Forged in Love by Mary Connealy review

Title: Forged in Love

Author: Mary Connealy

Ch: 31

Series: Wyoming Sunrise

Genre: Christian historical fiction western Christian historical romance

Rating: 4.5 stars

Publisher: Bethany House

Reading Forged in Love reminded me why I love Mary Connealy’s western romances. Because she writes feminine heroines who are also tough as nails. Because let’s face it women who went west couldn’t be damsels in distress because they wouldn’t last. Mariah Stover learned blacksmithing at her father’s knee along with her brother. When tragedy strikes, she steps up to be the town blacksmith.
Clint Roberts owns the only diner in town he loves to cook. But he’s also loved Mariah from a distance for years.

I love how both heroine and hero have roles that aren’t the norm but still work for the time period but work for both together. And I especially loved that Clint loves Mariah for herself. As well as the strong faith thread throughout the story.

Review of Now and Forever

Title: Now and Forever

Author: Mary COnnealy

Series: Wild at Heart

Chapters: 33

Pages: 328

Genre: Christian Historical, Christian historical romance

Rating: 4.5 stars

Now and Forever is the second book in Wild at heart Series. This book focuses on Shannon Wilde the middle sister. Who after spending five days in the wilderness with Matthew Tucker she is forced to marry him in order to save her reputation.  It is a marriage of opposites as Shannon wants to live a peaceful life raising her sheep. She doesn't want to harm anything. While Matthew is a mountain man who makes his living by hunting and trapping things. 

This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time that I was reading it. Even though I enjoyed this book more than the first book in the series I am still looking forward to the third book and Bailey's story.

Review of Tired and True

Title: Tired and True

Author: Mary Connealy

Series: Wild at Heart book 1

 

Chapters: 24

Pages: 317

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Rating: 4.5 stars

Kylie Wilde and her sisters Shannon and Bailey fought in the Civil war by posing as boys. They had plans to homestead as man so that they could cut the time down from five to three years. However that doesn’t work the way Kylie had planned. For one reason she likes dressing as a woman, and has let her hair grow out.  Aaron Materson the land agent sees through her act.

I love Mary Connealy’s books. They are my go to books for Christian Westerns. Like her previous books there is the right balance of faith, romance, and action throughout the whole book.  Kylie is the right balance of a strong heroine who is also feminine.  It was nice to read a fictional novel about women homesteaders posing as man, which could have actually happened.  This book was a fairly quick read and I enjoyed it. I cannot wait for the next two books in the series. 

Review of Over the edge

Title: Over the Edge

Author: Mary Connealy

Series: The Kincaid Brides Book 3

 

Chapters: 32

Pages: 332

Genre: Christian Historical fiction, Christian Western, a little bit or Romance

Rating: 5 stars

     I believe that Over the Edge is my favorite book in the Kincaid Brides series. Out of the three Kincaid brothers Seth is my favorite. Seth is not a picture perfect hero, he is a flawed hero.  Callie is also my favorite heroine from the series. Callie starts out as tough.  As the third book in the Kincaid Brides series it sums up the series nicely.

     With the Kincaid Brides series it is best to read them in order, in order for the story to make since. I am looking forward to Mary Connealy’s next book coming out next year, I can’t wait. 

Review of Out of Control

Title: Out of Control

Author: Mary Connealy

Series:   The Kincaid Brides book 1

Chapters: 21

Pages: 331

Genre: Christian Historical fiction

Rating:  5 stars 10/10

     Out of Control is the first book in the Kincaid Brides it’s the fourth book that I’ve read by Mary Connealy. Like all of her other books it didn’t disappoint. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

     The only thing that Rafe Kincaid wants is to run his ranch and get his family back together.  Julia Gilliland wants to explore the cave that she has accidently found even though Rafe warns her that it is dangerous. She also wants her half-sister and step-mother to be safe. Will these two both get what they want and a chance at happy ever after too.  It was a little different than other books that I have read by her, but still good.

     I normally don’t like books with hero’s on the cover I like to use my imagination and the description in the book of the hero to come up with my “own” view of the hero. The hero on the cover works.  

Review of Sharpshooter in Petticoats

Title: Sharpshooter in Petticoats

Author: Mary Connealy

Series:   Sophie’s Daughters

Chapters: 25

Pages:315

Genre: Christian Historical fiction

Rating: 5 stars 10/10

     Sharpshooter in Petticoats is the third book in the Sophie’s Daughters series. It is Mandy’s story but it is also a family reunion of sorts.  Characters from the Lassoed in Texas series and Montana marriages join the fun. It’s been five years since Doctor in Petticoats; Mandy McClellen Gray is now a widow living on her own trying to fight off outlaws. When Tom Linscott shows up with his solution to her problems; marry him and move to his ranch. However Mandy’s problems continue to follow her, and her family rushes to her aide. Will Mandy and Tom and her children get a happy ever after? Will Mandy’s family make it time?

     Out of the three Sophie’s Daughter’s books my favorite has be Sharpshooter in Petticoats. I guess I just loved the fact the heroine was good with a rifle, but was also learning to be feminine when the right guy came along that is. What I love about Mary Connealy’s books is that her heroines are strong and strong willed. It’s nice to western books with a strong heroine not some damsel in distress; because in reality the women who went west with their husbands and families had to be strong tough in order to survive. Mary Connealy brings the old west alive in her novels, finally western romance with some grit.

Review of Doctor in Petticoats

Title: Doctor in Petticoats

Author: Mary Connealy

Series: Sophie’s daughter’s

Chapters: 35

Pages: 318

Genre: Christian Historical fiction

Rating:  5 stars 10/10

     Doctor in Petticoats Is the first book in the Sophie’s daughter’s series by Mary Connealy.  The book has characters from Mary Connealy’s other series; Lassoed in Texas, and Montana Marriages. Though the book talks about all the characters it focuses the most on Beth McCellen and Alex Buchanan. Beth’s mother is Sophie who is the main character in Petticoat Ranch, Beth, Sally, and Mandy are her daughters. Mandy has left for Mandy life; Sally is the tomboy of the three.

     Beth McCellen attends “nursing school” back east, but she really trained to be a doctor. However as a female in the 1870’s and 1880’s in Texas the most she can hope for is to be a nurse or a midwife. She meets Alex Buchanan on the stage; he is a doctor, who can only be a doctor with Beth standing by him. Sometimes that involves her yelling at him.

     The two realize that the only way they can both get what they want is to get married. Working with a doctor husband Beth can be a doctor. With a bounty on Alex’s head will the two ever have a chance to see if theirs is a marriage of convenience or truly one of love?

     Doctor in Petticoats is the first book by Mary Connealy that I have read, and I loved it. I actually picked this book up because of the title. I’ve always loved stories about women doctors on the frontier sense I watched Dr. Quinn as a child. I also enjoyed the book, because I like books with strong heroines. I am looking forward to reading the next two books in the series Wrangler in Petticoats Sally’s story, and Sharpshoter in Petticoats Mandy’s story.