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Mint River #1

Stella Star of the Plains

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After a rough few years, Stella McMurray is alone, grieving, and broke. When a bully of a suitor won't take no for an answer, she leaves her hometown to seek her fortune in the untamed West.

Adam Wright is a rancher in sparsely populated Wyoming Territory whose plans of domestic harmony and home-cooked meals are derailed when it is Stella who arrives in answer to his housekeeper advertisement. The two get off on the wrong foot when Adam is not willing to hire an unmarried young woman to work on his ranch.

But when a sudden windfall attracts dangerous enemies, Stella finds an unexpected ally in the strong, silent rancher. And she'll need his help to take on real-life villains–and her own demons–for a chance at a life and love she never thought she could have.

374 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 15, 2023

19 people are currently reading
176 people want to read

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Jade Behr

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5 stars
51 (46%)
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41 (37%)
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14 (12%)
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2 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for N.
140 reviews109 followers
March 24, 2024
I think this is my first time reading a grump so grumpy that it rubs off on her! For real, the more he almost imperceptibly softened, the more she had to shore up defenses and get cantankerous herself. Some grumpiness transference, if you will.

I had a great time with this and definitely recommend if you love a good Wild West love story with a stoic, no-nonsense rancher. And yet, I’m still not sure how it was done to such a degree of HEA swoony satisfaction, when this couple, great tension and unverbalized admiration and all, technically barely had a meaningful conversation. Let’s explore this. I guess, these are practical people in simpler times, you know? Fighting to survive on the frontier, if you can fundamentally read each other like a pamphlet and like what you see, why bother with words, when you can just display your acts of service love language for all to witness and knowingly roll their eyes because you’re an oblivious love-dummy? Grump gestures speak louder than words for this reader, but so many times I thought we were about to have a heart to heart moment and then it was like “Cattle to ranch. See ya in a week.” And yet, the connection was still there, to Stella’s further annoyance. Between the minimal conversation, and that some secondary characters, as distinctively lovable as they were, took up some of my precious couple time, I was more in suspense about how we were going to pull off this slow burn progression at the eleventh hour than about Wyoming Territory general peril (though I was all in for that too; fun was had). In the end, more than character arcs and intense declarations, it felt like a sweet “Why fight it?” foregone conclusion surrendering. Throw in that everyone that deserves an HEA gets one, and that makes me a happy romance reader.

I enjoy this writing very much and would love to visit with these folks again, so I will for sure read on to Maria’s!

Very grateful to the authors for sending me this ebook. No positive review was required. You know all these wordy thoughts are my own.

Content notes: Kissing Only. Non-graphic on page gun violence, stabbing violence, kidnapping. Heroine is briefly physically attacked on page. Heroine is grieving family tragic deaths and has particular trauma from mother’s death during childbirth.
Profile Image for Marissa.
94 reviews
August 8, 2023
5/5

This book is about Stella. She over comes so much in her life. She leaves her state to start new. Her best friend marries and moved to Denver. She applies for a job as a maid for Mr Wright. And heads to the state of Wyoming.

A Bar 8 is where she applied to but Mr Adam Wright declines because she is too young. So He takes her to Billy and Wanda’s house. Wanda except Stella and lets her help with cooking, cleaning and the kids. She is given property in Montana. But she didn’t sell to either Mr. Foxwell or Mr. Wright.

Over all I truly enjoyed how easy it was to want to keep reading. I also fell in love with all the characters. The things Stella went through in this book made me want to reach into the book and just hug her. And tell her everything will be okay. I love how her best friend found her and stayed with her through the hard and easy times. Her best got married to a cowboy and lives close by to her.
Profile Image for Akaysha Mynes.
Author 7 books5 followers
August 22, 2023
Stella is such a star!

I highly enjoyed reading this book! Stella was a feisty and fun woman and her story truly touched my heart. Through ought the book Adam proved time and again how much he cared for Stella without uttering a word of it. By the time she finally came around to allowing herself to have feelings for him, I nearly jumped for joy!
Profile Image for Kirsten Anderson.
352 reviews1 follower
July 27, 2025
stella star of the plains
5 ✨

I love it just as much, if not more, as last time!! The found family cast of characters, the warm homey atmosphere, the slow burn swoon worthy romance, and the little moments of humanity. I just adore it.
I must have just not been in the mood to read the short paragraphs about the farm and land last time I read this, because it didn’t bother me a bit this time! There’s the tiniest bit of language, violence, talk of past trauma (see below review), but overall is heartwarming and wholesome and possibly my favorite cowboy romance.

most ardently, Kirsten

———


last years review

5

overview: this book felt like a movie and just casually had the best love confession in the universe.

characters: Stella is hilarious without even trying; I love her! She’s honest and has gumption and I enjoyed her dry, matter-of-fact humor. Sometimes she can come off a bit unfeeling, but it’s really just because she’s used to shoving down her feelings and getting things done.
Adam is so real for hiring a housekeeper just because she bragged about being an “excellent cook”. If Stella’s humor is dry, Adam’s is sandpaper 😭 and who gave this man permission to be so dramatic?! He’s the strong, silent type; he’s protective and caring, but rarely shows it… and when he does? I lose my mind 😮‍💨 he commands attention and is so confident and secure >>>
This is an appreciation paragraph for Wes, the sunshine-y, chatty cowhand — such a cutie. I’m so happy he found his happy ever after 🥹
Wanda and Bill are such gems! I love their relationship, as well as their loving nosiness and gentle teasing.
The banter between all the characters is so fun and sweet, I was literally grinning throughout so much of it! You can tell that everyone truly cares about each other; and once again, found family has captured my heart!

romance: Stella and Adam have my heart; they are too adorable. I love their dry banter and little quips. It’s so fun to see how Adam’s grumpiness rubs off on Stella and how she reacts. Their romance is not some grand explosion; it’s gentle and solid and so natural.
I will say, this is slowburn. I love slowburn but this was so slow I thought the burn would never get here! I wish there were a few more romantic scenes and not so much talk about the ranch and work and land… I wanted more connection, more tension, but it was fun to read between the lines and romanticize the smallest things 🤭

”Got a real sunshiny way about her.”
“The glare hurts my eyes,” he [Adam] said solemnly.

“You’re frowning an awful lot,” she observed. “I don’t like being shot at,” he said sharply.

“I’ve seen how he looks at you,” Paige disagreed softly. “And, Stella, he looks at you a lot.”


✨ dry, witty banter
✨ sunshine x slight grumpy
✨ forced proximity

writing: witty and charming! Sometimes there were some lengthy paragraphs about the ranch’s inner workings (I skipped those lol), as well as some more “slice of life” scenes. I wasn’t in the mood to read all of them, but they were so cozy!

atmosphere: set on a cozy, western ranch! To be honest, I didn’t want to leave 🥲 there are so many beautiful descriptions of the seasons, the scenery, and home life.

The Hendricks homestead was situated at deceptively high altitude in the Mint River Basin, an area so wild and beautiful as to look like an oil painting, and which had been named for the herb that grew in abundance along the riverbanks. Stella’s letter did not do justice to the natural beauty of the high plains or even mention that from an east-facing upstairs window a person might on a clear day see snow-capped mountains even at the peak of summer, but told instead about gathering and drying mint leaves to use for tea in the cold months…

season: all seasons!

———

content: language (“For God’s sake”, “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph”, jacka*s, used four times separately). sexual (no spice, innocent touches and kisses). other (mentions of abusive men, marriages; kidnapping, some fighting; mentions of childbirth).

———

💌PS (I LOVE YOU)
— Kirsten <3
3 reviews
May 12, 2024
If you're looking for a feel-good Western frontier romance, this is definitely a book you don't want to miss! The leading lady, Stella, flees her home to escape a cruel man and ends up in Wyoming hoping to snag a job as a cook and housekeeper at a ranch. The ranch owner, Adam, realizing a beautiful, young, unmarried woman is the last person he should be employing, asks his friends who own a boarding house to look after her until she can make her way back to Missouri. She takes a liking to the family, however, and with no place to go they offer for her to stay with them indefinitely and help them. The realities of frontier life take their toll on them all, while Adam and Stella slowly start to fall in love (much to her dismay).

Stella's stern, no-nonsense fiery personality and Adam's "man of action and few words" personality, along with the dynamic personalities of the cowboys and the boardinghouse family members create a cozy tight-knit atmosphere filled with love, laughter, and support for one another. It's easy to get dragged right into the drama of this found family, wishing you were sitting at the dinner table with them.

One critique I will say (and why I couldn't give it 5 stars) pertains to the multiple points of view shared throughout the story. The narration primarily shared Stella's point of view, but several other voices were included. I enjoyed the different perspectives and they lent themselves to enriching the story, but they were not always parsed well, so it sometimes became difficult to differentiate whose perspective we were sharing.
Profile Image for Sarah Nolan.
169 reviews14 followers
December 31, 2023
This was such a heartwarming, inspiring story!

Stella leaves her home in Missouri to escape an unwanted suitor and finds herself at the A-Bar-8 ranch owned by Adam Wright, who had hired her to work as a cook and housekeeper.

Stella joins forces with Wanda, the woman running the boardinghouse for the cow hands, and shows everyone how she is not a just fair cook, but an excellent one. She becomes a favorite of all who eat and live at the boardinghouse, including Adam.

This story was so sweet, hopeful, and uplifting! Stella was such a caring, fierce, and brave character, and her excellent cooking inspired me so much that one morning, I made pancakes for my little girl and husband.

I absolutely loved this story and it was the perfect story to end my November on a positive, uplifting note. I look forward to reading any future Mint River stories!

——

“When he reached the open kitchen doorway, he paused in utter
stupefaction at the vision before him: his housekeeper was a gold-
en-haired angel with flushed cheeks and big, worried amber eyes.”
Profile Image for Amanda Marlowe.
2,416 reviews26 followers
August 5, 2023
Stella's father has died, she looked after him for years, now her 'uncle' wants to marry her, but there's no way she's going to marry him, so she leaves and goes West.
Adam has advertised for an older housekeeper and won't let her work for him when she arrives, he sends her next door to the boarding house, to help Wanda with the cooking and the children.
Then she gets some good news, which brings a lot of problems. And Adam is finding it harder and harder to leave her alone, especially as she's determined not to get married!

A great romantic suspense from Blue Jade
Profile Image for Joan.
1,314 reviews
August 20, 2023
Stella and Adam

I enjoyed Stella, Star of the Plains. Her adventures were intense and interesting. I liked how Stella was calm and competent, but still loving and giving. I liked that Adam accepted her for who she was, and waited for her to be ready. But he also challenged her. I loved the romance, adventure, and excitement, the drama, and the happy ending.
Profile Image for Hannah.
75 reviews16 followers
Read
June 2, 2024
DNF @ 29%

I love a western but this was just too dull and quaint for me!
Profile Image for Moni.
613 reviews
August 12, 2023
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. This is the second book this author duo has released and, while the genre of this one is different from that of their debut, it further proved my feelings that they are a pair I want to keep reading from. The book's blurb gives you a good idea of what to expect, though do be aware that the story lightly mentions physical abuse, burning, & suicide. While the story is told through third person omniscient pov, it's mainly about Stella's journey to live her life & find her purpose.

From her first appearance, I loved Stella. She was a no nonsense kind of girl who wasn't afraid to say what was on her mind, even if it did get her in trouble at times. Though she was alone and didn't really have a concrete plan, she was brave to head out West and attempt to make the most out of her situation. Adam, the rancher who she was supposed to work for, makes a bad impression when they first meet and she does hold him against him for a while. Adam is the quiet and serious kind of cowboy who appears unaffected but he cares for and helps those around him, including Stella. Even when she's determined to stay guarded, he's there slowly worming his way into her heart.

Their relationship gives enemies to lovers vibes, though it's mostly from Stella's behalf, and is a clean slow burn. Because of their different personalities, I loved their interactions and how Adam was the first to subtly fall. But, while there is romance is in this book, I would say it's a subplot as the book focuses more on Stella getting her bearings. With each situation that happens and the troubles that appear in her life, it's easy to be interested in what Stella is going to do. There is enough action to keep the story entertaining and some moments that will make you chuckle. I liked all the side characters, especially Wanda as she tried to play matchmaker. I would've liked some of the things that happened towards the end of the book to be revealed a little earlier on
3 reviews
September 12, 2024
I love western romance but this one has no flavour. It was story about anyone else except Stella and Adam. They had as much "screen time" as latest Bridgertons couple. The whole idea was great with grumpy X sometimes pissed sunshine but the writing was not giving. They fell in love so suddenly with no explanation how they crossed the enemies line. Stella was really mean and prideful sometimes like I got such a bad second hand embarrassment for her. And the sudden inheritance and brother that rose from death, was it necessary? I don't think soo.

⭐ ⭐- Because I feel bad to rate less when I finished whole book. And I read worse. This one is okay-ish but would I read it again ? Definitely no. Nice ideas but western was not westering
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Carlene.
312 reviews5 followers
March 29, 2025
This book was so cute! I loved being along for the ride on Stella's adventure to find her place in the world. The characters were all distinct and it was easy to get lost in their world and their lives. And the romance was a delicious grumpy-sunshine slow burn that was so satisfying to watch. Stella and Adam were perfect and though the book went differently than I expected many times, I enjoyed the ride immensely. Well written and well done. These are new to me authors and I'd be excited to read more of what they've done.
Profile Image for BlueJeansAndTeacups.
670 reviews24 followers
October 19, 2025
Not bad, but different

Overall, I found Stella to be a 19-year-old brat. Yes, she's been through some trauma, but even on good days, she's sassy and rude. Adam was often stoic, a good man in action, but a crusty shell. There were certainly parts of the story that were entertaining, but I preferred other characters like Wes, and little Billy.

⭐⭐⭐
I purchased this eBook. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone without expectation or compensation.
Profile Image for Daenerys Targaryen.
928 reviews4 followers
October 16, 2023
Apart from a few typo here and there I have no complaints about this book. The heroine is strong and the hero is brooding, silent and strong type. Opposite attracts and all. I liked how their romance build up which is through out the book. The world building is also well done. The glimpse of life in a cattle ranch in the old days and how hard women struggle with everything is well portrayed.
Profile Image for Sarah Grass.
675 reviews4 followers
October 15, 2024
I like Westerns with a touch of romance, but this was an odd book.
It had like 30 micro stories crammed in, which felt abrupt, random, messy, meandering.
Stella was unpleasantly grumpy.
There was little chemistry written in between Stella and Adam, which is such a waste. Adam was swoon-worthy.
Profile Image for Beryl J Loomis.
25 reviews
October 18, 2024
Stella

What a wonderful story. Serious, funny, exasperating, heartwarming, etc. thoroughly enjoyed reading. I loved the banter between the main characters. Finished it about 3am!
Profile Image for Eve Desormeaux.
21 reviews
January 7, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
L’histoire est bonne et plusieurs éléments inattendu ont rendu le livre rempli d’imprévus! Mais j’ai moins aimé que l’histoire est écrite sur un point de vue du narrateur, elle n’était pas structuré sur le point de vue des personnages précisément.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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