Mountain Refuge

by Elise Gedicke

Brooke

When my world unraveled, I needed an escape from reality, from the heartache and betrayal. I found that solace in the mountains of Montana.

Now, a man and his two kids come storming into my quiet life, disrupting the peace I finally found. There's something about this man and his kids that stirs my overprotectiveness, pulling me into a new chapter I never anticipated.

Adam

I have witnessed horrors beyond anyone's imagination. I have seen the darkest of dark, the sickest of the sick. With no hope of ever escaping this reality, I was at my wit's end. When an opportunity presented itself, I risked escape. I sacrificed my health, my well-being, and my sanity for my kids' safety.

When I thought the game of life was over one snowy night, someone saved us. A woman living in the mountains of Montana shined her light into my world of darkness. I have never felt such an attraction to another human as I do with Brooke. I hope that when my secrets come out, Brooke won't throw me and my kids to the wolves.

Genres: Romance, Slow Burn, Contemporary

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 8, 2024

About the author

I am a full-time RVer. I travel the country in my motorhome with my dog, Porthos. I enjoy reading, hiking, kayaking, biking, and camping. Follow me @elisegedickeauthor!

Reviews

[Dora Koutsoukou · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 💘🏔 ⚡️⭐️s

I would have liked Adam and Brooke to live closer to each other so that they could spend more time together.

[Rebmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the first in a new series. After reading this gripping book, I can’t wait to read the whole series. The characters are fascinating, true-to-life and drag me willingly into their story. Adam’s efforts to protect his kids from the truly evil machinations of someone who should love and protect them are at the centre of this story. A connection to a childhood friend proves to be life saving for Adam and the young children he desperately wants to keep safe. One phone call puts their well-being into the hands of a skilled group of people who are experienced in helping those who have found themselves in desperate straits and are in need of guidance, a safe haven and protection. After days of stealthy travel, a snow storm nearly brings a fatal ending to Adam and the children’s journey. Thankfully, Brooke is able to rescue the little family and bring them to her remote mountain cabin. That rescue is the beginning of a new chapter in the family’s lives and in Brooke’s.

Brooke and her fellow residents on the mountain have their reasons for isolating themselves, living off grid and maintaining a self-sustaining life style. The storm means Adam and the children will be Brooke’s houseguests for at least a few days, though none of them expect to develop deep feelings or to begin to dream of a future together. Their story is fraught with danger, self-reflection and growth, as well as confronting the demons that haunt them. It also features a wonderful slow-burn romance between two people who have more than enough reasons to guard their hearts and turn their backs to any new relationships. The network of men and women who work together to aid and protect the innocent in horrible situations is also a focus of this book and introduces readers to characters who will featured in other books in this series.

It was easy to fall for Brooke, Adam (Elijah) and the young kids. Their love story is poignant, rather bumpy and a tad spicy. They both transform over the months since his and the kids arrival on the mountain. It is young Belle who truly melts my heart as she transforms from a terrified and withdrawn young girl into a fierce, independent and feisty young lady who can protect herself and those she loves if necessary. I could not put this book down and stayed up into the wee hours of the morning in order to discover what happens with Brooke, Adam (Elijah) and the children. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this compelling book. It has my highest of recommendations.

[Readernerd57_book_reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mountain Refuge is the first book in a brand new series by Elise Gedicke. I received and ARC of this book for free and this is my honest review.
5 ⭐ 4.5❤ 3🌶
I really loved this book! It was so good and not what I was expecting at all. When I first saw the cover I was excited because I love a good time mountain man romance and I didn't even read the overview to see what it was going to be about I just jumped right in. I was pleasantly surprised by how the actual story went. Don't get me wrong it is still a mountain romance however it is the FMC that is out mountain woman and I was there for all of it, absolutely loved it!
I am definitely a fan of typical role reversal in romance books and I feel like this was so well done. The FMC isn't viewed and in a "butch" or "overly manly" way, and the MMC isn't viewed as "feminine" or "weak" they are just simply in the non typical roles for this type of romance. It was very well done.
The plot in this story does have some pretty dark themes so please check triggers before reading. The romance itself if not dark but there are some dark themes that are main plot points in the story.
The romance in this is just incredible, their journey to each other and accepting that they have feelings and then FINALLY agreeing to act on those feelings is absolutely beautiful. Their road to love was not easy or full of rainbows and chocolates. They had a very hard road to get where they ended up but it was so much fun and heartbreaking at times to read.
I love Elise's writing style and how she really gets you completely involved in what happens to every character not just the main characters but ALL the characters in the book. She has a way of writing her characters that they feel real.
I really liked the pacing in this book too. I didn't feel like there was any unnecessary filler or that things were progressing too fast without any real buildup. I feel like everything happened when it needed to happen. I was never board reading this book. I was invested from page one, and that doesn't happen very often, I sometimes need like two or three chapters before I'm 100% in a book.
Highly highly recommend this if you like mountain men books or single dad, high stakes on the run, protective mamma bear, fun uncle side character, and a medium to slow burn romance with some spicy scenes.

[Allison Comis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Elise. This was about Adam. He was a teacher and he accepted a job being a tutor to a wealthy man whose name was Gunther’s 15 year old son. The son wasn’t doing good In school so Adam helped him. One day Gunther was mad at his son Trenton because he failed the test. Trenton admitted that he paid someone to take the test for him so he could hook up with a girl. The father was proud of his son for becoming a man. So Adam was no longer needed to tutor him. Turns out Gunther had gotten his maid pregnant so he kept Adam on to take care of her and the baby when it was born. Adam did just that. He was at the hospital for the birth. Adam raised the girl because the father wanted nothing to do with her and he paid her mother to sign away her rights and leave. She accepted. The little girl Lydia was five years old at this point and her father wanted her to be present at dinners when he had business men there. He had ulterior motives. When Adam and Trenton found out they were going to leave. But then they found out he had gotten another woman pregnant. Adam was there for her too but he didn’t have to wait as long for the child to be born. She had a little boy but she didn’t make it. They put Adam’s name on the birth certificate since he was there. One day Trenton Adam and the kids were called to the father’s office and Adam was told to pack the little girls bags she was going to live with a new family. Trenton distracted his father and told Adam to run. Adam was able to grab a diaper bag that he had packed and a post card from his friend that he hadn’t talked to in 18 years. He reached out to the number for help. He was able to get away to the mountains of Montana to meet him. They had a lot of trouble along the way. He and the kids got caught in a snow storm and were stuck on the mountain. They were almost out of gas so the car wouldn’t have stayed warm for much longer. They were rescued by someone who was coming down the mountain and happened to see the lights on the truck. They went back to the cabin with this person. He thought it was a guy but it turned out to be a woman named Brooke who lived on the mountain. A lot of events happened in the book. Really good.

[The Sewist's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐
1🌶️
Tropes: found family, slow burn, on the run, protective MMC, single dad, recluse FMC
4 POV 1st person

Adam, who is on the run with his two children, gets in touch with his childhood friend Corbin, who directs him cross country to a secluded mountain where they can find help and safety. On the last leg of the journey they get stuck on the mountain road in a severe snowstorm, but at the last minute is rescued by Brooke who brings them back to her cabin. The sparks between them are immediate, but neither wants to act on their feelings.

I have mixed feelings about this story. I liked about the first 2/3rds where they’re on the run and then getting settled on the mountain, but after that it sorta fell flat. Maybe it was because the beginning is so high intensity? It does pick up a little with the 3rd act drama but at that point I had started skimming. I also really enjoyed the introvert community they’ve built on the mountain, especially because I have dreams of doing something similar lol.

But there were a few things that stuck out that I didn’t like. The biggest one is Adam’s nickname “Angel” for his daughter. I know it’s just a nickname and my response is illogical but it gave me the creeps. There was also a lot of internal dialogue that just got old. I think this was where I started to know the intensity had fallen off. Lastly, and I fully acknowledge this is a pet peeve- all the “mother” talk. Being involved with/dating/marrying a single dad doesn’t automatically make you a mother. I understand Brooke’s hesitation on being with Adam because of that but it seemed like it was all or nothing. IMO at best it would make you a stepmom, but really it’s up to the children to decide if you get the “mother” title in their life.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, especially how the story began, I wasn't sure if I would be able to identify with the mmc. He was so different than the MMCs im used to. Whether they are goofy, puppy dogs, or cinnamon rolls, grey or dark, they all have this dominant air about them where they aren't afraid to jump into the thick of things. This character is more human and down to earth. It was different, but it worked for him. He wasn't the simpering scaredy cat doormat I assumed he was going to be. I liked all the characters and the storyline. I've been reading the deamonia mc books and was glad to finally put names and recognition to the mention I recalled. The time lapses/jumps were a bit weird. I understood the need for the passage of time to move the story forward, but it was still a bit off-putting. Also, as much as I liked the epilogue, I would have liked a bit more of one for Elijah and Brooke's story. I guess it wasn't supposed to be conventional on purpose, but it also made their relationship feel a bit stagnant. How do you not know if you want marriage or kids/to be a mother, but want to be with and move in a ready-made family? Things just felt unfinished. But overall, I enjoyed the story and look forward to seeing more from the other characters, especially Corbin and Jack.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Screams & Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shocked the heck out of me. Based on the cover( I go in 99% blind) cause I only know a few things about this book I would have never thought it would have been an amazing story like this.... I mean when I tell you I was shocked I was shocked!

You have a man named Adam who is a witness to multiple things. Murder, selling of a minor, and so much more. Also did I tell you he signed a contact with the devil himself to teach his son. So a private teacher that saw things he shouldn't have from a billionaire side of the tracks.

Now he is on the run with his kids! And need protection. Corbin is his best friend since HS tells him to come to the mountain and hide out there. But little does he know that he would be rescued from a snow storm from a beautiful woman named Brooke

When I tell you I love their love story!!!!! I love their love story. There isn't a lot of love stories that are not about sexual relationships. But the build to it was great. They really took the time to get to know each other before anything happened and when it did it was magical.

This book has so much more than that but you need to read it yourself. You have drama, love, suspense, twists and turns- when I say that it's more like things I didn't think were coming. This is now the 2nd book I have read by this author and will not be the last!!!

Rate: 5/5📚

~Screams & Reviews 💋☠️🖤🫶🏼

[Grinning Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are certain tropes that populate the majority of Mountain Man romances. The smoking hawt MMC is a strong mountain man who can split wood (often shirtless) and build a cabin with ease and just a light amount of decorative sweat for Fanservice purposes. The heroine is a damsel in distress, they fall in love instantly and he fixes her problems. Then they move into his cabin and live happily ever after.

Mountain Refuge turns these tropes on their head. The mountain man in this book is a mountain woman, Brooke, who is strong and capable of fixing her own problems. The damsel in distress in this story is actually a dude in distress, Adam, on the run with his small children when she saves him. This is a slow burn romance with a depth of feeling rarely found in Mountain Man Romance. There is a scene where they are just holding hands that made me cry. Mountain Refuge is a beautiful book that made me feel joy and despair, laughter and tears, with a happy ending that satisfied my heart and left me with a smile.

[Beka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a new book, new series, new author...new everything and I'm not mad about any of it!
This was a different take on a mountain story. Brooke was the mountain 'man' and the one coming to the rescue of Adam and the children in his care.
I loved the way this story flowed. From Adam trying to protect these kids from someone evil who should love them to finding this whole network of mountain residents. It was just a gripping story that had me enthralled from page one.
Both of these main characters grow thru the story. Have demons in their closets that they end up facing. Both of them have walls up around their hearts but over the months they slip and fall into a wonderful slow burn. I love the mountain network and the found family aspect there who just jumped to aid with protection of these innocent kids.
And the kids! Belle 🥹 She went from terrified to feisty and fierce and I love that Elise showed that growth too!
I'm ready to see where the rest of this series takes me in 2025 because I'm always one for a romantic suspense!

[Gabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

For fans of Elise Gedicke's Via Daemonia series, this provides some of the backstory for the mysterious group that came to Zoe's rescue. Who is this mysterious group and what exactly do they do? While the book doesn't provide all the answers, it gives you a peek into the means, methods, and people involved in the group.

But this book is really about Adam who needs rescuing, in more ways than one. Brooke finds Adam on a snowy mountainside and brings him to shelter. But that's not the whole story. Not even close. And I'm not going to tell it to you because that's why we read the books. What I will tell you is this is a very slow burn with unexpected twists and turns as well as tantalizing information about what might come next. And just because it's a slow burn doesn't mean it's low or slow action.

Is it the same intensity as the VD series? Yes, but in a very different way. Give it a try!

[Jojo Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

A glimpse at some of the people involved in looking after Zoe and her son before she was taken to the VDMC.

Brooke is an ex copper, cheated on by the love of life with her sister so double betrayal and her parents sided with them . She uses a contact and moved to a mountain community, off grid in the main lending a hand to Jack and Owen ( the other Twin) in keeping survivors of DV safe ( like they did with Zoe)

Adam found himself in a dangerous situation and contacts his childhood next friend to help him and his children escape from a dangerous man. He’s nearly found, he finds his way to the mountains the middle of a snow storm due to missed messages telling him to wait till it passes. His rescuer is Brooke

The attraction is instant but the timing is wrong, he can’t let his guard down and she doesn’t trust easily.

[Antika Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️

If I could give it more I would.
I'm normally a dark reader, so this was different for me. But different was soooo good.

I was on my toes the whole book having no clue what was going to happen next! The writing is absolutely amazing. It's full of suspence. But at the same point it wasn't jam packed that it wasn't believable.

The plot was perfect.
The characters even better.

It was so nice to read a book different then most with relation to the fmc and mmc
Normally the mmc is all man and stuff but this time it was different he was softer and caring. The fmc was rough and tough and I loved that

I absolutely loved the ending to the story but I now NEED to know what happens next! Even though one part had me ready to cry my eyes out thank goodness it was a twist.

There are some content warnings. Be sure to check those first!!

[whatinthehea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check me out everywhere: what.in.the.hea

Sub/Genre: Contemporary
Storyline Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Spice Rating:2/5 🌶️
Humor: 0
Dark Rating: 1/5 🖤
Tropes: Teacher/Nanny MMC, Recluse FMC, Forced Proximity, Found Family, Mountain Life, Snowed In, Single Dad, Secret Identity, On The Run, Small Town
Triggers: Kidnapping, Mention of human trafficking, Flogging, Death
Ending: I cried! But it’s an HEA

This story was so so good. For me it was a slower read than usual, just a lot going on!

Single dad running away with his kids because he saw/heard something he shouldn’t have. Ask the trials he goes through to let them safe are amazing. Add in a freak blizzard and him getting picked up by a woman…

And that’s only the first half. IT GETS SO MUCH BETTER!!!!

[Vickie Chaisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the series and it blew me out of the water. The storyline is so much more than you expect. It is intense and succinct with themes of abuse, murder, kidnapping, role reversal, slow burn romance and found family. It is an emotional rollercoaster ride that gives all the feels you want from a true romance. The author entices the reader with characters so believable you will not be able to put this book down. Characters are truly what moves this story and everyone of the characters are vital to this story. Even secondary characters have an immense impact of this story. This is the first book I have read by this author and I cannot wait for the next book in this series. You will not be disappointed and this should get a higher rating than 5 stars.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much more than I expected. What I expected was a love story what I got was a book on strength and growth and love. The absolute love Elijah had for his kids was so above and beyond it was difficult to even fathom. On the flip side the evilness of Gunther was just as hard the fathom. I find it hard to understand the ugliness he showed. The beauty in spirit that Belle and Jackson both showed was because of Elijah. The fortitude and strength showed by Josie and the mountain men created a story so exciting and fun to read can’t wait for the next one.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Double T's book buddies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Gedicke did a fabulous job with the beginning of this new series. The story has heartbreaking and heartwarming moments.

Adam/Elijah was an absolutely wonderful nanny/protector of Lydia/Belle and Henry/Lucas, along with there big brother Trenton.

You get to meet some really wonderful characters throughout the story, and you also will want to keep turning those pages to see what kind of surprises Mr. Gedicke has in store for you next, and she does have some, so grab your copy today and read all about it.

Highly recommend!!


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jenn M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Start to a New Series!!



This was quite the emotional read. It’s slow burn but there is a ton of energy flying between characters. The story has a darkness to it and will take hold of your heart and won’t let it go. 


I loved learning about this new world. If you have read VDMC, you will have had some hints to this world but it was so much more than I expected.


I loved how the author portrayed Adam’s love for his family and how that never faltered even when Brooke and him were growing their own relationship. This is a heartwarming, but dark, fast moving story and I loved it!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elise hit it out of the park once more, I really enjoyed reading this story. It was different then anything I have read before. Adam was a teacher and found himself in an unimaginable situation and he does what he only can and makes the best out of it. Brooke just happened to be in the right place at the right time to help Adam out. Loved the chemistry between Adam and Brooke, slow burn lots of edge of your seat romance and suspense. Your gonna be I didn't see that coming. I can't wait for more from this series

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man is this story off the charts. Adam ( Elijah) is in a very, very bad situation. He's on the run with 2 very young children and is trying to get to his friend who can help them. Brooke who is an ex cop lives in the mountains and off the grid saves them from freezing to death. This story has a lot of characters but it seamlessly intertwines it all together. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the next shoe to drop. What a story.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up the paperback of Mountain Refuge directly from the author at an event I attended earlier this month. The synopsis was intriguing and seemed a bit similar to a book by one of my favorite authors. But once I started reading, there was no similarities to what I expected. This book is a first for me to read by this author. I liked the way the story was written, making me feel as a silent observer in the room. The storyline was tragic, loving, moving, fun, suspenseful and so many more emotions. It was well worth my purchase and well worth my time to read.

[E Oygard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gold character portrayal

I was endeared to all the characters in this book ; despite their individual characters, they had loyalty and a sense of honour and eventually friendship. Even the bad guys were portrayed enough for the reader to positively hate them.

I liked the fact that Adam/Elijah, who thought of himself as weak compared to all the muscles and skills of the characters around him, was portrayed as someone with great strength of character and just as manly.

The story had no dull moments as the plot moved towards its climax and it's bitter/ sweet ending.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story but heartbreaking as well. What Adam and the kids went through was deplorable. With Jack's help, you know him from other books, he is one of the Mountaineers. This is Adam and Brooke's story on how they met. You won't be disappointed in this story. There's danger, sick people, and a will to survive. HEA. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jordan Fiest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mountain Refuge is book one in the Mountain Mutineers Series.

This was a great book which showed how men can be vulnerable too. I really liked seeing the vulnerability Adam goes through, throughout the book. Brooke is a powerhouse and she lets everyone know.

There were a few moments which really got me crying, thinking the worst, but this wouldn't be an Elise Gedicke book if your heartstrings weren't played with.

This was a great first edition to the series!

[Dusty Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mountain woman

When you need to escape an awful situation to save your kids and you end up lost and stranded, then rescued by a mountain woman that you start to have feelings for but you are still on the run and being hunted so you must go to protect them and learn how to be a mountain man on your own. This book will have you all in the feels. It's an interesting twist on the mountain man trope, as well as the single parent escaping a not great situation. Fantastic read.

[Library.of.linds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I love this book so much!!!! This is a new series from Elise and I love it just as much as her other series.

When a dad of two is on the run, what better place to go than a secluded mountain 😍

Mountain man, secret society and one hell of an ending (Ms. Gedicke we need to have a talk ma’am!) I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. I hope we get the story of the others on the mountain!

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a very goood read, I loved the characters, the way the story develops and the twists in it. The plot develops diffrent then what I expected, and was a nice surprise. The epiloge was for me a bit on the fast side, it misses a few developments in the lives of the charcters (that's why it misses the 5 star mark for me) , but I hope and quess we will read more about their lives in future books.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Charlene Alana Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brooke and Adams story gripped me from the start, I could not put it down once I started it. I instantly took to these characters. It's such a rollercoaster ride with twists and turns, that have you on the edge of your seat. It's filled with action, drama, love, surprises, darkness, laughter, suspense, joy, tears and despair.

The storyline, plot and characters where wonderfully written.

Highly recommend.

[Debbie Bolay · Rating 5 out of 5]

💕💖💕 Adam and Brooke💕💖💕 He and his children found a mountain refuge with Brooke! On the run, they found a place he never thought would be a place he could survive. She loved her mountain! What an awesome book with many twists and turns! Awesome author! Love this book! I recommend this book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[CAH - malphrusc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This storyline created an amazing new world of found family with unconventional backgrounds. I especially love how the MMC was a good example that a man’s strength can be shown in many different ways. This was a great book from start to finish! I cannot wait to read the next one!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[ALR · Rating 5 out of 5]

After her family’s betrayal Brooke has gone (mostly) off the grid, living in the mountains of Montana, forging herself anew, into a ¨mountain woman,¨ when a surprise encounter meeting of a stranger stuck in a horrendous snow storm on that same mountain flips her new life on its end. Okay, even though I read the blurb I have to admit I was a bit surprised by this one. I honestly never pictured a ¨mountain woman¨ as the lead and honestly was expecting a rough and tough male lead but was surprisingly pleased to see that Brooke was the one who was strong one, yet still feminine. Adam/Elijiah, the male lead, was the one who was the strong family/emotional one as the single dad. Honestly it was a really nice surprise because most stories forget to depict how strong we women really are. This is the first book in a new series by this author, with loose ties to her MC series (Carlos´s novellas) and introduces a whole new cast of intriguing characters (I really hope we get Corbin’s story soon). I also really enjoyed the author´s MC series with its intense action / steaminess and was expecting similar scenarios with this book but it was actually quite different, but still really enjoyable. First of all it has a very slow build with just a hint of action (more so at the end), but the strong ¨do what is right¨ core intensity is still there and the slowness just gives more time to appreciate all that these mountaineers do to help ensure that ¨justice¨ is received (and not just the artificial media justice that seems to play out a lot these days). The horrors Adam/Elijiah and his kids went through at the beginning of this book may be triggering for some so please be aware, but the slow passage of time also makes this more realistic as well, since there’s no way that anyone could quickly bounce back to normal after enduring what they did. The tension between Brooke and Adam/Elijiah is noticeable almost from the start, but only a 3/5 in actuality, although highly realistic in dealing with a new relationship when kids are involved which is nice. My only issue was the names, which switch (and you’ll see why) and was a bit weird at first but the author did make it easier with her chapter titles, using the names as markers. Overall I thought this was a great new series and highly recommend this book and am hoping that book two will come out sooner that what’s posted. 4.5 stars.

I received an arc copy of this book for free from BookSirens for my honest review. All opinions are my own.