BOOK REVIEW- Montana Baby (Calhouns of Montana Book 1) by Juanita Kees **

  

 Previously titled Overdrive

Chase Calhoun has worked hard at making Calhoun Customs a world-wide sensation and keeping his father’s dream alive. He hasn’t had time to think about settling down, so he’s not expecting to find love or new life in their garage amongst the ghosts of his family’s past.

Charlotte Jackson is on the run from a rebellious past, determined to prove she can be a good mom to three-month-old baby, Zoe. Tired of being delegated to the back office of the racing team her famous NASCAR family owns, she sets out to establish herself as a custom design artist. But her past soon threatens her future and everything she’s worked hard to build is challenged.

While Chase slowly loses his heart, Charlotte learns that sometimes family is more than just blood and DNA.   AMAZON LINK

5 STARS

 

 I thoroughly enjoyed this whole story.  And I fell in love with the whole Calhoun family, warts and all.  And they had some "stuff" that they are still working through years later.

What a lovely man Chase was.  It made me smile that so many of his siblings called him Mother because of his always taking care of them.  He was nurturing and trying to make sure that they always had what they needed.  The affection was so strong between each of them and their father.  They weren't perfect and they knew it and loved their way through anyway.  It was something that was unfamiliar to Charlotte/Charlie but she craves it when she sees it.

Charlie has grown up almost invisible in her family unless she tries to get out from under her father's controlling thumb.   Then everything hits the fan.  She's experienced coldness and threats from her father but no affection at all.  Even her brother isn't a nice guy when it comes to her. You can see her thrive under the warmth of the Calhoun family. 

I adored the interactions between Charlie,  Chase and baby Zoe.  

There were several surprise revelations towards the end of the book and a really good solution to the problems Charlie's father has caused.  I was happy with that and the H.E.A. for Charlie and Chase.