep…it was that engaging. I can hardly wait for this series to continue!
The tale begins in the prologue where we learn of an accident one dark icy winter evening that killed twelve-year-old Matthew Malloy’s parents (Patrick Malloy and Bernadette). From that moment on, Matthew (Matt) along with his two siblings (Reed and Luke), grandparents (Francis Xavier Malloy and Grace Anne LaRou – daughter of Nelson LaRou), and Uncle Colin’s life was permanently changed. Matt was no longer the wild child around town – and as an adult he has assumed the role of leader to his two younger brothers as well as running the family business – the ranch.
He trained himself to be disciplined and deliberate, steering the family business in a safe direction, always weighing both sides of an issue before making a decision that he knew would affect his entire family.
What I wouldn’t give for a ranch cook like Yancy Martin or at the very least, his recipes. Yancy has been on the ranch for MANY years (35 in fact), having come to the ranch when he was but a wee lad (I will leave that for you to read about – but suffice it to say – it broke my heart a little bit). Needless to say, he is a valued member of the Malloy family.
Grace (affectionately known as Gram Gracie) is the matriarch of the family and her passion is the wild mustang. She occasionally roams the property in search of the elusive white mustang stallion. During these pursuits, she photographs/films the lives of the mustangs (including births).
Nelson LaRou is known as Great One (great-grandfather was just too long so it was shortened to Great One). He is portrayed as the commanding director of Hollywood (which he was until his retirement) and a bit gruff. However, you definitely get the sense that he loves his three great grandsons (as well as his daughter of course).
Vanessa (Nessa) Kettering, an activist and lawyer from a wildlife federation, has come to the ranch to interview Gracie. As Gracie is unavailable, Matt is charged with handling the interview. It is certainly evident from their first meeting that there is chemistry…. the sparks were flying. Vanessa’s father (Elliott Kettering) is a high powered attorney with a high profile case against DePietro. While Vanessa is in Montana, at the conclusion of the current trial, Elliott received a threat stating:
If his office continued its prosecutions of this case, he would lose his most precious possession.
Needless to say, the Malloy family steps-up and offers Nessa a safe place to stay until a verdict is reached and DePietro is convicted and put away. This certainly sets the stage for more interaction between Matt and Nessa. At one point in time Nessa wondered and ruminated:
She was attracted to him. She trusted him. And she was enchanted by his family. Plus, because of him, she was living her dream. But that didn’t add up to love. Did it? Hadn’t her father once joked that every young woman he knew fell in love with the idea of love at least once in her life before finding the real thing?
Let us not forget the sexy and hot parts….and there were a few. Never let it be said that cowboys do not have manners:
“You have the most amazing body.”
“Why, thank you for noticing, ma’am. It’s all yours. Do with me what you want.”
She gave a tortured laugh. “That’s really generous of you.”
“Anything for my lady.” He shucked his boots and jeans and dragged her close, pressing hot, wet kisses to the sensitive hollow between her neck and shoulder….
The whole storyline following the conclusion of the trial while deliberations were occurring was very intense. This portion of the story was a page turner for sure. Additionally, I really enjoyed the storyline where Gracie and Nessa go off in search of Mustangs. I loved their interactions, especially since Nessa is in definite need of female parental figures in her life. They just meshed in all the best ways.
The road to happily ever after in this story was definitely thrilling, heart stopping, intense, sexy and at times, down right fun. Thank you, R.C. Ryan, for a grand introduction to your writing. I will wait with anticipation for the next in the Malloys of Montana series.
