Cowboy Christmas

Do you ever just want to curl up with a book that is funny, sweet, and genuinely interesting? If so, pick up Cowboy Christmas. I have come to be so excited when I see that Mary Connealy has a new book out as I know I will be challenged, encouraged as well as have my funny bone tickled!! This book is not a disappointment! A girl trapped in a dangerous situation while trying to do the right thing, Annette escapes at a high cost only to fall into other bad situations. Her attackers are smart though and instead of always attacking her outright, they attack her character....through twists and turns, Mary will take you and you will not put this one down until you come to the final conclusion!! She will keep you wondering all the way there! I cannot tell you more without giving away the story, but run out and buy this one for yourself.

I thoroughly enjoyed Cowboy Christmas! From the very beginning, I was drawn to Annie and her predicament, rooting for her and loving her sass. And Elijah...sigh...what's not to love in a brooding cowboy, betrayed by a woman, and fighting his attraction for the new woman in town. Mary does such a good job with developing conflict between the hero and heroine. The conflict, mixed with the growing attraction for one another, make for a great romance. I thought the villain was very...villainous. He becomes a predator, hunting down Annie, and the suspense of when he would make his appearance kept me turning the pages. Don't you love a great villain? Mary Connealy is excellent at hooking you in and keeping you turning page after page. She creates believable and heart-warming characters and weaves humor into the dialogue, making it snappy and fun. You will love this book!

Mary Connealy's "Cowboy Christmas" is the incredibly beautiful story of a young woman whose desire to sing for Jesus landed her in the clutches of a couple of swindlers who wanted to use her talent for their own gain. When Annie is freed from captivity, she makes her escape from the horrible existence of bondage and heads to Ranger Bluff, Wyoming in search of the father who seems to have vanished off the face of the earth. But when she encounters Elijah Walker, a kind-hearted man who is just settling down after bringing his father's murderer to justice, Annie doesn't trust easily. And Elijah certainly doesn't trust this woman since she's obviously lying to him. He fell into that trap before and it cost his father his life! This novel is chock-full of what I have come to love about Mary Connealy's work. I adore her priceless storytelling wit and the comical way she begins one chapter or break in the book with a deliberately crafted contrast to the end of the previous section! I adore the faith, humor and love that drips from the pages. Mary's book cover is eye-catching - rugged, yet girly, wild and very western. I can't see his face, but I know that cowboy is a dreamboat! Her books are an absolute MUST for any fan of Western Christian Fiction. Be sure to check out "Petticoat Ranch" and "Calico Canyon", and "Gingham Mountain" from her "Lassoed in Texas" series and stand-alone novel "Montana Rose". This is 4-star entertainment!

Whoa! This book is a wild gallop on an excited pony, but you won't want to pull back on the reins until the very last word on the last page. A fun ride. Elijah Walker is sick to death of wily women and their evil ways, and with good reason. That's why he's so disgusted with himself for caring about Annette Talbot. He finds her half starved and needing help and just can't seem to stop himself from helping her. Although he might have succeeded if it hadn't been for his interfering Ma, who's taken a shine to the little homeless orphan, Annie. I enjoyed this book completely. It has hate-able villains whose hearts are as black as sin, a loveable hero who needs the love of a good woman, and an equally loveable heroine who needs the protection of a good man. It has surprise twists and daring adventures. What more could you ask for? I was glued to the pages and could hardly wait to find out what was going to happen next. Just like all of Mary Connealy's books, it was funny, exciting, touching and romantic all at the same time. And just like the rest of her books, when I finished reading it, I was sure it was my favorite one so far. I highly recommend it! Can't wait to read the next one!

In 1879 in a mining camp in Missouri, Claude Leveque orders hymn singer Annette Talbot to perform in a revealing dress or watch her elderly friend Elva die. Fearing the brute will beat Elva, Annie is shocked when her pianist gives her money for a one way ticket out of town saying she is dying from a bad heart. Vowing to never forget her beloved friend, Annie heads to her widower father's home in Ranger Bluff, Wyoming Territory; six years since she left him a bitter hardened man. Elijah Walker still reels from the death of his Pa and the betrayal of his beloved Priscilla that destroyed the family ranch. He vows to never trust a woman ever again. Annie and Elijah meet on the stagecoach and each remembers knowing each other as children. Although attracted to one another, he assumes a young woman traveling alone must be another Priscilla. She thinks he is an obstinate yahoo. As they fuss and fight they fall in love, but he seems incapable of getting past the haunting hardening of his heart. COWBOY CHRISTMAS is a terrific western romance that grips the audience from the moment the vile Claude grips Annie's blouse and unlike him never let's go of the reader. The lead couple is a wonderful pairing, but it is the strong cast even those who have short appearances make this tale work by bringing a sense of time and place to the plot. Sub-genre fans will relish Mary Connealy's super late nineteenth century romance (see MONTANA ROSE). Harriet Klausner