The Mountain Man's Lie

Willow Ridge Mountain Men #1

by Lainey Winters

Becoming an assistant to a grouchy billionaire is one thing, but getting snowed in with him? That changes everything…

LYDIA

My family is full of epic romances. But me? I’m determined to escape that legacy…or so I think. But when I accept a mysterious job working for the notorious billionaire on the mountain, something suddenly changes in me, and now I can’t tell if this older mountain man is going to steal my heart…or break it.

CADE

Three years on the mountain, destroyed by one woman who trips into me. I thought I could escape my past—the fire that destroyed everything I built. But now my best friend is teaming up with my scheming aunt to bring me back to New York…and they think this Sterling girl can change me.

THE MOUNTAIN MAN’S LIE is a steamy instalove romance set in the snowy Jade Mountains. This age gap, snowed in, mountain man romance features a hardened billionaire and his younger assistant who finds much more than she expects when she moves in with him. A short, two hour read that’ll hit you in those small town feels! Read Cade and Lydia’s story today!

Genres: Forced Proximity

85 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2025

Reviews

[Curvy Girl Book Nerd (Jen S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lydia and Cade

THE MOUNTAIN MAN'S LIE is Book 1 of the Willow Ridge Mountain Men series. It's a short and steamy, opposites-attract, grumpy-sunshine, forced-proximity, curvy girl gets her mountain man romance. Lydia is a sassy, curvy college graduate who has returned home and taken a job as an assistant to a billionaire to help with fixing his image. Cade is a hunky, grumpy, reclusive billionaire mountain man. His attorney hired Lydia without his knowledge. He finds out that his aunt is trying to manipulate Lydia so she can meet with her father, who has already turned down a meeting with her. Cade is immediately drawn to the curvy spitfire. When they get snowed-in, things get hot and steamy, but what happens when she finds out his Aunt's intentions? Will she feel used? These two had such great chemistry and we got a very happy ending. I would have liked a little more insight into his past and why he had so much guilt about the lodge fire as that didn't seem clear. Overall though, I loved it.

[Vinita P Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter decision

Lydia Sterling goes back home but she doesn't want to stay in her parents cabin. She longs for something else, afterall her brothers r married to two of her best friends. They have their own lives with kids, no time to hang around n chat or go clubbing, shopping like they used to do. She'd just be bored. So an offer comes up as a move-in assistant to help someone readjust their life n return to the corporate world. Complete with a contract, a three month window, n a NDA. She grabs it quickly, without hesitation.
Cade Abernathy, a billionaire, has been living by himself for 3 years. He left the firm after a fire in a lodge he'd built. It still haunts him. The victims, the horrible press n the hateful looks from everybody. So when he learns of the live in assistant, it angers him. But there's nothing he can do, it was arranged by his lawyer n his aunt. He's told to straighten up or lose his trust fund.
It's obvious his aunt wants something specific n it really has nothing to do with him. He just has to figure out what that is.

[Nathalie DeSousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet steamy shor book about finding love in unexpected places, of belonging, and not being afraid to be. Lydia comes from a large family but has not find herself in life yet, so after graduating she is taking a job as an assistant to a recluse mountain man. Cade has been hiding in his mountain cabin since an accident took his value. He is a billionaire in need to claim his place, so Lydia is moving in to work on this, but as soon as she arrives, he is taken with her. She is not afraid to speak her mind and call him on every one of his moves, but their chemistry is simmering, and a snow storm will work its magic to bring them together.
But there are secrets he is keeping that can alter the relationship that they are just building. Pick the book and read this steamy beautiful story about two souls finding themselves in the mountains.

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

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lydia has always been the baby and only girl. Now her friends are making their lives on the ranch with her brothers. She wants what they have but isn’t sure if she will find it. Cade has been living in isolation up on the mountain, still feeling the burden of the fire that rock Willow Ridge.
Lydia takes a live in job with Cade to clean up his image and get him back to work. He doesn’t want or need her for the job but he does need her to bring him to life. After an omission, the truth comes out and he must fight for the life he wants with Lydia.

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

[Sami · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️/5

🏞️ First in a series; Lydia & Cade’s story
🏞️ Novella — one-sitting-read
🏞️ Small town
🏞️ Mountain cabin
🏞️ Insta-love
🏞️ He falls first
🏞️ Billionaire / Manager
🏞️ Forced proximity — snowed in
🏞️ She was hired to revamp his reputation — he wants her gone…until he doesn’t
🏞️ His CEO aunt gives an ultimatum — take over or be cut off
🏞️ Virgin FMC
🏞️ Well established secondary characters (from Sterling Brothers Ranch series of novellas)
🏞️ Epilogue
🏞️ Cute & predictable easy read

⚠️ Fire (past), injury/injury detail (burn scar)

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great romance!

Cade is a broken man but his wealthy aunt still has a use for him. So what if it means manipulating a local girl to get to her family? Turns out it matters to Cade once he meets Lydia.

Story has intrigue, sacrifice, the wonder of an impossible love pushing complications out of the way and a great resolution. A sweet and spicy romance I thoroughly enjoyed and will enjoy again and again.

[Debdutch · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Mountain Man’s Lie” by Lainey Winters

-A steamy, snowed-in age gap romance set in the rugged Jade Mountains. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.

Lydia’s search for independence leads her straight into Cade’s isolated world—and his guarded heart. Secrets, family pressure, and unexpected love collide in this passionate, heartfelt story.

A beautifully written mix of heat, healing, and hard-won happiness.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 - 4 stars.

This story finally gave me Lydia's story after reading all her brother's stories. I had sympathy for them both at different times, I liked seeing Lydia show her inner story,and seeing them open up to each other. I thought they suited each other and were stronger together, I wasn't sure how their story would turn out at times so that made it interesting to read.

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

[Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Havent given any 5 star reviews in a long tim if ever. Honestly, one of the best novellas I've read in a minute. It wasn't cringy or overdone. I loved their communication. one thing I would have loved is to know more about the fire, cause there was only a little bit said but nothing much about how. Overall I would definitely reread it❤️.

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

[Grinning Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat’s Stats
MMC/FMC- Cade and Lydia
Heat- explicit, the C word is used.
Series? Y
Safety? Y
Triggers? N
Tropes- Virgin Heroine, New Adult, Age Gap, Scarred Hero, Instalove, Workplace Romance, Forced Proximity.
What I thought- this book was entertaining and the spark between them, getting under each other’s skin, was very good. The ending was a little twee, but overall, a good read.

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

[Marichus Real · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lydia is back home, but instead of going to her parents, she takes a job as an assistant for a mountain man.
Cade doesn’t want anything to do with his family, and he reluctantly accepts his assistant.
Both come from powerful families; however, while Lydia loves hers, Cade despises his.
They help each other heal, and they grow together as much as their love does.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked the beginning of this new series as the last Sterling sibling finds love with the sequestered Cade. The attraction is immediately apparent as Lydia helps Cade make decisions about his future and learns more to the reasons behind is seclusion. Loved how they both defied the idea of being trapped to a big company contract.

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

[Colleen]

DNF 22%

“I’ll admit, I liked my fair share of women before everything went down. Liked having one on each arm, liked having them warm my bed. I’d been a playboy and that’d certainly put my aunt in more precarious positions than she’d like to admit. Hell, it’d gotten me in trouble more times than I can remember.”

Yeah I don’t want to hear this shit in my wee instalove bedtime novella thank you very much.

[Linda Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cowgirl that pulls a guy out of his depression

I read a few mountain men book Books And this was as the other ones a very quick read and very predictable. The characters were well written and likable. But this book the romance seemed too fast and too Predetermined. I didn't dislike it but it is not 1 of my favorites. I just felt it was too bare bones. It needed a little filling not much just a little

[laura.lovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet, steamy short story that captivates you with a reclusive broken mountain man and a young woman, who hasn’t found her place in life yet, but that’s going to change.

A wonderful story with secrets, belonging, steam and love.

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

[Linnette Parris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trying to Find Themselves

Two people searching for something. He has been hiding, she is looking for something of her own. These two make an amazing story with hope, recognition and love. The descriptions paint vivid pictures in your minds eye and the ending is perfect!

[Will Decker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. There's a bit of everything. Snowed in, family issues, age gap, and just enough spice to keep it interesting. Not to mention the dialogue is entertaining and the characters feel real.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the mountain man’s lie which was Cade and Lydia’s journey. It was an entertaining read. I received an early copy. And voluntarily leaving this review.