His inheritance just put him in real danger...

The bullets are flying just as fast and furious in Mary Connealy's second Brothers In Arms novel as the first! I wasn't sure if she could up the ante in A Man With A Past but, lo and behold, Mary Connealy did just that!

I'm gonna be honest, I did not like Cheyenne at all in the first book. She was too temperamental, self absorbed, and unstable. I was a little wary when I started A Man With Past because I never like starting a book predisposed to dislike the heroine, but good grief, by the end Cheyenne had changed my mind...mostly...I still think she's a bit unhinged but that's OK now. When it comes to Falcon, well, he reminded me a bit of a Louis L'Amour character. Strong, half wild, capable, and to quote a Louis L'Amour story, he'd 'druther fight than eat'.

One of the things I found fascinating about A Man With A Past was Mary Connealy's choice to not pick up the story where the first Brothers In Arms book left off but rather to go back and tell the story from Falcon and Cheyenne's point of view before moving forward. I also liked how this book, as with its predecessor, solved a smaller mystery that was tied into the overarching plot against the Hunts and their assorted kin. There was enough resolution that this book felt like a completed story but left enough unanswered questions to make sure I will be back for the final Brothers In Arms title. And, believe me, I will definitely be returning to the RHR to find out if any of my hunches are right...

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

Loving this series! Connealy is such fun to read. You can never go wrong with her books!

NetGalley gave me an advanced copy of this book--all opinions are my own!

I’m so invested in this series! There’s certainly no lack of adventure in the lives of these characters.

The second of the series, A Man with a Past backtracks into some of the first book’s territory which I found a little disorienting at first. I wanted to hit the ground running and get straight to my friends again. But I suppose the additional information was important to lay the framework for Falcon’s character, especially since readers knew so little about him from the first novel.

I’m all for a tough-as-nails heroine, but Cheyenne was even tougher than that. And bless her heart, she had reason to be, but I truly enjoyed the scenes when her character was able to soften a bit.

I'm SO excited for the next in the series and can't wait to read Wyatt's story.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. All expressed opinions belong to me.

I can’t begin to tell you how much I wanted to get my hands on this book. Connealy always delights, and I couldn’t wait to see what this story would hold. A Man with a Past did not disappoint. This book had me hooked. I didn’t want to put it down, and loved every minute I spent out west with Falcon and his family. I met Falcon and his new to him family in the first book in this series, Braced for Love. I easily fell in love with the crazy bunch of them. This book starts as Falcon heads west to claim the land he inherited, but little does he know he’s not the only son that his low down father had. Falcon meets Kevin and Wyatt and each of their half siblings, and knows nothing is going to be as easy as he hoped. Not only do they all hate the situation they are in, but someone seems to be hunting them. The Hunt brothers won’t go down easily, and just maybe they’ll get to know each other as they fight for what is rightfully theirs.

Falcon is such a unique character. I loved getting to know him more as I followed his journey back to himself and to Cheyenne. Talk about unique, Cheyenne puts a whole other spin on being a hard working woman. From roping and branding to hunting she knows how to take care of herself and has no need for a man. Little does she know, the right one just hadn’t come along yet. I loved watching the two of them get to know each other, and can’t wait to see what the next book in this series holds! I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishing and was in no way forced to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Falcon Hunt, one of the three Hunt brothers introduced in Book 1, Braced for Love. Falcon meets Cheyenne Brewster when he shows up with Kevin Hunt at the ranch their pa left them. Falcon is a man of few words and would rather be in the woods hunting and tracking then around people. In the first book he is injured to the point of amnesia so this story picks up from there. Together Falcon and Cheyenne work to get his memory back and find out who is "hunting" them. A Man With A Past is full of humor, suspense, intrigue, plot twists and romance. I can't wait to read book three which will be Wyatt and Molly's story.

A Man with a Past continues Mary Connealy’s Brothers in Arms series. And while it’s not imperative to read the first book in the series, this one does fill in some gaps in the timeline of book one (Braced for Love).

There is always a lot going on in Connealy’s books, which makes them very quick reads with a good dose of humor mixed in with the high stakes and suspense. For this series, add in a lot of family drama, a forfeited inheritance, and a bout of amnesia, and you won’t want to put this down until you’ve reached the end.

If you like westerns with a side of humor and romance, you need to check out Mary Connealy’s books.

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

I have known for a number of years that when I pick up a book by Mary Connealy I can expect a few hours of solid entertainment. Her tales usually involve cowboys along with a hearty dose of adventure, often a touch of mystery, a liberal sprinkle of humor, and of course romance. A Man With a Past lived up to my expectations and more.

Although the author’s recent novels have not contained the degree of comedy found in earlier books, her unique sense of humor still makes itself apparent. Falcon Hunt’s loss of memory as well as his interaction with Cheyenne offers ample opportunity for more than a chuckle or two. I personally am enjoying Connealy’s venture into a bit more serious and suspenseful stories of late and find myself not wanting to put the book down until I reach the end.

The second installment of the Brothers In Arms series, A Man With a Past does overlap the first book, Braced For Love but it is told from a different point of view. This is also helpful to readers who have not read book one or to refresh the memories of those who have.

A bit slow getting started, probably due to the recap, but it does not take very long for intense action and suspense to ensue. It was fun watching the development of the relationship between Falcon and Cheyenne and I also enjoyed a few guesses about potential romance between other characters in the future.

I always enthusiastically recommend any of Mary Connealy’s books and A Man With a Past is no exception. Don’t wait. Pick up a copy for yourself asap.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author and Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

Once again Mary Connealy brings readers a wild-west adventure full of intrigue, smoking gun fights, woods tracking story that leaves readers wondering if anyone is really trustworthy.

This is book two in the series, but reads well as a standalone. I haven’t read the first book yet, and found enough backstory to catch me up with the current situation. I didn’t feel lost without knowing exactly what happened prior to the start of A Man with a Past.

I love the premise of this story – a man who dies leaving behind an inheritance to three children who didn’t know the other existed! The idea was inspired by a true story, so it just makes this series that much more interesting to read.

The characters are loveable and just make this story so much fun to read.

Three half-brothers show up to claim their inheritance from a woman who decides they are trying to steal from her. They work together to figure out what really is going on, and who the land really belongs to.
Romance. Check.
Gun fights. Check.
Humorous situations. Check.
A man who can’t remember who he is or where he’s from or why he’s here. Check.

If you want a fun, old west kind of story, you’ll love A Man with a Past by Mary Connealy.

This book covers some of the same ground as book 1--mostly that relevant to Falcon's amnesia, which is helpful if you haven't read book 1, or if it has been long enough to forget some of the salient details. If you've just read book 1, it may be tempting to skim the first couple chapters.

As Falcon was a might taciturn before losing his memory in book 1, he's the brother we knew almost nothing about, so it was fun to finally learn his story. It's funny how he is almost the opposite of Cheyenne--he's as calm and steady as they come, while she's (presently) a quivering bundle of rage--and yet they're really similar too. Both are highly skilled, especially in tracking and knowing the land, and they respect each other's skills; it draws them together.

While they do a good job weeding out the bad guys in this book, I have some strong suspicions about one villain who has largely slipped their notice. I'm excited to see how it all goes down in the next book with Molly (who I've been most intrigued by since book 1) and Wyatt.

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book; I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

I can always count on Mary Connealy to create colorful, relatable, and endearing characters, plunk them down in interesting settings, embroil them in crazy situations, and then proceed to carefully and humorously get them out again. Her Brothers in Arms series is a wild ride, and the newest book, A Man with a Past, had me chuckling, giggling, and laughing out loud. Falcon Hunt definitely has a past, but can’t remember it. Cheyenne is courageous, determined, and downright dangerous when she’s crossed. She’s also mad as a hornet that Falcon and his half-brothers have inherited a ranch that should be hers. Throw these two together and fireworks happen!

“I like the idea of having a family, but I’d’ve preferred a less troublesome one. One where I get shot and drowned less often.”

With lots of suspense, intrigue, action, and a dash of romance, there’s plenty to love about this book and this family. Mary Connealy is one of my favorite authors. I adore her sense of humor and fun. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A Man With a Past continues a series with an interesting premise. But this installment didn’t catch my attention as quickly as the last one.

I have been a fan of Mary Connealy for several years, but I found A Man With a Past hard to get into. I think this is largely to do with the beginning mostly being a recap of Braced for Love. I can appreciate wanting to tell the events from Cheyenne and Falcon’s point-of-view, and I did gain a few new insights, but most of it just felt like a lengthy synopsis instead of fresh material. Once the novel caught up to the events of Braced for Love, though, I found myself intrigued.

The romance was a bit rushed to me, but I did like Falcon and Cheyenne as a couple. They’re both tough and suit each other well. I had a hard time connecting with them, though. I never felt like I really got to know Falcon. And though I understood Cheyenne’s frustration, to me she came off as a brat for a large part of the novel. She seemed better by the end, though.

Overall, while I don’t think this is Connealy’s best, I did enjoy the continuation of the series, and I think any fan of western romance will enjoy it.

For readers of historical fiction, this post-Civil War book is excellent, and features believable and interesting characters. The conflicts, descriptions, and continuing action are well thought-out and keep you moving through the story. I was kept from being disappointed when the book ended by realizing that there was a sequel waiting for me to read it next! This author really knows her way around a story!

Enjoying this series even more

My husband and I read this book together. We both enjoyed it. Mary Connealy did a great job with this book. I think I liked this book more than the first in the series.
When I met my spouse, I couldn’t stand him. For that, I think I love the heroine in this story even more. I enjoyed the character development and could relate to the characters in the story. It was a fun mystery to solve. We are looking forward to the next book!
I enjoyed how this book took off from another character’s point of view from a little earlier so that we could see the development in a very quiet character.

Book two in the Brothers in Arms series picks up right where book one left off. It does a great job of including enough details to refresh your memory if it’s been a while or if you have not read book one yet. All of the characters are strong in their own way, but Falcon and Cheyenne strike me as the strongest personalities in the group and it was so fun to see them come together. Falcon can’t remember who he is or where he’s from, but he is still strong, capable and an excellent frontier man. Cheyenne is impressed by his skills and abilities, and that is saying a lot. She’s so angry about how all the land divisions have worked out, it’s a wonder she can see anything positive at all, but she does, and it all comes down to Falcon. I love the humor and sassiness in Mary Connealy books and this book was no exception. I think I had more laugh out loud moments with this book than I did the previous one. The third installment is set up perfectly as the next story finds it roots in the plot of these brother’s coming together to defend their land and loved ones. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.

This is the second novel in the Brothers in Arms series and the fun continues!

We get to catch up with both Falcon Hunt and Cheyenne who figured in the first novel, Braced for Love. It's a story of family, faith, and seeking answers to some critical issues that arise.

It's another wonderful novel, by this talented author.

And, you don't need to read the series in order, but make sure to read Braced for Love as well. It's another hit!


I received this novel from the publisher and was under no obligation to post nor write a review.

Falcon's story continues in the second installment of The Brothers in Arms Series. After getting shot Falcon awakens with no memories of his former life or the current situation, as he and his brothers fight to protect their inheritance from the father they barely knew. As the memories flicker back, it makes him question what kind of man he was and what it means for his future.

I was thrilled to get the opportunity to read this book, after devouring the first book in the series about Kevin and Win. Fraught with danger, rollicking adventure, and a fantastic cast of characters. I would definitely recommend reading the series in order to make more sense of the backstory, and the more than a little confusing family relations.

Falcon is a resourceful man, who has lived off the land, he's okay with being a loner, I admired his faith and how he holds himself to a high standard. Cheyenne has spent her life working the land that she loves only to be cut out of the will, and is upset to have her birthright stolen from her. She begrudgingly admires Falcon's skills in the wilderness, and how he doesn't back down from a fight, letting him befriend her as she begins to see what a kind and noble man he is.

An action packed read with Connealy's signature humor, a fast paced plot filled with mystery, danger, outlaws and dialogue crackling with chemistry and humor. I loved that the timeline of this story overlaps with that of the previous story, and continues to follow Kevin and Win. I can't wait to read Wyatt's story and find out what is really going on behind all the mysterious attacks.

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

This is a fun book in an interesting series. Cheyenne is a strong, independent woman who may have met her match in Falcon. He may be a better tracker than she is. I enjoy books with unique characters finding their perfect counterpart. I appreciated that Falcon didn’t try to stifle Cheyenne in any way but recognized her skills and talents and relied on them.


Though they came together under difficult circumstances, the brothers are coming to see the benefits of having and being a family. I look forward to seeing what Molly’s journey will look like.

This is a quick, easy read. I enjoyed the mystery and the action. I’d recommend it. Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book is the second in the Brothers in Arms series. Just like the first book in the series I found this one a little hard to get into, but once I was caught up in the story I enjoyed it. There were so many different events in this book, although it was still just one big problem the characters were trying to solve, all the other, smaller trials still seemed like a lot. The story was good, the characters were well written and everything concluded nicely.

Despite all this, it wasn’t my favourite book. I found it difficult to relate to Falcon and I also felt as if the romance wasn’t clearly developed. But if you enjoyed the first book in the series I am sure you will enjoy this one.

A Man with a Past is the sequel to Braced for Love and another great book by Mary Connealy in the Brothers in Arms series. It takes place in Wyoming on a rather large ranch that, through the will of Clovis Hunt, three men inherit only to discover that they are brothers. This book focuses more on Falcon Hunt, the brother from Tennessee, but Wyatt and Kevin are a part of the story as well.
Falcon Hunt grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains, living off the land and the forest providing most of their meat. He did not go to school because of the distance from a town and he lived with his mother and then his wife who later died. He willingly traveled to Wyoming when he got the word that he had inherited something called a ranch.
Cheyenne Brewster lives on His Rolling Hills, a very large ranch with her half-brother, Wyatt. She is not happy about these brothers and them coming to take her portion of the ranch. Her temper allowed her to fly off the handle and ask questions later.
We learn about the troubles Falcon had on his trip to Wyoming and his version of what transpired after his arrival, which further explained the incidents from Book One and his amnesia. The same is true for the experiences that Cheyenne had during that time frame. The book then picks up and the family has more adventures of somebody trying to make their life more complicated. It seems that there was still a plot to rid the brothers of their lives.
It was a fast-paced novel with many twists and turns that made it a hard novel to put down. If you like cowboys, a little romance, and a well-developed plot, then I highly recommend this book. I cannot wait for the third book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. #AManWithAPast #BrothersInArms #MaryConnealy

This second book in the series was a good story and one I had been looking forward to reading, but there were parts of the storyline that didn’t hold my interest which surprised me, because I am a huge fan of this authors work. I had been so excited for Falcon’s story and was curious about his background, but the storyline wasn’t as good as I had expected it to be.

Yes, there were things that amused me such as Cheyanne and Falcon and their irritation with each other but after a while that grew tiresome to me because she was irritated (with good reason) for all of her newfound family. I did like the two of them together and found some of the story entertaining.
I received a copy through the publisher through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.