Book Tour, Review & Instagram Giveaway: Inventions of the Heart by Mary Connealy

 

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Her heart seeks safety. But will trouble find her even here?

After her sister's marriage, Michelle Stiles is left hiding at Two Harts Ranch with the handsome but stubborn Zane Hart. She's managed to stay one step ahead of her stepfather and his devious plans, but if he finds her, she will no longer be safe.

Zane has problems of his own. Having discovered a gold mine on his property, he must figure out how to harvest it without kicking off a gold rush. Michelle, educated and trained to run her father's business, wants to manage all aspects of the mine, but Zane thinks for a person so smart she can have some misguided ideas. Running the mining operation will be a dangerous job, and he can't risk putting her in harm's way.

But danger finds Michelle anyway when she's suddenly attacked. If they go to the sheriff, they'll reveal her location, but if they do nothing . . . their troubles have only just begun.

My Review

I enjoyed this continuation of the Lumber Baron's Daughters series with Michelle and Zane's story. It was so fun to see the way her inventor's mind works and all the ideas for improvement she has. She and Zane have good chemistry despite their bickering, and he feels protective of these heiress sisters who have landed on his ranch through interesting circumstances. Naturally there is danger around every corner and plenty of adventure as the sisters fight the hold their wicked stepfather has on the family along with the honorable men who are devoted to them. Even though Zane is tied to his ranch and the struggles there, Michelle's future becomes his own and I loved the way she became just as invested in the ranch as the lumber business. We also see the perspective of their mother on the mountain as Laura and Caleb return and the overturning of power begins. This series has the author's trademark humor, action, and faith woven together with vibrant characters and interesting plots.

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.

 

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Review: The Element of Love by Mary Connealy

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

With their sharp engineering minds, Laura Stiles and her two sisters have been able to deal with their mother's unfortunate choice in husband, until they discover his plans to marry each of them off to his lecherous friends. Now they must run away--far and fast--to find better matches to legally claim their portion of their father's lumber dynasty and seize control from their stepfather.

When Laura befriends a mission group heading to serve the poor in California during their escape, she quickly volunteers herself and her sisters to join their efforts. Despite the settlement being in miserable condition, the sisters are excited by the opportunity to put their skills to good use. Laura also sees potential in Caleb, the local minister, to help with gaining her inheritance. But when secrets buried in Caleb's past and in the land around them come to light, it'll take all the smarts the sisters have to keep trouble at bay.

My Review

This series starts with the heart-pounding escape of the three sisters from their gilded cage, and doesn't slow down as they make their way deeper into California, relying on their wits and ingenuity. The voices of these independent young women are familiar as they remind me of previous characters of the author, even though their backgrounds are different. I admired the way they adapted to their rougher circumstances, learning new skills and making new friends along the way. Quick marriage is a frequent theme of the author, and while Laura has an immediate need for a husband, I missed the developing emotion of a relationship. The plot of the complicated dynamics of Caleb's mission to the gold rush families living in poverty, squatting on a local rancher's land, along with the sisters' goal to overthrow their evil stepfather's grasp of their lumber inheritance, definitely took center stage of the book. It was entertaining, but I didn't feel connected to the characters' more tender emotions. The book ended with a good wrap-up of Caleb and Laura's story, but the overall story of the three girls and their mother is only beginning and will continue throughout the series. Definitely should be read in order!

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 Lumber Baron's Daughters series

Review: Love on the Range by Mary Connealy

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Wyatt Hunt is temporarily bedridden and completely miserable. Somehow Molly Garner's limited skills have made her the most qualified in their circle to care for Wyatt. But by the time he's healed, she's fed up with him and the whole ungrateful family. For even worse than his grumpiness were the few unguarded moments when he pulled at her heartstrings, and she has long determined to never marry.

Molly gets a job as the housekeeper at Oliver Hawkins's ranch. But really she's with the Pinkertons, spying to find out if Hawkins has abused women and if he's guilty of murder.

Wyatt refuses to let her risk it alone, convincing Hawkins that he's abandoning his own ranch, angered by his two brothers' coming to claim a big chunk of it.

But when another Pinkerton agent gets shot, they realize Hawkins isn't the only danger. The Hunt brothers will have to band together to face all the troubles of life and love that suddenly surround them.

My Review

This is the third book of the Brothers in Arms series, and I would definitely recommend reading them in order. Each book has its own wrap up and conclusion, but the overarching mystery doesn't get solved until this final book. The couples featured in the previous books play important roles in this story as well, so I liked having a good sense of their personalities and what they've been through. 

 

Molly has been in the background a bit- taking care of the house, meals, and doctoring while the others are working the ranch and fighting their enemies. I loved how the author showed her frustration and pent-up anger over her situation and how she dealt with it. Molly comes into her own by attempting to leave the family for an outside job, which provided a real wake-up call to the brothers to realize her needs. Wyatt grows closer to her while recovering and doesn't want her to leave either. I appreciated that their romance was more slow to build than the others, giving them time and space to develop a relationship that is less impulsive and more purposeful. All the while, Cheyenne and Falcon are learning the identities of their mysterious enemies with the help of the Pinkerton agent and Molly and Wyatt's dangerous undercover investigation.

 

The pace of the book is somewhat jerky as the action races forward then slows when the siblings and spouses converse about their discoveries and next plans. Because there is usually a group of them talking things out and disagreeing over some parts, the conversations get a bit tedious, but it also does a great job of showcasing the different personalities and motivations. Kevin's wife Win from the first book carries the spiritual thread as she explored what it means to follow the Biblical admonition to honor your parents when one of them is not making good choices and hurting those he should be showing love to. It's a lesson all the siblings need as they reconcile themselves to the destruction left behind by the man who brought them all together in the end.

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 in Arms series

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review: The Calico & Cowboys Romance Collection by Mary Connealy

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Calico and denim clash in the Old West

From Texas to Nebraska across the Plains to Montana, love is sneaking up on eight cowboys who begin their relationships on the wrong foot with women. Faced with the challenges of taming the land, enduring harsh weather, and outsmarting outlaws, these couples' faith and love will be tested in exciting ways.

The Advent Bride
A Bride Rides Herd
His Surprise Family
Homestead on the Range
Sophie's Other Daughter
The Sweetwater Bride
Texas Tea
Hope for Christmas

The Old West comes to life under the talented pen of bestselling author Mary Connealy, and readers will enjoy a lighthearted ride alongside one contemporary and seven historical cowboys and the women who tame their hearts.

My Review

Mary Connealy is one of my favorite authors, bringing humor and sweet romance to the world of Louis L'Amour westerns. Her novellas are always fun to read, although there sure is a lot of insta-love ;) Her characters tend to jump into marriage quickly, but that is part of the times and is refreshing when compared to today's commitment wary society. The action and adventure always sweep me away to the setting and keep me turning the pages. It's a delight to revisit the families that are built throughout her series of books.

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: A Man with a Past by Mary Connealy

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Falcon Hunt awakens without a past, or at least not one he can recall. He's got brothers he can't remember, and he's interested in the prettiest woman in the area, Cheyenne. Only trouble is, a few flashes of memory make Falcon wonder if he's already married. He can't imagine abandoning a wife. But his pa did just that--twice. When Falcon claims his inheritance in the West, Cheyenne is cut out of the ranch she was raised on, leaving her bitter and angry. And then Falcon kisses her, adding confusion and attraction to the mix.

Soon it's clear someone is gunning for the Hunt brothers. When one of his brothers is shot, Falcon and Cheyenne set out to find who attacked him. They encounter rustled cattle, traitorous cowhands, a missing woman, and outlaws that take all their savvy to overcome. As love grows between these two independent people, Falcon must piece together his past if they're to have any chance at a future.

My Review

Falcon was a bit of an enigma in the first book, so I was excited to read this book from his perspective. We learn some of his history before he loses his memory, which makes the reader aware of things that he has forgotten and is concerned about. I love his mountain man skills and confidence that comes naturally. The beginning of the book retells much of what happened in the first book, but from Cheyenne and Falcon's perspective, so it seems like events happen very quickly and the thought processes are choppy. Once the book ventures into new territory the pace becomes more steady and I was able to enjoy it more. There is plenty of action, adventure, and suspense as the new family bands together to fight against their enemies, who are finally revealed, along with other interesting characters. I'm excited for the concluding story with Wyatt and Molly coming next!

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.

Don't miss the other books in the Brothers in Arms series . . .

Series Review: Garrison's Law Series by Mary Connealy

Garrison's Law begins. A family of alpha Texas lawmen (and women) bring their own brand of justice to law and order in Texas.  

 

 

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Trudy Jennings, is a college professor with a string of bestselling pop psychology books about answering all of life's troubles with love.   

Ben Garrison is her student. He's a hardened cop who needs this class to get his degree can't keep a straight face. He tells her she's right, as long as she lives in her cushion, safe life. But for him, using her philosophy, he'll be dead by the weekend.   

A stalker is coming after kindhearted Trudy and Ben is there to protect her. Trudy faces her first try challenge to turning the other cheek and feels like a failure that she can't help her confused and desperate and frightening stalker.   

Ben has to keep Trudy safe until the increasingly frightening stalker can be stopped and as Ben gets to know Trudy better, he recognizes his own callus behavior at the same time he finds out everyone in  

Trudy's life takes advantage of her.
She's got to get tough.
He's got to find a kinder way.   

Together they have to take down a wealthy, obsessed man who knows how to play the system, because he's done all this before.

My Review

What a fun and odd matchup with these two main characters! Ben is gruff and rough around the edges, spending his days with the seedier element of society. Trudy bases her theories of passivism around the Biblical teaching of love thy neighbor, but has no real experience in life. She is being taken advantage of by some people in her life, and I loved how Ben teaches her how to stand up for herself and enforce boundaries, while she shows him that respect and kindness with his coworkers will help his chances for promotion. They drive each other crazy, but have strong chemistry, and their banter and attraction make for some entertaining reading! The stalker creates a feeling of uneasiness and the pace of the book is steady as the suspenseful vibe keeps the reader and characters on their toes.

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.

 

 

 

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Jacie Moreau is a tough-as-nails security specialist who works with the Long Pine Texas police. She takes care of herself and doesn’t ask for help from anyone.

Brett Garrison is an odd-man-out in the Garrison family. He’s a soft-hearted veterinarian from a family of daring Texas lawmen.

Jacie runs afoul of a hired killer and no one is there to step between her and danger but Brett.

Brett’s good-hearted plan to care for the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen draw an assassin’s attention.

Jacie never needs help, but Brett’s kindness when she is so vulnerable sneaks past all the emotional walls she’s built around her heart.

The killer keeps coming and their only hope is to run. And as they run they try and figure out who’s hired a killer, and why, and how to stop him.

If they hide well enough and live long enough, they might make it to the day they can fall in love.   

My Review

I really enjoyed this suspenseful and humorous book! I felt like Jacie and Brett connected really well, even though they both have some personal issues they are dealing with, and they brought out the best in each other. The banter is so fun and I think that's such a strength with this author. Brief parts of the story are told from the villain's perspective which I don't always like, but in this case it was used well by not giving too much away and definitely increasing the creepy factor! It's fast-paced, but also balances the character development and romance skillfully. Highly recommend to fans of clean romantic suspense!

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.

  

 

 

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Not all the Garrisons are guys.

Beth Garrison is the top hostage negotiator in Rocky Ridge, Texas. She's called to serve on a task force to investigate a killing that is a copycat of her first bust as a rookie.

Tate McCade has a reputation for steamrolling anyone who gets in his way and he's had a run-in with Beth and her oversized ego before. He's got a bruise on his face to prove it.

They have to work together and sparks are flying that aren’t all about the job.

My Review

I've been binge reading the Garrison's Law series and it's so much fun! Fast paced with plenty of action and suspense, balanced with banter, wry humor, and plenty of character growth. I was so impressed with the influence Tate and Beth had on each other- they are both tough as nails, but have a way of getting past each other's defenses and provide support during humbling circumstances. They have great chemistry with strong feelings that alternate between frustration and passion. The author hits a sweet spot between character and plot-driven narrative, and I felt fully invested in both. Highly recommended for fans of romantic suspense! Books in this series can easily be read in any order.

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.

  

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

An assassin takes a shot and hits two people with one bullet.

  

Natalie Brewster, a deep undercover agent for a group that doesn’t officially exist, saw the gunman aiming. He definitely waited, lined up the shot, and tried to kill both of them. Nat and Case Garrison hit the ground bleeding. They both come up shooting and kill the assassin—but that just makes him mad.

Now Case and Nat, who have never before met, have to figure out what they have in common to make them prey for a killer.

 

And they have to do it while running for their lives because, despite the two of them being highly skilled at keeping a low profile, the killer keeps finding them. They are running at break-neck speed, hiding with all the skill of long-time undercover agents, and falling in love with a passion that might be part of what brought a killer down on them. 

 

My Review

This book could totally be made into a movie! It has a Jason Bourne vibe where Case and Nat are both larger than life, skilled at things no normal citizen is skilled at, escaping nail-biting situations and outwitting deadly assassins at every turn. They have amazing chemistry and I really enjoyed the romantic tension between these two as they race to solve the mystery while still keeping their lives. I love how they are equally matched, and also help each other with the deeper issues that they've repressed and hidden. As much as I loved the previous three books, this one may be my favorite! The villains really took it up a notch, the humor and banter that connect Case and Nat in extraordinary circumstances, and the character development woven in with an intriguing nonstop plot gave me a can't-put-this-book-down reading experience!

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.

 

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Garrison's Law enters the Gothic Romance Genre.
Amnesia, murder, treasure and ghosts.   

A woman wakes up next to a dead man with no idea how she got there, who he is.....who SHE is.
Grey Devereau drags a terrified woman out of his cousin's bed...his very dead cousin. It looks for all the world like she killed him. But then everyone who knows Victor wants to kill him eventually. Grey included. 

Lanny Cole, the young woman hired to research the history of the Devereau family, can't remember a thing. 

Grey steps in with an alibi and Lanny realizes that if Grey is her alibi, then she's his. She decides to trust him, but then she's suffered a head injury. So she's probably making one stupid decision after another. 

And then someone else dies. And a hurricane cuts them all off from help. And then someone else dies.... 

And the rumors of ghosts and treasure can't be true. Sure Grey saw the ghost, in fact, he's pretty sure the ghost saved his life as a child. But he was upset at the time and he doesn't believe in ghosts. 

Chills and thrills abound in an old island home built by a loathsome pirate. He's not a Garrison, but when he gets in trouble, he turns to his old friend Case Garrison for help. 

Garrison's Law just got spooky. 

My Review

The spooky and mysterious Gothic mood of this book contrasts with the previous ones in the series, and it felt more like a whodunit Texas version of Clue. The details aren't spelled out, but get revealed piece by piece as Lanny continues to investigate the family secrets, despite her terror and amnesia. The instalove of Grey didn't really work for me as much as his protective nature did, and I missed experiencing the development of his romantic feelings. Lanny held herself back more, even while they pretend to be a couple to maintain her alibi. There's not a wide selection of suspects, but there is still plenty of twists and turns while the trapped Devereaus work to uncover the mystery or keep it hidden.

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.