Mountain Fighter: An Obsessed Mountain Man Instalove

by Stella Banks

A boxing champ is out shopping in my hometown. I expect him to walk right past a quirky perfumer like me.
Instead, he takes one look at me and says I'm his.

Don't ask me to explain it because it makes zero sense. We just met each other yesterday. And this guy is already demanding I move into his house.

When I step back, he steps closer. When I say I’m fine, he growls. And when he finds out someone is stalking me…well, let's just say he doesn't pull any punches.

And now, I’m starting to hope that when this fight is over, he never lets me go…

Mountain Fighter is a short and steamy instalove about a hot boxing champ who falls hard for a cute and quirky perfumer. It can be read as a standalone in under 2 hours.

91 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 24, 2026

Reviews

[Chandra Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some love stories don’t tiptoe in—they hit hard, knock the wind out of you, and refuse to let go. Mountain Fighter by Stella Banks is one of those stories: bold, fast-moving, and irresistibly swoony.

Tilly is living her quiet small-town life, pouring her heart into her quirky perfume shop and minding her own business. The last thing she expects is a world-famous boxing champion walking through her door… or claiming her with one look. Ben only comes in for a bottle of lavender spray to calm his fussy nephew across the street—but the moment he sees Tilly, everything shifts. For him, it’s instant, undeniable, and absolute.

Ben doesn’t hesitate. He steps forward when she steps back. He growls when she insists she’s fine. And when he discovers someone has been stalking her? The fighter in him comes out in full force. What starts as one dinner date turns into something permanent—fast, fierce, and completely consuming.

What makes Mountain Fighter so addictive is the unapologetic certainty Ben brings to the relationship. He’s protective without being cruel, dominant without doubt, and completely devoted once he chooses Tilly. And Tilly? She’s curious, grounded, and surprisingly open to the idea that sometimes forever doesn’t need a long build-up—it just needs the right person.

This is a story about instinct, safety, and finding someone who sees you immediately and decides you’re worth everything. Short, steamy, and emotionally satisfying, Mountain Fighter delivers that cozy small-town vibe paired with an alpha hero who doesn’t pull punches—inside or outside the ring.

If you love instant connection, protective heroes, and romances that move fast but feel deeply right, this one is an absolute knockout.

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

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but addictive so hang on you won’t put it down until the last page has been turned. Tilly is doing everything to keep her perfume shop going in her small town despite all the naysayers never expecting a famous boxing champion to walk into her quirky perfume shop or stake his claim, he came in for lavender spray to help his nephew and ended up with his world shifting the moment he met the shop owner. Ben sexy as all get out boxing champion had not intentions of settling down until the moment, he stepped into the weird perfume shop to ask for lavender to help calm his nephew but that thought left his mind the moment he saw the beautiful women assisting him and he knew she was born to be his girl. The magnetic pull is so strong in him he isn’t going to give her a chance to say no, he is instantly overprotective, every dominant instinct wakes ups in him the moment he see his girl and so their dinner date turns into something more permanent, until he learns that she has a stalker and that can’t happen so now the strategist in him will do everything needed to protect his girl, keeping her safe is his number one priority, she doesn’t fight him surprisingly, will he keep her safe, and are they headed to their very own happiness?

[Grinning Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

The wonderful whirlwind romance between Ben and Tilly made me so happy. Ben’s a professional fighter who’s about to have his last fight before retirement because he wants to go out on top. When his infant nephew needs some special lavender-chamomile calming spray, Ben heads to get some and meets Tilly, the chemist who both owns the store and formulates the different scented products she sells, including little Leo’s favorite spray. In a moment that lasts somewhere between half a heartbeat and forever, Ben looks at Tilly and they are it for each other. It’s crazy romantic, over the top, and perfect for the characters and the story. I love when OTT Instalove is done right.
Book is SAFE.
Heat is EXPLICIT and features a Virgin Heroine.
Triggers include menacing, but the violence is off page.
Tropes are Instalove, J/P Hero, Sports Romance, Opposites Attract, Sweet Smell of Success.

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

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Ben knows, he knows. And that’s all there is to it. Tilly isn’t afraid of the unknown. She’s willing to take risks. So when Ben sees her one time, in her adorable little perfume shop, and says she’s his, she doesn’t run. One step back by her, one step forward by him. He wants what he wants. And Tilly learns that that’s okay. Because she might want it too. And when her finds out she’s being stalked, the gloves come off. He’s protective and caring.
This novella is sweet and fast paced. It tugs at your heart and pulls no punches. There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about this one, except it needed to be longer lol. I needed more. Love this one so much.

[Debdutch · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Mountain Fighter” by Stella Banks

-A short, steamy instalove romance with a fierce boxing champ and a quirky small-town perfumer. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.

Ben falls fast and hard for Tilly, bringing protective alpha energy and total devotion. Sweet, fast-paced, and steamy, this novella leaves the reader wanting more.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another book by Stella that is absolutely perfect and I highly recommend you read this romance book. The characters were well developed, and I loved everything about their story. This storyline is very captivating and kept me reading and not wanting to put the book down due to Ben and Tilly. They will take you on a marvelous adventure that hooks from start to finish.

[Melinda Swaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one and was an excellent addition to this series!!!

Sweet, steamy and full of heart. This one will make you laugh, fan yourself and cheer for a happily ever after. Has the perfect mix of charm, spice, drama and romance. I loved this one and was an excellent addition to this series. Bring on more please. Happy reading

[Debbie Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I liked how Ben falls hard for Tilly and makes sure she knows it. Tilly falls for him as well. I liked how he protected her.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has given us a fast-paced story that pulls us into the lives of Tilly and Ben. The heartwarming story keeps us turning the pages with instant connection, determination and steam.

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

[Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had fun reading Ben and Tilly's story. It was quick and mildly steamy.
Ben didn't want a relationship, but when he saw Tilly, his world turned upside down. He was ready to risk it all for her. It was cute. I liked them together.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story

I loved it. It was a quick short story. It was well developed in my opinion and it flowed. The stories are short so they move quickly as expected

[Judith]

All unhinged- the lot of them!