Fire and Ice by Mary Connelly-- Guest Reviewer Monday

Saddle Up for a Wildly Fun Ride
                                                      in Mary Connealy's Latest

Bailey Wilde is one of the best new ranchers in the West. She's been living disguised as a man for a while, but when Gage Coulter comes to drive her off her homestead, he quickly realizes he's dealing with a woman--a very tough, very intriguing woman at that.

Gage is an honest man, but he didn't make his fortune being weak. He won't break the law, but he'll push as hard as he can within it. Five thousand acres of his best range land is lost to him because Bailey's homestead is located right across the only suitable entrance to a canyon full of lush grass. Gage has to regain access to his land--and he's got to go through Bailey to do it.

Spending a winter alone has a way of making a person crave some human contact. In a moment of weakness, Bailey agrees to a wild plan Gage concocts. Can these two independent, life-toughened homesteaders loosen up enough to earn each other's respect--and maybe find love in
the process?

  

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Biography

         Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy...with cowboys.
http://www.maryconnealy.com
She is a Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader's Choice finalist.
She is the author of bestselling Kincaid Brides Series:The Trouble in Texas Series; The Wild at Heeart Series; Her work also includes Lassoed in Texas Trilogy, Montana Marriages Trilogy and Sophie's Daughters Trilogy. And Novella collections; A Bride for All Seasons, Four Weddings and a Kiss, A Match Made in Texas, Contemporary Collection, Hope for the Holidays Historical Collection, With this Kiss Contemporary Collection, With this Kiss Historical Collection and many more books.

My Friend Amy reviewed this book for me.




Her thoughts.....
I really enjoyed this book. Mary has a great sense of humor and her books are fun and interesting. I read through it pretty quickly. This is the third book in the Wild at Heart series, but you don't have to read the others to get the point of this one.
Bailey is the oldest of three sisters, who have all posed as men to settle the land they've claimed in the wild west. Bailey has chosen a peak position blocking the crossing to Gage's canyon. He could beat himself up for thinking the land between him and the canyon was not necessarily important. Who would want to settle there? Obviously she knew what she was doing, but what he doesn't know is that Bailey is a woman.
Gage is an honest upstanding man and does all he can to keep the peace within reason, but he really needs his land. Bailey on the other hand, is not giving in or giving up. She wants nothing to do with anyone and is used to surviving on her own and being a loner.
But things change.... A threat on Gage's life, a visitor, and a long lonely winter can make for some interesting choices and decisions. Can the two of them work through their differences? Or will they go back to who they were?
Both Bailey and Gage has emotional issues from their past they need to work through - trust, forgiveness of self and others, fears. I like how Mary brings these things to light and works them through it, by relying on God and each other. I think these "hidden" messages add to the story and also may be a benefit to a reader who may have similar problems.

This book was received from TBCN in exchange for a review. A positive review was not required.

Thanks to Amy for reviewing this book for me.