The Perfect Escape: Why “Mountain Grump” by SJ Tilly is a Must-Read

• Author: S.J. Tilly
• Release Date: November 20, 2025
• Genre: Contemporary Romance
• My Rating:
• ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
• 🌶️🌶️/5

💋Wow, I’ve never wanted to be caught by a park ranger before but now I do. Especially if that park ranger has muscles for days, covered in tattoos and has two different colour eyes. That man is Ethan Grant 🥵 

Spoilers Ahead

🧚🏻‍♀️We meet Tilda- Matilda- Matty moving into her recently deceased uncle’s house in the mountains of Colorado. As someone who also only lived in the city all her life, moving to the country wasn’t easy. I couldn’t imagine doing it alone. But this was way better than staying with her family. A family that would make her feel less then she was, calling out her faults, calling her names and so much more horrible things. Of course she would have left at the first real chance she had. Not only did her great uncle Jack leave his house to her but also left her some money to help get her off of her feet.

Ridiculous. Foolish. Stupid.

A silly girl with silly ideas.

The thick, heavy weight of disappointment fills my bones.

My family has always called me those things. Called me names. Made me feel less than.

Fat. Dumb. Frivolous.

But to hear it from a stranger.

A man who doesn’t even know me.

You’re ridiculous.

Another tear breaks free, and I curse it in my mind.

Never show weakness

Never show pain

My knee throbs

My heart Hurts.

This hurt me. I’ve been there where family calls you fat, why? Who the fuck knows. My weight has nothing to do with you. As someone who has been overweight all her life it’s really hard hearing it coming from a stranger but family whole fuck what is wrong with you to mention or talk about a child’s weight. I have tried for YEARS trying to lose weight, I have now after countless years have lost weight and am at a happy mentality about my weight. My body still hates be but that’s another issue. I would have left my family so fast if I was giving a house in the mountains.

Maybe it is a good thing that this new house is right next to Lone Peak State Park, with a grumpy Park ranger who follows the rules and doesn’t give an f about anything or anyone. Well until he meets a mountain fairy.  

He knew I’d keep my fucking distance if he told me Matty was a girl.

And what a girl she is. 

Standing here, just a few strides away, I can see all of her.

The pink of her cheeks.

The golden brown of her eyes.

And the twig stuck in her hair, next to her ear, making her look like some sort of alluring, curvy mountain fairy.

🏔️Jack the mastermind had something planned for Ethan all along when he told him that Matty would be staying at his house, little did Ethan know that Matty was actually a gorgeous woman named Matilda – Tilda . Ethan turned me into a grumpy/sunshine lover. Mad at the world except for her, secretly obsessed with the woman who vandalized the State park, goes out of his comfort zone for her and is great with animals. 

Jack really did a fucking number with his little death plan. I don’t know if it’s psychotic or brilliant. Probably both. Definitely unethicak.

But even with out his interference, I feel certain,

I feel it in my fucking bones.

Tilda would still be mine

🦆I loved the relationship that formed between these two. One more carefree, the other trying to learn to loosen up. Oh and one of my favorite parts was learning about Fisher’s love life!! Ahhh, I was so happy! Fisher stole my heart in Mountain Boss, I would love a story about him, he is just so sweet, kind, loyal af and always has the best lines 🥹 side characters need love too!

“Afternoon, Range Grant.” He lifts a clear package of cupcakes in greeting. “Congratulations on the nuptials

Favorite Scenes

When I try to step around him, he hooks his arms back around my side. “Tilda, this is Fisher. Fisher, this woman is none if your business.”

Fisher presses his tongue to the inside of his cheek, like he, too is trying not to laugh. “Tilda, nice to meet you.” He tips an imaginary hat my way. “I have a girlfriend, and we would love to double date, so if you and whoever you’re seeing”- he cuts a glance to Ethan- “want to go out sometime, just call Black Mountain Lodge and ask for me.”

“Thank-“

“She won’t be doing any of that.”

This though! The foreshadowing is amazing in this! I can’t get over, especially Fisher being an ass (funny ass, making jokes) I love it!

Ethan pushes my chin up, cutting off my words. “Woman, I know you’re not stupid. I’ve never once thought that. Not ever.”

He seems so…mad. On my behalf?

So I admit the truth. “I feel stupid. And I hate it. It’s the worst feeling.”

I feel this deeply. I hate feeling stupid about things I don’t understand, or is confusing. It kinda makes you feel small or weak in a sense.

“Call me that again.”

“Ethan?” I slide my hands up his stomach, over his pecs, to his shoulders. “Are you my Good Boy?”

My new favorite Good Boy, who knew

“Do it, Ethan. Be a Good Boy and come for me.”

“Fuck” Ethan drips his face into the crook of my neck.

His hips thrust once. Twice. And then he’s rocking against me.

Groaning in my ear.

Coming in his pants.

“Wife. Repeat what I told you.”

…

“You’re going to land us smoothly”

Ethan turns his head toward me. “I’ll never let anything happen to you, Starlight.”

I bite my lip.

“Tell me.”

“You’ll never let anything happen to me.”

“Never.”

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

Ethan slowly turns his head to face me. “No, I have a wife.”

okay, sir. damn

“You’re my North Star. My way home, My destination.” Letting his hands slip through mine, Ethan lowers. To one knee. “You’re the light that guide me. And I don’t ever want to lose you.” …. “Tell me you believe me, Starlight. Tell me you still love me.”

Favorite Quotes

I don’t really have friends.

But I think he might’ve been one of them.

And now he’s gone

“You act like a bad guy, but I don’t think that’s what you are.”

Sure I want to call you Wife?

Sure I want to drag my thumb across your lip where your tongue just was?

Sure I want to be reckless in a way I’ve never been before?

Sure I want to be your Good Boy.

So, if you find your starlight, you’ll always know which way is home

“You make me smile.” his tone is serious. And I feel the vibration of it under my palm. “Since meeting you.. I’ve never smiled so much in all my life. You make me happy, Matilda. Being near you makes ne happy.” he pauses, swallowing. And I know I have to do the same. “I know I broke your trust, and I’ll spend the rest of my days and the rest of my nights proving to you that it was always you. It’s only ever been you. Because if you’re not in my life… I don’t know that I’ll ever smile again

Mountain Men Series

• Mountain Boss
• Mountain Daddy
• Mountain Grump

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