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Refuge: A Mountain Ranch Novel

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Taylor is a mother on the run from an abusive husband, searching for a safe place for she and her young son. Convinced that her possessive spouse is hunting them, she is paranoid, exhausted and virtually penniless. Finding herself stranded in rural Montana, she is taken in by a couple who help her not knowing her past, and she is able to find work on their ranch. She intends on staying only long enough to save the money needed to move on to a large city where she believes they will be safer. But as time passes friendships develop, as does a love interest, and Taylor struggles to hold on to her secrets. Inevitably, her past catches up with her and her worst fears will become reality.

118 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 30, 2020

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Willa J. Brand

3 books3 followers

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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for Julie - One Book More.
1,320 reviews236 followers
July 8, 2020
Refuge is a story about one woman’s search for identity after leaving a toxic relationship. The story begins when Taylor’s car breaks down. Fleeing with her infant son from an abusive husband, Taylor wants to get as far north as possible. She’ll do whatever it takes to escape Jackson’s clutches, but with a broken-down car and no place to stay in rural Montana, Taylor accepts a kind man’s offer of refuge. It is upon meeting Greg and his wife Dana that Taylor feels a small sense of safety, and when they offer her a job on their ranch, Taylor gladly accepts. She needs to save money to repair her car, and this quiet, simple life is the perfect place to hide.

But Taylor lives in fear of Jackson. Will he find her and their son, and what will he do once he finds them? Taylor won’t go back to the terrible marriage, especially now that she’s found happiness and a sense of purpose on the ranch with Dana and Greg. Plus, there’s Owen, Dana’s handsome and kind brother who Taylor has growing feelings for. They don’t know about Taylor’s tormented past, and she fears their reaction if she finally reveals the truth. What will happen if Taylor’s past catches up to her?

I enjoyed following Taylor’s story. Her character goes through so many changes throughout the story, and she learns who she is independent of her husband’s violence and demands. However, Taylor is slow to trust and never feels safe. She wants to move forward, but scars from the past and the threat of being caught by her vicious husband weigh heavily on her.

Taylor’s been so emotionally, verbally, and physically defeated that she is suspicious of sincere, genuine people. The new, kind people she meets are foils to the callous, demanding, shallow, and abusive family she fled from. Dana, Greg, and Owen are so patient with Taylor. They know she’s keeping secrets, but they give her the time and space she needs and never pressure her to reveal or do anything that makes her uncomfortable.

Dana is one of my favorite characters in the novel (besides Taylor and Owen, of course!). Kind, smart, and loving, she is very family-oriented. She’s also a devious matchmaker, continuously manipulating situations to push Taylor and Owen together. It’s clear she loves her brother and wants the best for him. She also loves Taylor and senses how well-suited the pair is. I think she realizes that Taylor and Owen are hesitant and feels they need a little nudge. She is a true friend to Taylor, and their relationship is one of the highlights of the novel.

Owen and Taylor are afraid of their developing feelings, which isn’t surprising considering their past relationships. Owen is “a man of habit and solitude.” He demonstrates from the start how patient, practical, and kind he is. As Taylor gets to know him, she also learns that he is dependable and supportive with a strong work ethic. His quiet strength, simplicity, and loving support of people he loves is the antithesis of what Taylor experienced with Jackson. Charismatic, elitist, and unethical, Jackson is a spoiled man obsessed with keeping up appearances. He thrives on abusing and demeaning Taylor and betrays her in every way possible. It’s no wonder Taylor struggles to open up and trust people.

I also enjoyed the strong themes in the book. Female empowerment, embracing simplicity, protecting those you love, infertility, and finding happiness are just some of the topics that are addressed in the book. I like how the author offers messages of hope and optimism in the midst of escaping an abusive situation and starting over.

Refuge is a lovely story that highlights the bonds of friendship and found families as well as the healing power of love. Thanks so much to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

https://onebookmore.com/2020/07/08/re...
1,909 reviews32 followers
July 13, 2020
I couldn't wait to get started reading this book and read it in a day, it was perfect for me as it is like my dream job to work on a ranch with horses. I am a big animal lover and love horses, I use to ride them and now it is something I am really wanting to do again after reading this book. The story is about Taylor who is trying to get away from her husband that is abusive, she has a young son and needs to get as far away from her cruel husband as she can, I really felt for her, they end up on a ranch and it's clear she loves it, she has lovely people around her, romance may be on the card for her, though she has secrets and just when things are settled something happens that turns her world to shreds. This is a sensitive topic that is written about and the author has done a brilliant job keeping it real but sensitively. What I learnt about this book is that you can run but you can't hide.
Profile Image for Ami-May.
114 reviews36 followers
July 30, 2020
Plot/Narrative

This is one women's fight against domestic violence and to protect her son by disappearing and driving miles and miles north. But even with there being miles apart, she is still looking behind her, watching and waiting for her husband to catch up with her. She has suffered physical, emotional, and verbal abuse throughout her marriage to Jackson.

Her car breaks down in a petrol station in rural Montana. As it's the weekend, the car repair garage is shut and there are no hotels around for miles. Luckily she comes across a man who is willing to help her and her son Jay by letting them stay with him and his wife at their ranch until they can fix her car. Lucky for her the man and his wife, they are genuinely kind and caring people. They give her a job on the ranch and somewhere to stay with her son.

Characters

I connected with Taylor and her character very fast. She is a beautiful character who just wants to be free and safe. She is well written. And it's lovely to see her character change throughout and she finds out who she really is without her controlling and abusive husband and his family. She has trusts issues, which is understandable.

I instantly fell in love with the other characters who were just real, simple and genuine characters. especially Diana and Owen. I love Diana's character; she is caring, patience and sweet.

Writing Style/Pacing

This is a short book, but book one in a series. Although it has the subject of domestic violence/abuse, it is a heartwarming story about how good humanity can be, finding hope, love  & family in the most unexpected places. 

It's a well written, light and quick read. And I can't wait to read the next instalment in this series.

Themes/Settings

This story is about how very real domestic abuse is, one woman's/mother's fight to protect her son and finding genuine friends that will come to love, care and protect her and her little son, Jay. It also covers infertility.

The author incorporated the themes, and she did so with sensitivity and great understanding.

The setting sounded beautiful and quiet. Set in Montana, Alberta.

Cover

It's a stunning cover, and it's what pulled me into this story.

Overall Thoughts

'Refuge: A Mountain Ranch Novel is set in rural Montana, Alberta. 
It is a heartwarming story about how good humanity can be, finding hope, love  & family in the most unexpected places. The dominant theme is Taylors domestic violence/abuse by her ex-husband, which is why she fled and drives miles to get away and protect and keep her son, Jay, safe. This is a short book, but book one in a series. I instantly fell in love with the other characters who were just real, simple and genuine characters. It's a well written, light and quick read.'

More reviews can be found here www.readingthroughthepain.blog
Profile Image for Vikki Vaught.
Author 12 books160 followers
July 6, 2020
Thanks goes to the author for bringing Refuge: A Mountain Ranch Novel by Willa J. Brand to my attention. I borrowed a copy via Kindle Unlimited. My opinions are my own, and no one has influenced them.

Refuge: A Mountain Ranch Novel is the debut novel by Ms. Brand, and I thoroughly enjoyed the story of a woman’s struggle to escape her abusive husband. When her vehicle breaks down in rural Montana, she finds refuge on a ranch. The couple who takes her in, not only offers her a home but employment.

While at times, Ms. Brand reverts to telling instead of showing, it didn’t interfere with my enjoyment since it was done to move the story along. However, that did inhibit her character development a bit. The pacing is good and kept me engaged from the beginning to the end.

Taylor’s character is under tremendous stress. She’s taken her young son and run away from her abusive husband, so she lives in fear he will find them. Ms. Brand does a fine job of emoting the feelings she is going through. My heart went out to her.

Owen is the hero and lives on the neighboring ranch. He’s an honorable man and offers Taylor friendship at a time in her life she desperately needs it. He exhibits a great deal of patience with her, even though he figures out early on that she has a huge secret.

While there is a strong romantic element in this novel, the central focus of Refuge: A Mountain Ranch Novel is Taylor’s journey to recovering from the abusive and finding a new life. However the relationship between Taylor and Owen is a slowly developing one as they get to know each other. Owen gives her the time she needs to learn to trust him. This story has a happy for now ending.

If you enjoy women’s fiction with engaging characters who will tug at your heart, then you will like Refuge: A Mountain Novel. There is excellent potential in Ms. Brand’s writing, and as she travels the new road into publishing, I’m confident that as she develops her craft, her next novel will be even better. Happy reading!
50 reviews3 followers
July 11, 2020
Whilst on the run from an abusive marriage, Taylor finds herself in a situation where she has to take a leap of faith. Despite her fear that her true identity will be discovered, she puts her trust in a stranger who offers her a helping hand. Little did Taylor know this trust would turn her life around.

Willa’s seamless writing and relatable characters allows the story to flow over the pages making this a truly rounded read. I loved the fact that whilst this story is essentially a love story it did not have any cheesy sex scenes, which I often find have no relevance to a story. Willa sensitively covers the topics of abusive, controlling relationships and miscarriage, which are often subjects whose long-term effects many do not understand. Refuge addresses these subjects with hope and courage and demonstrates to the reader what a loving, trusting relationships looks like.

I found Refuge to be a smooth enjoyable debut novel and I look forward to reading more books by Willa J. Brand.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Scherry  at The Novel Lady.
303 reviews8 followers
July 7, 2020
Refuge: A Mountain Ranch Novel is a debut novel by an author with fabulous potential, an author I will be watching in the future.

Taylor has taken her baby and fled from a rich and powerful abusive husband. She lives in fear of being found and goes to great lengths to protect her identity, protection that causes her to be in dire need of a job and a place to stay. She is fortunate to have come across a decent man and his wife who not only provide shelter, food and a job, but also provide much needed friendship. When she later meets Owen there is an immediate attraction, but her fears and paranoia keep her at a distance. Owen recognizes that Taylor has secrets, so he takes things slow and allows her the time she needs to trust again.

The ending was a bit rushed, but the story itself was heartwarming with characters you wish you really knew personally (except for Taylor's husband, a man you want to rip apart). This reminded me a bit of Julia Roberts' "Sleeping With the Enemy".

There is an element of romance in the book, but is what I would consider "sweet romance".
Profile Image for Grace J Reviewerlady.
2,135 reviews104 followers
September 24, 2020
A heartwarming read from an indie author new to me .. well worth a peek!

Taylor has been on the move for days on end and she is physically and emotionally worn out. Running away from a life of abuse, she wants to put as many miles between her husband and herself and her son as she can. She trust no-one, but when she finds herself stranded in rural Montana, she has no other option than to trust a stranger. Unable to move on as quickly as she knows she should, she finds herself becoming a bit more settled than she had planned. Is it safe to stop moving?

I've really enjoyed reading this one; it unfolds at a perfect tempo and is a fine tale, well scripted and beautifully written. Willa J Brand is an author I hope to read again - she certainly packs a lot in, without it seeming so. It's nice to be reminded that there is lots of good in this world to counteract all the other stuff going on - especially this last six months or so. If you like a book with plenty of reading and a firm finish, then this is one well worth reading and I recommend it. 4.5* and worth every one.

My thanks to the author for my copy; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.
Profile Image for Smut Report.
1,620 reviews194 followers
Read
September 2, 2021
Heat Factor: Smoulder, smoulder my friends (but behind closed doors)

Character Chemistry: They just kind of systematically click on every level from the first moment.

Plot: Taylor is escaping an abusive marriage with her infant son when her car breaks down in Montana. When she’s rescued and hired by a local rancher, she ends up meeting the rancher’s wife’s brother, Owen, whose steady and secure nature is kind of exactly what she needs.

Overall: This book is SO well done–the worry over Taylor’s precarious and abusive situation, the warmth from the ranchers and the beauty of Montana…it’s really good stuff.


Read our full review at The Smut Report

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

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Profile Image for anie.
1,142 reviews46 followers
August 26, 2020
Taylor and her baby are on the run from her horrible husband. After one night, when he finally went too far, she knew she had to get away. In a crappy car, always looking over her shoulders, they are on the way to Canada. Only the car broke down in the middle of nowhere.

Tired and afraid she is approached by the kind cowboy, who offers them a place to stay. What started out as a few days thing, turn into her refuge. She found work and a somewhat safe place. New friendship and promise of new love keep her from moving one, but it's hard to form a deeper bond when you are desperate to keep your secrets. And when the past catches on, it will unravel.

It's such a beautiful story, of second chances and overcoming your past. The writing is very, very good, I was taken by the story from the start. But my favorite part was the characters, especially Taylor. While reading, I felt like I was right there with her...

It's one of those stories that give you all the feels. :)

received from author
Profile Image for Darra.
235 reviews5 followers
July 27, 2020
This story is compelling, genuine, and will touch your heart. Taylor had one plan from the beginning. Keep her child safe. She loved her child fiercely. It meant she must find a new haven. Away from her haunted past that won’t let her go.

Taylor finds refuge at a farm in small-town America. This is the perfect place to start new. She meets wonderful people that help her and her son find a new life. Owen is exactly what Taylor was not looking for. He immediately gravitates to both Taylor and Jay. He is a knight and shining armor. A perfect example of a gentleman.

The past has closed in on Taylor, but this time, she has a new family that backs her up. The story turns upside down really quick and it will throw you for a loop. I had to reread to make sure I was seeing it right. “He did whaaa?!”

I enjoyed the book immensely and look forward to reading more from Willa. I rate the book a 4.3 out of 5.
Profile Image for Amy Shannon.
Author 135 books134 followers
June 8, 2021
Grand read!

Brand pens a grand story in Refuge; A Mountain Ranch Novel. I haven't read anything from this author before, and I really enjoyed it. The story revolves around Taylor, who has escaped an abusive relationship, with her baby. Anyone who has been in a dangerous relationship before, can probably relate. The story was very well-written, and if you've been there, may trigger some memories or thoughts, but it's a good story. She leaves with just her child, and fear of retribution, and has to come to terms with her past, and how to set the stage for her future. An inspiring story. It's a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. This author's characters develop and interacts well with the other characters. I have fast become a big fan of Brand. I look forward to reading many more stories by this author. Refuge; A Mountain Ranch Novel is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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