Stuck Together by Mary Connealy

Overview: When a lawman who values order gets stuck with a feisty crusader who likes to stir things up, there's going to be trouble in Texas!
Now that she's settled in town, Tina Cahill is determined to get Broken Wheel's saloon closed for good. To that end, she pickets outside the place every afternoon. Unfortunately, so far no one has paid any attention.

Vince Yates earned the nickname "Invincible Vince" because of his reputation for letting absolutely nothing stop him. But Vince is about to face his biggest challenge yet: his past has just caught up with him. His father, mother, and the sister he didn't know he had show up in Broken Wheel without warning. His father is still a schemer. His mother is showing signs of dementia. And his surprise sister quickly falls for one of Vince's best friends. Vince suddenly has a lot of people depending on him, and Tina doesn't approve of how he's handling any of them.

With nearly every other man in town married off, Vince finds himself stuck with strong-willed Tina over and over again. Of course, Tina is the prettiest woman he's ever seen, so if he could just get her to give up her crazy causes, he might go ahead and propose. But he's got one more surprise coming his way: Tina's picketing at the saloon has revealed a dark secret that could put everyone Vince loves in danger.

ISBN-13: 9780764209161
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Publication date: 6/3/2014
Series:Trouble in Texas , #3
Pages: 320

See my review of Swept Away and Fired Up 

Buy it: B&N | Amazon | CBD

My Review:  This was a fantastic book! I absolutely love Mary Connealy. Her stories are always entertaining and the dialogue is always hilarious. This story is no exception. There were several laugh out loud moments that I truly appreciated. 

I also enjoyed getting to keep up with the other characters from Swept Away and Fired Up. Luke, Ruthie, Glynna, Dare, and Jonas make excellent secondary characters that keep the story flowing swiftly. Vince and Tina are my favorite couple because it took them the longest to realize their love for each other! Their characters had to go through some pretty difficult obstacles, that I also appreciated.

The message of the story is clear: put your trust in the Lord and let go of your fear. He will not lead you where His grace won't keep you. I loved that Vince had to learn to let go of the fear of his past and future because he realized it was defining his life and his relationships. I loved that Tina had to realize that her fear of being unlovable made her who she was and it was great to see her let it go. 

Overall, this was satisfying conclusion to the Trouble in Texas series and I look forward to reading more by this incredible author!

*Thank you, Bethany House, for providing me with a free copy of this book via the Bethany House Blogger program in exchange for my honest review.*

About the Author: Mary Connealy is the bestselling author of romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Carol Award winner and a Rita and Christy and IRCC Award Finalist.

She is the author of The Trouble in Texas series, Swept Away, Fired Up and Stuck Together, The Kincaid Brides Series, Out of Control, In Too Deep and Over the Edge.
The Sophie's Daughters Series, Doctor in Petticoats, a Rita Award finalist, Wrangler in Petticoats and Sharpshooter in Petticoats. These three books are now contained in the single volume Sophie's Daughters Trilogy. The Montana Marriages Series, Montana Rose, The Husband Tree and Wildflower Bride. Montana Rose was a Carol Award Finalist. These three books are now available in the single volume Montana Marriages Trilogy.

Find Mary online at: Seekerville | Petticoats & Pistols | Mary's Blog | 

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Fired Up by Mary Connealy

I work in an inbound call center. I know I'm reading a good book when I get so caught up in the story, I jump when I get a call (the phone beeps in your ear to alert you)! That's how involved I became in this book.

Overview:  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?

ISBN-13: 9780764209154
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Publication date: 9/15/2013
Series: Trouble in Texas Series , #2
Pages: 336

See my review of Swept Away 

 Buy It: B&N | Amazon | CBD

My Review: I'm so glad this book picks up with Dare and Glynna's story!! There is a lot of action in this book and the mystery of "who done it" wasn't obvious until 3/4 the way through... And even then I wasn't absolutely sure!! 

I loved Glynna's character. She was strong despite what happened in her life. She had the courage to pick herself up and keep going. Yet, she yearned for the love of a decent man and the reassurance that she was a good, honest, loving mother and woman. That's a character I can relate to. Dare Riker is an honest man, yet he can't seem to move past the fact that he isn't really a doctor. We see him fighting himself and God the whole story about it, at least half-hearted. Glynna and Dare fired each other up whenever they were together and sparks flew! 

The message was one of forgiveness. God calls us to forgive others, not for them, but for Him and ourselves. As Dare reminds Paul at the end of the story, "It does a lot of damage to carry hate around inside," and "giving up the hurt and anger would leave space in your head for something better." Connealy also reminds us that though we are Christians, "live has challenges for everyone, no matter who they are." God doesn't smooth out all the bumps, but he'll get you through it!

Overall, Mary Connealy delivers another hilarious cowboy romance with a little action and a big message!

About the Author: Mary Connealy is the bestselling author of romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Carol Award winner and a Rita and Christy and IRCC Award Finalist.

She is the author of The Trouble in Texas series, Swept Away, Fired Up and Stuck Together, The Kincaid Brides Series, Out of Control, In Too Deep and Over the Edge.
The Sophie's Daughters Series, Doctor in Petticoats, a Rita Award finalist, Wrangler in Petticoats and Sharpshooter in Petticoats. These three books are now contained in the single volume Sophie's Daughters Trilogy. The Montana Marriages Series, Montana Rose, The Husband Tree and Wildflower Bride. Montana Rose was a Carol Award Finalist. These three books are now available in the single volume Montana Marriages Trilogy.

Find Mary online at: Seekerville | Petticoats & Pistols | Mary's Blog | 

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Swept Away by Mary Connealy

Overview: 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?

ISBN-13: 9780764209147
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Publication date: 3/1/2013
Series:Trouble in Texas Series , #1
Pages: 320

B&N | Amazon | CBD

My Review: I had forgotten how funny and entertaining Mary Connealy's stories can be! This one pulled me in from the time Ruthy gets swept away in a flood and kept me hooked until the very last page.

Ruthy MacNeil is a hard working, smart, God-fearing woman who finds herself in one bad situation after another. Her attitude throughout the book reminds us that we should try to find the positive in any situation. Luke Stone is an honorable, tough man bent on revenge. As the story goes on, we find his priorities lining up better with the God he was raised to know and love.

With witty dialogue, an action packed story, and God's reminder that revenge belongs to Him, this is another fantastic story by Mary Connealy!

About the Author: Mary Connealy is the bestselling author of romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Carol Award winner and a Rita and Christy and IRCC Award Finalist.

She is the author of The Trouble in Texas series, Swept Away, Fired Up and Stuck Together, The Kincaid Brides Series, Out of Control, In Too Deep and Over the Edge.
The Sophie's Daughters Series, Doctor in Petticoats, a Rita Award finalist, Wrangler in Petticoats and Sharpshooter in Petticoats. These three books are now contained in the single volume Sophie's Daughters Trilogy. The Montana Marriages Series, Montana Rose, The Husband Tree and Wildflower Bride. Montana Rose was a Carol Award Finalist. These three books are now available in the single volume Montana Marriages Trilogy.

Find Mary online at: Seekerville | Petticoats & Pistols | Mary's Blog | 

Website | Twitter | Facebook