Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Swept Away by Mary Connealy - REVIEWED

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Swept Away
Bethany House Publishers (March 1, 2013)
by
Mary Connealy


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Christy Award Finalist, a Carol Award Finalist and an IRCC Award finalist.

The Lassoed in Texas Series, Petticoat Ranch, Calico Canyon and Gingham Mountain. Petticoat Ranch was a Carol Award Finalist. Calico Canyon was a Christy Award Finalist and a Carol Award Finalist. These three books are now contained in one large volume called Lassoed in Texas Trilogy.

The Montana Marriages Series, Montana Rose, The Husband Tree and Wildflower Bride. Montana Rose was a Carol Award Finalist.

Cowboy Christmas—the 2010 Carol Award for Best Long Historical Romance, and an Inspirational Readers Choice Contest Finalist.

The Sophie's Daughters series. Doctor in Petticoats, Wrangler in Petticoats, Sharpshooter in Petticoats.

She is also the author of; Black Hills Blessing a 3-in-1 collection of sweet contemporary romances, Nosy in Nebraska, a 3-in-1 collection of cozy romantic mysteries and she's one of the three authors contributing to Alaska Brides with her Carol Award Winning historical romance Golden Days.

ABOUT THE BOOK

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 Thoughts:

This was the strangest fight of his life.  No kissing in war, not even a speck of it.”  (p. 277)

Luke Stone learns about many different wars in Mary Connealy’s new novel Swept Away.  Luke is a survivor of Andersonville Prison as are his friends he turns to when his family farm is stolen. They are a formidable group of survivors.  This group of friends have not only survived – but they have thrived. Doctors, lawyers…although their doctoring skills were learned by force in the prison…not the most desirable.  Actually, the lawyer’s skills were learned kind of haphazardly too…hmmmm….I need to examine this a bit more carefully.  Anyway, they come together to rid the town of Broken Wheel of a very evil man
As Luke is making his way to connect with his friends, he picks up a very unexpected presence in his life – Ruthy MacNeil.  Ruthy brings an entirely different story into play in the lives of this group of survivors.  She is also a survivor in her own right, so to say that this is an interesting group facing interesting circumstances is putting it mildly!! You will never grow bored when Mary Connealy wields her pen!

Mary is a master at creating sort of prickly characters and planting them among less prickly characters. In the process, she draws out the best of both.  The circumstances that bring Ruthy to the group are enough to overcome in their own right, but she becomes a driving force in the lives of this group of men.  Some men are forever changed in profound ways!  But I’ll never tell who is changed! You’ll have to discover that for yourself!

Your discovery will be couched in lots of action, romance and some comic moments as well.  Mary Connealy offers a full palette of emotions in her novel, and you will be left very satisfied!


If you would like to read the first chapter of Swept Away, go HERE.


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