Liberated by the Logger

by M.J. Marino

Aspen Fair has crap luck with men. If they aren’t intimidated by her intelligence, they’re using her for their own gain. All this newbie forest scientist wants is to be loved, but fate intervenes when her latest boyfriend tricks her into a humanitarian protest, putting her in danger in the Rocky Mountain wilderness. A lightning storm isn’t the only thing coming for her, though—a brutish man with an axe may be her only option.

Ambrose O’Mara has a lot going for him—a successful timber felling company, a cozy cabin in the mountains, but no woman to share his life with. He’s content with what he has until he finds a woman stranded and chained to a tree in the middle of gale-force winds and punishing thunder, looking at him like he’s her savior. There’s no doubt—she’s the one he never knew he needed. The question is, can he convince her to be his woman before the storm ends?

Either way, one grumpy logger + one feisty scientist + only one bed = a spicy, good time in the Rockies.

This is a contemporary, steamy, instalust-to-love, fast burn, he falls first and falls hard, age gap, grumpy logger meets grumpy forest scientist, forced proximity, over-the-top hero, touch her and die vibes, protective mountain man romance where the MMC will go to great lengths to have his happily ever after with his woman. This romance mashup will deliver plenty of spice, a dash of suspense, and loads of humor. This is a standalone novella within the Fort Collins Rocky Mountain Man Series, and book #1 of the series. Books can be read out of order with only a few spoilers for previous books. There are a few dark elements and strong language in this book. Therefore, it is intended for readers 18+ years. Full Content disclaimers are listed at the front of the book and on the author's website for reference.

Genres: Contemporary

160 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 7, 2025

About the author

M.J. Marino—the quirky steamy romance author in the white glasses with the hankering for dirty jokes. M.J. writes steamy insta-love romance novels with strong-willed females and OTT-protective males. She focuses on the love story, and adds plenty of spice, suspense, and comedy, bringing it all together with a happily-ever-after and a teaser for her next book. M.J. lives in Waukesha, Wisconsin with her family. Aside from writing, M.J. is often found reading a juicy romance, cursing up a storm as she rips weeds out of her garden, listening to music while singing along, chugging coffee to stay focused at her computer, and enjoying a bourbon—lots of bourbon.

Reviews

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love MJ biker books now she's in her mountains, man! And I ate this book up!! It's not dark like her other books. We have Aspen, who trusts the wrong hippie boyfriend when he chains her to a dead tree to save it. That's when Ambrose comes in. Finding her drenched almost on the brink of passing out saves her and brings her to his home to make sure she survives the night.

And when she wakes well, there is fighting and throwing objects since she is still confused about who this man is, and Ambrose is falling more and more in love. He explains what happens, and he's taking care of her. The chemistry is cute between the 2. It's a short novella, so everything is Insta, which I don't mind.

We do get some side charas from the Biker World and our next Mountains Man book. :)

No ow/tiny Om drama, no cheating, drama, sexy times, no virgins

Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶

Instalove
Age gap
36h/28h
Praise kink
Force proximity
Neglect/Abandonment (between the FMC and her previous boyfriend) 
Hea
Epilogue (for another couple)

[Kate V · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - 4 smut-scale stars!

[Raquel.Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to a new series

An age gap with forced proximity all wrapped in a satisfying and quick read. I had so much fun reading Aspen and Ambrose story. From the great banter that quickly turns into a fast burn to the Ravens MC cameo. I loved every moment.

At a little oner 150 pages it’s the perfect length to read in one sitting. I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series.

[Intel Chicky Reads Romance (Kara Merideth) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: instalove
Angst: 😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥1/2

Fantastic instalove novella set in the same world as her Mercy Ravens MC. Absolutely perfect if you're looking for a quick read that's lower on the drama and high on the spice.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a fast-burn, steamy, ridiculously fun romance with a grumpy (but secretly sweet) mountain man and a fiery FMC who doesn’t back down, Liberated by the Logger delivers in every way.

🌲 The Setup: Aspen, a forest scientist with a track record of bad men, finds herself literally chained to a tree in a thunderstorm thanks to her loser boyfriend’s protest stunt. Enter Ambrose, a big, burly, bearded ginger logger (aka LUMBERSNACK) who comes to her rescue—and quickly realizes he never wants to let her go. One bed, plenty of heat, and some wildly fun banter ensue.

🔥 What I Loved:
✔ Steam Level: HIGH (Ambrose does not hold back 👀)
✔ Banter: Aspen gives as good as she gets, making their dynamic equal parts spicy and hilarious
✔ Length: At 154 pages, this is the perfect quick, satisfying read when you need something hot and fun
✔ Ambrose: He’s gentlemanly but also… not (you know what I mean) 😏
✔ The Pillow Fight Scene (IYKYK)
✔ Cameo from the Mercy Raven MC (which was chef’s kiss for fans!)

💭 Final Thoughts: This book is zero unnecessary angst, all fun, and packed with tension, steam, and a mountain man who falls HARD. If you love grumpy/protective MMCs, instalust-to-love, and forced proximity in the wilderness, Liberated by the Logger is an absolute must-read. 🪓🔥

⭐ Rating: 4.5/5 🌲🔥

[Lucky for me I got to read this book before it was released. I'm not being compensated at all, and it was really hard to wait until it was officially released to write a review!!]

[Devlin Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been Ambrose’d

This 160-page novella knocked my socks off and I would highly recommend it. Despite what my E-reader said, it took me longer to read it. Admittedly, because I reread quite a few parts;-)

MJ Marino puts an interesting twist on a forest scientist who meets a logger, and with only a small space to develop characters, she does an excellent job right out of the gate. She gave me all the information I needed to pull me into Aspen and Ambrose’s world.

The moment a question formed in my mind, it was immediately addressed within the story, as if MJ anticipated the thoughts of the reader.

There are many quotable lines, each one a gem, but I won’t spoil the surprises. I want you to discover them on the pages as I did and feel the same warming squeeze in your heart.

You're guaranteed to get Ambrose’d too!

[Greta West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast burn with lumbersnacks? Say less.

Liberated by the Logger is a quick-burning fire that will suck you in and make you beg for more. Brose (Ambrose) O’Mara is a grumpy loner, and when he rescues a beautiful woman from a mountain storm and the jerk she should’ve dumped months ago, he takes her back to his cabin in the woods.
Driven forest scientist, Aspen Fair wakes on some guy’s couch, and when she investigates and finds that guy in the shower…
Things take a fast-burn turn.
LbtL has all the things we love from MJ Marino:
Insta-lust to love
Possessive alpha hero
Feisty, smart FMC
Gorgeous men who want to lift their women up and help them succeed.

Get this novella on Amazon. You won’t be sorry! Your body temp might skyrocket, but the only thing you’ll regret is having to wait for book 2!

[Caylee T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Brose is everything I’ve been searching for, gift wrapped nicely in rugged mountain man form”

Ahh!! I knew I loved MJ Marino’s work from her Mercy Raven’s series. And I have a feeling I’m going to love her Fort Collins Rocky Mountain Man novellas. This one…definitely hooked me in & had me falling in love with Aspen & Ambrose. These two gave me Atlas & Jo vibes with their personalities & the snark. And I am a sucker for Atlas & Jo.

Aspen had been left chained to a tree by her crazy tree hugging boyfriend (well now ex-boyfriend) during a thunderstorm. Thankfully, when Ambrose is called & made aware of a man chained to a tree, he goes out to handle it. It’s then he realizes there is someone else out there too & that’s when he finds Aspen.

He manages to help her out of the storm & into his cabin to get warm & he is immediately taken by her. And when she wakes up, yeah that encounter had me cackling the entire time.

They end up settling their initial fight & get to spend some one on one time together where he realizes he absolutely wants her & she is trying to rationalize the fact that she’s already falling for him.

Throw in a little cameo from some certain bikers ( absolutely loved this) and this novella had the makings of quick read that’ll have you laughing & swooning all at the same time.

I am also for sure here for Holden’s story next!

Absolutely amazing job & I’m so excited to see what comes next!

[KitKat821 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really sweet, funny, and spicy novella to start off the author’s new series. I adore mountain men that are huge and have beards. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Yeah, they’re delicious and Ambrose does NOT disappoint. He’s both protective, strong, and a stupid boy all rolled into one yummy package. I’m so excited that the author started with this character. He saves Aspen from a very dangerous situation that her very recent ex placed her into…it’s both amusing and scary.

Aspen is a brand new forest scientist and loves nature. She just ends up with loser men. Ambrose saves her, but keeps screwing it up with his mouth. Eventually they both get it together and insta-lust becomes insta-love. I cannot wait for more in this series!

[Nicola Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sigh. There’s a new lumbersnack in town, and I’ve claimed him as mine!

Ambrose is just… swoon. He’s the epitome of a considerate, golden retriever hero, with a delicious possessive edge that speaks to my ovaries.

I loved everything about this novella. From the opening setup—girl tied to a tree in a storm, saved by a hulking lumberjack—to the sweet and oft times laugh-out-loud domesticity in Ambrose’s mountain lurve shack. This story had everything. 🔥🔥🔥

Lordy, Aspen is one lucky girl. If I happened to find myself stranded in the mountains, I’d sure want Ambrose O’Mara to come save me too.

Another faultless story by MJ. I can’t wait for more from the Fort Collins Rocky Mountain Men.

[Mandy Reads Indie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quickie Review: Marino has done it again and I am absolutely here for this series. Because not only do we get a growly, OTT, possessive mountain man, who falls first I might add, but we get to see some of our favorites from the Mercy Ravens MC. Seriously though, I just finished this book and I am so obsessed already. Absolutely in dire need of more stories! Would 100% recommend this amazing quick read and all of Marino’s other books. Every one of them is written perfection, full of romance and steamy goodness. 5 Glorious Stars!

[Janice Kellam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lorax, The Chains, and The Duck Decoy ⛓️‍💥 🦆

What a way to start a new series!! You are gonna hoot with laughter and then be a little worried by the time Aspen and Ambrose meet. These two leads are a tad grumpy so the sparks that fly between them are entrancing for the reader.

Liberated by the Logger is chock-full of heat, humor and wit. Yes, it’s a novella, but at 160 pages it’s girthy! Plus there’s a cameo by the men of the Mercy Ravens MC that we’ve all come to know and love.

The mountains are calling and I must go . . . ⛰️🪓❤️‍🔥

[Readiculous 📚🖤👱🏼‍♀️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
I loved this author’s MC series so when I saw she wrote a standalone novella, I had to get on that ASAP. Since it is such a short story compared to her other books, this one is even more OTT. 😅 I mean this is instalove to the max!! A total guilty pleasure read. I loved the little Mercy Ravens cameo :-)
Super spicy, a little plotty. A nice way to escape real life for an hour or two.

Safety:
- No OW
- OM: h has a boyfriend at the beginning of the story. She breaks up with him before / whilst meeting H
- No cheating
- No separation / no third act break up

[Beth Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great quick read, you can’t help but love a mountain man like Brose.

If you love mountain men, instalove and HEAs then you will love this. Set I the same world as the Mercy Ravens MC we do get a short appearance from some of the men and I hope we get more in future books.

Yes I would have liked it to have been longer and to hear more about them but hoping to hear from them again in later books.

The snippet at the end leading into the next book is already making me look forward to it.

[Megan Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know what Ms Marino put in this novella but I’m pretty sure it’s crack lol. I ate this story up!

Ambrose was absolutely swoon worthy and Aspen was feisty and fun. Instalust/love fast burn isn’t always my jam but this author always does it so well.

It was fun to get a small peak at past characters from the MC Ravens series plus the hint of what’s next for this series. I can’t wait for more books to come out

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liberated By The Logger (A Fort Collins Rocky Mountain Man Novella Book 1)

Anyone who knows me knows what a huge fan of MJ Marino I am. So I was eagerly waiting for this book and bless her I was fortunate enough to be chosen to ARC read it.
Well I wasn't disappointed not one single bit. The instalove and just was incredible an every smart women needs a logger to fall in love with her!
Thank you MJ for continuing with your amazing talent ❤️

[-ˏˋ D ˊˎ- · Rating 3 out of 5]

“By your definition, a hero will sacrifice you for the greater good.
That’s not a man you want. A real man will sacrifice everything to keep you.
A real man will be a hero to you alone, as he should be.
It’s what I would do if you were mine.”
-Ambrose O’Mara, from Liberated by the Logger by M.J. Marino

[Belle (on hiatus)]

DNF @ 57%

I don’t think he was a manwhore, but H definitely thought about his experience with women too much for my liking - maybe would have been fine if h had more/equal experience but of course she hasn’t

[Claudia Ramirez-salas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liberated by the Logger

Amazing! I could not put it down! M.J. Mariano was again able to give us a love story with strong a strong female protagonist we can relate to; and a a perfect man that embraces the opportunity to be with her. Great Novella! Can’t wait for the next one!

[Ashlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love @mjmarinoauthor books for lots of reasons but my main reason is the insta lust. The men know what they want and the women are always smart, independent and sassy. This book was perfect parts spice and plot for a novella. I can’t wait to see what’s up next for this series.

[Alexis Eckstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOSH

This was such a cute fun quick read. It hit all the feels. The story line and the spice was just PERFECT.

[L. Aquila · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it!

Who wouldn’t want to be saved by a hot lumberjack? If you’re looking for a quick, fun and spicy read, this is for you!

[Stephanie Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun story! I literally laughed out loud numerous times. The banter between Ambrose and Aspen was hilarious. Can hardly wait for the next book in the series.

[WhiskeyandReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was hilarious!

[Petra Škobalj · Rating 3 out of 5]

standard insta love book

[Amber Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Ambrose. This is the perfect quick read if you enjoy instalove and forced proximity and he falls first. Ambrose is the right mixture of alpha male and please love me. I think MJ Marino does a wonderful job of creating characters that feel real.

There also is a small cameo appearance by a certain group that’ll make you smile

[Dada · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? I really really enjoyed reading this novella and part of me wanted to be longer. I really loved ambros and aspen story. I highly recommend this book/ novella.

[K.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liberated by the Logger by M.J. Marino was a lovely novella. I didn't know how I would feel about a shorter read, but by the end, I was like...color me surprised!
I do adore a short read, haha! Something spicy AF and to the point, sign me up. This ARC was just what I needed after some dark and sinister ones before.
Aspen and Ambrose are both delightful; they’re opinionated, feisty, and know what they want. Aspen has a stupid AF boyfriend who thankfully quickly becomes her ex. I love it when, later on down the line, he gets his a** handed to him by her verbally! I was fist-pumping and laughing with little leg kicks the whole time. Ambrose’s internal monologue during that exchange made it absolutely a highlight of the book. Their HEA was beautiful, and I loved MJ’s writing style and will for sure read more of her stuff. Welcome to my club!

[Zoe Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

Absolutely loved this book ,different genre for mj and she has done a fabulous job.
Ambrose and aspen are kindred spirits and passionate,loved the appearance from the mercy ravens ,good ole punk.Can't wait to see if there will be more

[Surrender2silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book one in the Fort Collins Rocky Mountain Man series. Aspen has had bad luck in the love department. Her last boyfriend was a tree hugger. When he leaves her in a storm in the forest, it’s her last straw. That where Ambrose comes in. He takes her to his cabin to keep her warm. Fast pace insta love story about a hot axe mountain man sweeps her and takes care of her and her needs. Love it