Review: Vacation romance battles to become to real-life love
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 9, 2014
Monty and Risa had a whirlwind romance after meeting in Las Vegas. Monty, a Marine, was between deployments and grabs sees in Risa a solid future. After a week together, she accepts happily his proposal. Things are going fine until both are struck by tragedy and can't turn to the other for support. Risa, dealing with the aftermath of her parents' unexpected death, runs away from her life and starts a new one in Marietta, Montana. She is still engaged, but time passes and she doesn't contact Monty. Monty returns, but is dealing with his own tragedy. His best friend, Lane, was seriously injured on his watch, and he can't get past the guilt, nor can he find his fiancee. When he finds out his fiancee is in his best friend's hometown, he follows her there hoping to work things out.Both characters have a lot of fears and doubts they have to overcome, not as much about their feelings for the other, but more allowing themselves to be happy when dealing with their losses. They also have to get to know each other all over again, in every day life, not just the wonderful week they had where day-to-day did not intrude.The Reluctant Bride by Katherine Garbera is the fifth novella in the Montana Born Brides series. I thought it was an enjoyable and emotional read. It is always fun to visit Marietta and meet new characters, while spending more time with characters from many of the previous novellas. I am waiting impatiently for my next chance to visit!