Rocky Mountain Miracle

Summary:

When Cole Steele, a womanizer rumored to have killed his father, meets Maia Armstrong, a veterinarian rumored to practice magic, the sizzling romance could melt all the snow on his Wyoming ranch. And when an injured horse brings them together, Cole can’t help but believe that Maia casts spells on animals—and men. What else could explain the burning passion he feels for her and the thawing of his heart just in time for Christmas? (Summary and book cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

I thought this book was truly terrible.  I have no idea how people are rating this higher than 3 stars, perhaps I’m missing something.  Cole and Jace are brothers who are abused as children, but that doesn’t stop Cole from 1) being a womanizer himself (in the beginning), 2) Not listening when Maia repeatedly says no to him and 3) Forcing sexual advances on Maia in the forms of kissing, dragging her forcibly out of a bar etc.  Magically, Cole knows that Maia “really wants it” and Maia “can’t resist”.  Sound familiar?  It should because it’s almost an exact script from a sexual abuse education class.  The book was trying to be in the vein of dominant alpha male wins over strong independent woman, but I found it to be a gross parody of serious issues when abuse was a prominent theme in the book.  There are PLENTY of great romance stories that balance the dominant romance aspect better and in a manner where both partners are clearly willing participants.

Questionable sexual content aside, I was pretty bored with the story.  It had so much potential for an action-packed storyline, but it just chugged along with little action even in the “climax” of the book.

Warning: Contains some sexual content, violence and reference to abuse.

Please note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review courtesy of NetGalley.

Rating: 1 stars!

Who should read it? Just don’t.  Go read the ‘With Me in Seattle’ series by Kristen Proby instead.