Review: Braced for Love by Mary Connealy

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Left with little back in Missouri, Kevin Hunt takes his younger siblings on a journey to Wyoming when he receives news that he's inheriting part of a ranch. The catch is that the ranch is also being given to a half brother he never knew existed. Turns out, Kevin's supposedly dead father led a secret and scandalous life.

But danger seems to track Kevin along the way, and he wonders if his half brother, Wyatt, is behind the attacks. Finally arriving at the ranch, everyone is at each other's throats and the only one willing to stand in between is Winona Hawkins, a nearby schoolmarm.

Despite being a long-time friend to Wyatt, Winona can't help but be drawn to the earnest, kind Kevin--and that puts her in the cross hairs of somebody's dangerous plot. Will they all be able to put aside their differences long enough to keep anyone from getting truly hurt?

My Review

An exciting and tumultuous start to a new series! Three brothers who didn't know the others existed, with their father the only thing in common. This had more than the usual amount of family drama, brought about by the strong feelings each character has about the unexpected and unthinkable situation they find themselves in. The women in their lives are dragged into the mess, and Winona plays the part of peacemaker between the brothers as they realize that they have bigger things to worry about than each other. The quick-to-develop romance between Kevin and Winona seems a bit formulaic since some characters in the author's other books also fall in together rapidly- but this may also be indicative of the era, when marriage was often a form of survival. This was an easy book to get lost in with the swift pace and plenty of action. The foundation has been set for the other two brothers and their stories, and I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

 

Keep an eye out for the next two books in the Brothers in arms series . . .