Mia Zabrinski with her children, Emilee and Hunter, move back to Montana where her family live after her eluding death from breast cancer. Terrified at finding herself with cancer and recently divorced, her sole focus is keeping herself alive to be there for her children. She isn't happy with her replacement boobs, but it has been the best choice for her. Being back with her twin brother Austin, sister Meg and younger brother Paul gives her the support she needs along with her parents. However, leaving her job as a hard-ass prosecutor in Cheyenne has left her less funds to build her house on the ten acres in Marietta, Montana that was awarded to her in the divorce settlement with Edward.

Hearing rumors, Mia visits her land to find a vagrant squatting there. Ryker Bensen is a nature photographer and staying temporarily on the land he believes he and his brother Flynn own. Their deceased father has left them both a huge inheritance that they inherit at age 30. As soon as he reaches 30 he will build on this land, or at least thought he would until he finds out it was previously sold to the gorgeous woman standing before him. Ryker is still trying to overcome the death of his fiancé and unborn child, filling him with months of grief. Mia is something else. The more they talk and involve legal help with straightening out their land issue, the more the idea of a quick, short termed sex affair appeals to Mia. But of course, nothing ever goes as planned and sex turns to caring and love. But can two very unlikely people meet on consensual ground and actually form a happy life together?

For a short story MONTANA DARLING includes everything the reader could possibly want. True love and romance involving the fear and determination of a woman and man that have been through tragic events. Fearful of moving on, Mia has to wrap her mind around a life of love that involves loving her body again as well. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of this tale and the touching way Debra Salonen revealed the thoughts of a woman fearful of a new life and new love. MONTANA DARLING is a definite read for all romance addicts.

Book Summary

Her marriage. Her job. Her body image. Mia beat cancer and is ready to rebuild her life in her hometown of Marietta, Montana. Literally. Her first order of business is to build a house on the ten-acre parcel she was awarded in her divorce settlement. And she's damned if she'll let some stranger camp on her land and claim squatter's rights. So maybe he's not a squatter. The high-end bike and camera hint at more. Plus, he's hot, gorgeous and smart, but that doesn't make him less of a threat--especially when he has the audacity to claim the land is his. Look out, darlin', Nitro is back and prepared to prove what the other Big Sky Mavericks always knew: small packages can pack a big punch.

Ryker Bensen doesn't have much-- And that suits him fine. Less than a year ago, he had everything: a beautiful girlfriend, a baby on the way, a career that earned him fame and a very comfortable living...until he didn't. Grief sent him to ground, and his favorite ground growing up was a ten-acre patch along side the Marietta River where he camped every summer - land held in trust until his thirtieth birthday, now just a few weeks away. When a beautiful spitfire named Mia Zabrinski shows up and orders him off what she says is her land, Ryker realizes she might be the spark he needed to jumpstart his interest in living again.