Now and Forever by Mary Connealy

Now and Forever 

Wild at Heart Series

by

Mary Connealy

MY TAKE: 

Yay! It's here! After reading the teaser for this book at the end of Tried and True, I've been (im)patiently waiting for the full book. I think I devoured Now and Forever in nearly one sitting. It starts off with one of Mary's biggest bangs ever (and that's saying a lot!) and just keeps you flying through with baited breath all the way through. It's hard to imagine that Mary's books could get better, she's been pretty awesome all along, but I think each new book tops the last. 

Shannon Wilde may be my favorite sister. I love her attachment to her sheep and gentle but tough as nails approach. She and Tucker are such a perfect fit, that the romance is there from page one. What makes this even more fun, is that as a reader I got to enjoy them being in love. Oh, and, Tucker? Wow. He's pretty lovable. There is great tension and humor between all the characters, and the suspense/mystery of hunting their attacker is both spine tingling and romantic. As always, Mary had me laughing out loud throughout the book. And I have to give her kudos for her spot on descriptions of tracking - very cool. 

Looking forward the release of #3: Fire and Ice October 6, 2015.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Saddle up for romance and adventure with the Wilde sisters!

Shannon Wilde is the middle sister--and the one who loves animals. She's established her own homestead and is raising sheep for their wool. Things are going fine...until Shannon gets swept over a cliff by Matthew Tucker!

Tucker seizes every opportunity to get away from civilization, but one particular walk in the woods ends with him sprinting away from an angry grizzly and plunging into a raging river, accidentally taking Shannon Wilde with him. Their adventure in the wilderness results in the solitary mountain man finding himself hitched to a young woman with a passel of relatives, a homestead, and a flock of sheep to care for.

As Tucker and Shannon learn to live with each other, strange things begin to happen on Shannon's land. Someone clearly wants to drive her off, but whoever it is apparently didn't count on Tucker. Trying to scare Matthew Tucker just makes him mad--and trying to hurt the woman he's falling in love with sets off something even he never expected.

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. 

The Wild West Wedding series Cowboy Christmas—the 2010 Carol Award for Best Long Historical Romance, and an Inspirational Readers Choice Contest Finalist, and In Too Deep. 

The Lassoed in Texas Series, Petticoat Ranch, Calico Canyon and Gingham Mountain. Petticoat Ranch was a Carol Award Finalist. Calico Canyon was a Christy Award Finalist and a Carol Award Finalist. These three books are now contained in one large volume called Lassoed in Texas Trilogy. 
She is also the author of; Black Hills Blessing, a 3-in-1 collection of sweet contemporary romances. 
She is one of the four authors contributing to Alaska Brides Collection with her Carol Award Winning historical romance Golden Days along with Tracie Peterson, 
Cathy Marie Hake and Kathleen Y'Barbo. She had published two ebook Christmas novella collections. 
A Home for Christmas with Robin Lee Hatcher And Candlelight Christmas with Linda Goodnight 
And with a pseudonym she has published the romantic thriller Ten Plagues and she has republished three out of print books Bury the Lead, Fright at the Museum and Trial and Terror, three lighthearted cozy 
mysteries formerly published as the Nosy in Nebraska series under the titles Of Mice…and Murder,
Pride and Pestilence and The Miceman Cometh. 

Find Mary online at:

Seekerville 
Petticoats & Pistols 
Mary's Blog 
Mary's Website 

I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. 

CFBA: The Midwife's Tale by Delia Parr

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:
The Midwife’s Tale Bethany House Publishers (June 2, 2015) by Delia Parr


MY TAKE: 

This wonderful book, was not what I expected. Although not heavily marketed as a romance, romance is what I expected. What I found was a delightful story full of mystery, excitement and drama. The romance is lovely, but feels almost secondary to the real story - the discovery Martha Cade makes about herself as a middle aged widow and mother. What a great journey of discovery! She's strong and sassy and independent, but discovers as much of a blessing those traits are, there are times to be weak and humble and dependent on others. It may seem like a common theme, but the story is anything but common.

One of the things I enjoyed most about the story, could also be the one I should caution other readers about the most. Martha is a Midwife and delivers many babies in the story. I find the practice as well as naturopathic medicine really interesting, so it was great to see the research the author had applied. The deliveries are VERY realistic. To the point of describing them in detail using proper anatomical terms. Although I didn't find the use offensive in it's context, reading the word "vulva" in a Christian Romance novel did surprise me! lol. :) I think the author was extremely tasteful in her language and everything was clinical, but because I know there are a small number who would want to know this before reading it themselves, or giving it to a younger reader, I choose to share it here.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed The Midwife's Tale. Delia Parr did a beautiful job and I would recommend this read to anyone that enjoys this genre.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

Martha Cade comes from a long line of midwives who have served the families of Trinity, Pennsylvania, for generations. A widow with two grown children, she's hopeful that her daughter will follow in her footsteps, but when Victoria runs off, Martha's world is shattered.

Worse, a new doctor has arrived in town, threatening her job, and she can't remember a time when her faith has been tested more. Still determined to do the work she knows God intended for her, Martha is unprepared for all that waits ahead. Whether it's trying to stop a town scandal, mending broken relationships, or feeling the first whispers of an unexpected romance, she faces every trial and every opportunity with hope and faith.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Midwife’s Tale, go HERE.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Delia Parr is the author of sixteen historical and inspirational historical romance novels, including Hearts Awakening, Love's First Bloom, and Hidden Affections. The mother of three grown children, she was a long-time high school teacher in southern New Jersey before retiring to Florida.