"tried & true" by mary connealy

Featuring a spunky heroine, swoon-worthy hero, and twisty plot, Tried & True kicks off Mary Connealy's new western series with a bang.

Saddle up for a wildly fun ride with the Wilde sisters!

Kylie Wilde is the youngest sister—and the most civilized. Her older sisters might be happy dressing in trousers and posing as men, but Kylie has grown her hair long and wears skirts every chance she gets. It's a risk—they are homesteading using the special exemptions they earned serving in the Civil War as "boys"—but Kylie plans to make the most of the years before she can sell her property and return to the luxuries of life back East.

Local land agent Aaron Masterson is fascinated with Kylie from the moment her long hair falls from her cap. But now that he knows her secret, can he in good conscience defraud the U.S. government? And when someone tries to force Kylie off her land, does he have any hope of convincing her that marrying him and settling on the frontier is the better option for her future?

I've been a fan of Mary Connealy's books for a while now ... and the fact that she's a Nebraskan who often tweets about Castle doesn't hurt! (#GBR) I enjoyed her Kincaid Brides series and really liked the Trouble in Texas series, but if Tried & True is any indication, the Wild at Heart series will be my favorite yet!

Not only is the romance in Tried & True sweet, but the danger surrounding Kylie is handled deftly—it's never over the top or unrealistic, and the resolution genuinely surprised me. These two factors combine to make a very satisfying novel. Now that I've read Kylie's story, I can't wait to dig into her sisters' stories! 4-1/2 stars.

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Buy the book. 
Read my reviews of other Connealy novels.
Get Connealy's Out of Control, book one in the Kincaid Brides series, free for Kindle! (as of 9-17-14)


Mary Connealy writes fun and lively "romantic comedy with cowboys" for the inspirational market. She is the author of the successful Kincaid Brides, Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie's Daughters series, and she has been a finalist for a Rita and Christy Award and a two time winner of the Carol Award. She lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her husband, Ivan, and has four grown daughters.

Find Mary online: website, Facebook,Twitter

Don't miss the first book in Mary Connealy's Wild at Heart series. In Tried & True, Mary is back with her signature humor and heartfelt story-telling.

Mary's celebrating by connecting with readers during a live webcast event and giving away a Kindle HDX.

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle HDX
• Tried & True by Mary Connealy

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 23rd. Winner will be announced at the Tried & True LIVE webcast event on September 23rd. Connect with Mary for an evening of swoon-worthy book chat, fun trivia, laughter, a sneak peek at the next book in the Wild at Heart series, and more! Mary will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books, fun prizes, and gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Tried & True and join Mary and friends on the evening of September 23rd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by signing up for a reminder. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 23rd!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"fired up" by mary connealy

About the book: Dare Riker is a doctor who saves lives, but someone seems determined to end his. It may have something to do with the traitors he dealt with during the Civil War, or it might be related to the recent incident with Flint Greer and the ranch. Whoever the culprit is, he or she seems really fired up, and Dare can't let his guard down for a moment, which is a challenge, since right now he's trying to win the heart of the recently widowed Glynna.

Glynna Greer came west as a mail-order bride and ended up in a bad situation. Now her husband, Flint, is dead, and she's determined to care for her son and daughter on her own. She wants to believe Dare Riker is as decent as he seems, but she's terrified to lock herself into another marriage. She plans to support her small family by opening a diner—never mind that cooking is not her greatest talent. The men in Broken Wheel, Texas, are so desperate for home cooking that they seem willing to overlook dried-out beef and blackened biscuits.

Glynna can't help but notice that danger follows Dare wherever he goes. There's the avalanche. And then the fire. But things really get out of hand when someone plunges a knife from Glynna's diner into Dare's back. Are Flint's cronies still plotting revenge? Is Glynna's son engaged in a misguided attempt to protect his mother? Is a shadowy outsider still enraged over past injustices? And can Dare survive long enough to convince Glynna to take another chance on love?

My take: Fired Up continues the story of the Regulators—Luke, Dare, Vince, and Jonas—that started in Swept Away, book one of the Trouble in Texas series.

The plot of Fired Up is completely engaging, and I enjoyed watching the Regulators piece together the puzzle of who was out to get Dare. And I'm happy to say that while I had my suspicions, I wasn't sure who the "bad guy" was until Connealy revealed it. I did feel like the conflict with Glynna's son wrapped up a little too neatly (the shift in his feelings toward Dare happened quite suddenly and conveniently), but everything else in this book worked marvelously. Though Fired Up is ostensibly Dare and Glynna's story, my favorite parts were those surrounding Jonas's sister Tina and Vince. Those two will be great fun to read about in the future!

I like each book of Mary Connealy's that I read a little more than the last. That certainly makes reading her books enjoyable! If you like historical romance with a touch of humor, you should definitely check out this series.

My rating: 4.5 stars

See what other bloggers are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Swept Away (Trouble in Texas), In Too Deep and Over the Edge (Kincaid Brides), and Winter Wedding Bells (in A Bride for All Seasons anthology). 
Watch the book trailer:

About the author: Mary Connealy writes fun and lively "romantic comedy with cowboys" for the inspirational market. She is the author of the successful Kincaid Brides, Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie's Daughters series, and she has been a finalist for a Rita and Christy Award and a two time winner of the Carol Award. She lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her husband, Ivan, and has four grown daughters.

Connect with Mary: http://maryconnealy.com/

About the giveaway:
Mary Connealy is back with the second book, Fired Up, in her Trouble in Texas series, and she's celebrating with a Kindle Fire giveaway and a LIVE author chat party on October 8th.

  One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HD
• Swept Away  and Fired Up by Mary Connealy

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 8th. Winner will be announced at the "Fired Up" Live Webcast Event on October 8th. Connect with Mary for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Mary will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Fired Up and join Mary and friends on the evening of October 8th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by signing up for a reminder. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 8th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"swept away" by mary connealy

About the book (from Litfuse): When a cowboy focused on revenge encounters a woman determined to distract him, there's going to be trouble in Texas!

Swept away when her wagon train attempts a difficult river crossing, Ruthy MacNeil isn't terribly upset at being separated from the family who raised her. All they've ever done is work her to the bone. Alive but disoriented, she's rescued by Luke Stone...so unfortunately, there are more chances to die in her immediate future.

Luke is on a mission to reclaim the ranch stolen from his family. But the men currently on the property won't let it go without a fight. Luke plans to meet up with friends who will help him take back the land, and since he can't just leave Ruthy in the middle of nowhere, she's going to have to go with him.

But the more time Luke spends around the hardworking young woman, the more he finds himself thinking of things besides revenge. Will Ruthy convince him to give up his destructive path and be swept away by love?

My take: Mary Connealy has created another series with fascinating characters and heartwarming romance. Her "Trouble in Texas" series begins with Swept Away, which tells the story of Luke Stone (brother of Callie Kincaid from "The Kincaid Brides" series).

I really enjoyed this story, and I especially liked Luke's friends—hopefully, each friend will get his own book! I also liked the subplot with Glynna Greer, the wife of the man who stole Luke's ranch, and I'm glad the next book in the series will focus on her.

While I liked Swept Away—especially the action—I didn't think the book was quite as romantic as some of Connealy's others. However, I definitely enjoyed this book more overall than I did any of the Kincaid books, and I liked those quite a lot! 4.5 out of 5 stars.

See what other bloggers are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Connealy's In Too Deep and Over the Edge.

About the author: Mary Connealy writes fun and lively "romantic comedy with cowboys" for the inspirational market. She is the author of the successful Kincaid Brides, Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie's Daughters series, and she has been a finalist for a Rita and Christy Award and a two time winner of the Carol Award. She lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her husband, Ivan, and has four grown daughters.

Find out more about Mary at http://maryconnealy.com/.

About the giveaway:Mary Connealy is celebrating the release of Swept Away by giving away a $250 "Swept Away" Vacation Package and hosting a Facebook Author Chat Party! 

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A $250 Visa Cash Card (Get away for the weekend or use it to buy an eReader for a relaxing ‘Staycation’!)
• A copy of Swept Away (For you AND a friend!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 27th. Winner will be announced at the "Swept Away" Author Chat Party on March 28th. Connect with Mary, get a sneak peek of the next book in the series, try your hand at the trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be many fun giveaways -- gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of Swept Away and join Mary on the evening of the March 28th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"over the edge" by mary connealy

About the book (from the back cover): Seth Kincaid remembers almost everything ... except getting married!

Seth Kincaid survived a fire in a cave, but he hasn't been the same since. Then he fought in the Civil War and returned to Colorado crazier than ever.

Somewhere along the line, it appears Seth got married. Oh, he has a lot of excuses, but his wife isn't too happy to find out Seth doesn't remember her. Callie isn't a long-suffering woman. When Seth disappeared, she searched, prayed, and worried. Now she's come out west to wrangle her long-lost husband.

Seth is willing to make amends. Callie is more interested in shooting him. Can they rekindle their love before one of them goes over the edge?

My take: Over the Edge picks up a few months after the events in book two, In Too Deep. Right off the bat, readers are introduced to Seth's wife Callie ... and boy is she spunky! I liked her immediately and thought she made a good match for Seth. While I enjoyed the interactions between Seth and Callie, some parts of the book (especially whenever they talked about or went inside the cave) didn't hold my attention well. I enjoyed the book, but not as much as I liked In Too Deep.

When I reviewed In Too Deep a few months ago, I cautioned readers to read book one, Out of Control, first. I hadn't, and I was lost for the first quarter of the book. In Over the Edge, Connealy does a much better job of catching readers up, and I think someone could jump into the series at Over the Edge with little difficulty.

Over the Edge is a fitting conclusion to Connealy's Kincaid Brides series ... unless it isn't the end? While the book mainly deals with Seth and Callie's marriage and wraps up the threads from the first two books, it also introduces a fourth Kincaid brother—so perhaps Connealy will treat us to a story about him next. Regardless, we'll probably at least hear about the Kincaids again, as a book about Callie's brother Luke will release next year. 3.5 stars.

See what other reviewers are saying.
Buy the book.
Read an excerpt and watch the book trailer.

About the author: Mary Connealy writes fun and lively "romantic comedy with cowboys" for the inspirational market. She is the author of the successful Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie's Daughters series, and her novel Calico Canyon was nominated for a Christy Award. She lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her husband, Ivan, and has four grown daughters. Visit her on her Web site maryconnealy.com.

About the giveaway:
Celebrate with Mary by entering to win a Nook Color with GlowLight!

See what folks are saying about Over the Edge!

One winner will receive:

• A Nook Color with GlowLight
• The entire set of Mary Connealy's The Kincaid Brides series

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 28th. Winner will be announced at the "Over the Edge" Author Chat Facebook Party on 8/29. Meet Mary, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and more. There will also be gift certificates, books and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group.)!

So grab your copy of Over the Edge and join Mary on the evening of the August 29th for a chance to connect with her and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 29th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"a bride for all seasons" by margaret brownley, debra clopton, mary connealy & robin lee hatcher

About the book (from Litfuse): It All Started with an Ad in a Mail Order Bride Catalogue . . .

Melvin Hitchcock of the Hitching Post Mail Order Bride Catalog isn't dishonest—not exactly. If he tweaks his clients' applications a bit, it's because he's looking out for their best interests.

This charming bouquet of novellas introduces four Hitching Post prospects in the year 1870, each one eager for second chances . . . and hungry for happiness. Year in, year out, they'll learn that love often comes in unexpected packages.

And Then Came Spring by Margaret Brownley

Mary-Jo has been unlucky all her life. But who would guess she'd travel halfway across the country to meet her match . . . only to find him dead!

An Ever-After Summer by Debra Clopton

Ellie had no idea she's not what Matthew ordered. And what's wrong with being a "Bible thumper" anyway? She's determined to show him she's tougher than she looks---and just the girl he needs.

Autumn's Angel by Robin Lee Hatcher

Luvena would be perfect for Clay if she didn't come with kids. But kids are a deal breaker, especially in a rough-and-trouble mining town. The trouble is, there's no money to send them back. . .

Winter Wedding Bells by Mary Connealy

David's convinced he's not long for the world. He needs someone to mother his boys when he's gone---nothing more. Can plucky Irish Megan convince him to work at living instead of dying?

My take: It's been a long time since I've enjoyed an anthology as much as I enjoyed this one! First of all, the subject matter is right in my wheelhouse—marriage of convenience stories are my favorite, so a mail-order bride collection is perfect for me. Secondly, the stories are connected only because all of the characters used the same mail-order bride catalog, so different authors don't have to try to write the same characters.

As for the novellas themselves, I don't think I could even pick a favorite—I loved them all! I did find Mary-Jo's extremely superstitious nature in "And Then Came Spring" a bit off-putting, but I suspect I was supposed to feel that way. Overall, I greatly enjoyed this collection of novellas. Each one can be read in an hour or so, making them a nice way to wind down after a long day.

My rating: 4-1/2 stars.

See what other bloggers are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Connealy's In Too Deep, Over the Edge, and Swept Away.

About the authors: Margaret Brownley is a NEW YORK TIMES best-selling author and has penned more than twenty-five historical and contemporary novels. @margaretbrownley

Robin Lee Hatcher is a Christy and RITA award-winning author. Her books often appear on bestseller lists. @robinleehatcher

Mary Connealy is a Carol Award winner, an a RITA, Christy and Inspirational Reader's Choice finalist. @MaryConnealy

Debra Clopton is an award winning author of sweet, heartfelt, western romance that face life with a smile. With over 2 million books in print, Debra has her first book coming as a movie starring LeAnn Rimes. @debraclopton

About the giveaway: Four novellas, four brides, and four stories to fall in love with. 

Enter the world of mail-order brides with four of your favorite authors: Mary Connealy, Robin Lee Hatcher, Debra Clopton, and Margaret Brownley. In A Bride for All Seasons (Thomas Nelson) each of the prospective brides is hopeful for a second chance at love—and that second chance always seems to come in an unexpected package.
 
The authors are celebrating with a fun 12 Days of Unexpected Packages Giveaway! Between July 12-23 visit the authors’ Facebook Page to enter to win a new giveaway each day. Winners will be announced at the Facebook Author Chat party on July 23rd! Such fun!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"four weddings and a kiss" by brownley, hatcher, connealy & clopton

About the book: Spitfire Sweetheart by Mary Connealy

Maizy Place is an unruly tomboy. When she causes an accident, injuring neighbor Rylan Carstens, she becomes his unlikely caregiver. Rylan has never noticed how pretty his infuriating neighbor is, and he never expected to fall in love.

Love Letter to the Editor by Robin Lee Hatcher

Molly Everton is the outspoken daughter of the town newspaper's owner. When her father brings in an outsider to be editor, she tries to drive him out of town. But Jack Ludgrove is not intimidated. He's resolved to change Molly's mind about him—as an editor and as a man.

A Cowboy for Katie by Debra Clopton

Katie Pearl is uninterested in men and love. But she needs help on her ranch and hires Treb Rayburn, a wandering cowboy looking to make a buck. Will Treb change Katie's mind?

Courting Trouble by Margaret Brownley

Grace Davenport is either the unluckiest woman alive—or a killer. When her third husband is found dead, Grace is arrested. Attorney Brock Daniels isn't interested in the case—until he meets Grace. Only a miracle will prove her innocence, but the joining of two lonely hearts may be their saving grace.

My take: Four Weddings and a Kiss is a delightful novella collection. Following in the steps of the authors' previous collaboration, A Bride for All Seasons, this collection is full of stories that are connected only through the prologue and epilogue, so the authors didn't need to write about the same characters, which can be a problem in novella collections.

As for the stories themselves, of course I have my favorites! I really loved Hatcher's "Love Letter to the Editor"—as I get older, I definitely appreciate reading about older characters, and I enjoyed Molly and Jack's courtship. I also really liked Connealy's "Spitfire Sweetheart." Like Maizy, I wanted to dropkick Rylan when he suggested she wasn't good enough for him just as she was, but of course he changed and things worked out :-) Clopton's "A Cowboy for Katie" was fine, but it wasn't my favorite. I did appreciate how Treb helped Katie work through her issues. My least favorite was Brownley's "Courting Trouble"—there was nothing wrong with it, but I just couldn't make myself care about the outcome. I ended up skimming through it.

Even though I didn't love all of the novellas, this is still a great collection! And I suspect that other readers will really love the stories that didn't interest me as much. That's what's great about novella collections—there's usually something for everyone!

My rating: 4 stars (5 for "Love Letter to the Editor," 4.5 for "Spitfire Sweetheart," 3.5 for "A Cowboy for Katie," and 3 for "Courting Trouble.")

See what others are saying.
Buy the book. (You can also buy each novella individually.)
Read my reviews of A Bride for all Seasons; Connealy's In Too Deep, Over the Edge, Swept Away, and Fired Up; and Hatcher's Beloved, A Promise Kept, and The Heart's Pursuit.

About the authors: Margaret Brownley is a NEW YORK TIMES best-selling author and has penned more than thirty novels. Her books have won numerous awards and has written for a TV soap opera. @margaretbrownley

Robin Lee Hatcher is a Christy and RITA award-winning author. She is the author of over seventy novels and her work often appear on bestseller lists. @robinleehatcher

Mary Connealy is an award-winning author of romantic comedy with cowboys. Mary and her Nebraska rancher husband have four grown daughters and two spectacular grandchildren. @MaryConnealy

Debra Clopton is an award winning author of sweet, heartfelt, western romance that face life with a smile. With over 2 million books in print, Debra's first book-to-movie aired on ABC Family and starred LeAnn Rimes. @debraclopton

About the giveaway:  Four best-­selling romance novelists bring tales of feisty heroines, stubborn heroes, and unlikely love in the Wild West in Four Weddings and a Kiss. Don't miss the latest from the Western Brides Collection from Margaret Brownley, Robin Lee Hatcher, Mary Connealy, and Debra Clopton.

The authors are celebrating with a "Sweet on Love" iPad Mini Giveaway and rip-roarin' Facebook party.

 
  One winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• A Bride for All Seasons and Four Weddings and a Kiss 

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 8th. Winner will be announced at the Four Weddings and a Kiss Facebook Author Chat Party. Connect with Western Brides Collection authors Margaret Brownley, Robin Lee Hatcher, Mary Connealy, and Debra Clopton for an evening of fun book chat, western-themed trivia, and prizes. The authors will also be answering audience questions and giving an exclusive look at the next book in the collection!

So grab your copy of Four Weddings and a Kiss and join the authors on the evening of July 8th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 8th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Review: "The Element of Love" by Mary Connealy

Another lifetime ago, I really enjoyed reading Mary Connealy novels. (Seriously, according to this blog, it's been eight years since I've read one of her books.) When The Element of Love came up as a featured book for Bethany House bloggers, I decided it was time to read another Connealy book.

"in too deep" by mary connealy

About the book: When young widow Audra Gilliland fears she and her two young children are a burden to her newly-married step-daughter Julia, she contemplates moving back east, but her new son-in-law Rafe Kincaid will hear nothing of it. Instead, he proposes marriage ... to his younger brother, Ethan.

Ethan isn't sure he wants a wife, and Audra certainly has a mind of her own, but he also longs to protect her and her babies. When evil men seeking a treasure Audra's first husband stole show up at the Kincaid ranch, Ethan realizes he will have to face some of his deepest fears if he wants to keep his new family safe.

My take: In Too Deep is the first book I've read by Nebraska (!) author Mary Connealy, but it certainly won't be the last. (In fact, The Husband Tree has been sitting on my "to be read" shelf for months now—someday I'll find the time to actually pick it up.) While I enjoyed the book, I had two fairly sizable problems with it—one was completely my own doing, and the other, well, was something I just didn't enjoy about the plot.

1. If you want to make sense of this book, you must read book one, Out of Control, first! I didn't, and when the action jumped right in with Ethan and Audra frantically searching a cave for his brother and her daughter, I was completely lost. It took most of the book before I felt like I truly understood all of the story's background. So take my advice here—read Out of Control, and then read In Too Deep!
2. I am a huge fan of marriage of convenience plotlines. But this particular marriage of convenience story was just a bit to ... convenient! One of the reasons I read romance is because I love the tension between the hero and heroine—the witty banter, the lead-up to the first kiss, the gradual falling in love. It's possible that some of this tension was present in Out of Control, but it certainly wasn't there in In too Deep. Ethan and Audra married at the beginning of the book, started kissing immediately (even though neither one wanted to be married), and then continued kissing practically any time they were alone. I felt cheated out of the build-up of their relationship because it happened so quickly.

Although I had my issues with the book, I still liked it quite a bit. It ends abruptly with multiple loose threads, and I eagerly anticipate the next book, which will tell Ethan's brother Seth's love story ... and hopefully wrap some things up! I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Update 4-8-12: For a limited time, Out of Control, book one in the Kincaid Brides, is available as a free e-book from Amazon. Since you'll want to read it before you read In Too Deep, you should get it here.
In Too Deep

About the author: Mary Connealy writes fun and lively "romantic comedy with cowboys" for the inspirational market. She is the author of the successful Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie's Daughters series, and her novel Calico Canyon was nominated for a Christy Award. She lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her husband, Ivan, and has four grown daughters.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers through their book reviewer program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Anticipated March Releases

Yes, I realize I'm soooo late on this, as March is nearly over! Somehow, the beginning of March just slipped on by. But I still want to tell you about these books, even though some have already been released😉

As always, I can't vouch for the "spice" level - you can assume that anything put out by a Christian publisher will be low on the spice meter, but beyond that, you may want to do more research. If/when I get around to reading and reviewing these, I'll let you know of any potential content issues. 

I normally post these in order of release, but I'm putting my most anticipated release of March first. I Cannot Wait To Get My Hands On This Book.

"a bride for all seasons" giveaway information

I usually wait until I post my review to post any giveaway information, but I'm at the end of this tour, and there are things to win each day. I already entered today's giveaway, and you should do the same! Check facebook each day to see what you could win ... and be sure to come back here for my review of this book on the 23rd!

Four novellas, four brides, and four stories to fall in love with. 

Enter the world of mail-order brides with four of your favorite authors: Mary Connealy, Robin Lee Hatcher, Debra Clopton, and Margaret Brownley. In A Bride for All Seasons (Thomas Nelson) each of the prospective brides is hopeful for a second chance at love—and that second chance always seems to come in an unexpected package.
 
The authors are celebrating with a fun 12 Days of Unexpected Packages Giveaway! Between July 12-23 visit the authors’ Facebook Page to enter to win a new giveaway each day. Winners will be announced at the Facebook Author Chat party on July 23rd! Such fun!