★★★★★ Reading the prologue, I was as skeptical as heroine Rachel that this unlikely age-gapped pairing could be a couple. At that point, Jamie’s 14 and Rachel is 20. But this sweet soldier, who fell in love with his best friend’s older sister at first site, proved me wrong. Now a 26-year-old marine, wounded after a mortar attack, Jamie is back in his hometown of Glacier Creek, Montana. He needs help getting around while he recuperates and Rachel, a concierge, who’s also back in Glacier Creek after her recent divorce, accepts the job. While I expected Rachel might find Jamie young and difficult to connect with, she’s actually very taken by him and feels old by comparison – her snob of an ex-husband took a toll on her self-confidence. It’s fun watching these two get together, discover how much they have in common and give into their attraction, which gets hotter as they get closer. The ending’s is a bit of a switch up, which I really enjoyed. Montana Defender is a heartwarming smalltown romance that will make you believe in destiny and in love.
Add Karen Foley’s Montana Defender to your to-be-read list on Goodreads!