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Curvy Wives of Willow Creek #4
Falling for the Grumpy Mountain Man
Stranded in the wilderness, the only help I find is a handsome ex-military, and he's the definition of a mountain man. Tall. Broad-shouldered. Grumpy.
When a work delivery goes wrong, I'm caught in the ruthless grip of a storm. The only way to survive is with this six-foot-five man with a rugged beard and a fierce dark-eyed gaze.
His towering presence can't be ignored, and those deep brown eyes are precisely why I keep hearing "danger" in my head. I should keep my distance. I should keep being Ivy - feisty and fearless.
But the moment he tells me I can stay, his intense gaze offers a warmth that outmatches his roaring fireplace.
I've been burned before, tricked by men with silver tongues and empty promises. Can I really unchain myself from my own past? And can Brock muster the courage to lower his defenses and surrender to the spark between us?
Falling for the Grumpy Mountain Man is a short, sweet, and steamy small town instalove romance with a happy-ever-after. It can be read as a standalone or together with the rest of the books in the Curvy Wives of Willow Creek Series.
When a work delivery goes wrong, I'm caught in the ruthless grip of a storm. The only way to survive is with this six-foot-five man with a rugged beard and a fierce dark-eyed gaze.
His towering presence can't be ignored, and those deep brown eyes are precisely why I keep hearing "danger" in my head. I should keep my distance. I should keep being Ivy - feisty and fearless.
But the moment he tells me I can stay, his intense gaze offers a warmth that outmatches his roaring fireplace.
I've been burned before, tricked by men with silver tongues and empty promises. Can I really unchain myself from my own past? And can Brock muster the courage to lower his defenses and surrender to the spark between us?
Falling for the Grumpy Mountain Man is a short, sweet, and steamy small town instalove romance with a happy-ever-after. It can be read as a standalone or together with the rest of the books in the Curvy Wives of Willow Creek Series.
75 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 30, 2023
84 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 5, 2026
3.5 Stars — Falling for the Grumpy Mountain Man
Some men are “rugged.” Brock is “I could chop wood with my bare hands and brood about my tragic past while doing it” rugged.
And honestly? Ivy never stood a chance.
Our girl is just trying to do her job when the universe decides to throw her into a wilderness storm with all the subtlety of a toddler tossing blocks. She’s stranded, freezing, and one wrong step away from becoming a cautionary tale — until Brock appears like a grumpy mountain deity carved out of granite and bad moods.
He’s ex‑military, massive, beardy, and radiating that “I don’t talk much but I will absolutely carry you if needed” energy. Ivy clocks the danger immediately — not the physical kind, but the emotional kind. The “oh no, he’s hot and I’m vulnerable and this is how women end up making bad decisions in cabins” kind.
Their dynamic is delicious:
she’s feisty, stubborn, and determined not to repeat past mistakes,
he’s guarded, quiet, and built like a man who hasn’t let anyone close in years.
And the moment he tells her she can stay? Yeah. That’s when the real warmth hits — and not just from the fireplace.
The story stays spoiler‑light but vibe‑heavy:
the storm outside,
the tension inside,
the slow thaw of a man who’s convinced he’s too broken for softness,
and a heroine who refuses to shrink herself just to feel safe.
It’s short, steamy, and hits that mountain‑man fantasy perfectly — isolation, forced proximity, emotional walls cracking just enough to let the light in. Brock isn’t just grumpy; he’s wounded. And Ivy isn’t just stranded; she’s ready to choose something better than the men who burned her before.
A cozy, rugged, slightly feral instalove that delivers exactly what it promises:
a big, brooding man,
a brave curvy heroine,
and a cabin full of tension waiting to ignite.
Some men are “rugged.” Brock is “I could chop wood with my bare hands and brood about my tragic past while doing it” rugged.
And honestly? Ivy never stood a chance.
Our girl is just trying to do her job when the universe decides to throw her into a wilderness storm with all the subtlety of a toddler tossing blocks. She’s stranded, freezing, and one wrong step away from becoming a cautionary tale — until Brock appears like a grumpy mountain deity carved out of granite and bad moods.
He’s ex‑military, massive, beardy, and radiating that “I don’t talk much but I will absolutely carry you if needed” energy. Ivy clocks the danger immediately — not the physical kind, but the emotional kind. The “oh no, he’s hot and I’m vulnerable and this is how women end up making bad decisions in cabins” kind.
Their dynamic is delicious:
she’s feisty, stubborn, and determined not to repeat past mistakes,
he’s guarded, quiet, and built like a man who hasn’t let anyone close in years.
And the moment he tells her she can stay? Yeah. That’s when the real warmth hits — and not just from the fireplace.
The story stays spoiler‑light but vibe‑heavy:
the storm outside,
the tension inside,
the slow thaw of a man who’s convinced he’s too broken for softness,
and a heroine who refuses to shrink herself just to feel safe.
It’s short, steamy, and hits that mountain‑man fantasy perfectly — isolation, forced proximity, emotional walls cracking just enough to let the light in. Brock isn’t just grumpy; he’s wounded. And Ivy isn’t just stranded; she’s ready to choose something better than the men who burned her before.
A cozy, rugged, slightly feral instalove that delivers exactly what it promises:
a big, brooding man,
a brave curvy heroine,
and a cabin full of tension waiting to ignite.
October 1, 2023
3,5⭐️
1,5🔥
Spice/Plot Ratio: 2/3
Kinky: 0/5
Well written: 4/5
Plot:
Ivy owned a coffee shop in the small town of Willows Creek. Brook lives in the mountains, alone in his little house, away from people. His only guilty pleasure? Coffee. He buys the coffeebeans from Ivys shop, but instead of picking them up, one of Ivys employees usually brings them to him. Till this employee gets sick and Ivy has to bring them to him.
They finally meet and it’s love at first sight, with a few hidden memories to share they spent the night in the hut together as a storm makes it impossible for Ivy to return home just yet.
What I liked:
The story was well written and the connection between them cute and genuine. They fit together like a glove. The ending/ the epilogue was so adorable and honestly I enjoyed that part.
What I disliked:
The plottwist in the middle. Like, why? It’s not helping much with the story and feels just laughable. It went so amazingly and then: plottwist nobody needed. Honestly it was so hard to keep reading because for me it felt ungenuine suddenly. It would have been enough if she had a hard childhood because her father became cold after her mothers death. Honestly the world is hard enough and there are enough men out there she could have dated who treated her badly. Would have been more believable in my opinion. But ok. It kinda ruined the book for me.
Cheating? no
OW/OM? no
POV? dual pov
HE/HEA? yes
TW: love at first sight, no protection, spank without former consent (consent is implied), mafia
1,5🔥
Spice/Plot Ratio: 2/3
Kinky: 0/5
Well written: 4/5
Plot:
Ivy owned a coffee shop in the small town of Willows Creek. Brook lives in the mountains, alone in his little house, away from people. His only guilty pleasure? Coffee. He buys the coffeebeans from Ivys shop, but instead of picking them up, one of Ivys employees usually brings them to him. Till this employee gets sick and Ivy has to bring them to him.
They finally meet and it’s love at first sight, with a few hidden memories to share they spent the night in the hut together as a storm makes it impossible for Ivy to return home just yet.
What I liked:
The story was well written and the connection between them cute and genuine. They fit together like a glove. The ending/ the epilogue was so adorable and honestly I enjoyed that part.
What I disliked:
The plottwist in the middle. Like, why? It’s not helping much with the story and feels just laughable. It went so amazingly and then: plottwist nobody needed. Honestly it was so hard to keep reading because for me it felt ungenuine suddenly. It would have been enough if she had a hard childhood because her father became cold after her mothers death. Honestly the world is hard enough and there are enough men out there she could have dated who treated her badly. Would have been more believable in my opinion. But ok. It kinda ruined the book for me.
Cheating? no
OW/OM? no
POV? dual pov
HE/HEA? yes
TW: love at first sight, no protection, spank without former consent (consent is implied), mafia
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2023
Falling for the Grumpy Mountain Man is a dual point of view, sweet and emotionally riveting love story. Brock, the reclusive veteran, and Ivy, the mafia boss’ daughter, are each complex and intriguing characters who carry their own emotional baggage. With brief glimpses of other characters from prior Willow Creek novellas, the author continues the world building of this small town where whollly beautiful individuals find unconditional love—instantly. Must be something in the air or water! Very much looking forward to the author’s next installment in this series!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 8, 2024
When Ivy, the owner of a coffee shop in Willow Creek, meets Brock, an ex-military recluse living in the mountains, their worlds collide unexpectedly. Stranded together due to a storm, their initial awkwardness transforms into an instant connection and affection. Their encounter leads to an emotional journey as both Ivy and Brock grapple with their pasts. Ivy, the daughter of a mafia boss, and Brock, suffering from PTSD and survivor's guilt, find solace and understanding in each other. Hot and steamy instalove mountain man romantic quickie exploring trust, vulnerability, and discovering unexpected comfort in unfamiliar situations.
January 17, 2024
Falling for the Grumpy Mountain Man is a short and steamy, instalove, OTT, curvy girl gets her hunky mountain man romance. Ivy is the curvy owner of a local coffee shop. Brock is a hunky, grumpy, loner mountain man. When Ivy's employee is sick, she needs to deliver the monthly coffee order to Brock on his mountain. When it starts raining, she ends up stuck at the cabin with him. They realize they both have secrets and baggage. Can these two wounded souls heal each other? Will Brock let Ivy in and fight for her? I loved Ivy in the last book, so I was excited to get her story. The chemistry was hot, the drama was low, and the ending was very happy.
May 31, 2023
This was short mountain man romance.
Brock is a grumpy, recluse who lives on the mountain. He’s kept his heart closed off, refusing to allow anyone in. Then Ivy shows up and makes him see and feel things he hasn’t felt in long time. When she gets stranded at his cabin during a storm, they spend one incredible night together before she leaves in the morning. But seeing her go has awoken something in Brock and he doesn’t want to be alone anymore, suddenly he wants everything with Ivy.
I love mountain men romances and this one was pretty good! I look forward to seeing more from this author.
Brock is a grumpy, recluse who lives on the mountain. He’s kept his heart closed off, refusing to allow anyone in. Then Ivy shows up and makes him see and feel things he hasn’t felt in long time. When she gets stranded at his cabin during a storm, they spend one incredible night together before she leaves in the morning. But seeing her go has awoken something in Brock and he doesn’t want to be alone anymore, suddenly he wants everything with Ivy.
I love mountain men romances and this one was pretty good! I look forward to seeing more from this author.
May 9, 2025
Brock and Ivy
Ivy, the curvy coffee shop owner with a flair for drama, meets Brock, a mountain man with a permanent scowl. When Ivy's employee bails, she's forced to deliver coffee to Brock's mountain lair. A rainy night gets her stuck in the cabin with him. As they bond over their respective baggage, the question becomes: can these two wounded souls heal each other? Will Brock finally crack a smile for Ivy? I was stoked to dive into Ivy's story after the last book. The chemistry was sizzling, the drama was minimal, and the ending was ridiculously happy.
Ivy, the curvy coffee shop owner with a flair for drama, meets Brock, a mountain man with a permanent scowl. When Ivy's employee bails, she's forced to deliver coffee to Brock's mountain lair. A rainy night gets her stuck in the cabin with him. As they bond over their respective baggage, the question becomes: can these two wounded souls heal each other? Will Brock finally crack a smile for Ivy? I was stoked to dive into Ivy's story after the last book. The chemistry was sizzling, the drama was minimal, and the ending was ridiculously happy.
July 4, 2024
Let me start by saying this was incredibly well written BUT I found the middle plot (the mafia twist and them going in seriously so deep about their past) fell flat to me. Idk why it just didn’t seem fitting and I think this story would’ve been a five star read were it not for that. But damn this author has a way with words and I absolutely loved every second of the verbiage. This was a cute story with a cute epilogue that wrapped things up. This won’t be my last book by the author!
March 17, 2024
1.5✰
The writing quality is getting better with each instalment, I’ll give the author that much.
The plot was only meh…
Not much happened, really. But the romance was at least slightly more believable. 乁(ツ)ㄏ
The writing quality is getting better with each instalment, I’ll give the author that much.
The plot was only meh…
Not much happened, really. But the romance was at least slightly more believable. 乁(ツ)ㄏ
June 7, 2023
I enjoyed Brock and Ivy's book. It was an exciting read. And am voluntarily leaving my review.
July 25, 2023
Enjoyed reading this book
September 23, 2023
Short novella with a side of spice.
Read
September 30, 2023Nope
October 21, 2023
instalove
Sweet mountain man forced proximity story. Love a short grumpy sunshine story. Low angst and an easy read , good as a palate cleanser
Sweet mountain man forced proximity story. Love a short grumpy sunshine story. Low angst and an easy read , good as a palate cleanser
October 29, 2023
Short and Sweet
This is a cute little short story. It a great little read. I will definitely be reading more of this series.
This is a cute little short story. It a great little read. I will definitely be reading more of this series.
January 5, 2024
The author has given us a wonderful story that pulls us into the lives of Ivy and Brock. The story keeps us turning the pages with connection, denial, forced proximity and steam.
March 2, 2024
Instalove
Something about insta love in the mountains to the grumpy, big, recluse that just gets me Every time. Love it.
Something about insta love in the mountains to the grumpy, big, recluse that just gets me Every time. Love it.
March 10, 2024
Hopeless Romantic
This story is so different. Brock and Ivy’s love story is so good. He is so traumatized by his time in the service and mission he gone on.
This story is so different. Brock and Ivy’s love story is so good. He is so traumatized by his time in the service and mission he gone on.
March 11, 2024
Loved it.
March 17, 2024
3.5 stars
August 1, 2024
Good
It was a short, pretty much insta-love story. I liked the characters and the story. It was an enjoyable quick read.
It was a short, pretty much insta-love story. I liked the characters and the story. It was an enjoyable quick read.
November 28, 2024
Short
Short and quick love story. Was expecting more in honesty but good for a early afternoon read while eating lunch.
Short and quick love story. Was expecting more in honesty but good for a early afternoon read while eating lunch.
June 20, 2025
Oh my gosh, this was a lovely story - a Curvy Girl and a Grumpy mountain man. I really loved reading this story - I also love every single read from Zoey Rose. Loved it! 5☆
Did Not Finish
March 24, 2026Dnf yet...might come back later
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews