Mary Connealy

1872 California. A continuation and second in a series about three sisters, daughters of the owners of a huge logging company. When their father died, their mother married again, to a man who turned out to be a monster. Since he was about to marry them off to other monsters, the sisters escaped but were always in danger of being found. All three are brilliant in their own way. It's interesting to see each one's strengths put to use. Their journey progressed in many ways at their home and at Zane's ranch where the girls had taken refuge. This book is concentrated more on Michelle and her new husband, who were hastily wed. They have to get to know each other, trust one another, learn each other's strengths. It's an entertaining story to read, would make a fabulous mini series. Nominate!

I received this book free from the author, publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#InventionsOfTheHeart #NetGalley #BethanyHouse #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #ChristianHistoricalFiction #FiveStarBooks #MaryConnealy #BethanyHousePublishers… (mehr)

I love a good wagon train story and pioneer story, and this is both. With some extra high society influence and villains as well. Ginny has been put into an asylum and her daughter and former employee plot to get her out and go west to hide. Wonderful full dimension characters you either love or hate. Very interesting. Looking forward to spending more time with them in the next book!

I received this book free from the author, publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#ChasingTheHorizon #NetGalley #BethanyHouse #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #ChristianHistoricalFiction #FiveStarBooks #MaryConnealy… (mehr)

After breaking her Mom out of the insane asylum, Beth, her mother, and a Kat join a caravan crossing the Oregon trail. Along the way they find a man shot, and nurse him back to health. Once they join a larger group, Beth quickly grows comfortable with
Jake, a wagon train scout. Back home, Beth’s father employs Pinkerton agents to scour the countryside for his wife and daughter.

This book wasn’t really what I was expecting. The book itself moved slowly and focused heavily on the romance between Beth and Jack. The big “chase across the country” didn’t really happen and the Pinkerton agents didn’t play much of a part until close to the end. I thought the characters themselves were stereotypical and in general lacking. Overall, not a book I would reread or recommend. Maybe it just wasn’t for me.… (mehr)

3.5 Stars

When I am wanting a lighter, palate cleanser read after a book hangover, Mary Connealy is often a go-to author. Her lighter stories with some humor and lots of adventure hit the mark of what I’m in the mood for. Chasing the Horizon deals with the difficult issue of mental health and the way some people used insane asylums for their own gain.

I liked Beth and Ginny from the beginning. These are two strong women who are fighting darkness and trying to right wrongs together. Kat is a mystery, and I am looking forward to her story to find out what motivates the woman. Jake is the perfect hero (almost too perfect at times) for Beth.
The friendship Beth and Jake forge takes a sharp turn to more, so this romance reader missed out on all of the emotions leading to love. However, Jake and Beth’s love for each other is well built after the “more.”

Typical for Connealy is lots of history, a quick wrap up of an ending, and a story thread that readers get to follow through the entire series. And none of that was missing in Chasing the Horizon.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions are my own.… (mehr)