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Big Sky Country #2

Montana Cowboy Family

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Temporary Family  

After discovering one of her young students has been abandoned along with his sisters, schoolteacher Sadie Young whisks them away to the safest place she knows—her own home. And when handsome cowboy Logan Marshal vows to assist her in caring for the children, she isn't sure she wants his help…but she needs it. If she lets Logan get too close, though, he may discover the secret she's convinced will be her ruin. 

Logan Marshall isn't looking for a family. But with the parentless children and their unflappable teacher tugging at his heart, it appears he has one—at least temporarily. The kids would like nothing better than to have a real mother and father, and with Logan slowly falling for Sadie, their deepest wishes just might come true…

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2017

423 people are currently reading
404 people want to read

About the author

Linda Ford

207 books357 followers
Linda Ford grew up devouring books and making up stories in her head—often late at night when she couldn't sleep. But she hadn't planned to write. Instead, she dreamed of running an orphanage. In a way, that dream came true. She married, had four homemade children, adopted ten and lived (at times, endured) the dream.

Writing first took her to non-fiction human-interest articles for newspapers and eventually a non-fiction book about tuberculosis set in the 1930s and 1940s (Touched By The White Plague). But romance had always been her first love and she turned to writing love stories. She is multi-published in the CBA market.

She lives on a small ranch in Alberta, Canada, where she can see the mountains every day. She and her husband continue to enjoy their children and grandchildren.

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5 stars
219 (69%)
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64 (20%)
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22 (7%)
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Profile Image for Danielle.
283 reviews4 followers
May 11, 2019
Title: Montana Cowboy Family
Author: Linda Ford
Series: Big Sky Country, 2
Format: ebook
Length: N/A
Rating: 3 stars
Trigger warning: rape, abuse and molestation

Synopsis:
Temporary Family
After discovering one of her young students has been abandoned along with his sisters, schoolteacher Sadie Young whisks them away to the safest place she knows—her own home. And when handsome cowboy Logan Marshal vows to assist her in caring for the children, she isn't sure she wants his help…but she needs it. If she lets Logan get too close, though, he may discover the secret she's convinced will be her ruin.
Logan Marshall isn't looking for a family. But with the parentless children and their unflappable teacher tugging at his heart, it appears he has one—at least temporarily. The kids would like nothing better than to have a real mother and father, and with Logan slowly falling for Sadie, their deepest wishes just might come true…

Favourite character: Sammy
Least favourite character: Mr. Perrin

Mini-review
This was all over the place for me. I liked it but I didn't like it. It was a cute read, but the main character, Sadie, was raped four years before the book takes place and she believes lies about herself instilled by her mother. She doesn't trust men but then falls in love with the main guy despite that. This would've been fine for me if it didn't have scenes along the lines of "she recoiled at his touch" only to be followed by "she found herself attracted to him." (I'm paraphrasing, it wasn't that blatant.)
Other than that, it was okay.

Fan-cast:
Sadie Young - Shailene Woodley
Logan Marshall - Liam Hemsworth
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Marilyn.
1,268 reviews
March 24, 2021
Sadie Young viewed her students as her children with the trauma she experienced during her teen years. Leaving home when she had no support eventually brought her to teaching in Montana. She noticed a young student clothing and reactions that gave way to her suspicion of abuse. Logan Marshall, who was rebuilding the school, discovered he had stolen from him. When they joined forces to visit the home, there were more to the young student life than they expected. There is suspense, hidden secrets, discovering families are not alike, romance and faith in this story.

I received this book at an event I attended with no obligation to write a review or even read the book. In fact, it’s been on my bookshelf for a couple of years or more.
1,107 reviews17 followers
July 7, 2017
Spoilers
Overused historical romance plot line where the low self esteem heroine was raped and the adorable orphans had been abused and sexually assaulted. Add the stick up his rear hero won't make a commitment to the heroine until he knows all their secrets. Maybe it's me but I find rape and child molesting to traumatic to gloss over with a little romance and a quick hea. A dnf for me at 75%.
Profile Image for Anna Marie.
1,389 reviews2 followers
May 13, 2024
Sweet story about a schoolteacher far from home because her family abused her (dad's partner raped her, she was told to endure it for the sake of the business, never to say anything, and to be polite at all family encounters).

Then she meets three children - the boy badly beaten, the older sister displaying behaviors that suggest sexual abuse, and a 3-year old little sister traumatized by the loss of her parents. She takes them in and - with the help of Logan Marshall - makes a home for them.

The problem with this story is that *ONLY* Logan helps her. Yes, food shows up (in his hands from his family), but with a situation like that, the pastor, the doctor... people would be stepping forward. Mothers would be offering to watch the baby so the others could go to school. This wouldn't be allowed to happen - a schoolteacher distracted by a family living in her two-room quarters.

Aside from that, I loved how Logan is kind of a big oaf with a cautious streak. I love his devotion to his grandfather (I wanted Grandfather to live with them)... I loved his caution after being burned twice before by women. Needing no secrets between them was absolutely plausible, considering his backstory.

Another problem that I had with the story is that he has no job. He's part of the founding family, yes, but... how does that kind of guy manage to feed/support a wife and three kids?! I didn't like how he really didn't have his life together enough to do all that he did in the story. Even Adam had a job before God gave him Eve, hello. This didn't set well with me.

But the writing was really good, and for a 'Love, Inspired', the romance was very sweet and heartfelt. Linda Ford is one of their better writers... well, her historicals, anyhow. The modern ones are hit-or-miss.

But I definitely liked this, for the most part.
934 reviews4 followers
January 21, 2017
Montana Cowboy Family a Big Sky Country series by Linda Ford. This book is the second in the series. Each book has it own complete story. Which I like. It brings characters from the other story into this story. These women came to this small town looking for a husband and others came looking for a job. Sadie Young came for a teaching job. One of her students, Sammy is stealing food from Logan Marshall at lunch time. Marshall name is a big in that town. Logan is working on rebuilding the school house that burned down . Logan and Sadie find out Logan has been beaten and went to where he lived to talk to his parents. They find Sammy and his older sister and younger sister living there alone. Sadie takes them home to live with her. There are reasons the children won't talk about their family and it's not good. Sadie and Logan have their own past to deal with but have feeling for each other and trying to figure out the children's secret. A good read.
90 reviews
March 15, 2025
The Past Doesn't Have To Be

When Sadie becomes the new school teacher in the little town of Belle Creek she does to start new.
The Marshall family built the town up after years of Ranching in the area. Having a big say in a lot of things in the town.
So when the teacher thinks about her past and what the Marshall's would say. She has to keep it a secret, or her future would be short lived in town.
Only one little boy in her class touches her heart. She has to discover what his story is. The little guy had also gotten under the skin of one of the Marshall men. He and the teacher go together to figure out what is going on with him. They find things that neither of them like, or want to see the boy and his sisters in.
Profile Image for Lorrie.
451 reviews15 followers
February 28, 2017
I won this book as a free Goodreads giveaway.

I'm tired of reading historical romances (or any romances for that matter) where the heroine has been raped (or abused in some way) and is now wallowing in self-pity as a result. It is a tired plotline, and sorely overused in the last few years. Throw a little child abuse into the mix and even if the writing was exceptional (and it wasn't), it still wouldn't have been able to pull this book out of the muck.
Profile Image for Lindsay Bray.
514 reviews
June 18, 2019
5 stars! Although this is the second in a series, it reads like a stand alone.

Loved this one even more than the first. I adored the characters in this one even more and although some of the themes in this story were much darker than the last, it was a faster read. I am absolutely in love with Linda Ford’s writing! At this rate I would even read her shopping list!
1,279 reviews10 followers
July 16, 2024
Well, this one will make you think about reading people. Things you know but don't know for a fact can be a little mind-boggling. Trying to get someone to share their past with the bad is really difficult to do.
This book will touch your heart in a way that you will not want to put this book down.
643 reviews7 followers
March 10, 2025
I enjoyed the book! Sadie felt that she could never marry and family because of her past. Logan had two horrible romantic relationships. They discovered three orphans living in a shack without any food. Sadie brought them to her home until they could find their family. This is a clean wholesome book where the characters rely on their Christian faith. I highly recommend this book!
466 reviews
October 19, 2025
this is the second book in this series

This series is well written with good characters and well written story lines. I’m exiting be able to to the next story in this series and see which brother falls in love next and who the lucky lady will be. Keep the Kleenex handy and a s smile ready.
130 reviews6 followers
February 22, 2017
Very good book. This is 2nd book in series.It is about Logan Marshall and school teacher Sadie Young and the three children they come to love. The story draws you in from the beginning and is well thought out and presented. Never a dull moment.Linda Ford is an amazing author and never disapoints.
342 reviews3 followers
July 29, 2017
Montana Cowboy

What a great read even though I had some personal issues because of my own past. The story moves along nicely, the characters seem real and I love western settings. I recommend this book and will go back to check and see if there are others as part of a series.
754 reviews
October 5, 2018
Heiress wants to be seen as a person not someone who is rich heads to Montana with the new doctor and his daughter hoping to find peace. Of course, she runs into a handsome rancher with a young daughter who is leery of a pretty woman afraid she would be like his first wife.
528 reviews3 followers
September 18, 2025
Montana Cowboy Family - Logan and the School Teacher

Good wholesome Christian written book. Children are very special and deserve to be treated with kindness and compassion. Especially to be able to trust the people around them and to know that they are worthy and valued.
424 reviews2 followers
May 24, 2017
Here's another great book by Linda Ford. I really enjoyed it!
Profile Image for Jeannette Harbottle.
731 reviews10 followers
March 20, 2025
A tear jerker!

What's not to love about a faith filled romance, that includes both tears of sadness and tears of joy? I can't wait for the next book in the series.
5 reviews
September 17, 2025
Montana Cowboys Book 2

I highly recommend this book. The author is an awesome author and I have truly enjoyed reading all of her books. If you possibly can read them thank you.
327 reviews
September 20, 2025
secret secret who’s got a secret

My favorite part was when Logan went to get the judge. But all those secrets was getting in my nerves.
1,113 reviews1 follower
October 28, 2025
great book

This was absolutely a great book and by a great author. I highly recommend this book and author. I can’t wait to read the next book by this wonderful author.


Profile Image for Luisa.
171 reviews2 followers
March 24, 2017
A sweet little fluffy read. I would have liked it more if I understood the whole so called step father situation a bit better didn't make much sense. If you like innocent sweet romances this would be a great read.
Profile Image for Sharon.
1,306 reviews24 followers
March 9, 2017
A story of faith and the meaning of family. Abandoned abused children in need of care, a lonely abused schoolteacher and a strong, gentle man come together in a story of the way love builds and protects. A book filled with hope, caring and protective love. An excellent read.
Profile Image for June.
1,542 reviews17 followers
January 9, 2017
Logan and Sadie decide to check on the home situation of one of her students. What they find is not a happy situation.

There are a lot of struggles in this story. Injured bodies and spirits. An amazing story that will melt your heart for the children. And the adults in this story.
Profile Image for Melissa T.
255 reviews45 followers
April 9, 2017
I won this book on good reads first read. This is an excellent book, once you start reading it you can't put it down! I can't wait to read more about the Marshall family.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews

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