Mary Connealy: Woman of Sunlight

By Kelly Bridgewater

After years of isolation on top of Hope Mountain, Ilsa Nordegren may finally be ready to leave. Raised to fear the world, Ilsa and her sisters never planned on coming down, but when the Warden family arrived in need, they had to help. And it may cost them everything.

Having made his fortune, Mitch Warden returned home and found the family homestead abandoned. In a land grab, a ruthless cattle baron had forced his family to escape up the mountain, and when he follows, the last thing he expects is to fall smitten to a black-haired woman who dresses like Robin Hood.

Warden is intent on helping his family reclaim their land, but doesn't realize the risks his past has brought. Dangerous men have tracked him, and rather than risk innocent lives, he's determined to end the danger. But that means a journey to the city--and when Ilsa insists on joining him, the mismatched pair suddenly find themselves on a venture they'll never forget.

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

The synopsis for Mary Connealy's current series, Brides of Hope Mountain, captured my attention.  really like the covers too. Lots of bright colors and beautiful woman grace the wilderness. I throughly enjoyed Aiming for Love, the first book in this series. Jo was an unique and different style of character. Connealy does it again with Ilsa. She is not like any heroine I have ever read. And I read a lot of suspense novels. She is brave and unfamiliar with the new world outside her mountain home, but she isn't afraid to try new clothes, food, and surroundings. As for Mitch, the hero, he seemed a little off in Aiming for Love, but he redemmed himself in Woman of Sunlight. The plot moved really nicely along.I did like how Connealy paid attention and Isla's indifference to her surroundings, but kept her true nature alive throughout the novel. I liked this story too. I really can't wait to read Ursula's, the third and final sister's, story.

I received a complimentary copy of Woman of Sunlight by Mary Connealy from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Mary Connealy: Aiming for Love

By Kelly Bridgewater

Josephine Nordegren is one of three sisters who grew up nearly wild in southwestern Colorado. She has the archery skills of Robin Hood and the curiosity of the Little Mermaid, fascinated by but locked away from the forbidden outside world--a world she's been raised to believe killed her parents. When David Warden, a rancher, brings in a herd much too close to the girls' secret home, her older sister especially is frightened, but Jo is too interested to stay away.

David's parents follow soon on his heels, escaping bandits at their ranch. David's father is wounded and needs shelter. Josephine and her sisters have the only cabin on the mountain. Do they risk stepping into the world to help those in need? Or do they remain separated but safe in the peaks of Hope Mountain?

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

The cover of Aiming for Love by Mary Connealy captured my attention, and I couldn't wait to read the story inside. I'm really glad I did. Connealy created conflict between three sisters who don't know any better and the Warden's. The external and internal conflict was different than anything I have ever seen before. And that says a lot because I read a lot. The conflict was driven majority by the characters who have never learned the proper way to interact with other humans. They were completely cut off from everyone else. I was fascinated with  Jo 's story, and I'm really curious about Ursula's story. She has major issues to work through. The romance between Jo and David was going on nicely and believable, but than Connealy wrote that they had their perfect happily-ever-after ending. Since this is a three-book series, I would have liked to see their relationship stretch a little more. Maybe be married in the second book or even the third book. Overall, Aiming for Love is a wonderful story on helping others when they need if even if you don't honestly know them. A delight to spend a couple of hours with.

I received a complimentary copy of Aiming Love by Mary Connealy from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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About the Author:

From Amazon

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is independently publishing a contemporary romantic suspense series called Garrison's Law, book one is Loving the Texas Lawman. Her new historical series, High Sierra Sweethearts begins with The Accidental Guardian. She is also the author of these series: Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Wild at Heart, Cimarron Legacy, Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages and Sophie's daughters, and has man other books.
She is a two-time Carol Award winner and has been a finalist for the Rita and Christy Awards. She's a lifelong Nebraskan and lives with her very own romantic cowboy hero. She's got four grown daughters and four spectacular grandchildren.
Find Mary online at:
Her website: maryconnealy.com
Her blog for aspiring writers: Seekerville
Her blog for lovers of western romance: Petticoats & Pistols
Sign up for her newsletter at maryconnealy.com/newsletter
Mary is on Facebook at facebook.com/maryconnealy
And Twitter at twitter.com/maryconnealy

(Taken from Amazon.)

Mary Connealy: The Accidental Guardian

By Kelly Bridgewater

When Trace Riley finds the smoldering ruins of a small wagon train, he recognizes the hand behind the attack as the same group who left him as sole survivor years ago. Living off the wilderness since then, he'd finally carved out a home and started a herd--while serving as a self-appointed guardian of the trail, driving off dangerous men. He'd
hoped those days were over, but the latest attack shows he was wrong.

Deborah Harkness saved her younger sister and two toddlers during the attack, and now finds herself at the mercy of her rescuer. Trace offers the only shelter for miles around, and agrees to take them in until she can safely continue. His simple bachelor existence never anticipated kids and women in the picture and their arrival is unsettling--yet enticing.

Working to survive the winter and finally bring justice to the trail, Trace and Deborah find themselves drawn together--yet every day approaches the moment she'll leave forever. 

www.goodreads.com

My Thoughts:

I have only read two of Mary Connealy's previous novels, but The Accidental Guardian appeared to be a decent novel by its synopsis, so I signed up for a chance to read one of her novels. Being a historical western, I knew there would be cowboys and women trying to survive in the wild west of early America with plenty of conflict and unrest. Connealy does exactly that.

Her writing takes you into the untamed wilderness and allowed me to struggle with the characters. Her point of view is third person, and she does a great job at staying in a single person's point of view when she is in that section of the novel.

The plot is different. I honestly don't know much about the Wagon Trains that have moved west. I have heard about them and even played the green and black version of Oregon Trail as a child, but other than that, I really had no interest in learning more. But Connealy does create a captivating story with wonderful characters who shine and prove their worth on the page. Also, another thing that bothered me was making the second house for the just arrived girls. It would NOT take five days to cut down the logs and build a house. It would take ALL summer and tons of work. Very unrealistic.

The romance appeared really rushed just like building the cabins. Deb and Trace meet and start to feel emotions right away and take action on those feelings not long into the story. I shook my head in disbelief. Why so quickly? Yes, they have to survive a winter together in the middle of nowhere, but did they really have to rush through their emotions? Couldn't they have gotten to know each other better?

Overall, The Accidental Guardian by Mary Connealy shows why she is a popular writer when it comes to historical westerns. I had no problem visualizing the wild west and the non-modern world. The characters struggle with challenges I don't face with today. I believe fans of Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, and Melissa Jagears might enjoy another historical western novel.

I received a complimentary copy of The Accidental Guardian by Mary Connealy from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3.5  out of 5 stars