What do you think?
Rate this book
Fit Mountain Instaloves Vol. 1 #8
Mountain Gift
All I want for Christmas is to see Boone Pierce again. Too bad he's been deployed overseas and we haven't spoken in years...
Three years ago, I met a handsome Marine named Boone at my brother's wedding. We shared a stolen kiss, but that was all. As a single mom and widow, I just wasn't ready to open up my heart again. So we both went our separate ways...or so I thought. Boone has just moved from Texas to my small town of Fit Mountain, Wyoming, to start a mechanic shop. To say I'm shocked would be an understatement. And the surprises don't stop there.When the apartment above Boone's shop springs a leak, my brother offers him a place to stay. My place.Suddenly, Boone is back in my life, stirring up feelings I thought I had buried deep down. This Christmas, will I finally find the courage to let go of my past and give love a second chance?Mountain Gift is a second chance holiday instalove with plenty of spice, all the feels, and a HEA guaranteed. It can be read as a standalone.
Three years ago, I met a handsome Marine named Boone at my brother's wedding. We shared a stolen kiss, but that was all. As a single mom and widow, I just wasn't ready to open up my heart again. So we both went our separate ways...or so I thought. Boone has just moved from Texas to my small town of Fit Mountain, Wyoming, to start a mechanic shop. To say I'm shocked would be an understatement. And the surprises don't stop there.When the apartment above Boone's shop springs a leak, my brother offers him a place to stay. My place.Suddenly, Boone is back in my life, stirring up feelings I thought I had buried deep down. This Christmas, will I finally find the courage to let go of my past and give love a second chance?Mountain Gift is a second chance holiday instalove with plenty of spice, all the feels, and a HEA guaranteed. It can be read as a standalone.
92 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2023
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 10, 2023
Mountain Gift is book 3 in the Fit Mountain Christmas Book Series by Stella Banks.
I have read all of the Fit Mountain Series and many books by this author. I enjoy her writing. This book, while okay, was, IMO, about 30 pages too long.
Caroline is a widower. It has just been her and her daughter for quite some time. However, two years ago she met Boone, a Marine and one of her brother's friends and she hasn't stopped thinking about him.
Boone has recently left the military and moved from Texas to Fit Mountain to open an automotive repair shop AND to finally take a chance with Caroline, the woman he met once but can't stop thinking about. When the shop is in more disrepair than he anticipated, and he needs a place to stay, his friend offers Caroline's home, especially since her daughter will be away. This is where it gets slow for me. Boone is obviously attracted to Caroline, but I didn't feel the chemistry or attraction so much from her. They cohabitation for a few days and not much happens…. Literally. He drives her to work, he drives her home, and he drives her to a nursing home. I was waiting for something bigger, but it didn't happen. Then, the ending was incredibly abrupt. I felt it needed more. More with Lucy, more of their time together, just more.
This series overall has been good. This book just wasn't for me.
ARC was provided by Booksprout, and this is my honest review.
I have read all of the Fit Mountain Series and many books by this author. I enjoy her writing. This book, while okay, was, IMO, about 30 pages too long.
Caroline is a widower. It has just been her and her daughter for quite some time. However, two years ago she met Boone, a Marine and one of her brother's friends and she hasn't stopped thinking about him.
Boone has recently left the military and moved from Texas to Fit Mountain to open an automotive repair shop AND to finally take a chance with Caroline, the woman he met once but can't stop thinking about. When the shop is in more disrepair than he anticipated, and he needs a place to stay, his friend offers Caroline's home, especially since her daughter will be away. This is where it gets slow for me. Boone is obviously attracted to Caroline, but I didn't feel the chemistry or attraction so much from her. They cohabitation for a few days and not much happens…. Literally. He drives her to work, he drives her home, and he drives her to a nursing home. I was waiting for something bigger, but it didn't happen. Then, the ending was incredibly abrupt. I felt it needed more. More with Lucy, more of their time together, just more.
This series overall has been good. This book just wasn't for me.
ARC was provided by Booksprout, and this is my honest review.
November 25, 2023
My reviews always contain spoilers, I write them so I can remember the story.
Caroline is a widow who will be alone this Christmas, her daughter is going to spend the holidays with her late husband’s family in Boston. Her sisters-in-law know that she will be feeling alone arrange to have a big family dinner at her house that evening.
Boone is ex military, he decides to open an auto shop in town, when he arrives at the shop he finds it in worse shape than he anticipated. Caroline’s brothers are his friends and they offer up a solution to his need for a place to stay while he fixes the shop and living quarters. Caroline’s house!
The two meet two years ago and shared a kiss at her brother’s wedding, but she was not ready to be with someone and he understood. He has moved to town to woo her. He didn’t forget their kiss and has been in love with her since.
She’s shocked when he shows up to her place and her brother tells her he offered up her guest room to Boone. She’s secretly happy but scared too. Their first time alone he kisses her again and fingers her to orgasm. Then they go back to being practically strangers. He is a very beta hero, he doesn’t push her or ask her for more. It takes her a long time to decide she will act on her feelings for him. He knows about her daughter but there is no interaction between them, when the book ends they haven’t even met. She’s still in Boston with her grandparents.
I would have liked if he got to spend time with her.
You can tell Boone loved Caroline but I wished he was a little more alpha with her. Caroline was an ok character, I didn’t really feel her love for him, I can understand her being afraid to love again after losing her husband but her interactions with him were just so meh. Her thoughts and wishes were for him but her actions didn’t portray that.
Caroline is a widow who will be alone this Christmas, her daughter is going to spend the holidays with her late husband’s family in Boston. Her sisters-in-law know that she will be feeling alone arrange to have a big family dinner at her house that evening.
Boone is ex military, he decides to open an auto shop in town, when he arrives at the shop he finds it in worse shape than he anticipated. Caroline’s brothers are his friends and they offer up a solution to his need for a place to stay while he fixes the shop and living quarters. Caroline’s house!
The two meet two years ago and shared a kiss at her brother’s wedding, but she was not ready to be with someone and he understood. He has moved to town to woo her. He didn’t forget their kiss and has been in love with her since.
She’s shocked when he shows up to her place and her brother tells her he offered up her guest room to Boone. She’s secretly happy but scared too. Their first time alone he kisses her again and fingers her to orgasm. Then they go back to being practically strangers. He is a very beta hero, he doesn’t push her or ask her for more. It takes her a long time to decide she will act on her feelings for him. He knows about her daughter but there is no interaction between them, when the book ends they haven’t even met. She’s still in Boston with her grandparents.
I would have liked if he got to spend time with her.
You can tell Boone loved Caroline but I wished he was a little more alpha with her. Caroline was an ok character, I didn’t really feel her love for him, I can understand her being afraid to love again after losing her husband but her interactions with him were just so meh. Her thoughts and wishes were for him but her actions didn’t portray that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2023
MMC/FMC- Boone and Caroline
POV- 1st person dual
Genre- Contemporary Romance
Sub Genre- Holiday Romance
Length- Novella
Heat- 🌋🌋🌋🌋. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, wow! And that basement scene….
Series? Y
Safety: definitely yes. There’s no cheating, no s. violence. Also no sharing, no OM/OW drama, no cliffhanger. HEA.
Tropes- Midlife Love, Widowed Parent, Former Military, Finding Love Again, Second Chance, He Falls First.
Triggers- Explicit Erotic Content.
What I liked- his patience and understanding. And this book is steamy even when they don’t actually Do the Thing. The makeout scene in the basement made my Kindle sweat.
What I didn’t- nothing really. I would have liked an epilogue that flashed forward into the future because I wasn’t ready to let go.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
POV- 1st person dual
Genre- Contemporary Romance
Sub Genre- Holiday Romance
Length- Novella
Heat- 🌋🌋🌋🌋. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, wow! And that basement scene….
Series? Y
Safety: definitely yes. There’s no cheating, no s. violence. Also no sharing, no OM/OW drama, no cliffhanger. HEA.
Tropes- Midlife Love, Widowed Parent, Former Military, Finding Love Again, Second Chance, He Falls First.
Triggers- Explicit Erotic Content.
What I liked- his patience and understanding. And this book is steamy even when they don’t actually Do the Thing. The makeout scene in the basement made my Kindle sweat.
What I didn’t- nothing really. I would have liked an epilogue that flashed forward into the future because I wasn’t ready to let go.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 15, 2024
Mountain Gift is heartwarming and so beautiful. Caroline is a crafty and huge-hearted widow and single mom whose daughter has become her whole world. She is kind, caring, compassionate, and gorgeous, always doing for others. Boone is a military veteran who has relocated to be closer to Caroline. Knowing she is the one, and also knowing she is still mourning her husband, he is infinitely patient and cautious with her heart. It’s so obvious how whole-heartedly he loves her with every breath, word, and action he takes. He is the epitome of being a real man for his woman, and I absolutely loved every moment of this novella. I connected deeply with Caroline on so many levels; her emotions and fears are understandable and real. The chemistry and tension between her and Boone is breathtaking and brilliant. This is such a sweet story!
November 8, 2023
Caroline (h), widow and single mom to Lucy, has thought about Boone (H) since they shared a kiss three years before, but she wasn’t ready emotionally for a relationship. Former Marine Boone moves from Texas to Wyoming to ostensibly start a mechanic shop but hopes to convince Caroline to let him into her life. She’s surprised to see him again and even more so when circumstances have him staying in her home for the holidays while her daughter is away. Boone is so sweet and patient with Caroline as he shows her in all the small ways how much she means to him as he slowly brings her round to seeing they’re meant to be together. Sweet and spicy second chance at love Christmastime romance.
August 25, 2024
This one made my heart so happy. I love Boone and Caroline together. I love how he treats her like she’s the most important thing on the planet. I love how he understands her past and doesn’t get jealous over it and supports her keeping her late husband alive in spirit. I really want a story of them with Lucy so bad!
January 22, 2024
Absolutely terrific book!
This book is so well written. I love the characters and the story line is so sweet. The book may be short but the author did a great job bringing it to life.
This book is so well written. I love the characters and the story line is so sweet. The book may be short but the author did a great job bringing it to life.
March 17, 2024
We all need a Boone
This is listed as "over 40" but I didn't really feel like age was much of a factor, other than they've both lived through some stuff. Love them together. Welsh there was an epilogue ::wink,wink::
This is listed as "over 40" but I didn't really feel like age was much of a factor, other than they've both lived through some stuff. Love them together. Welsh there was an epilogue ::wink,wink::
April 26, 2024
Yet again, Stella Banks does a remarkable shop with this fifth installment in her Fit Mountain Insta-love romance entitled Mountain Gift. In it, she chronicles the romantic journey of Caroline and Boone. Their romance is an over forties one. Caroline is a widow raising a daughter, Lucy and is a waitress in the Chocolate Moose Restaurant. Boone, a former marine, is the best friend of Callum Walker, In their small town, their orbits are constantly intersecting. There is an attraction that keeps pulling them into each other’s orbit. What will bring these two together? To find out, you must read this book.
Ms. Banks does another great job utilizing literary devices. Her dialog, both conversational and internal monolgoues are outstanding. Readers arner a better understanding of their character traits, their backstories, their pain and their happiness. The lead characters are multi-dimensional. The secondary characters are interesting and contribute to the plot’s movement. Nicely done, Ms. Banks.
Ms. Banks does another great job utilizing literary devices. Her dialog, both conversational and internal monolgoues are outstanding. Readers arner a better understanding of their character traits, their backstories, their pain and their happiness. The lead characters are multi-dimensional. The secondary characters are interesting and contribute to the plot’s movement. Nicely done, Ms. Banks.
February 27, 2025
Loved It
I absolutely loved this book. Finally a book with older characters. It was a sweet read, where Boone and Caroline get their happy ending. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read
I absolutely loved this book. Finally a book with older characters. It was a sweet read, where Boone and Caroline get their happy ending. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read
April 29, 2025
A Gift for Both
What a sweet short story of two souls who shared a kiss. Years later they are reunited and brought together because of broken pipes. What a great storyline. Their feelings grow as they spend more time together. And on Christmas Eve, they find their HEA.
What a sweet short story of two souls who shared a kiss. Years later they are reunited and brought together because of broken pipes. What a great storyline. Their feelings grow as they spend more time together. And on Christmas Eve, they find their HEA.
November 14, 2023
3.75 stars
November 20, 2023
I enjoyed Boone and Caroline’s book. I thought it was an entertaining read. And am voluntarily leaving my review.
January 9, 2024
Loved it
Another great short story. I loved the storyline. Boone was wonderful, patient and kind her. They were perfect for each other
Another great short story. I loved the storyline. Boone was wonderful, patient and kind her. They were perfect for each other
November 30, 2024
so good
He had the patience of a saint with her. She sure missed her daughter. But he was so patient with her.
He had the patience of a saint with her. She sure missed her daughter. But he was so patient with her.
July 14, 2025
Loved it.
October 24, 2025
Great book
Why Amazon insists on a 20-word minimum, I will never understand. I just want to say I enjoyed this book.
Why Amazon insists on a 20-word minimum, I will never understand. I just want to say I enjoyed this book.
December 24, 2023
It was fine, I got more story than I wanted and less smut than I wanted.
November 20, 2024
The author has given us a heartwarming story that pulls us into the lives of Caroline and Boone. The story keeps us turning the pages with connection, fears, determination and steam.
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.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews