Mostly Dangerous

The Women of Ambrose Estate #1

by Kimberley Montpetit

Every male in her line is destined to die early. Will she break her own heart to protect the man she longs to marry?

Sofia Ambrose would rather be a spinster than lose another life to her family’s devastating curse. So when she inherits her grandmother’s massive Texas oil company and gloomy ancestral mansion, she adds her former veterinary career to her long list of sacrifices. But when disaster strikes the business, the last thing she needs is a handsome firefighter giving her lip.

Gavin Spencer knows his job is too risky for him to settle down and start a family. And he certainly won’t endanger the lives of his crew by caving in to the demands of a spoiled heiress. But when he meets the alluring beauty face-to-face, he wonders whether he got her all wrong…

As the two work side-by-side, they can’t ignore the sparks between them. And while Sofia struggles to keep her fears about love at bay, she unearths a century-old diary that could be the key to reversing her misfortune.

Can Sofia and Gavin end the sinister jinx and open the well of a bright new future?

Mostly Dangerous is the first book in the atmospheric Women of Ambrose Estate gothic romance series. If you like enchanting chemistry, intriguing legacies, and moody mysteries, then you’ll adore Kimberley Montpetit’s sweet and smoldering love story.

Buy Mostly Dangerous to fight for passion today!


THE WOMEN OF AMBROSE ESTATE:
Mostly Dangerous
Mostly Perfect
Mostly Perilous
Mostly Risky

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Clean Romance, Suspense

270 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

Kimberley Montpetit once spent all her souvenir money at the La Patisserie shops when she was in Paris—on the arm of her adorable husband. The author grew up in San Francisco, another swoon-worthy city, loves all things Parisian and chocolate and lives in a small town along the Rio Grande with her family.

Kimberley has won many awards for her work, including the Southwest Book Award, the Whitney Award, the Arizona/New Mexico Book Award, is a Crystal Kite Finalist (SCBWI) and included in the Bank Street College Best Books of the Year.

She once stayed in a haunted castle tower room at Borthwick Castle in Scotland, sailed on the Seine in Paris, walked the beaches of Normandy, eaten in numerous French cafes, ridden a camel in Petra, Jordan, sunbathed on Waikiki, shopped the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, and spent the night in an old Communist hotel in Bulgaria.

She adores all baked goodies; brownies, éclairs, donuts, tarts, and pie, and makes a lot of chocolate chip cookies while revising.

Kimberley is, of course, hard at work on her next novel(s).

Reviews

[Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This author's writing style isn't for me. I was intrigued by the premise but I didn't connect with the characters and there was a lot of telling rather than showing in the narration. The story felt flat and the characters two-dimensional. The second book is by one of my favorite authors so I'm hoping that one will engage my interest more.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the idea of this. I have 6 daughters with a set of twins so that part of the whole story line intrigued me. I loved the idea of a family with a curse. I started this with high hopes but the story started to drag. Nothing happens till half way threw. The main character talks to herself more then any one else for the first half. It just felt so odd, I kept waiting for the mystery or the man?! The story finally takes off and you feel like hey this might not be too bad and then bam it's done. The conclusion to this was just awful.....I mean it. I have read lots of stories and this one might be up there with the worst wrap up's I have ever read. They love each other after two weeks and bam the curse is broken without anyone even trying. It was just not good and I am so sad to write this review.... This is an adult book that is very chaste. Talk of infidelity and a curse by evil woman. Prayers are offered but God is not talked about.

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm excited about this new series. Kimberley Montpetit is still fairly new to me, but I love Heather B. Moore's books, and since I'm always up for a little mystery I think I'm going to really enjoy these books.

The Ambrose women seem to be cursed. For several generations otherwise healthy husbands have suddenly died, experienced men have been killed in freak accidents, and none of the male children live long enough to get married and have children of their own. Could all of this really be due to a curse?

I loved the character of Sofia. She's determined, takes charge and speaks her mind. When a oil well fire starts shortly after her grandmother puts her in charge of Ambrose Oil, she calls the best oil firefighting team in the business. I absolutely adored the conversation between Sofia and Gavin, especially when he assumed she was "a perpetually peeved spinster". He got a big shock when he arrived at the Ambrose estate to contain the fire. I really liked these two characters together.

About the curse--reading the diary entries of the great-great-grandmother was one of the best parts of the story and brought the Gothic element to the book. I can't wait to read the other books in the series to see how each of Sofia's sisters choose to react to the curse.

This is a clean romance with a couple of mild swear words.

I received a complimentary copy, but purchased a copy for my personal collection. All thoughts and opinions expressed in my review are my own.

[Pascale’s*ARC,Unwind,Read,Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

-‘Don’t get too eager, Mr. Spencer. I can be a dangerous person to associate with.”
“Let me be the judge of that. I’m pretty good at danger.”
“Not this kind, I assure you. Very hazardous to your health.”’-
Sofia’s family has been cursed for many generations. As a result, all of the men and boys in the family have died at a young age. Sofia doesn’t know how to stop the curse and when she falls for a man she could see herself with for the rest of her life, she’s desperate to save his life, and therefore is determined not to allow herself to be with him.

-‘If he knew the truth of her life and family heritage, he’d run as far away from her as he could. There was so much she had to keep hidden to protect him.’-

Her best work yet! I absolutely loved this book! I highly recommend it and look forward to reading H. B. Moore’s book next, the second book in this new series.

[Bonnie Blackledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most exciting books that I’ve read recently. It has so many of the features that I love in a book – family history, current day drama, mysterious curses, discoveries in the attic, and of course, romance. Sophia never intended to live the life her grandmother forced upon her, but her loyalty to her family and her love of the Ambrose Estate made it impossible to say no. She experiences the tragedy of an oil well fire (makes me wonder how much time the author had to spend researching that topic!) and learns what is involved in running a ranch and an oil business. As a horse owner, I could appreciate Sophia’s love of a good ride and how much her horse means to her. I am looking forward to the next books in this series!

[Donna Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! I loved all the great characters and the mystery surrounding them. This is a super sweet, clean romance.

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am beyond excited for this new series by Kimberley Montpetit and Heather Moore. These two are some of my favorite authors. A contemporary gothic series, a curse, an old family estate...sign me up!

I wasn't quite sure how the author was going to add in the gothic aspect to this contemporary story but during/after reading it, I loved it and thought she nailed it! There were so many great aspects of this story that when woven together they created a book that I couldn't help but love. And one that I didn't want to stop reading! I loved the present day story with Sofia, but anytime there were journal entries from her great-great grandmother, I couldn't read them fast enough. And how it all ties in together with the estate and the curse, very well written. Grab a copy and read it so you can find out for yourselves.

The added bonus of this book was the sweet romance. I adored Gavin and Sofia. Their initial conversation and meeting, lots of banter back and forth. Plus plenty of tension due to some problems on the estate (going for no spoilers here). Their chemistry...oh my! There's a little bit of a problem with the curse and their relationship (you will also have to read the book to find out what it is), but even with that I loved any scene with these two together. Especially the dancing scene. *Happy sigh*. And the ending. Most definitely! And honestly, any scene with these two. Loved them!

The mystery, suspense, curse, family estate, fires, and much more created a great beginning story for this series. I'm looking forward to reading about Sofia's sisters now and discovering how they will navigate this curse that has affected all of their lives. Oh, and the grandma (I can't forget to mention her)...she's a fun character, a spit fire character that I couldn't wait for scenes with her in them! This is definitely a book series I'm going to be telling all my friends about!

Content: Clean. A couple mild swear words. Some kissing but nothing further. Some moments of mild peril.

Happy Reading!!!

[Nari · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book I think I have found a new series to read. The Ambrose family is cursed. Sofia and her sisters have heard rumors about it and each one is afraid to fall in love because of it. Can Sofia discover what the curse entails and can she break it? This story pulled me in and I was glued to it until the end waiting to see how it would play out.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an amazing book. So full of mystery and intrigue about the family curse. I loved the instant chemistry between Sofia and Gavin. The romance between them was wonderfully written. Old journal entries from Sofia’s great, great grandmother and digging through the past kept me very curious. Putting out the oil well fires was fascinating. This is a definite must read. I was given an advanced reader copy and have submitted this review voluntarily.

[Lorieah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in one day, and I can't wait to see how some of the other characters may get woven into the next books, especially since Heather and Kimberley are working together; two great authors for clean romance and/or mystery novels with some sassy women thrown in there.

I received a free copy of this book, and freely leave a review.

[Doni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good book!
I truly enjoyed reading it!
It's a captivating, intriguing & moving story. The anticipation keeps you
wanting to know what happens next.
Everything you want in a true romance.
Can't wait to read Book 2 in the series!
I loved everything about this Must Read
Story!!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. The author is moving her stories a little closer to home. This is one of Ms. Montpetit’s more daring and strong heroines to date. The creepy factor of ghosts and curses was reminiscent of Jane Austen. And (SPOILER!!!) I’m glad the lawyer didn’t get the girl.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was riveting. I could not put it down. I loved the journal entries that Sofia read of her great-great grandmother. I loved Sofia's self-sacrificing determination. I loved Gavin's strength and tenacity. I am excited to read the stories about Sofia's five sisters.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

An oil heiress who can't afford to fall in love

I so enjoyed this one. It has just the right amount of history, intrigue, action and love to keep me totally engaged.

[Tenille · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me on the edge of my seat! Can’t wait to read about the other Ambrose sisters!

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (10/25/2019)! 🎁

[Rebmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has more than romance. It includes self discovery, a dark family history and a curse. Sofia and Gavin’s lives intersect just after she assumes control over her family’s estate and the Ambrose Oil Company. After an oil well catches fire on the estate grounds, Sofia contacts Gavin for help. His company specializes in fighting oil well fires in the USA and all over the world. He is not exactly pleased to hear from her, (he is out of the country fighting a large scale oil well fire in Iraq), and immediately forms the opinion that she is a rude spoiled older woman used to having her way. For her part, Sofia thinks Gavin is a rude, obnoxious man who charges way too much for his services. Eventually they come to an agreement, and when he and his colleagues finally arrive to deal with the fire, it has doubled in size. Both Gavin and Sofia are stunned at their first meeting. Sparks are flying alright, and not just at the fire sight. Both are drawn to each other and Sofia is more than willing to observe Gavin and his crew bring the fires under control. Fascinated by Sofia, Gavin invites her on a trip to New Orleans where he will be fighting another oil well fire, but will have a few days to explore the city and they can get to know each other better. She agrees to accompany him, even though she believes any relationship they could have is doomed. Her family has been haunted by a curse for over a hundred years that involves the early deaths of any man attached to an Ambrose woman. Brothers, sons, fathers, and husbands have been lost over the years, usually in untimely accidents. Years ago, Sofia lost her fiancé in a car accident just after they became engaged. Now, Sofia has learned more about the curse, and is determined to push Gavin away in order to protect him. Read this wonderfully twisty, dark and suspenseful story to see if the curse will divide them or if Gavin and Sofia have a chance at happily ever after.

I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Stacey]

I really don’t know what rating to give this book so I‘ve decided not to choose one. There were a lot of things I liked about this story... but there were also a lot of things I really didn’t like.

I liked the interactions between Gavin & Sofia - I enjoyed how despite starting off on the wrong foot they don’t allow that to set the tone for the rest of their interactions. I really enjoyed their quick witted banter. They’re both intelligent & genuinely caring people. The writing style itself & character development was really good.

The things I didn’t like is actually the main premise of the book. Somehow I missed this when I selected to read & review this story otherwise I wouldn’t have signed up to read & review it. I didn’t realise the whole story revolves around an actual curse & that it would be a recurring theme. I’m not superstitious at all & I don’t dabble in fortune tellings or anything related to the occult so when I realised that it wasn’t just a vague suspicion & everything wasn’t just coincidental but was because of an actual curse, I couldn’t enjoy the story anymore & I won’t be continuing with the series. I just don’t like the supernatural element.

I will still look out for other series by this author in the future. Just not this particular one.

I received an ARC copy of this book although this has in no way influenced my honest review.

[Adrienne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book just didn't really do it for me. I'm not really into gothic stuff, so I couldn't really get into the idea of a family curse. I also just never really connected with the author's style--things like Sofia talking to herself a lot to get plot points across and stuff. The plotline of the oil rig fire was original but I glossed over the many details of how to put it out; it seemed well-researched but not the most engrossing for me as a reader. (Also, side note, if Sofia's last name is Chambers and Ambrose is a middle name given to all of the daughters--which it is, according to the genealogy at the start of the book--why does she always go by Sofia Ambrose? And if all the female descendants are given the extra middle name of Ambrose, it seems like there should be an explanation of WHY in the book, not just a note in the genealogy at the beginning, but there wasn't.) I probably wouldn't have kept reading if not for the fact that the next book in the series is by one of my favorite authors. I did like Gavin; he was pretty dreamy. All in all, this one didn't really work for me, but for those who like clean gothic romances, this could be one to check out.
I read a copy provided by the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the beginning of the series of The Women of Ambrose Estate. This is Sofia's story as the oldest grandchild her grandmother made her the heir of the Estate with the oil and everything else that they have. Sofia really didn't want to be the heir but her sisters weren't interested in it like Sofia was. But along with the name of Ambrose comes a curse. Sofia tries to find out more about the family history so she can understand the curse that every male in the family has died young. She and her sisters are afraid to love and get married since they'll be putting their husbands at risk for death. After she takes over, an oil well gets struck by lightening and starts on fire. She calls the best company to put the fire out but Gavin is out of the country. They don't hit it off very well over the phone but do find themselves attracted to each other once they meet in person. When Gavin gets in an accident trying to put out an oil rig fire, Sofia believes it's the family curse and leaves their weekend trip. She figures out the solution to her part of the family curse but it remains to be seen if it's the same for the other sisters. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Modern Gothic Romance

I loved the start to this new series. Sofia Ambrose has just inherited the Ambrose estate (before her grandmother’s death). She loves her granny, and the estate, but she’s giving up her dreams to live there and run their oil company. It also brings her closer to the Ambrose curse, where all men in the family die prematurely.

I loved the suspense and mystery surrounding the family curse, the chemistry between Sofia and Gaven Spencer, and the sordid history Sofia discovers as she explores her family’s past.

This story was woven well with a griping romance, the mystical, and plenty of suspense. I was on the edge of my seat. I can’t wait to read more about the Ambrose sisters!

Content: clean (a few minor curse words, some kissing, mention of infidelity)

[Maria Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable story. Interesting premise for a series. I had wondered how in the world one could put out an oil fire so that was interesting. I think those that do so are incredibly brave but just a little crazy. We should all be grateful to them.
It will be interesting to see what happens with each of the sisters. We only got introduced to one of them in this book so perhaps she is next up? The grandmother is an interesting character. I never could quite figure her out. How much did she really know?
The romance moves from enemies to being in love super fast but I guess it happens.

Sex: kisses, reference to an extra-marital affair (no details)
Language: once
Violence: black magic

*I received a complimentary arc of this book and voluntarily choose to review it.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great beginning to a new series

I love history, old homes containing old journals and memorabilia. Add in secrets and a family curse and wow, what a great story. Of course you need romance as well to pull it all together. This book pulled me in. At first I was a little confused and things felt very cryptic, but eventually things started falling into place. I cried several times with and for Sofia. She's a strong loving woman with a lot on her plate. I loved the relationship between Sofia and Gavin. Sparks were flying from the very beginning. ;) I really liked Gavin's character. He was perfect for Sofia. I'm anxious to read the sisters stories now.

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mostly Dangerous is a very interesting book - a contemporary romance with a Gothic twist. The characters are amazing. I loved Sofia and Gavin - their chemistry, their banter, and those swoony kisses! There is a story within the story as Sofia reads through her great, great grandmother's journal. The Ambrose Estate is almost a character in its own right. The bravery of the men who put out the oil well fires is awe inspiring. This book is just so well written that I want to binge read the rest of the books! I am really looking forward to reading Sofia's sisters' stories. I very highly recommend this book to readers of clean romance.

[Anita Fuhrmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author shared this story with us so uniquely by blending the past with the present in such a way that I was immediately caught up in not only what was happening in the current time frame but also wanted to find out more and more about what had happened in the past to bring about the family curse in the first place!
The give and take between Sofia and Gavin was so well done and I loved the quick comebacks from both of them. Neither one let the other ever get the upper hand!
This promises to be a very interesting series if this first book is any indication!
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sofia Ambrose and her sisters believe they are living under a curse that kills all the male members of their family. Her grandmother has an interesting reading of her will before her death which convinces Sofia that she will never marry. I loved Gavin. Having been raised in Texas and in old fields all my life, I found the oil well fire and the fighting of it very interesting. I loved the history of the family through Sofia’s reading of her great, great grandmother’s diary. I look forward to reading about the rest of the family.

[Nati · Rating 4 out of 5]

CAn Sofia face the Ambrose’s curse and ve her happily ever after? For more than hundred years all the men in the Ambrose family had die young. Sofia and her five sister are not sure if the curse it’s true or not but they don’t want to risk their hearts. What Sofia meets Gavin Spencer a firefighter expert in oil fires the attraction is very strong, but after the death of her fiancé seven years go she doesn’t want to risk Gavin life. Can she find the true about the curse and broke it?

[Lillian Huffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. It started and ended with a bang. The story line has a great premise. A curse that started some 150 years in the past has affected the Ambrose family line in a strange way. As you read the book you ask yourself has a Curse really caused all these deaths or were they just time and unforseen events? I'll let you find the answer for yourself. Getting to the answer is a great journey.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely amazing. I could not put it down until I finished it. I don't know how Ms. Montpelit thought up all the ideas she put into this book. Fighting oil fires reminded of the John Wayne movie Hellfighters which is one of my favorite Wayne movies. Then all the mystery of the Ambrose curse just added so much to the story. I could not figure how that curse would get broken. If you love mysteries you have to get this book. I love this story!!

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning of this one was a little slow. And it had me worried as to where it was going but it picked up and it picked up fast! Really like the character development. Clean romance