The Laws of Attraction is such a wonderful and fun historical fiction book! It’s number two in a three-book series. Read them all! I devoured the first book. And then I devoured this one. And then I sadly began the wait for book number three to come out!

Nell is the feminine friend. She owns a dress shop. She wants to make dresses. And yet the thing she makes the most are chaps. She hates making chaps. But that’s what she gets paid to make so that’s what she makes. I feel here we should add that Nell isn’t just feminine. She has a strong mind, she’s inquisitive, and she’s not squeamish about blood. Plus she’s amazing at investigating. That’s partly due to her dead husband having been a lawman. He’d talk over his cases with her. But her marriage wasn’t a happy one and she’s perfectly content being single in her small town.

Throw in a man who’s single-handedly raising his three daughters after his wife died. He calls them boy nicknames and dresses them in boy’s clothing. When his oldest comes hiding in Nell’s shop because she doesn’t want to be seen in boys clothing any longer Nell takes them under her wing.

By working for her they can earn dresses. And oh does she have fun making them!

But then the Deadeye Gang comes back and Nell is a target it seems. Can she and Brand keep the girls safe and figure out who is out to get them before it’s too late? Such a great suspense but also historical fiction novel all rolled into one!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

The Laws of Attraction is written by Mary Connealy. This is book two in the Wyoming Sunrise series. I am absolutely loving this series. The author has done such amazing research and created some strong female characters.

Nell Armstrong is a widowed seamstress. She desires to make more then just chaps. She gets caught up in the drama with the Dead-Eye Gang - she wants more. She finds out Brand Nolte is struggling to raise his three girls. They are in desperate need of a woman's touch. However, Brand will not take charity - so they come to a workable arrangement.

I loved the banter between Nell and Brand. I loved seeing how they adjust to their circumstances. I love that he listens to her opinions. One of the things that I have loved in this series is how progressive Wyoming was back in the day.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

Welcome to the Wild West where stage coach robbers are mean and are determined to not leave any witnesses. Yes folks during this time period it was down right dangerous to ride a stage coach. The outlaw gangs were hiding in wait to attack the innocent people who traveled by stage coach. I can’t imagine how scary it would be to see an armed person approaching and you were trapped with no way to escape. The author paints a great picture of how it was in Wyoming territory.

We are introduced to Nell who is the local dress shop owner. She is one smart woman who paid close attention to her now deceased husband when he was a lawman. He taught her skills that has become valuable in her survival now. I did find it a little funny that her skills were being used to make chaps instead of pretty clothes for women. It has made her money doing this but she so wants to use her skills for pretty things instead of boring chaps for cowboys who probably don’t see the intricate skills she has.

Brand is a hardworking man who is now raising his three daughters alone after the death of his wife. He feels inadequate to see to their needs at times which you can tell make him feel like he is failing his girls. The introduction to Nell shines a light on how much he needs to learn about raising girls. Her selfless act to make dresses for them in exchange for their work at her shop gives him hope. Oh my I could feel how excited those sweet girls felt when they found out they were getting a new dress.

I was impressed by the skills Nell uses to help figure out who is behind the stage coach robberies. She becomes very important as she is able to identify certain things that others may have overlooked. One man who has survived the attack is hidden away in town with townspeople watching him around the clock. Is it possible that one of them is a part of the gang? The tension is high as the town tries to figure out who in their town is behind the killings. I liked how many came together to stand guard and protect each other. Community was very important in these troubled times and now they must stand together to rid their town of these dangerous men.

I loved how the author gives Nell a prestigious job of Justice of the Peace. What an honor it was to be appointed as the second justice of the peace in America. She has a big responsibility presiding over court, signing subpoenas and other duties that involve the law.

There is plenty of action in the story as the town gets together to hunt down the men who have been causing havoc and taking innocent lives. The author gives us a few surprises along the way which I loved. Be sure and grab a copy of this book that will give you a look at the Wild West and how a town comes together to help each other out.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Cowboy romances is not my usual go-to genre, but I have recently become a fan of Mary Connealy's books. Her trademark humor and midwest common sense lends a realistic approach to her stories. The Laws of Attraction is the second book in the series, and while it could be read as a standalone, I highly recommend you read the books in order. Having been introduced to Nell in the first book, I was eager to read her story.

The Dead-Eye Gang (the name being an example of the author's sense of humor) has struck the small town of Pine Valley once again. They will go to extreme circumstances to make sure there are no witnesses. With a gutsy heroine leading the way, the inhabitants once again rally as they wonder if there is an enemy within their ranks.

I was captivated from the beginning to the end by the well-paced plot, filled with danger. With a delightful cast of characters and a hero and heroine who stumble into love, readers will breathe a sigh of relief at the satisfying conclusion.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher through Netgalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Once again, Mary Connealy has woven together a wonderful story full of strong women, and strong men. I love when an author can make a woman strong without making the men weak! I found that this was the second story in a series, but was happy that it did not seem to deter from the ability to fully pull into the story without feeling like a major amount was missed. I wouldn't mind going back and finding the first book, but it's truly not necessary to feel fully connected with the one.

Nell Armstrong is the main character that this story is built around. She has a few very close, very strong female friends who have become solid parts of their community. Nell is a seamstress who loves to make dresses, but has developed a major reputation for making chaps for cowboys. She hates making chaps, but she can't seem to charge too much in an effort to deter the many orders that continue to flow in. She is booked out with months worth of orders. One of her best friends is the town blacksmith, and another owns a large spread and employs many cowboys. All three are heavily respected in the community.

Nell seems to be incredibly capable of wearing many hats in the community. She has yet to have a challenge brought to her that she can't match. The town doctor calls on her as his nurse in tough situations; the town sheriff calls on her to help with detective work involving a lot of gruesome challenges; and she even gets offered the position of the town justice of the peace...the second woman in the entire country to hold such a top town position. Her greatest desire is to have daughters and sew pretty dresses. However, she has such incredible talent and intelligence that she holds many rolls. She finds a way to weave her dreams in with the many responsibilities that seem to land in her lap daily.

I loved this historical fiction story with so much humor. I loved the many characters, and the depth that Ms. Connealy gave them. I loved all of the edge of the seat experiences throughout the book. I very much am looking forward to the next story in this series. Again, I may look for the first one as I wait!

I will absolutely be recommending this book on my blog found at https://thefinalwordbooks.blogspot.com. I only publish reviews that meet a certain level of criteria, as I search for the very best work (in my opinion).


Thank you so much, NetGalley and Bethany House, for allowing me this wonderful privilege of reading this book in exchange for an honest review.

A riveting western romance full of adventure, humor, and charm.

Engaging from the start this book had me charmed with leads that I could cheer for the whole way through. I loved how Nell bonds with the girls through teaching them to sew and her love for creating beautiful things, it was fun seeing her get to know each of them. I also liked seeing Nell and Brand get more comfortable with their arrangement, and I liked how he listens to her opinions. Brand is a wonderful father, kind and protective.

A fast paced and engaging read with plenty of action, humor, and moments that brought a smile to my face. I especially liked how this book doesn't get into the bad guy's head and we find out what he is doing along with the characters, as I never really like being in a bad guy's head.

Overall, this was a entertaining read that pulled me in from the very beginning, with a fast moving plot, wonderful characters, and strong themes of faith. I was sad to see it come to an end! Can't wait for the next book in the series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is Nell's story, a seamstress who loves making dresses and hates making chaps but with the number of men in the Wyoming territory she continues to get orders for them. Enter Brand and his three daughters in a very dramatic way. When a stranger is left for dead after a stagecoach robbery by the Deadeye Gang, Nell and the doc and sheriff enlist the help of Brand and other townspeople to help keep an eye on him with the hopes that he will recover and tell them who robbed the stagecoach. Another fun read by the author with plenty of mischief, mayhem, romance, and suspense thrown in. The author also gives us historical facts on the state of Wyoming and being the first state to allow women to vote. This is the second book in the series and so far my favorite. Becky, a local ranch owner is the next heroine.

Another great read by Connealy! If you love a good western story that has a strong female lead and widows and widowers finding love again, then you will enjoy this one! I enjoyed everything about this book and like reading about how women came to be able to vote and also take part in the leadership of the town in the year of We visit some of the characters from the first book and of course the Deadeye gang is in full operation once again. We have another stage coach robbery with several deaths and one near death. It is their method to leave none alive and he is more dead than alive. Thus the doctor and others keep an around the clock vigil to make sure he stays alive. But as fate would have it, someone gets to him and he is found dead….but by who? Such an adventure with many twists and turns, lots of drama and adventure. Oh yes, love comes in an unlikely form amid all the excitement and suspense. All in all this makes a very interesting book…..Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book.

Mary Connealy's latest release The Laws of Attraction brings readers an adventure-packed second book in her Wyoming Sunrise. Readers of Mary Connealy are familiar with her talent for packing her works with adventure, intrigue, wit, faith, and romance. The Laws of Attraction continues Ms. Connealy's excellent writing with the story of Nell Armstrong, a widowed seamstress that longs to make dresses and beautiful designs instead of the practical chaps for cowboys. If you haven't read the first book in her Wyoming Sunrise series, it may help to have a better context and background for the characters, although The Laws of Attraction could be understood on its own.

Nell Armstrong is thrilled when she not only gains a customer for her shop, but finally has the opportunity to make feminine clothing for not one or two, but three young ladies. The three young Nolte girls love their father, Brand Nolte but since their mother's passing they have been dressed in the practical, yet unfeminine trousers. Nell enjoys the girls company as she teaches them to sew along with making their dresses. When a stagecoach is hit again by the Deadeye gang and a man survives, the town is thrown into uproar. Nell puts her investigative knowledge from her late lawman husband to use as she partakes in caring for the seriously injured stranger. Can Nell and Brand work together to not only care for the Nolte girls, but also stop whoever is behind the targeted attacks? Can Nell learn to let go of the hurts from her past and trust Nell? Can Brand protect Nell from the danger that seems to always be behind her? Read The Laws of Attraction to find out!

The mystery and danger from the unknown and ever-lurking Deadeye gang brings loads of suspense to this book by Ms. Connealy. I enjoyed how the reader was slowly given pieces of the identities of the criminals. I always enjoy the balance of humor and adventure that Ms. Connealy brings to her readers. I enjoyed meeting Nell in the first book and then I loved learning more about her character, her past, and her strengths. Overall, I would give a high rating to The Laws of Attraction with the fast-paced plot, hilarious and genuine characters, as well as great themes of faith, family, love, and courage.

I enjoyed the characters in The Laws of Attraction; however, some of the female characters were portrayed in an almost extreme way. I do enjoy strong characters, but the way that Nell and her friends seemed to dominate the entire town and respective families seemed a bit over the top. All in all, I appreciated Ms. Connealy's excellent work of fiction and I will look forward to her next work! Happy readings!

Disclaimer: Bethany House Publishers graciously provided me with a copy of this book through Net Galley. All opinions are my own and part of an unbiased review.

This book was interesting and even though I enjoyed parts of it, there are other parts I wasn't sure if I liked or not. At times I liked the fact that Nell was becoming the first woman judge and that she could do so many things but at other times she almost seemed too perfect in being good at so many things. I thought the romance between Nell and Brand was sweet but at other times knowing what Nell went through in her other marriage, I almost thought it was too easy and that there wasn't a whole lot of conflict between them.

Fun and Exciting!

Nell is a dressmaker in in a tiny town in 1800's Wyoming. There are so few women that all her customers are men, and though paid well, she is tired of making chaps for them.

All that changes when a girl, Samantha, takes refuge in her shop because she is embarrassed that she and her sisters have had to come to town in boy's clothes. She wants a dress. Nell quickly sees the dad, Brand, a widower, is too proud to take charity, and offers to let Samantha, and her sisters work in her shop in exchange for clothes.

Although tiny, this area has big trouble in the form of the Deadeye gang that has been killing and robbing for a while. They never leave any witnesses alive.

Through many turns of events, Nell finds herself appointed to public office, and thrown in the middle of danger along with Brand and his girls. As they try to stay alive, and discover the identity of the gang members, they face many life and death perils.

This book will draw you right in to the narrative. Although the subject is serious, the tale has humorous moments that make a great story even better. This book is second in a series, but it stands alone. This author never fails to entertain, and this is no exception. Clean and full of excitement, I recommend this five-star book. Fans of westerns, adventures, and well-written stories will enjoy this tale.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bethany House, for providing Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, “The Laws of Attraction,” for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required, or influenced, to give anything but an honest appraisal.

The Laws of Attraction is a fast-paced western adventure story with sweet romance as an added treat. I liked Nell immediately and appreciated her struggles and desires. I like her unique part as the town seamstress, which I haven’t read about much in fiction. Brand has a good heart and good character. I loved getting acquainted with Brand’s daughters as well. All the characters were super easy to connect with and I enjoyed their parts in the book.

Second chance stories are my favorites, whether they are second chances at love with someone from the past, or with someone new after a sad loss. This one is the later and touched me deeply. I look forward to reading more in this series.

First Line: “If I have to make one more pair of chaps…” Nell Armstrong heard her own voice.
Series: Wyoming Sunrise book 2
Genre: Christian Historical Romance, Western
Author: Mary Connealy
Page Count: 304

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.

Mary Connealy is an under rated author in my opinion. She writes really well. Her characters are well thought out, and complex, yet realistic. This is a great book, and I will be reading more from her.

I really enjoyed this book by Mary Connealy. I have enjoyed other book series by her and have enjoyed this new one. I liked what a strong, independent woman Nell was. I loved that she was still feminine but was able to hold her own against the men. I loved how this story continues with the characters trying to figure out who all is in the Dead Eye gang and trying to stop them. I loved how the community is willing to band together to try and stop the robberies and murders. I loved the romance between Brand and Nell and how they didn’t want to fall in love again but they found that they were good for each other and Brand’s daughters. I’m excited for the third book to come out so I can see how they stop the Dead Eye gang and to see Becky’s story.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

I am really enjoying this series from Mary Connealy. A woman blacksmith in the first story, and a seriously strong woman character in Nell in this story. I love these strong women main characters. The opening of this story immediately grabbed my attention and captured my interest. Can't wait for book 3!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher but also purchased my own Audible copy. All thoughts are my own.

The Laws of Attraction is the second book in the Wyoming Sunrise series. Just like the first book in the series, it features strong, determined female characters, a charming historical setting, romance and adventure.

We first met Nell in Forged in Love. Widowed, she lives and works in Pine Valley. Her dream is to sew beautiful dresses and gowns but instead fills her days making chaps for the many cowboys and ranchers that surround her. When she meets the three daughters of Brad Nolte, in rather interesting circumstances, she jumps at the chance to make them beautiful dresses. She also gets the girls working in her store, extra hands to make the chaps. But of course, things don’t stay quiet for long. When a man is wounded in another stage coach robbery, Nell puts her legal and investigative skills to work.

The mystery from the first book, about the Dead-Eye Gang and their murderous ways continues in this book. We also get to see more of Mariah, Clint, Becky and the other characters from the first book.

Nell and Brand work together and although they might seem an odd match to start with, they are both carrying wounds from their past relationships. They might come together for convenience, but love soon grows.

I am looking forward to reading Becky’s story in book three, Marshaling Her Heart.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Mary Connealy is one of my favorite authors, and I was thrilled to be able to review her latest book, The Laws of Attraction. As with Mary’s previous books, the cover design is beautiful and very eye-catching. This is the second book in the series, but it can be read as a stand-alone without any confusion.

What I loved about this book is that it has a great storyline/plot, just like all of her books. It kept me intrigued the entire book. However, there are a few things that were mildly “off” for me. The first is a lack of chemistry between the main characters. There was very little affection or emotion between them, just very matter-of-fact. Even in the end, there was no declaration of love. Also, there were a couple of instances where the main character was in two places at the same time, which led to some confusion while reading. And lastly, while I enjoy a strong female character that can do anything she sets her mind to, the feminist view in this book is a little off-putting.

That said, the book is very well written, and I look forward to reading the final book in this series. 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 directly my own.

The Laws of Attraction is the second book in the Wyoming Sunrise series.
Mary Connealy writes with such authenticity; you could see the things in the book actually taking place. I've never been to Wyoming, but I would really love to visit there. The way she describes it, so beautiful with wide open spaces for that cowboy roping and riding.
Mary writes cowboy stories, that's one thing you can count on in her books along with an intriguing story you'll find very hard to put down. Thrown in you'll always find robust adventures and a bit of lawlessness. I must commend Wyoming; it was a first in many things including giving women the right to vote and it also had the first public county library.
Nell, our female main character is a real go getter, she'll stand up to anyone and will pitch in and do any job needed of her including being the first women to do many jobs formerly done by men. Now that's a forward-thinking woman. Nell Armstrong is a widowed seamstress; she's brought beautiful material with her to make the loveliest of dresses but with her hands full making chaps for the cowboys she really can't.
When Brand Nolte's daughters are made fun of in town, they tell him, and he knows it's time for a change. See, he's a widowed father with three lovely girls but he really is lost when it comes to knowing how to dress and style their hair. Nell is happy teach the girls to sew and she'll make them some feminine dresses while they work for her paying off the cost of the dresses. The more time Nell spends with Brand and his daughters it has her thinking falling in love again may not just be a fading memory. I really enjoyed seeing Nell as such a forward-thinking woman for her time period. I just loved the sisters' characters as well, especially Samantha. Samantha is the oldest and a very smart girl. Maybe we will see her story in a book sometime. I know I'd enjoy this.

Pub Date 20 Jun 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

After reading Forged in Love earlier this year, I looked forward to the other books to come. 💖 Nell's story stole my heart. She impressed me as a woman with more going on below the surface. She has spirit and a no-nonsense way about her. Life experience has matured her but not made her bitter. Nell is a widow who has made it clear she isn't remarrying again. Don't you love the “never say never” scenario in books?

She has her dress shop, and her two good friends, and lives in the beautiful town of Pine Valley in the progressive state of Wyoming. What more could she want? Women or girls to sew beautiful dresses for—that's what! She wants bonnets and ribbons, lace and frills! Instead, she has orders for Cowboy chaps as far out as anyone can guess.

When three girls, mistaken for boys, tumble into her shop and life, Nell leaps at the opportunity to fit them with dresses. At that moment, she opens her heart to fall in love with a whole family. But does she dare fall in love with a man again?

This story beautifully portrays two people, wizened by life experience, finding it in themselves to open their hearts to love again. Nell knows how to take command and charge when there is a call for it. These characteristics quickly qualify her to become the new justice of the peace for the town of Pine Valley.

I found the pace of this story moved along at a nice clip. We have the still present and unsolved mystery of the notorious Dead Eye Gang near town. A few more pieces of the puzzle are coming together, leaving me with a guess of who just might be behind it all and ready to see justice served. I can't wait for Becky's story this fall 🍂!

Read this if you enjoy:
🏔️ Instant Family Trope
🏔️ Western Frontier Settings
🏔️ A bit of mystery

Thank you @bethanyhousefiction for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions on this book are mine.

I can count on a few things with every Mary Connealy book series. 1. A suspense thread that connects each book (so you definitely want to read her series in order). 2. A group of people (sisters, brothers, friends, etc) who will find love. 3. An entertaining and engaging story that I don’t want to put down.

The Laws of Attraction is the second book of Connealy’s Wyoming Sunrise series. We met Nell—the seamstress who despises making chaps—in Forged in Love. Like her friend Mariah, Nell is an independent woman running a successful business. Brand is a homestead with three daughters (who happen to really need a mother figure in their lives). Brand’s daughters were my favorite characters in this story.

As someone who spent her middle and high school years in Wyoming, I appreciated the setting and enjoyed the focus on how the state was the first to give women many rights such as land ownership and voting. While the romance fell a bit flat for me, the rest of the story made up for it. And I’m looking forward to Becky’s book!

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions are my own.