Montana Rose

I've always loved the Western historical romances complete with horses and cowboys and tough frontier women, especially set in Montana. This one just shot to the top of my list. If you think it's going to be a sweet little romance without a little bruising and grit, then you are mistaken. These are flesh and blood characters! The issues and the people come to life and instead of feeling distanced from them ("that was just sooooo long ago,") I could almost taste the dust kicked up and feel the punches, and the chill from the cold. Cassie was my favorite character in that she seemed real, having known those who've been abused. Her abuse at the hands of her first husband made her not only cover her real personality, masking who she was, but made her think she was fragile, like a china doll. It takes a man who truly loves her (Red) to show she can not only survive Montana's cruel side, but can thrive, grow, and learn to love back. The spiritual aspects of the characters in this story truly brings it home. If you love historical romance and the frontier spirit, you'll love this book, too.

Mary Connealy has crafted yet another fun, funny, touching book. Her heroine is a sweet, dutiful wife who suppresses all her anger and frustration until the day of her husband's funeral. She unleashes all that anger on the gravedigger. But when some rough men, living in a rough environment, decide Cassie has to choose a new husband immediately, this same gravedigger may be her only hope. Red Dawson is a simple, hard-working man, so he isn't interested in marrying a woman who's used to wearing silk and has been sheltered from hard work. But if he doesn't step in, the poor little thing is going to end up in a terrible situation. Maybe God does want him to help her. I enjoyed this book immensely. I especially liked the hero, a man who was very sweet but realistic at the same time--that's some amazingly good writing! I highly recommend this book, and I can't wait for the next book in the series, to see what happens to Cassie's friend, Belle. If you haven't read any of Mary's books, read this one and you'll be hooked like I am!

Mary Connealy's "Montana Rose" is the incredibly beautiful story of a young, pregnant widow and the decent Christian man who makes her his wife to save her from the unwholesome intentions of the town riff-raff. The idea for this book may have come from Mary reading Janette Oke's "Love Comes Softly", but this novel is all Mary Connealy! This book is full of what I have come to love as Mary's signature technique - her priceless and comical contrasting chapter transitions! It is also chock full of faith, humor and love. She creates fleshy characters about whom I develop passionate feelings including Red, Cassie and Griff. This is an absolute winner of a book!

Every time that I pick up and read a book from Mary Connealy I am in awe at the topics and issues that are addressed in such a loving and in depth manner. This specific book deals with marriage, courage, abuse, healing, strength, and new faith. The lives of the characters are so real and so easily comparable to real life that it is extremely difficult to remember that it supposedly just a fictitious story in novel format. Cassie is a woman who was brought up in a closed environment where she was unable to think or be for herself. She was then thrust into a life where the static existence that she formerly knew was practically ripped to shreds as piece by piece she learned to think for herself. Belle is a wounded woman who has endured so much pain at the form of broken hearts in marriage that any hope she once had has dwindled. It is now time for her to either accept the painful defeat of life or find hope in an attempt of grace in action. This book tells the story of Cassie and gets a good foot in the door of the tale behind Belle's life. (Cannot wait for another book in the series to find out more!!) Many people know and think about abuse and how it is a physical pain, but often they forget about the emotional and spiritual scars that are endured as well. Within this tale, various characters find ways of adapting and moving forward in life from years of proverbial abuse. Some make the right decisions and some do not. Watching these characters and their mistakes and correct actions can cause a reader to grow as well. This book is filled to the brim with situations where a reader can learn through someone's pain instead of their own. Also in the style of Mary Connealy, conversations and events fill a reader full to giggling whether they want to or not. Their were points where I'm not sure if I should blame my own pregnancy or not for the giggles brought me to tears. For me personally, another best part of this book was reading about two characters and their own experiences with pregnancy. This is the first book with a birth that I have been blessed to read that was more than she's pregnant and in the last chapter has the babe. I was enthralled by the experiences and interactions that it proved to provide with neighbors and spouses. And now, I impatiently wait for the next book in the series or other from the imaginations of Mary Connealy!!

In 1875 in the Montana Territory, Cassie Griffin's abusive husband dies. She has no time to rejoice or grieve her loss as the same day she has her odious spouse interred, she must pick his replacement as that is the law with a shortage of marriageable females. Cassie selects Red Dawson, who, as a Good Samaritan, offers to marry her to keep her safe from a stalker. Neither wants to wed, but do. They exchange their vows and immediately go to his ranch to live. Cassie quickly realizes how unsophisticated she is when it comes to relationships with people, especially men and even with God. Red quickly understands that his frightened little mouse of a wife is an abuse victim. As they fall in love, he wonders if she will ever trust him. The first Montana Marriages Americana romance is a strong tale that focuses on the impact of spousal abuse even after the abuser is dead. Cassie is a super soul struggling between her growing attraction and love to her second husband and her fear of being touched. Red is a kindhearted person who marries Cassie to keep her safe not expecting to fall in love with "the mouse that roared". Although perhaps a bit simplistic, Mary Connealy provides a wonderful Reconstruction Era inspirational as love heals all wounds. Harriet Klausner