Weathering the Storm

by Mandy Magro

Batten down the hatches when fate throws an opinionated journalist and a commitment-phobic cowboy into the middle of a TV dating show... Heartfelt rural romance from bestselling Australian author Mandy Magro.


Montana Walker isn't thrilled when her new assignment is covering TV's hottest new dating show. She begrudgingly travels to the chosen bachelor's cattle station in the remote outback, wondering what woman in her right mind would want to fall for an ex-bull rider?

She should know, because the bull rider in question is the very same man who broke her eighteen-year-old heart. Not that she thinks he'll remember her. She was just another fleeting fancy, she's sure.

Mason Wilde finds himself completely out of his depth when his family nominate him for the show. Ever since he messed up the best relationship he's ever had, he's avoided any kind of commitment. Imagine his surprise when he spots the woman who got away working among the crew.

But whatever winds of chance are blowing, you can't change the past. Montana and Mason agree it's better if they keep their distance and protect their hearts. However, fate has other plans and they are forced to be around each other for countless hours of filming -- while their attraction is undeniable. So much so, that if they're not careful, they'll become the news story...

Genres: Romance

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2025

About the author

Mandy Magro lives in Cairns, Far North Queensland, with her daughter, Chloe Rose. With pristine aqua-blue coastline in one direction, and sweeping rural landscapes in the other, she describes her home as heaven on earth. A passionate woman, and a romantic at heart, she loves writing about soul-deep love, the Australian rural way of life, and all the wonderful characters that live there.

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Montana Walker is a Sydney journalist and not happy when she has to cover a new TV dating show and discovers it’s being filmed at the bachelor’s family’s cattle station in the Queensland outback and he was once a bull rider. Montana fell in love with one when she was eighteen and surly it couldn’t be the same guy and Australia’s a large place and there has to be more than one heart-breaking bull rider?

Mason Wilde is annoyed when he’s nominated and chosen for a new dating program, he’s to give four beautiful ladies an idea of what it’s like to be a country girl and keep the producers and viewers happy. Mason knows he stuffed up years ago, he walked away from the perfect woman for him and he’s shocked when he spots her working among the crew. Mason is going on dates, riding horses and swimming in the dam and not with the lady of his choice.

I received a copy of Weathering the Storm from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an unbiased review. I have been a fan of TV dating shows, but I have always wondered what goes on behind the scenes, and dangling a sexy farmer in front of a group of ladies is going to cause drama and tension and when it comes to chemistry and love it can’t be forced and is the whole concept fake and an act?

Mandy Magro explores this in her latest rural romance and the two characters have to overcome obstacles and everything thrown in their paths and Montana has to forgive Morgan and he needs to win back her trust. Read the page turning and sizzling hot book to find out what happens and five stars from me and I highly recommend.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weathering the Storm by Mandy Magro is a cowboy romance following journalist, Montana Walker who gets chosen to be the journalist on new TV dating show, Way Out Yonder Wife. Mason Wilde, who broke Montana’s heart when they were younger, is the first and only man she’s ever loved, and is also the starring man in Way Out Yonder Wife, a reality show about a cowboy choosing which city girl to marry. While filming the reality show together, the two are forced together on multiple occasions, causing old feeling to arise.

Mandy Magro’s writing is very digestible and easy to follow, which made my reading experience of this book so much better. The reality show part of the book was very interesting and I liked seeing the reality show actually play out on the page, but there were some parts where I was unable to suspend my disbelief.

The romance between the two main characters felt insta love-y as it is a second chance romance and they do have a history, but since it was nearly 10 years ago I wanted more of a build up between the two. Since there wasn’t really a build up of their feelings for each other and it was all based on their previous history (which the audience doesn’t get to see and was only for 2 months), I felt a disconnect towards the couple, and didn’t really believe their feelings for each other.

I really liked the setting and atmosphere of this book. Mandy Magro wrote the Australian outback very well and it truly felt like I was there at times. She was very descriptive when talking about Mason’s homestead and it truly felt like this book was a love letter to rural Australia.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thanks to Harlequin for sending us a copy to read and review.
Congratulations to Mandy on her 25th book and her many years in the industry.
Weathering The Storm is quintessential Miss Magro and this one will make the heart flutter.
A tender second chance love story between an assertive lead heroine and a swoon worthy cowboy.
Journalist Montana Walker is far from thrilled to discover her latest job is reporting on a new tv dating show.
Especially when she discovers that the chosen suitor is an old ex who broke her heart when she was eighteen.
In the harsh outback Mason Wilde is the lucky one to front a new reality dating program.
Dobbed in by his little brother, he decides to chance it.
Then from afar while filming he spots Montana, the love that got away.
After a heated conversation the best way to approach the past was to ignore it and stay out of each other’s way.
But life has different ideas……..
The setting is spot on as always, the leads are delightful and the plot is warm, romantic, embracing and entrancing.
I’ve always been a fan of Mandy’s work and I can’t believe it’s her 25th release and I’ve read them all.
This is another glorious and sweet addition to her ever growing catalogue.
Long live the rural love story…

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! Montana grew up in the country but now lives in the city and is a reporter who gets sent to report on a new reality show that is very much like Farmer Wants a Wife. It’s all good until she realises that the farmer is Mason, who she was involved with in the past. Both characters are lovely and I love how the storyline throws the female reality contestants into all the things you expect from a Farmer style reality show. Throw in some not great tv execs and you’ve got a great story which I absolutely loved.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.

[Cassie Landt · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought it was about time to give rural romance a go, but boy I was dead wrong. This may just be the worst book I’ve ever read, and the writing was so bad I was just genuinely angry the entire time. I’m not sure how anyone can stand this drivel.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

A hot ex-bull riding cowboy, a reality TV dating show with four women vying for his heart and his first love is the journalist covering the story. What could possibly go wrong? Or right perhaps…

Weathering the Storm is set in stunning outback Australia and with the writing style of this one it feels like you are right there alongside the characters. The storyline was fab and I was really invested. I did feel that the language between Mason and Monty was a just a little too formal though. It just didn’t feel relaxed and how two people would actually talk to each other. But overall it’s a fun, second chance romance.

Congratulations to Mandy Magro on the release of her 25th novel.

Thank you to @harlequinaus for a #gifted copy to read.

[Dragonladymoi · Rating 4 out of 5]

If only… You weave a tale of romance and love that has me believing in love again, Mandy Magro! ❤️ A four and a half star novel that took me on a wonderful, wholesome and sensitive journey of true love.

[Jo Washington-King · Rating 1 out of 5]

I usually love Mandy’s work as they have a good storyline with the love component. This time, the love component came so quick and it was just a mushy mess with constant repetition about how much the main couple are in love with each other. Bring back the storyline and don’t make it all a repetitive love fest!

[Angelynn23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Harlequin Australia, HQ for the ARC and to NetGalley.
It was a beautiful and heartwarming story that captures the amazing Australian outback. It’s always nice to read a rural romance as it takes you to an interesting places.

[Vicki Robe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Montana is a journalist that is non-too-happy with her latest assignment covering a new dating show that is to air on national TV. The location is in the outback back on a cattle station which is the home of the bachelor.

Mason Wilde is the bachelor who is to be joined by four lovely females for the dating show and he is the ex-boyfriend of Montana's that up and left ten years prior because he was scared of commitment.

This is a very interesting read with lots of action and hiccups along the way.

A great country-romance worth the read.

[Shelagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mandy Magro knows rural Australia so well and it shows in the settings for her stories. Weathering The Storm is largely set on a cattle station in outback Queensland and beautifully showcases the glorious red earth and brilliant blue skies. This book is a lovely mix of tropes; Romeo and Juliet vie with forced proximity and second chances to create a charming romance for Montana Walker, a Sydney features journalist, and Mason Wilde, cattle farmer and former champion bull rider. These two had an intimate relationship around ten years before this story opens, with Montana thinking at the time that Mason was “the one”. That is until he left her without a word. When she finds herself assigned to cover an outback reality show called Way Out Yonder Wife, which is set on his property, she is less than thrilled. With both of them banned by the producers from fraternising, she feels like she might be able to get away with being there without him noticing. Of course that doesn’t go as planned and it’s not long before they discover that the passion and emotional connection they shared years ago is still there. Both Mason and Montana are fabulous characters, and it was easy to empathise with them as they negotiated some tough situations. The supporting cast, particularly Mason’s father Henry, was also mostly easy to like. While there were moments where I thought the plot was a bit implausible, I really enjoyed reading this book.

[Joanne McKinnon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weathering the Storm — what a fantastic read! A tender, heartfelt story where fate rekindles an old flame, weaving together themes of compromise, destiny, true love, and vulnerability.

Montana Walker is chosen to be the journalist on a new TV dating show, Way Out Yonder Wife. The twist? The starring man is Mason Wilde — the very same man who broke her heart years ago, and the only one she’s ever truly loved. The show’s premise is simple: a cowboy choosing which city girl to marry. But as filming unfolds, Montana and Mason are thrown together time and again, and the old feelings they thought were buried begin to resurface.

The story is enriched by its supporting characters — Mason’s dad, Henry, was a particular favourite of mine. Always supportive and understanding of his son’s dreams, Henry added warmth and wisdom.

This is a beautifully written second-chance romance, full of tenderness and hope. The descriptions of the outback are stunning — I could see the sunsets, feel the dust underfoot, and almost hear the creak of the saddle.

A heartwarming, atmospheric, and utterly enjoyable read.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read. I was looking forward to the reality show setting. It wasn’t what I expected, Monty was the journalist not a contestant. The contestants were an interesting foursome.
I skimmed over the two contestants running off together. Sadly the wife /mother left the farm, deserted her family. Loved the family that surround the main characters. Appreciated Monty’s bosses attitude and their support for their employee.
The selling of the farm share was obviously achievable because Mandy didn’t put that farm into a self managed super fund 😂 (Federal Gov 2025 is after unrealised tax grab on super worth 3M)
I liked the pro marriage and family focus at the end of the story.
Liked the NSW Blue Mountains reference but would suggest the setting was further out than Katoomba 😬 and heading further west, up and over the mountain, beautiful. I enjoyed the real estate shopping chapter.

[Maree Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely gorgeous story this was.
The descriptions of the outback were superb and made me feel like I was there, seeing the gorgeous sunsets, experiencing riding a horse, racing like the wind for the sheer joy of it.

I love the idea of the TV show and totally feel for Mason when he is thrown in the deep end by his family!

Montana is such a wonderfully strong woman who knows what she wants with her career and isn't afraid to go after it.

Not wanting to give any spoilers away, I will just say that it was fun watching Mason and Montana tiptoeing around each other, trying to keep their past a secret.

Well done Mandy, a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Natalie M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable.

A trademark rural Australian romance from Magro, without the twists or complications. I think I was anticipating more drama from the reality TV angle, but when it didn't eventuate, the story lacked the complications of the genre. I skipped sections and read others at speed when I felt like it was repeating. A little more formulaic than usual.

I love Mandy Magro's novels and will continue to be an eager reader.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a heartwarming rural romance set in the Australian outback, well mostly anyway.
The descriptions of the countryside and sunsets made them easy to imagine.
I especially liked the Epilogue.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Alison · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's one of only 2 books I couldn't bring myself to finish. Stopped reading halfway through as it just doesn't flow, very disjointed and the plot is lame. I normally love Mandys books but not this one

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Congratulations Mandy on your 25th book. I have been working my way through your backlist from most recent to the oldest.

Rural Romances are my comfort read and I love nothing better than reading your books with a hot cuppa nearby.

This is a book about compromise, fate, true love and vunerability.

I loved the supporting characters in this book in particular Mason and Montana's families. Mason's dad Henry was a stand out for me.

I am also attracted to any books that have the tropes second chances, forbidden romance, and forced proximity. Thats a big reason why I liked this book so much.

Last but not least, I loved the ending very satisfying.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy read that become predictable buy mid way through but i still enjoyed it. I would have liked to see a bit more rodeo past to help the history.

[Leanne Pitcher · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn’t make myself finish this book…I can usually enjoy a bit of light rural romance, but this was so sickly I gave up.

[Justine Hill · Rating 1 out of 5]

After the heaviness of the last book I read - a crime mystery, I was hoping for calmness. But this was like a hallucinogenic love trip that made me feel sick!

[Caroline Moorhouse]

Audiobook

[Melissa Coles · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t my favourite. Very waffly and tried to cram too much into this book

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 30%. Felt it was very repetitive. Same problems said over and over. Couldn’t get into it. It was a push to get as far as I did.