Book Tour & Review: Chasing the Horizon by Mary Connealy

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Her only chance at freedom waits across the horizon

Upon uncovering her tyrannical father's malevolent plot to commit her to an asylum, Beth Rutledge fabricates a plan of her own. She will rescue her mother, who had already been sent to the asylum, and escape together on a wagon train heading west. Posing as sisters, Beth and her mother travel with the pioneers in hopes of making it to Idaho before the others start asking too many questions.

Wagon-train scout Jake Holt senses that the mysterious women in his caravan are running from something. When rumors begin to spread of Pinkerton agents searching relentlessly for wanted criminals who match the description of those on his wagon train, including Beth, she begins to open up to him, and he learns something more sinister is at hand. Can they risk trusting each other with their lives--and their hearts--when danger threatens their every step?

My Review

There's something about this story that really resonated with me. I feel like the author was intentional and thoughtful with the themes and difficulties of the characters and the era. The railroads have made travel to the West more accessible and swift, and the wagon trains are tapering off. It provides Beth and her mother an opportunity to hide in plain sight as her father assumes they would escape via rail travel. I enjoyed the people they meet and become close to on their journey, and loved the way Oscar, a former employee, showed his loyalty and decency by aiding Beth in her plans and supporting them on the trail. Jake and Beth have great chemistry, and their relationship and romance developed slowly and naturally as they work together through all the obstacles along the way. There is anticipation of an impending altercation as Beth's father closes in and we have some passages from his villainous perspective. Overall, the pace is steady and I appreciated the character growth as well as the details of the journey. I look forward to continuing the story with the next book, following Sebastian, a mysterious inventor they rescued and brought on the trail, and Kat, who escaped the asylum with Beth's mother.

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.

Check out the next book in A Western Light series . . .

About the Author

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies 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 many 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.

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PRAISE FOR CHASING THE HORIZON

"Mary Connealy’s Inspirational Western Romances have long been on my radar to try, but the new Western Lights series opener, Chasing the Horizon, was my first opportunity. Imagine my chagrin when I started reading and didn’t want to stop. Oh yes, dear friends, I’d waited too long to discover a gem of a writer."— Sophia Rose, The Reading Frenzy

5 STARS "What an incredible book! It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I read it.” — Camille Dayton, Fostering Literacy

 

5 STARS “Loved this story! I was intrigued right from the beginning.”— Melissa Goss, Christian Books and Coffee