Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Love Off the Grid by Marcia Ann Oster is a modern-day romance with a twist. When Nola Sutton answers an advertisement, at the prompting of her best friend Sue, from a lonely man seeking a long-term partner to work beside him on his land in Montana, she has no idea where this new relationship will go. When Porter comes to Pennsylvania to meet Nola in person, they discover an instant rapport and decide to give the experiment a try and see where it leads them. The intensity of the attraction between the pair is evident from the moment they meet and Nola makes the momentous decision to load up her possessions and return to the ranch in Montana with Porter. Porter is of Native American blood, Lakota Sioux, and it isn’t long before Porter and Nola come face to face with the cultural differences and the clash between the “old ways” and modern thinking. Porter has worked hard to get where he is, owning his ranch and making a successful place for himself in society, and yet he still feels a familial pull to his mean-spirited and violent uncle. The time will come when Porter must decide between his heritage and his new-found love.

Love Off the Grid is an interesting premise, especially in today’s world where relationships are frequently begun through the medium of the internet. Marcia Ann Oster has created two characters who, for differing reasons, have found it difficult to cultivate long-term relationships. In many ways, the two are perfect for each other and the attraction and sexual desire they feel shine on every page. Fair warning though, for those who may be triggered, there is a rape scene as well as explicit sexual situations, violence, and foul language. For me, though, the overwhelming theme that dominated the story was the ever-deepening love between Nola and Porter plus the pair’s willingness to do anything they could to help anyone in need. The dangers of living in such an isolated area where guns and ready violence are so prevalent are brought home to readers in this narrative, although, the “love conquers all” concept is paramount in all places. The clash of cultures between Native Americans and Caucasians is obvious throughout but still, love can overcome the differences. This is an interesting read and one I can recommend.