HR-ML's Reviews > The Bargain

Northern California, mostly 1894 onward.
Montana was 6'4" & Addie 5 foot even. I felt the hero too
heavy-handed & he used his height & other means to in-
timidate the heroine. He got on my 'last nerve.'

Montana & Will, in their teens, saw their fathers killed by a
'hired gun' for the railroad. In 1894, 14 yrs on, Montana
traveled to claim a farm property deeded to him by an old
family friend.

Turned out, Montana & Addie (a Chicago librarian) b/c
of a legal technicality, both claimed this land, last owned
by her late aunt & uncle. A Judge decided the H owned
the land & she: properties on the land. Before the Judge's
decision, she moved into the farmhouse & he pitched a
tent. He used several means to intimidate her to leave,
including seduction attempts. He sent out anti-hero vibes.
Did he seek revenge on the RR b/c of his dad?

Montana was manipulative & obnoxious till around the
70% mark. She called him a bully. Why did Addie love him?
Could he control his temper? Frankly I expected more
romance (not sex) & wit in this author's books and less
drama. This had heated, hurtful verbal exchanges between
the MCs, sans bantering. She deserved respect from him.
Addie needed to take a train, anywhere, to get away from
this guy.