Aiming for Love - Brides of Hope Mountain Book 1 - Mary Connealy

My Rating

★★★★ - You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. (More Info)

About the Book

When Strangers Intrude on Three Wild Sisters’

Hidden Mountain Life, Their World Will Never Be the Same

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 is especially frightened, but Jo is too interested to stay away.

David’s parents follow soon on his heels, escaping bandits at their ranch. But his 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 the author's website)

My Thoughts

From the hillside of Hope Mountain to the valley of Warden Ranch, Aiming for Love is a fascinating and entertaining story from beginning to end. Mary Connealy has given us a unique and totally NEW story.

Jo is incredible. I have never read a book with a character quite like her. While naive and ignorant of the world outside her isolated haven on Hope Mountain, Jo is an endearing heroine if ever there was one. She is resourceful and curious. Ready for adventure and ready for love. I want her clothes! LOL! This book was fabulous world building and setting the stage for the rest of the series. I feel like we've just scratched the surace of the lives of the Nordegren sisters and I can't wait to learn more about them in the books to come.

Cowboys, romance, mountains, danger, and a Ma that everyone needs in their life, Aiming for Love is the perfect blend of Mary's classic genre of Romantic Comedy...with Cowboys! It's a good thing book two, Woman of Sunlight is now available because you won't want to leave Hope Mountain! 

I received a complimentary copy of Aiming for Love from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

About the Author

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies with cowboys and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.

Mary is the bestselling author of over 50 books and novellas has nearly a million books in print. Her most recent book series are Garrison’s Law, High Sierra Sweethearts, Cimarron Legacy, Wild at Heart, Trouble in Texas, and Kincaid Brides.

Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Visit her website or find her at Seekerville and Petticoats & Pistols!

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First Line Fridays - The Accidental Guardian

Happy Friday!

Mary Connealy's new series is HERE!!! Woohoo!!!! Another beautiful cover! SWOON!

Today’s first line is from...

The Accidental Guardian
Mary Connealy

Southwest of Lake Tahoe, Nevada

October 1867

Deborah Harkness came awake with a snap, her hand already steady on the six-gun under her pillow.

GOODREADS | AMAZON

Cowboys and Humor....what more could you ask for?

Head over to Hoarding Books to link up with your own FLF post! (Please keep it family 

friendly...Or note otherwise in the link up)

Tried & True - Wild at Heart Book 1 - Mary Connealy

My Rating

★★★★★ - You have bewitched me, body and soul. (More Info)

About the Book

Saddle up for a wildly fun ride with the Wilde sisters!

Kylie Wilde is the youngest sister—and the most civilized. Her older sisters might be happy dressing in trousers and posing as men, but Kylie has grown her hair long and wears skirts every chance she gets. It’s a risk—they are homesteading using the special exemptions they earned serving in the Civil War as “boys”—but Kylie plans to make the most of the years before she can sell her property and return to the luxuries of life back East.

Local land agent Aaron Masterson is fascinated with Kylie from the moment her long hair falls from her cap. But now that he knows her secret, can he in good conscience defraud the U.S. government? And when someone tries to force Kylie off her land, does he have any hope of convincing her that marrying him and settling on the frontier is the better option for her future?

My Thoughts

Pinterest

THIS is the book that started it all! Tried & True was the VERY first book I EVER received from a publishing house as part of a blogger review program. As you can see...I have come a LONG way since August 2014. Lots of trial and error, lots of friends made, lots of tears cried over fictional characters, lots of memories made. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity to share my love of all things bookish!

(Original review posted August 2014)

Idaho Territory, 1866, The Civil War has ended, but the charade has not. Kylie Wilde and her sisters Shannon and Bailey lived as men throughout the war. And at their father's command, are now homesteading as men.

Tried & True is a gripping journey about forgiveness and finding true identity. Kylie's demanding Pa is sick with grief over the loss of his son and does not know how to take care of, or love his daughters for who they are. Powerful cattleman, Gage Coulter, would like nothing better than to reclaim Kylie's land as his own. Aaron Masterson is captivated by Kylie from the moment they meet. But Aaron wants to live a life in the mountains and Kylie longs for the civilization of the East. Attempts to scare her off her land by persons unknown, opens doors Kylie never dreamed of. Throughout her journey, her faith is tested and tried. But she stands strong and remains true to herself.

It was next to impossible for me to put this book down. I was transported to the mountains of Idaho in the height of the land rush every time I began to read. Feeling the fear, the love, the determination that Kylie felt. It was all very captivating. I am especially grateful to Mary Connealy for the way she is able to portray a Historical Fiction "Romance" very tastefully. I am excited to read the rest of the series!

I received a complimentary copy of Tried & True from the publishers, Bethany House Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

About the Author

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies about cowboys. She's the author of The Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, and Wild at Heart series, as well as several other acclaimed series. Mary has been nominated for a Christy Award, was a finalist for a RITA Award, and is a two-time winner of the Carol Award. She lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. They have four grown daughters--Joslyn, married to Matt; Wendy; Shelly, married to Aaron; and Katy, married to Max--and four precious grandchildren. 

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You can find more books by Mary Connealy on Bookworm Mama HERE.

Many thanks to Canva for providing an AMAZING program for me to design all these beautiful graphics. Book covers, publisher/tour logos, and author pictures not owned by me. All other graphics created by Bookworm Mama with public domain photos on Canva. 

Long Time Gone - The Cimarron Legacy Book 2 - Mary Connealy

My Rating
★★★★ - You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. (More Info)

From the Back of the Book

The Boden clan thought their problems had ended with the death of a dangerous enemy, but have they truly uncovered the real plot to take their New Mexico ranch? Rancher Justin Boden is now in charge. He is normally an unshakable and rugged man, but with his brother, Cole, shot and in mortal danger, even a tough man faces doubts. And it doesn't help that Angie DuPree, the assistant to the doctor trying to save Cole, is as distracting a woman as Justin ever laid eyes on.

With her and the doc's timely skills, Cole looks to be on the mend, and Justin and the rest of the Bodens can turn their attention back to the dangers facing them. It's clear now that everything that's occurred is part of a much bigger plot that could date back to a decades-old secret. Can they uncover all the pieces before danger closes in on them, or is the threat to the ranch even bigger than any of the Bodens could imagine?

My Thoughts

Fast paced and filled with all the adventure, suspense, comedy, and romance that I have come to expect from Mary Connealy.

The Boden clan is a family that I am sad to say, I only JUST met in Long Time Gone. Even though I was able to pick up the gist of the story pretty quickly, I would suggest that you begin with book 1, No Way Up before diving into this one. 

Angie and Justin are two peas in a pod. They really were made for each other and I just loved watching them bicker, tease, and fall in love. And they are both stubborn as mules. Justin, inexperienced when it comes to females, is adorable as he tries to sort out his feelings for Angie. Wanting to protect her, but trying not to come across as a dictator. Angie, still healing from the wounds of the past, is learning how to be her own woman, standing up for herself, defending herself. But we weren't made to do everything alone. That is why God sends us a partner to stand beside us, to fight with us. And above all we must never forget to lean on God for protection and strength. To trust that He is leading us down the right road. That no matter where life leads us, He will be by our side.

Mary's books have the great ability to make you laugh out loud, hold your breath in anticipation, shake your head in frustration, and curl your toes with the sweet romance. 

Set in New Mexico Territory in 1880, we get to meet both outlaws and cowboys. Full of adventure and some hair raising escapades, Long Time Gone is sure to capture your attention, and the characters, your heart. 

I received a complimentary copy of Long Time Gone from the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

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Don't Miss the First Books of The Cimarron Legacy

FREE Novella

Book 1

About the Author

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies about cowboys. She's the author of The Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, and Wild at Heart series, as well as several other acclaimed series. Mary has been nominated for a Christy Award, was a finalist for a RITA Award, and is a two-time winner of the Carol Award. She lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. They have four grown daughters--Joslyn, married to Matt; Wendy; Shelly, married to Aaron; and Katy, married to Max--and four precious grandchildren. 

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More Books by Mary Connealy on Bookworm Mama

Tried & True (Wild at Heart Book #1)

Now & Forever (Wild at Heart Book #2)

Fire & Ice (Wild at Heart Book #3)

First Line Fridays - 3/3/17 - Long Time Gone

Happy Friday!!!

Featured today is a book that I JUST received in the mail and EEEEEEEEEEE!!! I am SO excited to start reading. I had the very supreme honor of meeting Mary Connealy in Nashville last year at Christian Fiction Readers Retreat. Watching Mary and Ruth Logan Herne banter back and forth during one of the sessions was immensely entertaining!

Long Time Gone is the second book in her new series, The Cimarron Legacy. 

Skull Gulch, New Mexico Territory
November 1880
Abandoning his sister to save his brother, Justin Boden felt as gutshot as Cole.

It is SO hard for me to NOT keep reading at this point. But it is done the list just a couple books. I can't wait! 

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If you would like to host First Line Fridays on your blog, contact Carrie on Reading is my SuperPower.

With This Ring?: A Novella Collection of Proposals Gone Awry - Book Review

From the Back of the Book

Sometimes Love is Found in the Most Unexpected Places!

Love isn't always a fairy tale, and it doesn't always go as planned. Sometimes the best stories, though, are the ones that are the most unexpected. Join Karen Witemeyer, Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, and Melissa Jagears for novellas that celebrate the power of love to triumph . . . even when circumstances go awry! 

The Husband Maneuver - Karen Witemeyer

When ranch foreman Daniel Barrett seems ready to leave her life forever, Marietta Hawkins decides to grab the reins on their relationship. But to have any hope of maneuvering him into a proposal, she has to act fast or risk losing him completely.

Fire & Ice (Wild at Heart Book #3) - Mary Connealy

Bailey has hidden her true identity for years. Will she be able to set aside the charade, forgive herself for her past and open herself to love?

In 1866 it is unheard of for a woman to be a successful rancher. But that is exactly what Bailey Wilde has done. Through hard work, sheer determination and hiding that she is indeed a woman, her ranch is thriving. Partly due to the fact that she has homesteaded directly across the opening to a lush canyon owned by Gage Coulter. Gage will stop at nothing to get his canyon back, even if it means blowing up the mountain. Bailey's sisters have both married and moved away just as winter is setting in. As she endures the frigid winter months alone, she longs for companionship. And then Gage shows up with a proposal that could drastically change their lives. Will they both be able to overcome their stubborn independence and work together as a team? Will their fire and ice spark into love along the way?

         "That's not God refusing to forgive you...It's you refusing to forgive yourself."

Fire & Ice was a wonderful completion to the Wilde sisters' stories. Mary Connealy's unique story line was very interesting. I did get frustrated with Gage's attitude a couple of times, and the situation

The 12 Brides of Christmas (Novella Collection) - Various Authors

Twelve Heartwarming Historical Romances for the Season of Love.

In this collection you will find 12 short stories that are set during the 1800s in the frontier of our expanding country. As the name of the collection proclaims each story highlights a bride's journey to love and romance. This collection has a wide variety of stories and characters. While I thoroughly enjoyed each story, a couple of my favorites were: The Festive Bride by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer, The Nutcracker Bride by Margaret Brownley and The Christmas Tree Bride by Susan Page Davis. 

What better way to get into the Christmas spirit than 12 novellas written by some of my favorite authors? Each author did a wonderful job of capturing the Spirit of Christmas in just 50 short pages. Every story drew me into the heart of the season. The blessing that God gave us in Jesus' birth is demonstrated

The 12 Brides of Summer - Novella Collection #2 - Mary Connealy, Amanda Cabot, Maureen Lang

Romance is budding in the summertime of the old west. Join three lovely ladies on their adventure of finding true love. As their stories unfold, God's hand in their lives is evident. He leads and guides them to the perfect match.

I found this collection of short stories very entertaining. Perfect for a quick read when you don't have a lot of time to spare. All three stories were light and romantic with a hint of adventure. If you are looking for a good summer read, I recommend purchasing this collection. Very affordable and well worth it! Curl up on your porch swing (or in front of the air conditioner) with a glass of iced tea and let yourself be transported back in time.

I received a free digital copy of The 12 Brides of Summer Novella Collection #2 from Barbour Publishing, Inc. through NetGalley.

Now & Forever (Wild at Heart #2) - Mary Connealy

Romance and suspense in the mountains of Idaho Territory, 1866.

Shannon Wilde, the middle sister, has a soft spot for animals. She cares for her flock of sheep on her homestead. When her life takes a dramatic turn off of a cliff with Matthew Tucker, she finds herself married to the rugged mountain man. Shannon is a strong independent woman who is not used to being protected by a man. But as attacks begin to try and drive her off her land, maybe she needs that protection after all. The attacker picked the wrong family to mess with, Tucker's fury is not something to trifle with. But will he be able to protect the wife that he is falling in love with? Will her past drive a wedge between them? Find out on another adventure with the Wilde family!

Mary Connealy is quickly becoming one of my favorite western authors. Her romantic comedy has a side of action and terror, which makes her books well balanced. Now & Forever is not for squeamish stomachs however. I found myself grimacing as I read through a couple of the scenes. I was hooked from the start though, and I couldn't put it down through