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Saving Her Prairie
Battle for the Soul of the Prairie
In this modern “David vs Goliath” story, Dede Hume is thrust into the decades-old battle for grasslands in the wide-open spaces of Montana.
When her dad is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and her parents take early retirement, Dede and her younger brother are left in charge of their ranch. She’s plunged into a dilemma beyond her wildest imagination—a struggle to save the family legacy.
Managing a financially viable ranch is hard enough without having to battle the huge wildlife preserve organization buying up the land around her. Their reintroduce species to the prairie that will end the way of life for ranchers. Joining forces with her neighbors, she helps fight to maintain the family-owned businesses that have fed the nation for generations.
But will a new friendship expose her plans to the organization and set her on a course to lose everything her parents built? How can one young woman make a difference before the ranch is wrenched from her forever?
In this modern “David vs Goliath” story, Dede Hume is thrust into the decades-old battle for grasslands in the wide-open spaces of Montana.
When her dad is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and her parents take early retirement, Dede and her younger brother are left in charge of their ranch. She’s plunged into a dilemma beyond her wildest imagination—a struggle to save the family legacy.
Managing a financially viable ranch is hard enough without having to battle the huge wildlife preserve organization buying up the land around her. Their reintroduce species to the prairie that will end the way of life for ranchers. Joining forces with her neighbors, she helps fight to maintain the family-owned businesses that have fed the nation for generations.
But will a new friendship expose her plans to the organization and set her on a course to lose everything her parents built? How can one young woman make a difference before the ranch is wrenched from her forever?
307 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 13, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 12, 2025
Saving Her Prairie, a novel by Heidi M. Thomas, is a gripping, relevant story of a young woman’s fight to protect her generations-old family land from human and animal predators. The contemporary story takes place in ranch country, Montana.
Dede Hume, twenty-three, is suddenly in charge of her family’s Montana cattle ranch. Her great-grandparents homesteaded the ranch in 1911 and following generations have maintained it as a successful, viable way of life. Her father has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and her parents want to take a once-in-a-lifetime vacation before the disease makes it impossible to do so. It’s a huge responsibility for Dede, even with the help of her younger brother. Tommy, twenty, is capable and willing to help, but is yearning to mingle with friends.
Running a successful ranch is hard work, but added to that burden is a threat from the Western Wildlands Preserve (WWP), a conservation group who want to create a big wildlife refuge in the area. Their goal is to produce a wide stretch of land, a nature reserve with no fences where bison and other wild animals can roam freely. Their plan involves purchasing three million acres of public and private land, a territory larger than Yellowstone National Park.
Ranchers are fighting the movement. Their job for generations has been to feed the nation. For years, ranchers have worked with the Bureau of Land Management to establish best conservation practices by building fences, rotating pastures, reducing overgrazing, and building water systems that benefit both livestock and wildlife.
One of the greatest dangers of letting bison roam free is that they are known carriers of brucellosis, a disease that affects cattle, leading to significant reproductive issues such as abortion, retained placenta, and infertility. Brucellosis can also be transmitted to humans, posing a public health risk.
When the WWP buys a neighboring ranch, Dede’s worst nightmare comes true. She finds a bull buffalo who has broken through an adjoining fence, grazing with the ranch’s cattle. As it happens, Dirk Winslow, the foreman on that neighboring ranch, has shown an interest in Dede. Although she’s attracted to him, he has associations with WWP, so a relationship with him is out of the question. Or is it?
How can individual ranches fight against this all-consuming force that threaten cattle ranchers and subsequently the nation?
Saving Her Prairie is not only a well-written story of one young woman’s struggle to save her family’s ranch, but also a struggle for Montana ranchers’ way of life and their job to feed the nation. This book was an eye-opener for me, and I suspect will be for many readers. It’s stark reality is a wake-up call for action.
Dede Hume, twenty-three, is suddenly in charge of her family’s Montana cattle ranch. Her great-grandparents homesteaded the ranch in 1911 and following generations have maintained it as a successful, viable way of life. Her father has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and her parents want to take a once-in-a-lifetime vacation before the disease makes it impossible to do so. It’s a huge responsibility for Dede, even with the help of her younger brother. Tommy, twenty, is capable and willing to help, but is yearning to mingle with friends.
Running a successful ranch is hard work, but added to that burden is a threat from the Western Wildlands Preserve (WWP), a conservation group who want to create a big wildlife refuge in the area. Their goal is to produce a wide stretch of land, a nature reserve with no fences where bison and other wild animals can roam freely. Their plan involves purchasing three million acres of public and private land, a territory larger than Yellowstone National Park.
Ranchers are fighting the movement. Their job for generations has been to feed the nation. For years, ranchers have worked with the Bureau of Land Management to establish best conservation practices by building fences, rotating pastures, reducing overgrazing, and building water systems that benefit both livestock and wildlife.
One of the greatest dangers of letting bison roam free is that they are known carriers of brucellosis, a disease that affects cattle, leading to significant reproductive issues such as abortion, retained placenta, and infertility. Brucellosis can also be transmitted to humans, posing a public health risk.
When the WWP buys a neighboring ranch, Dede’s worst nightmare comes true. She finds a bull buffalo who has broken through an adjoining fence, grazing with the ranch’s cattle. As it happens, Dirk Winslow, the foreman on that neighboring ranch, has shown an interest in Dede. Although she’s attracted to him, he has associations with WWP, so a relationship with him is out of the question. Or is it?
How can individual ranches fight against this all-consuming force that threaten cattle ranchers and subsequently the nation?
Saving Her Prairie is not only a well-written story of one young woman’s struggle to save her family’s ranch, but also a struggle for Montana ranchers’ way of life and their job to feed the nation. This book was an eye-opener for me, and I suspect will be for many readers. It’s stark reality is a wake-up call for action.
January 7, 2026
I loved this book so much. It had the author's voice, which is a favorite of mine, and so many exciting chapters. Dede Hume is a force to be reckoned with. I love her drive to save the ranch and come up against the wildlife preserve organization. Boy, does she have grit!
I also enjoyed the thread of her dad having Alzheimer's. My dad has the awful disease, so I can easily empathize with Dede. There's nothing like a good contemporary Western where the ranch is in danger. Saving Her Prairie is such a fresh take on things. All the characters were realistic, and the setting was magical. And who doesn't love buffalo? Even if they are some of the antagonists. But in reality, they can also be a danger to cattle grazing land.
Thomas treated the issues with care and respect.
Loved the slow-burn romance too.
This book is a breath of fresh Montana air!
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. These are my opinions only.
I also enjoyed the thread of her dad having Alzheimer's. My dad has the awful disease, so I can easily empathize with Dede. There's nothing like a good contemporary Western where the ranch is in danger. Saving Her Prairie is such a fresh take on things. All the characters were realistic, and the setting was magical. And who doesn't love buffalo? Even if they are some of the antagonists. But in reality, they can also be a danger to cattle grazing land.
Thomas treated the issues with care and respect.
Loved the slow-burn romance too.
This book is a breath of fresh Montana air!
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. These are my opinions only.
November 24, 2025
Heidi is excellent at plunking the reader down on a ranch. The setting was graphic, the characters were real. I cheered Dede on to save her ranch! I recommend this entertaining read.
March 7, 2026
Beautiful scenery, characters, and plot - makes you feel like you are part of the family and fighting for justice! Well done, Heidi!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews