Chasing the Horizon (A Western Light #1) by Mary Connealy
Publication Date: February 13th 2024 by Bethany House Publishers
Pages: 304
Source: Publisher
Rating: ★★★★½
My
Thoughts:
Ever since her mother was wrongly committed to an insane asylum
by her awful father, Beth Rutledge has been carefully planning a way to get her
out. She needs to get them both away from his cruel domination. Heading west on
a wagon train isn’t something her father would ever expect, so they pose as
sisters and settle into the long journey ahead. Hopefully, they can stay under
the radar, because Beth knows her father will never stop looking for them.
Jake Hoult is one of the wagon scouts helping the train make
the journey out west. A trip he’s done many times over. He suspects there’s more
to Beth’s story. It seems these women are running from danger, so he keeps alert
and observant.
As the days and months pass by, Jake and Beth become close, discussing
hopes, dreams and the things needed to make their plans successful. Their sweet
romance filled me with joy!
It chills me not so long ago, a woman could be committed easily
by her husband or father on their word alone. Often for flimsy excuses. The
treatments sounded brutal and sadistic, and my heart broke for Beth’s mother and
what she endured. Thankfully, the recollections were a small part of the story.
Chasing the Horizon was an exciting, suspenseful
adventure! I find stories about the wagon trains making their way out west fascinating!
What an undertaking it would’ve been! I was thoroughly engrossed in Beth and
her mother’s journey. Beth’s father was an awful man, and I was on edge over
his continued pursuit, but his nasty character didn’t go unnoticed. I was pleased
with how it all turned out and I’m looking forward to the next in the series
featuring Kat and Sebastian in
Toward the
Dawn!
4.5 Stars
Book Description:
Her only chance at freedom waits across the horizon
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?
AUTHOR BIO
Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies with cowboys. She is independently publishing a contemporary romantic suspense series called Garrison’s Law, book one is Loving the Texas Lawman. Her new historical series, High Sierra Sweethearts begins with The Accidental Guardian. She is also the author of these series: Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Wild at Heart, Cimarron Legacy, Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie's daughters, and has many other books.
She is a two-time Carol Award winner and has been a finalist for the Rita and Christy Awards. She’s a lifelong Nebraskan and lives with her very own romantic cowboy hero. She’s got four grown daughters and four spectacular grandchildren.
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I don't read much historical fiction but the wagon trains are an interesting history. I like old movies about them when I was a kid. Now I cringe when I think of how the Native Americans were treated.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart
The wagon trains are interesting to me. We live very close to where The Donner Party tragedy happened. There were reports that they murdered a few Native Americans, too. It is shocking and sad to think about how the US treated Native Americans!
DeleteHii Anne! Thanks for stopping in!
DeleteWow, this sounds like a crazy story. Being committed back then would be awful.
ReplyDeleteYes, for sure! It was so barbaric!
DeleteMary, the research for this book was fascinating and heartbreaking. It makes me wonder what we're doing right now that generations will look back on with shock.
DeleteThank you for stopping by, Mary! I love the extra insight on your research! It was such a lovely combination of danger, excitement, adventure and romance! I'm looking forward to the next in the series!
DeleteYeah, that is chilling about how easy it was for him to offload his wife to the asylum like that. I enjoyed the adventure and I'm with you on waiting with anticipation for the next book.
ReplyDeleteSophia Rose
I was happy Beth and her mother were able to get away! I hope that's the last we see of that awful father!
DeleteA lot of my research was reading a book called The Woman They Could Not Silence. Absolutely fascinating
DeleteIt's shocking that things like that really happened - your husband could put you in an asylum when you were not mentally ill. That time period lends itself to some action/survival type stuff. People were really hardy back then. So happy this was a good one for you
ReplyDeleteIt is shocking and it wasn't all that long ago! Yes, they'd have to be hardy to live through all the challenges back then. I think life expectancy was a lot lower because of all they went through back then. I really enjoyed the adventure and triumph over adversity here!
DeleteThe woman who was put in an asylum in the main research book I read, was put there because she quit going to church with her husband when he embraced slavery and she was abolitionist. they'd been married twenty years and had five children. but he declared her actions were insane to take the stance she did and locked her up.
DeleteI thank God for being born in the decade I was born in.. while we may still have to fight for some of our rights, we are much better off than where we started. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI also thank God that I wasn't born when women's rights were barely existent. Also, I feel so fortunate that I wasn't born in a country where women have few rights today! There's several out there that I wouldn't even visit!
DeleteSounds very lovely :D
ReplyDeleteHi Kinga!
DeleteIt's horrible how men could commit their wives to an insane asylum back in the day like that...even sadder that there are still countries in the world today where women have no power and no rights.
ReplyDeleteLark, I really enjoyed exploring in how to write that side of the story and, especially when my characters ran to the west, where women were much more cherished, I liked putting that into words.
DeleteThis sounds like an excellent book, Rachel. It is too bad that this practice was widely accepted all over so called "civilized" countries. I definitely want to read this one. Wonderful review.
ReplyDeleteIt was! Yes, it's shocking and so terrible! I hope you love it too and I look forward to your thoughts, Carla!
DeleteWow, i hope they both make it
ReplyDeleteI was crossing my fingers while reading!
DeleteThis is the type of historical fiction I find fascinating. Sounds like it was good for you. Great review!
ReplyDeleteLisa Loves Literature