Montana Rose

Every time that I pick up and read a book from Mary Connealy I am in awe at the topics and issues that are addressed in such a loving and in depth manner. This specific book deals with marriage, courage, abuse, healing, strength, and new faith. The lives of the characters are so real and so easily comparable to real life that it is extremely difficult to remember that it supposedly just a fictitious story in novel format.

Cassie is a woman who was brought up in a closed environment where she was unable to think or be for herself. She was then thrust into a life where the static existence that she formerly knew was practically ripped to shreds as piece by piece she learned to think for herself. Belle is a wounded woman who has endured so much pain at the form of broken hearts in marriage that any hope she once had has dwindled. It is now time for her to either accept the painful defeat of life or find hope in an attempt of grace in action. This book tells the story of Cassie and gets a good foot in the door of the tale behind Belle's life. (Cannot wait for another book in the series to find out more!!)

Many people know and think about abuse and how it is a physical pain, but often they forget about the emotional and spiritual scars that are endured as well. Within this tale, various characters find ways of adapting and moving forward in life from years of proverbial abuse. Some make the right decisions and some do not. Watching these characters and their mistakes and correct actions can cause a reader to grow as well.

This book is filled to the brim with situations where a reader can learn through someone's pain instead of their own. Also in the style of Mary Connealy, conversations and events fill a reader full to giggling whether they want to or not. Their were points where I'm not sure if I should blame my own pregnancy or not for the giggles brought me to tears. For me personally, another best part of this book was reading about two characters and their own experiences with pregnancy. This is the first book with a birth that I have been blessed to read that was more than she's pregnant and in the last chapter has the babe. I was enthralled by the experiences and interactions that it proved to provide with neighbors and spouses.

And now, I impatiently wait for the next book in the series or other from the imaginations of Mary Connealy!!

This was an enjoyable, light read. The writing style keeps the action going while showing how each character grows into a greater faith and a better person. The hero is not entirely realistic, but somehow Connealy pulled it off. I really enjoyed seeing Cassie come to life and realize that she wasn't an utter failure in life just because her egotistical first husband had said she was. And it was a pleasure to see her quit being so gullible.
I loved the independent woman, Belle, who the next book will be about; even though she can't see it herself, a great deal of her independence is a desperate bluster, and I'm looking forward to reading her story.
Two nit-picks: toward the end, I felt this was indeed clarified better; but it bothered me at times that Red kept wanting Cassie to buck his authority. He could easily have been playing with fire and hurt her just as much by drawing out her suppressed anger as by doing as he wished and drawing out her subdued personality. I don't know how well this might have worked in real life.
Second, Red was too perfect! Too many books like this might easily lead girls to expect the moon and then get disappointed. Hence, young ladies read with caution. :)
The resolution with Wade single-handedly added one star to my rating.