Book Review: Fire & Ice by Mary Conneally

Can I tell you how excited I was to see that the 3rd book in this series was available for review!! I loved it and I think you will too. Here's the review:


Over time, Mary Connealy has easily become one of my favorite authors. She writes fun adventure stories filled with authentic characters with humor and wit that pulls me into the story time after time. Fire and Ice is the 3rd book in the Wild at Heart series which focuses on the three Wilde sisters who fought in the Civil War and have now claimed land out west as part of the government exemption for homesteaded property due to their military service.

In this third novel, Bailey Wilde is the central heroine, and she is the oldest and strongest willed of the three. She’s also the one who has kept up the ruse of living as a man the longest. And boy does she get under the skin of ranch owner Gage Coulter. These two are most definitely the true Fire and Ice combination. I loved every minute of this final installment in the series and look forward to Mary's next series.

While this is the 3rd in the series, it is easily read as a stand alone although it will mean so much more if you've read the other two books and gotten to know all these characters. I received this book from the publisher in exchange of an honest review.

Book Review: Now & Forever by Mary Connealy

So, I was accepted into Bethany House's reviewer program which was thrilling!! And the first book I received was the 2nd book in the Wild at Heart series by Mary Connealy. The postman dropped off  the package and my heart beat excitedly in my chest. I ripped it open and found this book just waiting for me to read, but being the busy mommy, wife, teacher, author that I am, it has taken me much longer to read this book than I would have liked.  It had nothing to do with the book and everything to do with finding time to read the book.

I love Mary Connealy’s books and this one did not disappoint!

Not having read book 1, at the onset there was some confusion on who all the characters were and how they were related, but once you get into the first chapter or so the book really is stand-alone. The author capably explains the necessary plot ideas that you might have missed from book 1.

In Now and Forever, we meet Matt Tucker (wild man/mountain man) and Shannon Wilde (pretending to be a man since the Civil War and trying to forget that same war too) who end up going through an adventure together and surviving only to be forced into a marriage of convenience due to propriety.

This is one of those books that you just tuck into, rest back into your pillow and enjoy every moment. Mary's writing style is so easy to get drawn into and before you know it several chapters have gone by. There's just something so genuine in the way the author creates her characters and as they reach their epiphany of life and love it touches your heart in a real way and the words flow over your soul and comfort you.

Matt Tucker for instance is a hero to fall in love with and not just because he's handsome and able to fight and protect Shannon but he also has a heart for God. And he says things like this after Shannon finally divulges something personal and hurtful from her past: “”If I’m strong enough to listen, then for certain God is.”

Memorable characters, terrific writing and the plotting and pacing are perfect. I definitely plan to get the other books in the series. Go out and get this one but maybe start with book 1 in the series. Ava liable at all book outlets such as Amazon.

I received a free copy of the book from Bethany House publishers for an honest review.