Review: Aiming for Love by Mary Connealy

About the Book

Book: Aiming for Love
Author: Mary Connealy
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: October 2, 2019

Josephine Nordegren is one of three sisters who grew up nearly wild in southwestern Colorado. She has the archery skills of Robin Hood and the curiosity of the Little Mermaid, fascinated by but locked away from the forbidden outside world–a world she’s been raised to believe killed her parents. When David Warden, a rancher, brings in a herd much too close to the girls’ secret home, her older sister is especially frightened, but Jo is too interested to stay away.

 David’s parents follow soon on his heels, escaping bandits at their ranch. But his father is wounded and needs shelter. Josephine and her sisters have the only cabin on the mountain. Do they risk stepping into the world to help those in need? Or do they remain separated but safe in the peaks of Hope Mountain?

Click here to get your copy!   (aff link)

About the Author

Mary Connealy writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has more than half a million books in print. She is the author of the popular series Wild at Heart, Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie’s Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Learn more at www.maryconnealy.com.

More from Mary

What it would do to someone to run wild from nearly their earliest memory? What if three young girls had the basic skills to survive a rugged life but no adults to guide them? Would they grow up to be a completely odd and untamed version of themselves, or the truest, in some ways most honest version? I wanted to explore that idea: wild children, tough young women, afraid of the invading world, but lonely, too. So I created the plot for my Brides of Hope Mountain series by mixing the three little girls who’d grown up wild on the top of a mountain with some fairy tale ideas. Book one, Aiming for Love, is Josephine Nordegren’s story. I had this vision of Ariel the mermaid seeing a man for the first time when strangers invade the high valley she lives in with only her two sisters. Curiosity is her besetting sin, or so she’s always been told. She has wilderness skills, mainly in the form of owning a bow and arrow and understanding wild animals, but for the first time, she is drawn to a man. Jo needs to be tamed, or Dave, the man she can’t stop watching from in the woods, needs to learn the ways of the wild, because they’re out of place in each other’s worlds.

My rating:
4 stars
(View my rating system)

My thoughts:

Aiming for Love is a good book to pick up if you are looking for a nice historical read with some humor. I haven't read a Mary Connealy novel in what feels like ages, so I was curious about whether or not I would enjoy this one... I'm very happy that it was a hit and I am eager to continue the series.

I found the characters to be a delight. It was interesting how the sisters' lived and in some ways I felt bad for them. The romance was as expected and I enjoyed reading the story.

All in all, Aiming for Love was very good and I recommend it to fans of this genre.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*

Find the book on:
Amazon (aff link), Goodreads

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, October 25

Moments With Mercy, October 25

Bigreadersite , October 25

Emily Yager, October  25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 26

Books, Life, and Christ, October 26

Quiet Workings, October 26

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, October 27

For Him and My Family, October 27

Stories By Gina, October 27

Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 27

Older & Smarter?, October 28

Betti Mace, October 28

Wishful Endings, October 28

The Becca Files, October 29

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, October 29

Mary Hake, October 29

Mamma Loves Books, October 29

A Baker’s Perspective, October 30

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, October 30

Britt Reads Fiction, October 30

For The Love of Books, October 30

Hallie Reads, October 31

Connect in Fiction, October 31

Christian Bookshelf Reviews, October 31

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess , November 1

To Everything There Is A Season, November 1

Daysong Reflections, November 1

Splashes of Joy, November 1

Moments, November 2

Simple Harvest Reads, November 2

Batya’s Bits, November 2

She Lives To Read, November 2

EmpowerMoms, November 3

Seasons of Opportunities, November 3

Remembrancy, November 3

Blessed & Bookish, November 4

For the Love of Literature, November 4

Through the Fire Blogs, November 4

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 4

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, November 5

Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 5

Pause for Tales , November 5

Texas Book-aholic, November 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 6

janicesbookreviews, November 6

A Reader’s Brain, November 7

Inklings and notions , November 7

Leona J. Atkinson, November 7

Lukewarm Tea, November 7

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away a grand prize package of a $20 Amazon gift card, a copy of Aiming for Love, and a copy of Fairy Tales from Around the World!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/ed95/aiming-for-love-celebration-tour-giveaway

This post may contain “affiliate links.” This means if you click on a link with my affiliate code and purchase an item(s), I will receive an affiliate commission. You won't be charged extra, I'll just receive a small percentage of the purchase price. See my disclosure page here.

Read More

Review: A Match Made in Texas by Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, Carol Cox, and Mary Connealy

A Match Made in Texas by Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, Carol Cox, and Mary Connealy
Bethany House / 2014

Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

About the book:

There's a secret matchmaker at work in frontier Texas!

In the small town of Dry Gulch, Texas, a good-hearted busybody just can't keep herself from surreptitiously trying to match up women in dire straits with men of good character she hopes can help them. How is she to know she's also giving each couple a little nudge toward love?

A Cowboy Unmatched
Neill isn't sure who hired him to repair Clara's roof--he only knows Clara desperately needs his help. Can he convince this stubborn widow to let down her guard and take another chance on love?

An Unforeseen Match
Hoping to earn an honest wage on his way to the land rush, Clayton ends up on Grace's doorstep, lured by a classified ad. He may have signed on for more than he expected though--and he may have found the one woman who can keep him from moving on.

No Match for Love
Andrew can't fathom how refined Lucy ended up as the caretaker to his dotty aunt, and somehow her arrival has prompted even more bizarre occurrences around the ranch. When they join forces to unearth the truth, will the attraction between Andrew and Lucy develop into more?

Meeting Her Match
When the tables are turned and a tenderhearted meddler becomes the beneficiary of a matchmaking scheme, her world is turned upside down. As her entire life changes, will she finally be able to tell the banker's son how much she cares for him?

My rating:

My thoughts:

A Match Made in Texas is a wonderful collection of novellas! I loved the role "The Matchmaker" played in the first three stories and how she got her own story in the last one!

A Cowboy Unmatched by Karen Witemeyer:

I started A Cowboy Unmatched with such eagerness! After reading Karen Witermeyer's previous two "Archer" novels, I could hardly wait to read Neill's story and... it was even better than I had hoped!!

I absolutely loved Neill in this book. It was so sweet how he went above and beyond the actions expected and helped Clara in so many ways. I also really liked the new character, Clara. Her reactions to certain things that happened showcased what a strong woman she was.

I think this is the end to the "Archer" stories, which made it a bittersweet read. I loved getting to know these brothers and I'd love to read more stories with them, should Karen decide to write more "Archer" books; but, if not, this was a great way to end it!

An Unforeseen Match by Regina Jennings:

An Unforeseen Match was another great novella! I've previously read one of Regina Jennings' full-length novels and enjoyed it, so I was pretty sure I'd like this story - and I did! :)

I loved how a couple of the things from the previous novella were incorporated into the story (for instance, how the barn was patched in places with mud, which Clara from A Cowboy Unmatched had done).

I really liked the characters and definitely felt for Grace and the struggles she endured by being blind. I loved the way Clayton helped Grace as she made adjustments in her life. Great read!

No Match For Love by Carol Cox:

In my opinion, No Match for Love wasn't as good as the first two novellas. The villain seemed obvious to me, the romance felt like it moved way too quickly and was unbelievable, and there were some things towards the end that didn't feel right to me.

I did like the characters and how Lucy had to learn how to do even the most simple tasks (like making tea). It was fun to read Martha's reaction to that incident.

I liked No Match for Love, but didn't love it. I've previously read Carol Cox's book, Love in Disguise, which I really liked.

Meeting Her Match by Mary Connealy:

Meeting Her Match was a good conclusion to A Match Made In Texas! I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did, so I was glad to find that it was a really enjoyable and funny read.

Meeting Her Match was the shortest of the four novellas (it was only a little over 70 pages), but there were still some pretty hilarious scenes and "how dare he do that" moments. There were some things that bugged me about this story (like how the father had a complete change of character without any reason being given and when the story repeated some things needlessly, in addition to some other things), but all in all I really enjoyed this novella.

Collection as a whole:

Overall, A Match Made In Texas was a very enjoyable read! My favorite novella was A Cowboy Unmatched, then An Unforeseen Match, but the other two were also good...it's just some things about them I didn't care for all that much. I definitely recommend this novella collection, though, as it is really good! If you enjoy historical romance, I think you'll like it.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*

Was my review helpful? If so, please click "yes" on Amazon. Thanks!

Read More

Review: Fired Up (Trouble in Texas #2) by Mary Connealy

Fired Up by Mary Connealy
Trouble in Texas: #2
Bethany House / 2013

Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

About the book:

When a doctor who attracts danger falls for a cook determined to make it on her own, there's going to be trouble in Texas!

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 make a go of it on her own. In a town full of men, Glynna decides she can support her two children by opening a diner--never mind that cooking is not her greatest talent.

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.

Though his doctoring business is booming due to Glynna's questionable cooking, Dare seems to encounter unexpected dangers wherever he goes. There's the avalanche. And the fire. And then the shadowy figure with a knife. Can Dare survive it all long enough to convince Glynna to take another chance on love?

My rating:

My thoughts:

Fired Up is the sixth book (counting the novella "Winter Wedding Bells") I've read by Mary Connealy and another fun read! I found myself laughing a few times during the story - especially when the men were willing to put up with Glynna's horrible cooking, just because she was pretty.

There were a couple little things in Fired Up that bugged me - including how dumb the characters acted sometimes - but there were things I really liked too. The ending was one thing - I loved the message of forgiveness. Also, the mystery about who was out to kill Dare was good - I had a hard time sticking with one suspect.

With Fired Up's ending, I'm anxious to read Vince's story - I think it'll be another fun read and probably my favorite of the series.

Overall, though part of the story annoyed me, I mostly enjoyed Fired Up and think if you've enjoyed previous Mary Connealy books, you will also like this one.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Litfuse Publicity. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

Was my review helpful? If so, please click "yes" on Amazon. Thanks!

~Litfuse Tour Page~

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!

Read More

Review: A Bride for All Seasons by Margaret Brownley, Robin Lee Hatcher, Debra Clopton, & Mary Connealy

A Bride for All Seasons: The Mail Order Bride Collection

Thomas Nelson / 2013

Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

About of the book:

1800s mail-order bride catalogs facilitated many happy marriages. Here are the stories of four couples who owe their wedded bliss to creative editing by The Hitching Post publisher.

“And Then Came Spring”—Margaret Brownley

Sheriff Tom Garrett wants vengeance on his brother’s murderers, but he must think of his orphaned nephew. Then Mary-Jo shows up, swearing she married Tom’s brother by proxy and he’d neglected to mention a son.

“An Ever-After Summer”—Debra Clopton

Widower Matt McConnell wrote his ad with no room for misunderstanding—Bible believers need not apply. But Bible-thumping Ellie shows up on his doorstep. Matt’s so desperate for her help that he accepts.

“Autumn’s Angel”—Robin Lee Hatcher

Luvena Abbott is a singing sensation in New York. But as guardian to her brother’s children, she has few options to provide a home. Clay Birch won an abandoned theater in a poker game. The Hitching Post editor thinks they’ll make a perfect match.

“Winter Wedding Bells”—Mary Connealy


David Laramie is looking for a woman to care for his children. In exchange he’ll make her financially comfortable for life. But no woman wants to marry a dying man. Then Megan responds to his ad. It seems his “edited” letter contained no mention of him dying.

My rating:

My thoughts:

I'm typically not a huge fan of novellas, but this collection of four "Mail-Order Bride" novellas was great! The first two, "And Then Came Spring" by Margaret Brownley and "An Ever-After Summer" by Debra Clopton, were very good and had me laughing a lot. "Autumn's Angel" was my least favorite of the four, probably because it felt way too short and rushed (especially towards the end). My favorite was the last one, "Winter Wedding Bells" by Mary Connealy - it was just so good!

Melvin, The Hitching Post publisher, and his interference in the couples' lives/letters added such a neat element to A Bride for All Seasons. I just couldn't help shaking my head (and sometimes laughing out loud) at some of his antics! Oh, and I loved the glossary of terms at the end of Margaret Brownley's novella - too funny!

Overall, I enjoyed reading all of the novellas and loved three of them. I definitely recommend A Bride for All Seasons - it had great characters, romance, and humor! If you enjoy historical reads (especially mail-order bride ones), I think you will like A Bride for All Seasons.

*I received this book for free for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

Was my review helpful? If so, please click "yes" on Amazon. Thank you!

Litfuse Tour Info:

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!

Read More