Protected by the Mountain Man: A Mountain Man Curvy Girl Instalove Romance

by Joann Baker, Patricia Mason

She signed up for a mountain man. She didn’t expect to match with the one man she’s spent her whole life trying not to want.

Tori Cross
I’m tired of being the good girl. Tired of spending my Friday nights with ice cream and reruns while the whole damn town pairs off. So, I do something impulsive. I sign up for a dating app that promises to match curvy girls like me with rugged, real-deal mountain men.

What did I get? My brother’s best friend—Jace Redding—banging on my door like I just set off a nuclear bomb.
He’s furious. Protective. Insanely hot. And absolutely off-limits.

But when he shows up again—this time during my date, fists clenched and jealousy simmering—he doesn’t look like a friend. He looks like a man ready to claim what he’s been denying himself for years.

I’ve wanted Jace since I knew what wanting meant. But I’m not a girl anymore, and I won’t let him keep me in the do not touch zone forever.

If he wants me… he’s going to have to fight for me.

Jace Redding
I’ve survived war zones, cyber attacks, and living on a mountain with nothing but trees for company. But nothing prepared me for Victoria Cross signing up for a damn dating app.

Tori isn’t just my best friend’s little sister. She’s the woman I’ve spent ten years trying not to touch. I’ve watched over her. Protected her. And kept my distance—until now.

Seeing her profile, seeing her ready to give herself to someone who isn’t me? That tore down every wall I’ve ever built. Now, I’m done hiding.

I don’t care if her brother hits me over the head with a tire iron and then feds me to a bear. I don’t care if the whole town talks.
Tori is mine. Always has been. And it’s about damn time she knew it.

Protected by the Mountain Man is a possessive, steamy, age-gap brother’s-best-friend, dating-app-gone-wrong romance featuring a curvy heroine with a soft heart, a scarred ex-soldier with a overly possessive okay, jealous, streak, and the kind of mountain heat makes the 4th of July seem down right balmy. Each book in the Lone Mountain Mates series is a standalone instalove romance with a swoony HEA.

Want more big and grumpy, overly possessive mountain men who don’t date—they claim? Grab the rest of the Lone Mountain Mates Series

Claimed by the Mountain Man – possessive mountain man + family found + sister rescue
Kept by the Mountain Man – gruff recluse + curvy city girl + mail-order bride app mishap
Taken by the Mountain Man – fake fiancé + broody alpha + it’s not pretend anymore
Stolen by the Mountain Man – ex-military tracker + runaway virgin + possessive obsession
Protected by the Mountain Man – brother’s best friend + age gap + dating app gone wrong
Matched to the Mountain Man – enemies to lovers + small-town baker + fated app match

78 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2025

About the author

Joann and Patricia are a writing team of two best friends who love to write (and read) stories about alpha males and smart, sassy, sometimes curvy, women.

Reviews

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tori was tired of spending her nights alone and decided to join the Mountain Mates. Jace has loved Tori but feels he owes it to her brother to protect her. When he discovers her on the Mountain Mates app, he gets very angry and confronts her. When she starts dating, Jace has to deal with his jealousy of her being with someone else. Will Tori finally wear him down to admit his feelings and his desire to be with her. Their attraction is so strong but his commitment to her brother has him confused on what to do. Will Jace finally let go and love Tori for a HEA? The plot and story were well-written. Highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Protected by the Mountain man is a captivating short read that I enjoyed. This brother’s-best-friend, age-gap, mountain man insta-love story was entertaining from the start. The characters are well written. Tori & Jace balance their long-term attraction to one another, to withstanding conflict of their connection, to finding their HEA. This insta-love short read Protected by the Mountain Man is Book 4 of the Protected by the Mountain Man series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Chandra Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tori has been in love with her brothers best friend,Jace, for 10 years and she’s tired of waiting for him to grow a pair and ask her out. She creates a profile on a dating app and is ready to move on with her life.
Jace about looses his mind when he figures out Tori is on a dating app and he might loose her to some idiot who doesn’t love her like he does.
When he finally breaks up the third date, he’s had enough and they finally are truthful with each other.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tori and Jace have been involved with each other since they were young, but Jace has always held back on account of being her brother's best friend. We all know how the story goes but I love how sweet this story is and the characters were just wonderful with so much chemistry. Tori was also quite the character, trying to get on with her life without Jace.

This was a short and easy read and so well written. Please read it!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shelly Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I’m reviewing today is titled, Protected by the Mountain Man which is the fourth installment of The Lone Mountain Mates Book Series written by Joann Baker & Patricia Mason. This story is a brother’s best friend, age gap, mountain man insta-love romance that is entertaining from the beginning. The characters are well written. Tori and Jace fight against their long lost attraction to one another, to finding their happily ever.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ineta · Rating 5 out of 5]

They know each other for years, both out off limits. In love for decade. Will Tori find a way to stop Jace from walking away every time? Yes, he is a little obsessive, a little possessive and a little too intense sometimes.
Great characters, well written story - story line and writing style. Loved their confrontations, and how Tori challenged Jace. Enjoyed this short and steamy read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[laura.lovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book full of pining, longing, desire, determination, guilt, protectiveness, jealousy, attraction, commitment, connection, spice and love.

I especially loved seeing him struggle with his feelings for her and his connection to her brother.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Zondra.Hallyahoo.Com · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it.