TRIXI'S REVIEW:
Her only chance at freedom waits across the horizon.
I love wagon train stories, especially those that travel along the Oregon Trail! Mary Connealy is one of my favorite authors who can really write in this timeline and brought this piece of history to light. In Chasing the Horizon, she breathes life into her characters and brings many adventures for the reader to experience. I probably would not make it even a few miles because of how long and rugged the trail was!
I enjoyed getting to know Beth, Ginny, Kat, Sebastian, Oliver, Jake and all the rest we met on the wagon train. They faced hardships, loss, endless days, many months of travel over rugged terrain but also forged friendships and family ties, and had a strong reliance on God to make it through each day. Of course, Connealy added a bit of danger to spice up an already fantastic tale! Thaddeus Rutledge was the worst kind of man, he was relentless in his pursuit of Beth and Ginny and would go to any length or cost to get them back ... forced or not. He’s a truly villainous villain!
All this wrapped up in just over 300 pages; I enjoyed every one of them. I can’t wait until the next installment!
*I was provided a copy courtesy of Bethany House publishers through Interviews & Reviews and was not obligated to leave a favorable review. All opinions expressed here are my own.*
REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"They'd go and find a place beyond Thaddeus Rutledge's reach, and they'd hide for the rest of their lives."
Successfully retrieving her mother from the clutches of an insane asylum where Elizabeth Rutledge's greedy tycoon of a father had conveniently disposed of her, the two women bravely head west with a wagon train, assuming the relationship of sisters, a carefully planned ruse orchestrated by a former family employee. There was an urgency about their mission, for sure enough Thaddeus Rutledge was pulling out every stop to find them . . . the two were worth a fortune.
What Elizabeth never expected to find along the journey was a man she could trust, the handsome wagon train scout Jake Holt, whose life had taken him across the country and back numerous times. Would he be amenable to finding a place to call "home" . . . even if it meant hiding away indefinitely in order to protect the beautiful woman he had grown to love?
"Her slender waist was one of the nicest things he'd ever held."
Recording the efforts of two desperate women's hunger for freedom, this simply-told saga of "chasing the horizon" utilizes mild touches of humor and romance, generously sprinkled with unique characters and interesting historical details. A few loose ends conveniently set up the next book in the series quite nicely, and by the end of the story every reader will be looking over their shoulder for Thaddeus Rutledge.
*I received a copy of this book from Baker Publishing through Interviews and Reviews. The opinions stated above are entirely my own. 3.5 stars
PAULA'S REVIEW:
I love wagon train stories and Mary Connealy writes some of the best westerns.
Ginny and her daughter Beth are posing as sisters and change their name in order to escape their husband and father who wants to return his wife to an insane asylum in order to acquire her wealth. Beth and Ginny join a wagon train and make plans to homestead far away from danger. But danger comes with the territory in the untamed west.
Filled with sustaining faith, unforeseen circumstances and increasing threats, this book grabbed me from the first page. It was exciting, informative and wrapped up one romance with the hint of another romance to come in book two. There are characters to love and some to hate. It will be gratifying to see an evil person thwarted in upcoming books.
* A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House on behalf of the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*5 stars and a strong faith thread
BackCover Blurb:
Upon uncovering her tyrannical father's malevolent plot to commit her to an asylum, Beth Rutledge fabricates a plan of her own. She will rescue her mother, who had already been sent to the asylum, and escape together on a wagon train heading west. Posing as sisters, Beth and her mother travel with the pioneers in hopes of making it to Idaho before the others start asking too many questions.
Wagon-train scout Jake Holt senses that the mysterious women in his caravan are running from something. When rumors begin to spread of Pinkerton agents searching relentlessly for wanted criminals who match the description of those on his wagon train, including Beth, she begins to open up to him, and he learns something more sinister is at hand. Can they risk trusting each other with their lives--and their hearts--when danger threatens their every step?
No comments:
Post a Comment