Marshaling Her Heart

Author: Mary Connealy
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Wyoming Sunrise #3
Pages: 304
Release Date: October 17, 2023
Publisher: Bethany House

Will their lives and romance survive the trouble coming their way?

Becky Pruitt has always prided herself on knowing everything that's happening on her successful ranch, so an unexpected admission from her foreman, Nate Paxton, comes as quite a surprise. With the notorious Deadeye Gang on the loose, Nate--a former U.S. Marshal--believes Becky's ranch is the best spot for a group of Marshals to use as a base to hunt them down.

The timing couldn't be more crucial for the town of Pine Valley, and Becky feels obligated to help. But after escaping the grasp of her harsh father, she's never liked giving up control, of her life or her ranch. If there's anyone she can trust with her ranch, and her heart, it might be Nate. But the outlaws won't go away quietly, and as danger draws ever nearer, Becky and Nate are faced with impossible choices that will test their growing bond.

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Reviewer: Conny Withay

“But the outlaws won’t go away quietly, and as danger draws ever nearer, Becky and Nate are faced with impossible choices that will test their growing bond,” the Amazon description states regarding Mary Connealy’s novel, Marshaling Her Heart.

This three-hundred-and-four-page advanced reader copy targets those interested in historical romance dealing with trouble in the Wild West. The topics of physical abuse, murder, and death may not be appropriate for immature readers. The ending includes an excerpt of the beginning of a new series, the author’s biography, acknowledgments, and advertisements.

In the third book in the Wyoming Sunrise series, twenty-two-year-old Becky Pruitt has successfully mastered her own cattle ranch after separating herself from her abusive father, thanks to an inheritance. With the help of Nate, her ranch foreman, she agrees to allow the US Marshals to hideout on her land as they investigate the dangerous Deadeye Gang. Only when she learns the truth about her father does she understand why she must lean on God and Nate for survival.

This is a stand-alone story in part of a series about finding love on the frontier while a band of outlaws terrorizes the area. I liked learning about the ranch and the two protagonists’ dedication to doing the right thing when faced with decisions. Although I have not read any of the prior books in the series, this one seems to tie up loose ends regarding its characters.

Those who do not like reading about cowboys and outlaws may want to pass on this one. If you do not have a personal relationship with God, you might not care for its Christian overtones, but they are done lightly and mentioned mostly at the end of the story. The plethora of people may confuse some readers.

Since this is the last of a series, it would help to have a map of the area and a list of characters at the beginning of the book. While I appreciate the references to God, praying, Bible verses, and depending totally on the Almighty, I wish the tale included the simplistic eternal plan of salvation.

If you like the prior two books in this romance series about trouble in Wyoming due to outlaws, the start of women’s suffrage, and ranching, this last one will keep you galloping through its pages.

I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews. I am under no obligation to give a positive review.

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Reviewer: Nikita Wells

" 'The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?'  She could almost smile because the peace had swept away all her fear. And she hung there and waited and prayed."

After finishing the previous book, "The Laws of Attraction" (five stars for that one), if you haven't read it, you seriously need to! It ended with a pretty good cliffhanger. So I couldn't wait to read the story of Mariah and Nell's best friend, Becky! Marshaling Her Heart certainly didn't disappoint.

Becky Pruitt is a tough gal, as if you couldn't tell from the gorgeous cover, which features her in a rugged yet feminine cowgirl's attire and packing her trusty pistol. For those who don't already know, I love a well-written "girls with guns" story, and this is one of those!

The story mentions a bit about women's suffrage, but it doesn't stay there for too long, to my relief. Often in other books, the subject is overdone and written in a very irritating and anti-male fashion, but in this book that wasn't the case. Before long, we get back to the wild west manhunt we've been waiting for throughout this series.

The only offensive language in this book was "fool," and that was used just twice.

Marshaling Her Heart was a great conclusion to a nice western series, and I'm really looking forward to what's next on the horizon for this author!

Thank you to Bethany House for the complimentary paperback I received to review through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to write a positive review, and the thoughts and opinions above are my own.

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Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

Marshaling Her Heart by Mary Connealy is the final book in her Wyoming Sunrise series that will hold the reader's attention from the first page to the last.

Each novel in the series has focused on three friends: Mariah, Nell, and Becky. In this book, we get more of Becky's backstory, and while those who have read the series knew how horrible her father was, we find out just how evil he truly is.

With a great plot that picks up speed and keeps you intrigued to the last page, I was delighted to visit with all the characters I've grown to love since the first book. It was wonderful to see where they were in their lives.

Since I read an unedited ARC, there were some explanations missing regarding the mystery surrounding Becky's father. But overall, this is a delightful novel that, while it can be read as a standalone, would be far more enjoyable if you read all of the books so that you can get to know these great characters and their stories. I highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

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Reviewer: Holly Artis

Mary Connealy is one of my all-time favorite authors, and I always look forward to her latest books. I have been anticipating reading Marshaling Her Heart, as I believe it is the third book in her latest series. As with Mary’s previous books, the cover design is beautifully done. While it is the third book in the series, I feel it can be read as a stand-alone without any confusion.

I have to say that out of all of the books in this series, this one was my favorite! The series started out with a very strong feminist view, which at times was a little off-putting. However, this final book wrapped it up with the message that you can be a strong female that can do things as well as a man but still be feminine. I thought there was great character development between the main characters, even in the previous books, and great chemistry. The plot was very well developed and kept me intrigued. However, there are a few things that were never answered surrounding the mystery.

Overall, the book is very well written, and I look forward to reading more of Ms. Connealy’s books in the future. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, clean Christian mystery with a touch of romance added in.

I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House through NetGalley and Interviews & Reviews in exchange for my honest review. All opinions stated are my own.

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Reviewer: Rebecca Maney

"He wished himself back to simpler times, like this morning when he was beating on himself for saying her nightgown was pretty."

Becky Pruitt was a self-made woman, purchasing and managing her own ranch, hiring her own hands, choosing and breeding her own stock, and staying as far away as possible from her overbearing bear of a father, Joshua Pruitt. So when Becky's foreman pecks on her bedroom window late one night, whispering about an opportunity for the Idee Ranch to be a covert operations base for U.S. Marshals as they close in on shutting down the dreadful Deadeye Gang, her usually decisive mind turns contemplative. Or maybe it's just the messenger, Nate Paxton, a former Marshal? gracious! Did the man just mention that her nightgown was pretty?

Full of grins and grimaces, as entertaining as it is romantic, intriguing, and inspiring, Marshaling Her Heart takes off at a high-speed gallop and barely slows down until Becky and Nate come to a most satisfying agreement, which you will just have to read for yourself after you carefully, quietly sneak up on the scene when Becky prays, "To live is Christ. To die is gain."

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.

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