Gingham Mountain

Mary Connealy is an excellent author. Disputes, disagreements and adventure all lead to love. Mary's series are always colorful, characters, realistic and full of humor. The scenes are set in the west so adding your imagination to the verbiage makes the story even better. I recommend all her books.

If you have not discovered the Lassoed in Texas series by Mary Connealy yet then you have been missing out. First off lets examine the titles in the series... Petticoat Ranch (Can a widow and 4 girls run a ranch? With some mystery...), Calico Canyon (Grace gets much more than she bargained for when she is forced to marry Daniel Reeves and becomes an instant mom to the 5 Horsemen of the Apocalypse) and now Gingham Mountain (Hannah doesn't take kindly to anyone mistreating orphans and Grant doesn't take kindly to anyone saying he does). Aren't the titles just wonderful?!? Now add in adventure, romance, a little mystery and loads of humor and you have Mary's books. Great characters that continue throughout the series and a wonderful setting in 1870 Texas makes Gingham Mountain a real treat! We met Hannah briefly in Calico Canyon when her "sister" Grace ends up marrying Daniel Reeves. Hannah is on her way to meet up with Grace when plans change and she is forced to stay in Sour Springs and she becomes the local schoolteacher. Of course she has never attended school, and she owns one worn out dress and she doesn't like the way Grant takes to "adopting" orphans to become slave labor on his ranch... I just hope we have not seen the end of the Lassoed in Texas series because few authors make me laugh out loud while I'm reading, but Mary sure does!

Again, Mary Connealy delights us with rollicking fun in Texas-a handsome, endearing hero, a feisty heroine and a passel of fun-loving, heartwarming children-trademarks of Mary's Lassoed in Texas series. Along with the romance, Mary delights us with a splash of little known history-the orphan trains bringing young orphans from New York City out west to hopefully be adopted by loving families-an ideal that didn't always pan out. She also throws in suspense to keep you rooting for the hero and heroine and then delights you with the total romantic mix. We are treated to a glimpse of how Grace and Daniel from Calico Canyon are doing which brings a smile. Like Petticoat Ranch and Calico Canyon, Gingham Mountain is a book you can't put down.

Mary Connealy has a charming voice. She manages to give petticoats and prairie dust a hint of breezy chick-lit. Her western series has been an entertaining, quick and satisfying read. Gingham Mountain follows previous characters and creates new situations in which she tortures her characters. Hannah and Grant and a whole passel of orphans burst out of the Gingham Mountain pages and into my affections. If you are looking for authentic western historical details and language, you may want to look further into this series before plunking down your money. But if you are looking for entertainment, creative storytelling, charming characters and downright as much fun as a barn raising, get yerself to yer favorite book store.

I adore Petticoat Ranch and Calico Canyon, and had high hopes for Gingham Mountain. These sassy westerns are filled with romance, heart, and characters that leave you in stitches. Gingham Mountain is a wonderful addition to the series. Hannah Cartwright lands in a small Texas town desperate to save orphans from the dastardly Grant. Grant has dedicated his adult life to adopting the orphans nobody wants off the orphan train. When two are left in the opening chapter, he naturally accepts them into his family. Hannah has fears that the children will only be used and abused by him. And thus begins this wonderful romp. Mary is back with her delightful humor, but also with a wonderful dose of warmth and emotion. She doesn't swing to the extreme of humor or romance, but instead blends the two in a delightful concoction that keeps the pages turning. There's also the dash of suspense that builds at the end of the book. And I love the surprise for readers who adored Calico Canyon. This book is a keeper -- even if I need another bookshelf!