"Separating fact from fiction turns out to be a difficult task."
Reviewed by Sandra Wurman
Posted February 21, 2025
Romance Western
Pure entertainment by Maisey Yates. Just what you would expect. Now we are invited to research the outlaw history of the Wild West. The current rancher is one Austin Wilder. Austin has outlived all his male relatives. They’ve all been gunned down as murderers. Austin has never believed that about his family. Yes, they were outlaws and bank robbers but not killers.
Millie Talbot is another story altogether. Her forefathers were lawmen. And instrumental in interrupting the chaos wrought by the Wilder boys and men.
Ironically, they have more in common than meets the eye. Interest in the true stories and fables surrounding their town. Just one of the couple of families that are generationally sworn enemies.
Sometimes there’s a message in books. Perhaps on purpose, other times just an amazing integral part of a story. It only takes one person to break a spiral of hate, distrust and lies. That person has to be strong since the immediate reaction to their actions will in all likelihood be met with derision. Someone has to be brave and open up the floodgates to allow the truth to file through. In RUSTLER MOUNTAIN that person was Millie Talbot, better known as Mouse to the community. But to Austin Wilder, Millie was his salvation. His relationship with Millie’s mom had opened that gate. His life moved onto something no one would have expected.
The relationship, and I use that term very loosely, between Millie the Mouse and Austin the Outlaw depends on developing a shared trust and interest in bringing to light the true story of their forefathers. Millie has always felt like an outsider in her hometown. This goes back to school and a lack of friends.
Millie’s one real friend was also considered an outsider. The one person Millie respected and adored was her mother. Millie followed her becoming the town’s librarian. The one unexpected visitor was Austin Wilder. As they get to know each other Millie realizes that it was her mother that had opened Austin’s world and accepted him. Something Austin would always be thankful for.
Millie is on a mission. She begins to realize that much of the historical legacy celebrated by the town isn’t really based on facts. In order to set this straight she has to stand up to the townsfolk, some friendly – others not so friendly.
Maisey Yates took the words out of an outlaw’s journal and fashioned it into one of the best Western romances. It’s what fans have become used to. History has a way of repeating itself. RUSTLER MOUNTAIN is a lesson on respecting historical truth and then working diligently to prevent repeating it. This is still a valuable lesson, even in today’s rather tumultuous times.
SUMMARY
The citizens of historic Rustler Mountain, Oregon, have a history as colorful as the Wild West itself. Most can trace their lineage back to the original settlers, and many remain divided into two camps: outlaws, or lawmen. But none more legendary than the Wilders and the Talbots . . .
Every year, thousands of people come through Rustler for the rodeo, historic home tours, old-fashioned candy making demonstrations, sharpshooter shows—and to see the site of the 1800s shootout in which notorious outlaw Austin Wilder was killed by Sheriff Lee Talbot. Now Millie Talbot, the sheriff’s descendant, wants to bring back the town’s Gold Rush Days. But she needs the current Austin Wilder’s support to make her dream a reality. . .
The Wilders are rumored to be as true to their last name as their ancestors. Nonetheless, Austin is agreeable to helping Millie. But he wants something in return. Austin is working to clear his family name by writing the true history of his outlaw ancestors and Millie might just hold the key.
When Millie wrangles Austin into helping plan Gold Rush Days, he figures it’s a chance to get to the truth of the past. . . . But when sparks start to fly between this bad boy and good girl, will either of them come out of it unscathed?
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