Book 988: Snow in Montana (Montana #4) – R.J. Scott

Not going to lie, this and the next, Second Chance Ranch, are probably my two favorites from this series. I think this one is up there because it’s a one because it’s a holiday romance and is super meta about holiday romance movies and I am 100% here for it even though I read this on a tropical vacation in the middle of February 😀 It’s also the first that doesn’t have a main character directly connected to the ranch.

There is still fallout occurring from Adam and Justin’s kidnapping that was revealed in the first few books, but I blocked it out because of this sweet romance. It helped that more of this romance took place off the ranch than some of the others and this story seemed to be more tightly written.

This is the story of Jordan, a made-for-TV rom-com actor who has come to the ranch to film a Christmas movie, and Ryan, the local sheriff who has to be at the ranch for various security concerns. Jordan’s being gay is an open secret in Hollywood and he, his brother, and their assistant (?) have started their own production company with a five-year plan to make MF holiday movies and then in year five sell a MM holiday movie written, directed and starred in by Jordan. Those plans are put into chaos when Ryan and Jordan are caught kissing by an intern who shares the photo with her brother who is being bullied and it leaks out.

A few keystrokes and he had called up his go-to work in progress, the kind of film he’d love to make. Where a man fell in love with a man, in a real gay romance, and the movie was shown to mainstream audiences, and there was no hate, only acceptance. (17)

Ryan’s icy reception of Hollywood’s big city Jordan made the first half of the book a lot of fun. Scott did a great job of balancing Ryan’s attraction and annoyance that I found myself chuckling pretty frequently. Once the ice thawed and they started to spend time together the book really took off for me. I loved seeing Ryan and Jordan interacting with Ryan’s niblings and brothers. It was so sweet. The interactions between Jordan and his twin brother really added to the family affair of this book and the banter between the two was perfectly written.

My favorite scene though was at the end when the film finally aired and everyone from the ranch came to the little house they’d rented together. It showed the future they were slowly building and was just so cute. I also have to note that Sam’s brother finally made an appearance again with a passing line at the end of this book. It didn’t answer any questions, but it did verify that they were still on the ranch, but that was it.

Recommendation: Loved it. It was a quick read and is probably one of the top two in the series. Jordan and Ryan were perfect protagonists and I got a Sweet Home Alabama at Christmas vibe from this one. It was written to be a rom-com film about a film, one of those meta ones 😀 Check it out, and you don’t have to bother reading the others if you don’t want to (but might have some questions about minor characters).

Opening Line: “Ryan Carter watched the visitors arrive from the window of Marcus Allens’ house.”

Closing Line: “And the New Year was filled with hope.” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)

Additional Quotes from Snow in Montana
“Then Ryan cleared his throat. ‘So, you have questions?’
God, yes. Like tell me you’re pushy in bed and your thighs are as strong as they look in those regulation pants, and tell me that you really want casual sex with a man who’ll be stuck in the closet for at least another four years.” (45)

“Only as he was holding Jordan to him and they were kissing did he realize two things: Jordan had made him forget everything, and he wanted Jordan in his life on a permanent basis. Which meant he was opening himself up to heartbreak when Jordan and the crew left.” (159)