After reading the Lassoed In Texas series, I wasn't in a big hurry to go on to Montana Marriages. I enjoyed the stories in Lassoed but I didn't really admire the male characters. I felt they were all a bit too clueless and unbelievable. One of the most important things to me in a romance is that I have to be able to respect the male lead so I hesitated to even read other books by Mary Connealy. I have to say after reading The Husband Tree and Montana Rose that I have been happily convinced that she can definitely write a strong male lead! I'm so glad I decided to try the Montana Marriages series because the books just keep getting better and better! Both Belle and Silas were strong characters who had to learn to forget about their past experiences with people and learn to take a risk and trust someone new. It was nice to see the story continue after they decided to marry so that we could see the work they had to do to keep from falling back into the old habits of distrust and move forward to a marriage that could make them both happy. Belle kept her fiery spirit but learned to also trust her husband and accept his help. Silas became the head of the household but found a way to honor his wife and encourage her to be a better person (more trusting, less prejudiced against men) without breaking her spirit. Best Mary Connealy yet! This was by far the best Connealy book I have read. i usually like her books ok- not completely ecstatic, but not entirely hate either. I have trouble with her quick, too neatly put together endings. I was bracing myself for such an ending and was very surprised that this book actually ended very well. It felt resolved in a very good, pleasant way, and yet it wasn't thrown together. It wasn't forced and seemed the more real. It's a book about a 30 year-old woman in the mid 1800's who has had a very hard life. She knows nothing but survival and has out-survived 3 husbands and vows never to be forced to marry or choose to marry again. The Lord has a way of seeing what we need more than we do. She finds this out on her own adventure driving cattle with her daughters. I actually really liked this book.
What do You think about Husband Tree (2010)?
I just really enjoy reading this author's books. Another good one.
—naif
I really like anything I have read by Mary Connealy.
—Kay
