In 1870, Mariah Stover is left for dead, with no memory after the Deadeye Gang robs the stagecoach she's on, killing both her father and brother. She takes over her father's blacksmith business and attempts to move forward with her life. Handsome, polished Clint Roberts had escaped to Western Wyoming, leaving painful memories behind after losing his own family. He opens a diner where he creates fine dishes but they're a bit more fancy than the town folk are used to. Mariah had captured his attention from the first time he saw her after arriving in Pine Valley, but he never had the courage to approach her. When she finds herself in danger, he volunteers to help her stay safe because he can't bear the thought of anything happening to her.

This wasn't the first book by Mary Connealy that I've read and I always enjoy everything she writes. This is no exception. She writes such relatable characters that endear themselves to my heart. Her stories are always so much fun to read. She's also very good about doing the research into the time period she writes about and it shows. I really loved the suspense in this story and had trouble putting the book down after I started reading. I'm very much looking forward to reading Nell's and Betsy's stories.

Danger. Romance. Rescues. All the things I love in a western romance— and this book had it all and so much more! I really must ask myself why I haven’t picked up a Mary Connealy book in recent memory— I have been missing out! And it has some of my favorite storytelling styles of all time: a marriage of convenience, a hero who falls in love first, a good mystery, and some suspense added with parts written from the villain’s point of view. All ingredients in a recipe for an excellent western romance that I simply cannot put down. The love story was sweet and simple, and I loved how protective Clint was of Mariah while still respecting her strength and independence. It was so endearing. The faith of the characters as they faced trials and evil in this world was so admirable, and it reminded me to go to God in both the big things and the small things. I thoroughly loved this western romantic adventure, and I look forward to the rest of this Wyoming Sunrise series by Mary Connealy!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. My thoughts are my own— I really did love it!

Forged in Love is the first book in Mary Connealy’s new historical romance series, Wyoming Sunrise from Bethany House.

This was a delightful western read that mixed danger, women’s independence, and a flip-flop of usual gender roles. I loved that Clint was a cook and Mariah was a blacksmith. I also liked how the author showed the challenge of protecting Mariah. How should she allow others to protect her, especially when she is capable and strong? It is such a good conundrum because one the one hand, I (and others) wanted her to just aquiess and hide. Yet, that wasn’t in her character, so of course she wouldn’t have done that. But, what was she to do?

Then there’s Brutus the dog. I loved him! And Mariah’s two friends … I can’t wait for their stories. Not to mention discovering more about the danger facing Mariah’s hometown. It’s not as simple as it appears at first, and now I’m excited to read the rest of the series.

If you enjoy historical romance with a thread of humor and suspense, then grab a copy of Forged in Love. I loved the characters and can’t wait for more!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book.
I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.

I requested to read and review this book for free from Baker Publishing Group. This is a first book in a new series written by Mary Connealy. This book can be read by anyone and anywhere. This a great frontier book based in the 1800s in Wyoming. It has drama, mystery, romance! You will meet all sorts of interesting characters such as Mariah, Nell and Becky. Who are all strong women who know want they want and their freedom to do just that. You will also meet Clint that has set his sights in starting over in this area. To heal his broken heart and leave his mark on this world. Mariah has had some recent heart ache and a string of bad luck. Was it accidental or more. And can she learn she can still have her voice and find love? Or will she choose to have only one?.

This was my first book from Mary Conealy and it won't be my last.
If Western/historical romance is your genre I recommend you read this book.

I swear I was born in the wrong century. I love reading about how people survived before my time. You will learn about stage coaches, train robberies, women's rights, grief, families, friendships and even love. A community that looks after each other.
The more you read the more you learn and feel towards the characters. You will feel like a part of that community and it will pull on your heart strings.
I was excited to learn that there are more books coming out in this series and I can't wait to read them.

I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

Ah… a really enjoyable, cowboy romance set an 1870s Wyoming. I love how the author made the heroine a blacksmith and the hero a gourmet cook, turning these stereotypes on their heads. The characters are wonderful, and I can’t wait to read Nell and Betsy’s stories.

Mary Connealy has a fantastic imagination when it comes to creating colorful, interesting, and engaging characters and plopping them down in perilous and novel situations. She then stirs the pot a little, adding suspense and more danger. She sprinkles in a bit of inspiration to flavor the pot, then proceeds to figure out a way to save the situation and have the hero and heroine come out the other end victorious.

Forged in Love is the first book in Connealy’s newest series, Wyoming Sunrise, set in Pine Valley, Wyoming in 1870. It features Mariah Stover, who is left for dead in a stagecoach ambush in which her father and brother were killed. Trained in her father’s blacksmith job, she takes over the business, but soon realizes someone doesn’t want her alive as a witness. Clint Roberts owns a diner in the town and has had his eye on Mariah for a while. Mariah is plucky, determined, and courageous, and also an advocate for women’s rights. Clint is a handsome, chivalrous hero who does his best to protect her.

Filled with Connealy’s signature wit and humor, plenty of danger, action, and a bit of romance, this book should satisfy those who enjoy clean historical fiction. I highly recommend Mary Connealy’s books.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishing. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

This first book in a new series by Mary Connealy is about Mariah, a blacksmith in the late 1800s who’s trying to overcome tragedy.

With a deadly gang trying to make Mariah disappear, Clint, the town’s restaurant owner, is determined to protect Mariah and finally reveal his feelings for her.

This was a cute story with elements of danger and friendship.

What I liked about this story:
• The unexpected start to the story that made me want to continue reading
• The protective nature of Clint towards Mariah
• Mariah and her strong friend group of women living outside of society’s expectations
• Multiple point of views
• Christian faith elements

What I didn’t like about the story:
• Inconsistencies within the plot
• The lack of romance or chemistry between Clint and Mariah
• The way the ending played out
• The pacing

Western has never been my favorite genre so when a book that type catches my eye I know I need to go for it!

The title, description and cover all caught my eye from this second I saw it and I am so glad I gave in to this book. It was well written. I loved the readability of this one while still immersing me in a reforming wild west territory. The setting was picturesque and well described. I felt like I was in their valley living right alongside them! The time period was intriguing as women's rights were taking off in Wyoming and spurring the female characters to forge their own way...see what I did there :)

I was immediately immersed in this book. The first line, the first paragraph had me asking questions and wanting to know more (I LOVE WHEN THAT HAPPENS!). It was emotionally moving, added elements of mystery and suspense with a super sweet love story intertwined.

I loved the suspense this book offered. The villain is quite possibly one of the creepiest I've read about. I loved the town that rallied around our main characters in hope and protection. I am really crossing my fingers that this is the beginning of a series because I'd love to get more from some of these characters.

If there is a book 2 I will definitely want to get myself a copy to see what happens next!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Content: wild west violence (stagecoach robberies/murders), implied consummation of a married man and woman, and loss/grief of family members.

Although she has been on my radar for quite awhile, this is the first book by Mary Connealy that I have read. Cowboy romances are not my normal go-to genre, yet fellow book lovers encouraged me to read one of her books, so I thought I would start with the beginning of a new series.

I found this to be a delightful read with a plot that starts off with a bang(literally), and doesn't slow down unto the end. As the sole-survivor of a stage-coach robbery, Mariah finds herself still in danger from the mysterious Dead-Eye gang(love that name).

Ms. Connealy pens a sweet romance in 1870's Wyoming, as a young woman seeks to find her role in the American West, with both the hero and heroine in non-stereotypical roles-his as a talented chef, she as the town blacksmith. Ms. Connealy's special brand of humor made this story an enjoyable read. I am looking forward to reading Nell's and Becky's stories.

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.

Wyoming is hard terrain to live. But it also affords women more freedom than other areas. Mariah loses her entire family but soon realizes Clint wants to be her family.
It’s a charming story. I love that it opened with a gun fight. Mariah is one tough lady. I love that Clint makes odd sounding dishes to the plain food people of the town.
I also thought it was darling when Clint announced he would let Mariah work after they married, as if he made all the decisions.
It’s a solid read for any reader looking for a 19th century western romance.

I love westerns and I especially like Mary's. Mariah Stover along with her pa and brother run the local blacksmith shop, when her pa and brother are murdered in a stagecoach holdup she is left with amnesia. Clint Roberts who owns the local diner has feelings for Mariah so he helps with her recovery along with her friends Nell and Becky. When Mariah starts working at the blacksmith shop again a series of accidents leads her friends to believe that the gang who robbed the stagecoach are trying to kill her since they never leave a witness alive. This story is full of action, humor, female rights, faith, mystery, romance, and Brutus.

Forged in Love
By Mary Connealy
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Series: Wyoming Sunrise, book 1
Rated: 3
Obtain: Borrow
Back of the Book: “When sparks begin to fly, can a friendship cast in iron be shaped into something more?
Mariah Stover is left for dead and with no memory when the Deadeye Gang robs the stagecoach she's riding in, killing both her father and brother. As she takes over her father's blacksmith shop and tries to move forward, she soon finds herself in jeopardy and wondering--does someone know she witnessed the robbery and is still alive?
Handsome and polished Clint Roberts escaped to western Wyoming, leaving his painful memories behind. Hoping for a fresh start, he opens a diner where he creates fine dishes, but is met with harsh resistance from the townsfolk, who prefer to stick to their old ways.
Clint and Mariah are drawn together by the trials they face in town, and Clint is determined to protect Mariah at all costs when danger descends upon her home. As threats pursue them from every side, will they survive to build a life forged in love?”

Impressions: Love found a way to survive in this wild west romance. I appreciated that Mariah and Clint were so different. I enjoyed Mariahs spunky, tough character and Clints patient, creative character, but I questioned all that they were able to accomplish under such duress. I suppose that adds to the suspense and drama of the story. I was also a bit stumped by Mariah’s internal struggle with being a married woman. She seemed to be at odds with her own opinion as she sorted out what she wanted to do. The plot was easy to follow, however, and the characters were easy to cheer on.

Quotes: “’I think if you live right, you’ll find yourself serving others just as others serve you. The world works well when we all serve each other.’”

I received an ARC of this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here. For more book reviews go to: https://thebluestockingbooknook.wordpress.com

The Deadeye Gang vows they will never leave a witness alive. The day they rob the stagecoach carrying Mariah Stover and her family, they intend to keep that vow. Mariah survives. But the Deadeye Gang will surely hunt her down. Mariah refuses the sage advice to get out of town and start life anew far from Pine Valley, Wyoming. With the support of her best friends and the townsfolk, and under the watchful care of Clint, the local chef who has had his eye on Mariah for some time, Mariah runs her Pa's blacksmith shop--even when a series of strange events suggest that the Deadeye Gang may yet make good on their threat.

Connealy vividly paints action scenes in ways that make the reader step right into the story world! Though Mariah seemed a bit prickly at first, I came to like her by the end of the story, and I enjoyed the development of her romance with Clint. I would have preferred an ending with a little more drama, but overall, I enjoyed the story.

I received a free ARC copy. The opinion expressed in this review is my own.

3.5⭐I'm not sure how I feel about this story, Christian western historical romance, action-packed-stage coach robberies, snake bites, kidnapping, and murder. The plot was interesting, however, the characters were not and left a little bit to be desired. bit annoying and immature at times. I love a strong and independent heroine, but the emphasis on feminism, I think it was unnecessary, especially at that time.

I received a complimentary copy of the book without obligation. This review is my opinion.

With the first line,“A bullet slammed into the side of the stagecoach carrying Mariah Stover, her pa, and her older brother.” you quickly realize that life on the Wyoming frontier is dangerous and deadly. The cat and mouse game that Mariah finds herself caught up in with one of the Deadeye Gang members as he tries to silence her makes the book suspenseful and interesting.

Mariah was my favorite character, showing her mettle when she continues her family’s blacksmith business. She never gives up on her dreams in spite of the obstacles she faces. She doesn’t even stop when she is bitten by a rattlesnake, talk about a courageous and determined woman!

This is book one in the Wyoming Sunrise series and you will want to read the next book to see if any questions of the Deadeye Gang’s identity will be revealed.

I was given a copy of the book and was under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A new series from Connealy is always a reason to celebrate! I look forward to reading about more of the exploits of Mariah and her friends.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book--all opinions are my own!

Another good Mary Connealy book and hopefully there will be a couple more to follow regarding the characters in this book. The Deadeye Gang robbed the stagecoach and as always thought they had killed everyone. Mariah Stover was on the stagecoach with her father and brother returning home to Pine Valley, Wyoming. Everyone n the stagecoach was killed except Mariah but she lost her memory in the accident of the stagecoach. The mystery is who is now trying to kill Mariah before she regains her memory. She has the help of her friends Clint Roberts, Nell Armstrong, Becky Pruitt along with the Sheriff. I enjoyed the book following the difficulties that occurred trying to kept Mariah safe and trying to help her regain her memory. I hope there will be books to follow regarding Nell Armstrong and Becky Pruitt that will also help solve the complete mystery of the Deadeye Gang.

I would recommend this book to others.

Very enjoyable! Readers who enjoy Westerns will love this new series, Wyoming Sunset. I loved reading about Mariah and her unusual job as a blacksmith. I liked the way Clint respected Mariah's feelings and was so protective. Looking forward to the next book where hopefully more of mystery will be revealed about the Dead Eye gang. And Nell's true story? Recommended.

I received a netgalley release of this book, but the opinions are my own.
When I was younger I discovered old radio shows and loved them. A brand new world opened up, specifically in discovering westerns. I’m partial to the six shooter myself. (Jimmy Stewart riding around solving problems in the west- and I am there for it!)
A very good friend of mine introduced me to Mary Connealy books this fall. They are the best of things for a little guilty pleasure reading at night. There’s no foul language , there’s no sex scene, there’s no violence described in great detail, and it kinda reads like those old western radio shows. I’m a fan of short 3 book mini series.
The woman characters are always strong and independent, and funny. The men they fall in love with are always solid, decent and worthy men. There’s a clear good guy in white, and bad guy in black vibe. By the end of the series good has always triumphed.

I read this one in a day- I couldn’t put it down. Then I finished it and was sad it was over and I’d have to wait a bit for book 2 and 3 to come out. This might be my favorite series yet.

It has all Mary’s hallmarks- Mariah is a strong, independent woman who has been working the family blacksmith business when she’s left in a position to have to take it over and run it when her family has been killed. And she does, and does it well. Even discovering along the way that maybe having a pretty dress isn’t so bad, and where she can patch buckets and wheels- maybe she can also enjoy making fancy scroll work on spurs. Clint’s dream is to open a restaurant and serve fancy dishes to expand the pallet of those around this small town. He serves co coq au vin , and the town just calls it the tastiest chicken stew they’ve ever had. He makes a go at homesteading- mostly so he can have fresh vegetables and meat and eggs to run the restaurant. And he’s loved Mariah a long time- its just the getting around to tell her in the midst of protecting her from getting herself killed that’s giving him a hard time.

I need someone else to read this and talk to me about Oliver Hawkins- because that has to be significant!