Her Secret Song
by Mary Connealy
Back of the Book: “After a rough winter spent alone, Ursula Nordegren realizes she must overcome her fears of the outside world and begins a trek down Hope Mountain. Along the way she finds a badly wounded stranger and realizes God may have used her decision to leave as a way of saving the man.
Wax Mosby was climbing Hope Mountain in part to atone for his terrible choices. He was hired to drive out the Warden family and now knows he was duped. But when he's wounded during the climb, the last person he expects to rescue him is a beautiful blond woman with the voice of an angel.
As both Ursula and Wax weigh the costs of living new lives, the two find an unlikely bond. And they're joined by Ursula's sisters and the Warden family as the final showdown over the family ranch looms with the coming of spring.”
Impressions: This is the third and final book to the Brides of Hope Mountain series. I did not like the second book to this series and I was weary of this book. I was pleasantly surprised though. Ursula’s character was not as strange to me throughout this book. She remained true to her character but she showed growth.
Liked: I liked Wax, Jake, in this book. He was humble and I found him well suited for Ursula.
Disliked: I didn’t care for the Warden men in the previous books and continued my dislike for them in this book. They seem to be too controlling and arrogant.
Learned: Gods grace is powerful.
Quotes: “He felt Satan pushing him, stirring his anger, feeding his hate. Turning his thoughts to God, he prayed for a peaceful heart.” – Can you be proud of a fictional character? Because I am.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

I have read all 3 books in this series and this final “ending” is by far the best one. The author weaves the lives of 3 sisters into each of these books; one book for each of the sister’s adventures and marriage. Fighting gun slinging bad guys, dangerous animals and an uNforgiving climate make up the bulk of the adventure. The reader will not be bored! I loved this series and would recommend it to anyone, of any age.

This book is Ms. Connealy's third in her Brides of Hope Mountain series and finally allows Ursula Nordegren, the eldest of the three Nordegren sisters, her very own story. I absolutely enjoy Ms. Connealy's sweet stories of family, romance, adventure, and faith, always with a fair hint of humor. Ms. Connealy deftly weaves strong values of faith, family, and quality character traits into each of her stories. This book is a sweet, funny, and exciting tale set in the dangerous American west with tough homesteaders, dangerous rustlers, and misguided gunslingers.
Ursula Nordegren is a recluse, plain and simple, and has isolated herself from her family up on Hope Mountain for an entire winter. She has to survive on her own, find her food, keep her home heated, but most of all she has to face her true fears and decide if she will ever overcome them. Ursula has been so afraid of leaving her home and of discovering the world outside of Hope Mountain that she has lived most of her life in terror of strangers and of anything new. Just when Ursula decides that she must overcome her fears and leave Hope Mountain, she finds a strange man who is severely injured and desperately needs help if he has a chance to survive.
Wax Mosby is trying to make things right between the Warden family and himself, since Wax's boss had deceitfully hired him to boot out the family of ranchers who lawfully held the ranch. Wax hates to be on the wrong side of the truth, and once he discovered the truth about the situation, Wax starts climbing the mountain to confess and apologize for his actions to the Warden family, but shortly after he starts, he is severely injured and in need of rescuing. In a state of confusion and fog, Wax is met by an angel coming down the mountain. When the angel helps him and renders him aid, Wax is certain that he has died and gone to heaven. After many days of fevered fog, Wax's head clears, and he discovers that he has been rescued by a real-life angel, Ursula, a beautiful, independent, and strong woman with a heavenly voice.
Wax and Ursula not only have to discover how they can both work together in order to survive the winter, but they also must each discover how they will face their new chance at life. Ursula and Wax form a very unlikely friendship, which surprises her family when they come visit her in the springtime. How will the Wardens and the Nordegren sisters face the threats of violence? Can they defend the Warden ranch and Hope Mountain by themselves? Will the lawmen believe their story? Can they keep their family together? Will they all survive the final showdown with the cattle rustlers bent on murdering the Warden family and anyone whom gets in their way? I guess you'll have to read the book to find out!
I hope you have the chance to read this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it. As always, I truly enjoyed Ms. Connealy's writing, her intriguing characters, and her sense of adventure. It was a very entertaining, wholesome, and comedic story full of adventure and heartwarming tales of forgiveness, love, and family.
Disclaimer: Bethany House Publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and part of an unbiased review.

I liked this story and found Ursula quite the interesting main character. Of course having read each of her sister's stories it made me want to hear hers. Fear has so stunted her life over the years. But even though she has some misunderstandings about there being two bibles, she still has strong faith.
Adding to the story was another person, Wax Mosby who I had also wanted to know more about too. What a life he has led and he's not as evil and ruthless as his reputation has suggested. He has a code of honor and he finds the man who hired him has lied to him big time.
I really enjoyed reading about the two main characters and how they saw goodness that others might have missed. Emotions run high in the story. I also enjoyed the rest of the Warden family being revisited and seeing how the Nordegren sisters are faring.
There is plenty of villains plotting against the Warden family which leads to a lot of action. There is at least one point where I felt like the story did slow down some but things do rev back up again. Overall, it's a fairly long story.
I liked how the story ended with H.E.A.'s and a peek into their lives in the future through the epilogue.

"I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Her Secret Song
by Mary Connealy
Bethany House
You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
Bethany House Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 06 Oct 2020 | Archive Date 31 Oct 2020

Her Secret Song provides a wonderful conclusion to this series. Mary Connealy is a very popular writer in our library and our patrons will be happy to know a new book is on its way!~
Thanks to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC,.

5 star

I loved this book. I loved that it was a time and a place that was new to me. It addressed prejudices and fear. It also addressed the beginnings of organized crime and fighting for what you believe in. It had a theme of redemption which is so important.

I loved the characters, Wax as well as Ursula and her sisters. I did not realize that it was part of a series and now I want to go back and see the stories of those sisters who can hunt in the woods without a sound.

The cooperation and growing together of this little group was inspiring and I couldn't put this one down. I am really loving historical Christian fiction and the journeys of these pioneers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest review.

Ursula Nordegren has been snowed in all winter in her mountain retreat where she isolated herself from the rest of her family. She is now going stir crazy and decides to try to make her way down the mountain. On the way down, she finds the injured Wax Mosby trying to claw his way up the mountain and takes pity on him and somehow manages to get him back to her hideaway and nurse him back to health. Wax is a hired gun who wants a different life but Ursula doesn’t know any of that. Ursula sings all the time and Wax is quite taken with her. We learned about Ursula and her sisters in the first two books of this series. They were raised on the mountain with their grandparents and then fended for themselves after they died. The girls had never been off the mountain or had any contact with other people until the cattle rancher from the bottom of the mountain showed up one day with a herd of cattle to range up there.

I have enjoyed this series so much. I have read all of Mary Connealy’s books as they came out and loved them all. She writes some funny lines like this one from this story: “The two sisters rushed forward and threw their arms around each other. After enough squealing to humble a herd of hogs, they drew apart.” Where else could you get such delicious dialogue?

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Her Secret Song is a sweet conclusion to Mary Connealy's Brides of Hope Mountain series. Ursula Nordegren is a quiet, insecure, and fierce heroine all wrapped together in one package. I love the way Mary Connealy developed this character and also chose a not-so-perfect hero to be the one to draw out the best in Ursula. All three of the books in this series have been a delight to read. I'm sad to see my time with the Nordegren sisters come to an end. This book as well as the others are ones you'll definitely want to read.

~While this book was provided for free, I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review. The pleasure is mine. (2020)

While not my favorite in the series, Her Secret Song still provides an entertaining adventure. Connealy knows how to thread action throughout her novels. Although it began a bit slow for her, with a recap from the previous book, it quickly picked up.

I wasn’t sure I completely bought the romance. It seemed to develop a bit too quickly. But I still rooted for them. As individual characters, they were great, but I wasn’t sure what made them a great couple. I still wanted a happy ending for them, though.

There wasn’t much to the spiritual arc in this book, besides Wax deciding to leave his past behind and Ursula deciding not to give into fear. I’m glad the issue about the two Bibles was settled in this book. That misunderstanding was getting a bit old. And an overarching question is finally answered. I won’t spoil the details, but it’s definitely worth sticking around for the epilogue.

You can read this novel as a standalone, but I highly recommend you read the books of the series in order. Connealy spends a lot of time setting up Ursula’s and Wax’s character arcs.

Overall, Her Secret Song is an enjoyable adventure for western romance and historical romance fans.

Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Okay, This trilogy is absolutely amazing! Even knowing mostly what to expect, book three was better than I thought possible.

It is definitely book three, and best if read in the right order, but there's enough information given that if you accidentally picked this one up first, you'd be okay, and very curious to read the other two books.

Everything about the book is satisfying, with the possible exception of the speed of the romantic thread. Though even that makes sense in the circumstances and time period.

Ursula's stubborn determination is both frustrating and admirable, which is helpful to remember when I'm interacting with my kids. I want them to have stubborn determination properly directed, and I need to help them develop it, and recognize both sides of that trait.

The action is clean, the romance sweet, the plot fun. I would trust this series with younger teenagers, on up.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, and chose to review it here. all thoughts are my own.

With Her Secret Song by Mary Connealy had tied some of the stories loose ends. While the romance and the budding relationship between the sisters advanced and moved forward, Connealy did not forget some of the elements that made this story different from other stories. I like how Ursula did not want to come down off Hope Mountain, even so far, as to be scared of the choices her sisters were making, but she overcame those and learned to live again. I liked how the plot kept moving forward. The parents were explained, and readers will learn more about the grandparents who taught the young girls to be afraid of the outside world. While the story does not have the non-stop action that I enjoy in my stories, the story was unique and definitely captured my attention. I liked how the heroines in this series were brave, yet a little timid. Different than what I have previously read. Overall, Brides of Hope Mountain was an enjoyable read, and I'm glad that I came back to reading all three of them.

I received a complimentary copy of Her Secret Song by Mary Connealy from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

First sentence: Wax Mosby was living a life that was going to kill him. Probably shot in the back by one of the men he worked with. If he wanted to live, he had to get away from here, and his time was running out. But before he could leave, he had to go up. His honor demanded he face the Wardens. And his gut told him they were at the top of the mountain.

Premise/plot: Jake "Wax" Mosby, used to be a gun for hire, but lately he's had a change of heart. Still he isn't quite sure how to go about living a reformed and transformed life. But he knows he owes amends to a few people--particularly the Wardens. Which is why he's heading up a dangerous mountain. Fortunately/unfortunately, life gets messy on the way up!

Ursula Nordegren is a recluse living by herself on a mountain top. Her two younger sisters have married--leaving her alone--and now she's being driven a bit nuts with the isolation and loneliness. She has been planning to go down the mountain for a while, but, fear has almost always held her back...until one day.

On her way down she stumbles across a near-dead man. It will take all the strength she has to help him...but in her caring of him she may just find some healing herself.

Plenty of action and adventure in this one.

My thoughts: I definitely enjoyed this one! I have not read the other books in the series. But this one was able to stand alone. I imagine the other two stories are the love stories of her two sisters...which we do see plenty of in this one!

I liked the excitement of this one!

After a rough winter spent alone, Ursula Nordegren realizes she must overcome her fears of the outside world and begins a trek down Hope Mountain. Along the way she finds a badly wounded stranger and realizes God may have used her decision to leave as a way of saving the man.

Wax Mosby was climbing Hope Mountain in part to atone for his terrible choices. He was hired to drive out the Warden family and now knows he was duped. But when he's wounded during the climb, the last person he expects to rescue him is a beautiful blond woman with the voice of an angel.

As both Ursula and Wax weigh the costs of living new lives, the two find an unlikely bond. And they're joined by Ursula's sisters and the Warden family as the final showdown over the family ranch looms with the coming of spring.

Ursela Nordegren and her sisters grew up in a remote mountain cabin and were raised by their grandparents. She was brought up to believe that outside her circle it was very dangerous. Among other things, she could contract diseases or be set upon by bandits. All of which lead to death.

Her sisters have allowed the outside in. The Warden family is on the run from claim jumpers, and one of them is wounded. While her sisters allow the family to rest and recover, Ursela distances herself from them. The fear of what these outsiders bring to them is overwhelming. She spends all winter alone in an ancient dwelling. She fears unless she can learn to move within the outside world all will be lost. Not only her family, but her sainty as well.

While on the way down the mountain, she encounters Wax Mosby. He is gravely injured. While Ursela tends to Wax, the two form a bond. I feel that this third book in the series has action, romance, as well as the culmination of the sisters story. I wanted more. More of Ursela's story. The reader does read her musings prior to finding Wax and a bit about their time together. However, I felt that the book focused more on the culmination of the three sisters stories and what happens to the Warden's ranch. For that reason, I would not recommend it as a stand alone. It's also what held the book book to just 'good' not great! Thanks to #netgalley for this advance copy of #hersecretsong

For a humorous tale of mountain girls who fall in love with ranch hands, a cowboy turned city boy, and a gunman this last book in the series was cute. I look forward to more of Connealy's books!

I have been a fan of Mary Connealy for years. Her most recent series, The Brides of Hope Mountain, has reminded me why I love this author so much. This is definitely my favorite series to date of hers. It reminded me of The Kincaid Brides series which happened to be the first books I read of Mary's and what started me out as a fan.

Her Secret Song is the final installment of The Brides of Hope Mountain. I have eagerly awaited to get my hands on each of the three books. This third story is Ursula's.

Ursula has been living deep in the mountains, alone and bitter. Her sisters may be embracing a new life but she refuses to let go of the fears and teachings that her grandmother instilled. After a harsh winter Ursula cannot take being alone any longer. She decides to risk it all and overcome her fears. She realizes it's time to go down the mountain. What she doesn't expect to find is a severely wounded man.

Wax Mosby is climbing Hope Mountain in hopes of making restitution. He was hired to drive the Warden family off their land and was even present when Quill Warden was shot. He gets wounded during the climb and is pretty sure he has passed on when he sees a beautiful woman helping him. She sings with the voice of an Angel.

Ursula manages to get Wax to her mountain shelter and the two bond during his recovery. When Ilsa, Jo and their husbands come to check on Ursula they are shocked to see the man who, in their mind, is responsible for running them off their land and shooting their father. They all come together in a final show down over the family ranch.

This has been such a fun series to read. I would definitely recommend reading all three books even though the author writes in such a way they could be stand alone books. But trust me...it's so much more enjoyable to read the whole story. I was laughing out loud throughout and loved seeing the transformation of the three sisters. Especially Ursula since she was a bit more set in her ways being the oldest of the three.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

How lovely to be back on Hope Mountain with this three delightful Nordegren sisters, this time as we follow the oldest sister Ursula's story! This series is one I have really enjoyed and I cannot recommend Her Secret Song strongly enough.
When Ursula finally gets up enough courage to leave her voluntary solitary existence to go down to the Lowlands, pushing aside the fear instilled in her by her grandmother, she comes across the badly injured Wax Mosby and literally prays and sings him back to life, as she helps him up to her cabin!
I love to see the innocence and gentle kindness in this rather unusual and fierce young woman and her strong faith in God, despite her confusion about the second bible! It is also good to see how Wax Mosby, who is feared as a killer, takes his new commitment to Christ seriously.
It is a story about courage, loneliness, overcoming fear, and in Wax Mosby's case, of doing the right thing. There are some really amusing parts, a sweet romance, and some nail biting tension when the Wardens are fighting to regain their land. It is altogether a most worthwhile read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Mary Connealy ends her Brides of Hope Mountain series with eldest sister Ursula's story. Ursula is the one who has stubbornly refused to ever go down the mountain to the lowlands, something her grandmother always warned her against. Then one day she decides to conquer her fears and go part way down. She finds a desperately wounded man on the trail and heads back up the mountain to tend him. Life changes for her right then and there as she fights to save Wax Mosby's life. Could Ursula possibly be happy not on the mountain? Grab this latest book and find out. Mary Connealy is a favorite of mine and I never miss her books.

*My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinion in this review is entirely my own.

Today, on Facebook in a group I belong to, someone asked for people to post the location of the last book you read to see if people could guess the book. It's not hard to miss Bucksnort, Colorado, for a location. If anyone has read any part of the series Brides of Hope Mountain by Mary Connealy, that person will know about Bucksnort. Her Secret Song is the final book in this series, and the story of Ursula's finding a husband. Ursula, Jo, and Ilsa all have their back-woods talents: Ursula is deadly with an axe, Jo can shoot with her bow and arrow with uncanny accuracy, and Ilsa is more than proficient with a knife. All three of them can walk through the woods in utter silence and notice things before most other people could. The three girls have lived all of their lives on Hope Mountain, never going down the mountain into town because of the fear their grandmother held about the diseases others would bring to their mountain. Ursula is the last to overcome her fear and after a winter alone decides to go down the mountain only to have her trek interrupted by finding the wounded body of Wax Mosby. She carries him back to her cabin to nurse his wounds.

This is the book that pulls all the loose threads in the other two and binds them up in a nice, neat package. It was such a satisfying conclusion to the series. In many ways, this book reminded me of the movie, "The Cowboys," with John Wayne. In the movie, the boys set out to take the cattle back from the rustlers who killed their leader. They use sneakiness and ingenuity to overcome their enemies. The girls and their husbands, or boyfriend in Ursula's case, work together to overcome a common enemy and his minions and to restore the Circle Dash Ranch back to the Wardens. All of the minions of Canton, the land-grabber, are wanted men and have prices on their heads. That makes the mission of capturing them all the more important. Definitely a Five Star Book, with two thumbs up, and a reclaimed ranch.


Bethany House Publishing and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.