Review: Rocky Mountain Journey by Misty M. Beller

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

About the Book

Masquerading as a man, Faith Collins embarks on a perilous journey through the untamed wilderness of the Rocky Mountains in search of the Peigan Blackfoot woman who once saved her father's life. She joins a group of trappers who may be able to lead her to the place the woman is hiding, but keeping Faith's identity a secret proves more difficult than she imagined.

Grant Allen is searching for his younger brother, who was separated from him when their parents died many years ago. After receiving word that his brother went west to the Rockies, he unites with a group of trappers, hoping they can lead him to his brother's location. Soon Grant realizes there's a woman hiding among the men, and he's determined to find out who she is, what she's hiding, and how he can keep her safe in this country of wild animals and even wilder men.

In this rousing conclusion to her Sisters of the Rockies series, Misty M. Beller embarks on an adventurous journey where loyalty, love, and sacrifice intertwine amid the unforgiving frontier.

My Review

I've enjoyed this series about the adventures of the Collins young women as they search, make friends, and fall in love. Faith is the youngest, and I was surprised at her impulsiveness and naiveté when she leaves the safety of her family and continues the pursuit on her own without much of a plan. Grant saves her life more than once as he sees through her disguise and protects her from danger. I usually find this trope compelling but I struggled to connect with Faith and Grant's emotions. There is suspense added to the plot when they discover that they are not the only ones close on the trail of Steps Right. Grant is also searching for the younger brother he was separated from, making their travels more complex. The resolution of Steps Right being reunited with White Horse and the Collins daughters expressing their gratitude for her was very heartwarming. 

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.

Sisters of the Rockies series

 

 

Takeover Blitz, Review & Giveaway: Toward the Dawn by Mary Connealy

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Toward the Dawn by Mary Connealy hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Toward the Dawn 

Series: A Western Light #2 

Author: Mary Connealy 

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers 

Release Date: June 18, 2024 

Genre: Christian Historical Western Romance

Despite trials that threaten their path forward, hope dawns for a future filled with love.

Kat Wadsworth and Sebastian Jones never imagined their lives would entwine so closely. Forced to flee on a wagon train from a vengeful uncle and an unknown gunman, they live in a hidden canyon with the family that rescued them. But as the days turn into months, they each have separate reasons for wanting to move back to society, and the best way to the independence they desperately crave might be through a marriage of convenience. 

However, settling into their homestead in Cheyenne, Wyoming, reveals a different reality for Kat. Her new husband becomes consumed by his inventions, leaving her feeling lonely and isolated. And just when they think they've left the danger behind, a mysterious attacker lurks in the shadows, threatening the new life they've built. Together, they must confront the perils from their pasts to forge a future with hope and the prospect of love.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop

 

My Review

The journey continues with Kat and Sebastian going stir-crazy in the safety of the isolated canyon with their friends, and with the convenience of trains they are able to travel from city to city, getting married, establishing a homestead, building a lab for Sebastian's inventions, and tracking down the mystery of who is after them. We have some sections from the perspective of some of the villains- Ginny's vengeful husband and Kat's greedy uncle, but are kept in suspense to discover who is after Sebastian and his inventions. I enjoyed Kat and Sebastian getting to know each other more and figuring out how to have a good marriage. I wasn't feeling much chemistry between them since they are both pragmatic and tend to state and restate their situation to each other, and there wasn't much depth to their emotions, especially romantically. The plot is definitely driven by the action and tension building from the dangerous villains seeking Kat, Sebastian, and those in the canyon. Another asylum escapee reappears and the third perspective is from those in the canyon trying to rehabilitate her. Quite a bit going on which kept the pace steady and accelerating toward an exciting finish.

 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.

More Books from this Series

---

About the Author

Mary Connealy writes "romantic comedies with cowboys" and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has sold more than 1.5 million books and is the author of the popular series Wyoming Sunrise and The Lumber Baron's Daughters and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.

Connect with Mary by visiting MaryConnealy.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

---

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Toward the Dawn and a $20 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight July 3, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on July 10, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

---

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Review: Earning the Mountain Man's Trust by Misty M. Beller

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

About the Book

In the wild mountains of the Montana Territory, the Coulter ranch is a place of family, second chances…and a hidden fortune.

Naomi Wyatt has finally given up on the man who once promised to love her for the rest of his life—then disappeared after a business trip, never responding to her letters. She’s now alone with a beautiful baby to provide for, a daughter whose red hair reminds her daily of the man she gave her heart to. She has to move on, though, and she did, going west with her sister. When Jonah Coulter asks for her hand in marriage, she knows she would be hard-pressed to find a better father for her sweet child. He’s a Coulter, after all, and he’s proven to be a good friend during her darkest hours.

Eric LaGrange thought he’d lost Naomi forever. But when he finally gets word that she’s in the Montana Territory, he drops everything to go after her…and their daughter? How could Naomi have kept their beautiful child from him? And how could she move on so quickly that she’s already engaged to another man? He loves Naomi so much that he’ll accept whatever choice is best for her, but is that him…or this settled rancher who clearly cares for them? No matter what, he’s determined to know his daughter and become the father he always wanted to be.

With Eric’s sudden appearance, Naomi’s heart is shredded once again. She barely has time to catch her breath before a new threat appears on the horizon. This time she has far more at stake than her heart, and only a Divine hand can turn this disaster for their good.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes a mountain family saga filled with a second chance romance, love triangle, hidden treasure, and faith that heals wounded hearts.

My Review

I've enjoyed this series so far and love the premise of an isolated ranch of brothers (reminiscent of Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer), but I struggled with the love triangle in this book. I want to root for Jonah as a Coulter brother, but he really gets the short end of the stick. It was difficult for me to be sympathetic to Eric, and I didn't always relate to Naomi's attitude. I think it was the non-communication that contributed, and the secrets Naomi kept that prohibited those around her from giving the support she needed in the aftermath of her trauma. Her silence also caused some of the later danger and conflict, and speaking up would have given Eric vital information that would have protected him and helped him make safer choices. I was glad for her to have a happy ending and look forward to more in the series focusing on the Coulter brothers finding love.

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.

The Brothers of Sapphire Ranch series 

Review: Waiting for Morning by Margaret Brownley

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Molly Hatfield comes to Arizona Territory seeking stability and security. But living in Cactus Patch provides her with more than she ever dreamed of.

There is nothing Molly wouldn’t do for her teenaged brother, Donny. Blaming herself for the accident that left him wheel-chair bound, Molly has dedicated her life to his care. But in 1896, gainful employment for a woman is hard to come by. So when Molly learns that an eccentric rancher in Cactus Patch, Arizona, is looking for an heiress--someone to take over management of the ranch in exchange for future ownership--she jumps at the chance to provide a real home for her brother.

If she proves to have a knack for ranching and agrees to remain single for life, the ranch can be hers. Neither stipulation worries Molly. She’s resourceful and hardworking. And she gave up dreams of marriage long ago when she dedicated her life to her brother’s well-being.

However, Molly didn’t bank on meeting Dr. Caleb Fairbanks, the town’s handsome and charismatic young doctor. Caleb has a way with Molly that makes her nervous. But it’s how he is with her brother that really alarms her. Caleb sees past the wheelchair and genuinely likes Donny, but Molly fears he’s putting unrealistic ideas into her brother’s head. Falling in love with Caleb would threaten everything she’s worked for, even her brother’s future happiness.

But it could be the very reason God brought her to Last Chance Ranch.

My Review

Another series I'm reading completely out of order! Fortunately the author wove in enough of the backstory and plot that I didn't feel lost. Molly and Donny have a rough background, yet their loyalty to each other keeps them going. Molly's grit and determination are admirable, and she throws herself into working on the ranch and learning all she can. Her brother struggles with being an invalid, and the doctor has some methods of inspiring him that Molly disagrees with. The bickering, fighting, and immature behavior and thoughts of all three main characters were a bit off-putting. I didn't connect with the emotions of the characters in this book, but it was an interesting read and showed how the times were changing with medicine and the introduction of automobiles.

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 other books in The Brides of Last Chance Ranch series . . .

Review: The Beaches and Brides Romance Collection by Cathy Marie Hake, Lynn A. Coleman, Susan Page Davis, Paige Winship Dooly, Mary Davis

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Venture along historic American shorelines, enjoying five stories that are full of adventure, challenge, and romance. In Key West a couple collides over a child’s welfare. In Washington, a captain’s wife guards a secret. In Maine, a castaway returns from the dead. In Georgia, a woman dares to man a lighthouse alone. In Virginia, a wounded soldier recoups at a seaside cottage. Watch as God works through their challenges to bring them safely to a harbor of love.

My Review

I loved the seaside settings of these historical stories. They were varied enough to hold my interest, and the romance was gentle and sweet. My favorite story was The Castaway’s Bride by Susan Page Davis, because I felt more connected to the emotions of the characters. Edward had been lost at sea and presumed dead while he and some shipmates drifted, dying one by one, until a few were marooned on an island, but only Edward survived long enough to be rescued several years later. It was easy to feel for him as he returns home, but discovers his fiancee is engaged to the cousin who took over his father's company in his place. Deborah is the fiancee's little sister who idolized him, and now that she's grown, her dynamic personality is a much better fit for him. I appreciated the complex dynamics of the relationships Edward navigated as he settled back into his place in family, work, and community.

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.

Review: One Perfect Spring by Irene Hannon

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Claire Summers is a determined, independent single mother who is doing her best to make lemonade out of the lemons life has handed her. Keith Watson is a results-oriented workaholic with no time for a social life. As the executive assistant to a local philanthropic businessman, he’s used to fielding requests for donations. But when a letter from Claire’s eleven-year-old daughter reaches his desk, everything changes. The girl isn’t asking for money, but for help finding the long-lost son of an elderly neighbor.
 

As Keith digs reluctantly into this complicated assignment, he has no idea how intertwined his life and Claire’s will become–nor how one little girl’s kindhearted request will touch so many lives and reap so many blessings.
 

Through compelling characters and surprising plot twists, Irene Hannon offers readers this tenderhearted story of family connections that demonstrates how life is like lilacs–the biggest blooms often come only after the harshest winters.

My Review

I enjoyed this gentle story about making the best of things, past regrets, second chances, and valuing what is most important. Keith and Claire don't make the best first impression of each other, but it was nice that they quickly grew friendly as they encountered one another more. While Keith is a workaholic like his boss used to be, he does always make time for his mother. David wanted to make sure Keith didn't make the same mistakes as he did- prioritizing work to support his family financially at the expense of the emotional support they needed more. Claire has been burned once and doesn't trust easily, but Haley is a bright light in the middle of all these adults with baggage and issues, helping them move forward and embrace hope. Claire's neighbor Maureen had placed her son for adoption and the journey to discover him brings Claire and Keith together as well as David and Maureen. David's daughter is on a path of healing as well, and the various perspectives of the characters brought a well-balanced harmony to the story.

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.

Review: Gathering Shadows by Nancy Mehl

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Wynter Evans is a promising young reporter for a television station in St. Louis, but even a bright future doesn't take away her pain over the disappearance of her brother nine years ago. So when she stumbles across a photograph of a boy with an eerie resemblance to him, she can't pass up the chance to track him down. With research for work as her cover, she sets out with one of the station's photogs for the place where the picture was taken: the town of Sanctuary.

Almost as soon as she arrives, she meets the town's handsome young mayor, Rueben King, and together they begin to uncover long held secrets that could tear the small town apart and change everything Wynter thought she knew about her life. As the truth of her family's past hides in the shadows, it's clear someone will stop at nothing to keep the answers she's searching for hidden forever--even if the cost is Wynter's very life.

My Review

Wynter has been through some trauma that never goes away. It was interesting to discover her past as the story unfolds, and all the secrets that are revealed. Sanctuary sounds idyllic, but it's also the perfect place to hide. Rueben sees the good sides of the people in his community, and is very protective of them. The varying degrees of Mennonite made it difficult to know who would be open for an interview and photography, and Reuben was an invaluable help to Wynter's journalism. There was such a focus on the plot and Wynter's search for her brother, that the romance between her and Reuben seemed like an afterthought, and there were little to no descriptions of her feelings for him, which was disappointing. The story of finding her brother and healing her complicated family dynamics was full of unexpected twists, and culminated in a suspenseful resolution. Adoption is close to my heart so it's devastating to think about the painful ways it goes wrong due to mistakes or selfish plans, when its ultimate purpose is to be a loving solution.

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.

Review: Secretly Smitten by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, Denise Hunter

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

There’s a secret in Grandma Rose’s attic—a forgotten set of dog tags belonging to her first love. But David Hutchins was killed in action and never returned to Smitten. How did the dog tags end up in the attic?

The mystery intrigues Rose’s three granddaughters—Tess, Clare, and Zoe—and they decide to investigate, though their mother, Anna, warns against meddling. But as the seasons turn and the mystery unravels, the three young women and their mother encounter some intriguing mystery men of their own. Has a sixty-year-old puzzle sparked something new for this close-knit family of women?  

 

My Review

I enjoy collections where each story builds upon the previous. Tess, Clare, Zoe, and Anna each play a role in uncovering the mystery of the military dog tags and reuniting Grandma Rose with David. Not before some serious sisterly drama plays out, however, and makes the granddaughters worry that things will never be the same. The first three stories were okay, I didn't really mesh with the authors' writing styles. The interactions between the main characters were awkward and I wasn't feeling the chemistry. The last story by Denise Hunter made up for it, and I found myself looking forward to her contribution as I read. She brings a spark to her romance and I connected more fully with the emotions of the characters.

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 other books in the Smitten series . . .