"Blew's close attention to gender and what women in particular had to endure living and working on ranches elevates <i>Waltzing Montana</i> in the Western genre. . . . <i>Waltzing Montana</i> is the gritty, beautiful, and startling western love story that does, indeed, satisfy."-Maggie Doherty, <i>Flathead Beacon</i> “What we need most right now are stories that are down-to-the-bone authentic, and Mary Clearman Blew gives us one with her new novel, <i>Waltzing Montana</i>. The women and men in this book are not only resilient but find their true meaning in forging through challenge: drought, war, and the Spanish flu pandemic. And yet Blew artfully nods to their limits too. There’s only so much brutality a person can endure, and the ravages of pain and abandonment Blew portrays in these pages stir acts of forgiveness, patience, and abiding friendship, which allow the deepest wounds to finally heal.”-Debra Gwartney, author of <i>I Am a Stranger Here Myself</i> “Mary Clearman Blew is in the saddle again with a galloping western romance. Set on the Montana plains in the 1920s, <i>Waltzing Montana</i> is an adventure story about a horseback midwife and her cowboy lover, so vivid you can smell the sagebrush.”-Annick Smith, author of <i>Crossing the Plains with Bruno</i>
Set in rural Montana in 1925, Waltzing Montana follows Mildred as she grapples with feelings for Pat while also trying to overcome the horrific abuse she suffered as a young teenager. Ultimately Mildred must decide whether to continue her isolated life or accept the hand extended to her.
Inspired by the life of midwife Edna McGuire (1885–1969), who operated a sheep ranch in central Montana, Blew has turned the classic Western on its head, focusing on rural women and the gender and diversity challenges they faced during the 1920s.