After a rough winter spent alone, Ursula Nordegren realizes she must overcome her fears of the outside world and begins a trek down Hope Mountain. Along the way she finds a badly wounded stranger and realizes God may have used her decision to leave as a way of saving the man.
Wax Mosby was climbing Hope Mountain in part to atone for his terrible choices. He was hired to drive out the Warden … Warden family and now knows he was duped. But when he’s wounded during the climb, the last person he expects to rescue him is a beautiful blond woman with the voice of an angel.
As both Ursula and Wax weigh the costs of living new lives, the two find an unlikely bond. And they’re joined by Ursula’s sisters and the Warden family as the final showdown over the family ranch looms with the coming of spring.
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Mary Connealy’s 3rd and concluding novel in the Brides of Hope Mountain series: Her Secret Song is Ursula Nordegren’s story. I’ve been eagerly awaiting this final installment of this story since March and so excited to finally write this review!
Book 3 picks up right where book 2 ended with the characters Wax Mosby and Ursula Nordegren on the verge of meeting. To be honest, these two seem to be the most unlikely of pairings of the series. Ursula is the oldest of the sisters but in many ways the timidest (or at least the most fearful) as she has been sheltered from the outside world and taught to fear it by their now deceased grandmother. Mosby, on the other hand, has a reputation of being a gun-for-hire without respect for persons.
But Providence works in the lives of these characters and brings these two together to find their happily ever after. Mrs. Connealy does what she does best in writing romantic stories with cowboys. And by the end, you care for these characters and want to see them together, happy and safe. While these two are in the midst of falling in love, though, there is a whole mess of trouble to deal with and a huge gunfight during the last few chapters of the book. Lots of excitement!
This is a continuity series meaning that the main characters change with each book as it continues forward in time. However, there are a couple over-arching storylines that will finally be answered by the end of this book, bringing the series to a satisfactory conclusion. I would recommend reading this series in order.
The best part of Her Secret Song is the bringing together of a family. These three single, naïve girls are alone and by the end they are a part of a big, loving family. Hope Mountain at the beginning of book 1 really lacked hope in a future for these girls. And by the conclusion of book 3, it is filled with hope and the creation of a new generation living on top of Hope Mountain. Read the whole series. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Book Review–“Her Secret Song” by Mary Connealy
Brides of Hope Mountain–#3
This is another wonderful story weaved by Mary Connealy, that you won’t want to miss reading especially if you have read the first two books in this series, but even if you haven’t you would still enjoy.
This book is filled with drama, humor, and sweet romance as all three Nordegren sisters join in the fight to save the Warden ranch, each using their own unique skills they have learned from living on Hope Mountain.
If you have read the first two books in this Brides of Hope Mountain series, “Aiming For Love” and “Woman Of Sunlight”, you will find this last book in the series most delightful. It contains all the wonderful characters that we grew to love in the previous books, but treats us to watch the wonderful transformation of Ursula, the eldest sister, as she happens to find freedom from her fears and romance n a quite unlikely way.
Ursula, living alone through the long winter atop Hope Mountain, faces a loneness so deep that she is willing to step out and face the fears she has lived with her whole life.
As she prepares to descend the mountain and face the outside world, she comes upon an injured man, Wax Mosby, who has been a hired gunslinger for most of his life, a man considered very dangerous, yet now helpless and facing death if Ursula doesn’t help him.
Ursula believing God sent her here to find this man and help him, has no idea how much her decision will change her life forever.
This story will captivate you all the way until the end, in fact the ending is the sweetest part of the whole series!
I was given a copy of this book by the author’s publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for an honest review, all comments are my own.
This is the third book in The Brides of Hope Mountain series, Ursula’s story. With her sisters married and down in civilization, Ursula is the lone hold out in isolation on the mountain. She has her skills and hones a new one- ax throwing. She has her Bibles and has set scripture to song. As spring comes, Ursula decides to do a brave thing and climb down the mountain as God leads. She comes upon an injured Wax Mosley and helps him back up the mountain and nurses him back to health.
*Beneath all the misery was a song. A private song for him alone, almost like the angel had followed him into hell. That single secret song kept him from dropping so far down into the hot black misery he would never be able to get back up.*
Her Secret Song wraps up the story of the Nordegren sisters and the Warden family to a satisfying conclusion. Ms. Connealy describes the terrain beautifully. There are funny moments and exciting chases, stalking and captures.
Wax Mosley saw Ursula as an angel come to his rescue. He re-evaluated his life and came to know God in a more personal way that changed his behavior.
We can learn from Ursula in her isolation. She relied on God and always had a song in her heart even amongst difficulties.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
The perfect conclusion!
Sure. I knew who Ursula was. After all, I’d come to know her in the first two books of the Brides of Hope Mountain series. And somehow she still surprised me. And what probably surprised me the most is how much I enjoyed her.
Another surprise was that after the first two stories in the series showing the other sisters’ reactions to towns and cities and any number of people, author Mary Connealy managed to replicate these experiences for Ursula in a way that didn’t seem repetitious.
I hadn’t expected to like Ursula more than either of her sisters. Especially due to her extremely introverted nature. And her fear. Yet somehow, I think these factors made me love her more as she stepped way out of her comfort zone to do the things that frightened her the most. What an amazing woman! And the kindness she showed a stranger. She truly personified the Good Samaritan.
Wax Mosby’s role in the previous stories clearly showed him to be an enemy. Still, at the end of Woman of Sunlight, he was showing signs of not having as black a heart as it first appeared. How fun to see him become the hero!
Wax’s search for redemption for his sins clearly communicated the message of salvation. The strong spiritual themes in Her Secret Song are integrated in a natural manner which in no wise dilutes their effectiveness. One that was so relevant is the recurring theme of “do not worry”. It was so fun how each of the characters sitting in church that Sunday morning thought the pastor was preaching his message directly to them!
I promise this isn’t a spoiler! After all, with a series name like Brides of Hope Mountain you have to know there will be a proposal in it. But, oh, what a proposal!! The circumstances under which it was offered and the manner in which it was delivered just might have made it my favorite fictional proposal ever!! I’m still laughing as I picture it!
Her Secret Song combines suspense, action/adventure, romance, and faith with sprinkles of quirky humor to create a wonderful series conclusion. In some regards, this is the Return of the King of the series, culminating in an amazing battle for the Warden’s ranch!
Be sure to read the entire series – each story builds on the previous ones and they are all just too good to pass up!
Read my review of Her Secret Song by Mary Connealy at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
Her Secret Song is book three in Mary Connealy‘s Brides of Hope Mountain series. This final installment follows the third and eldest Nordegren sister, Ursula, as she wrestles with her fear of leaving the mountain and Wax Mosby who needs to escape if he wants to live.
If you’ve read my reviews on the first two books, Aiming for Love (Brides of Hope Mountain Book #1) and Woman of Sunlight (Brides of Hope Mountain Book #2), you’ll know I am entertained by these stories even if the sisters are a might strange. However, this final story ties the whole series together in a rather fitting ending.
Ursula has been trapped in solitude all winter and wants, no needs, company. Wax determines to clear his conscience before escaping the area for a new life. Both have past actions they greatly regret. Will they have a chance to begin again or will the past be too much to overcome?
If you plan to read Her Secret Song, definitely read the first two books in the series first or this one won’t make as much sense. Nor will the ending of Her Secret Song be as hilariously wonderful. I would not classify these as stand alone novels even though the romance part of the story is contained within each book. They really do tell a whole sweeping tale of three unusual sisters.
I enjoyed Her Secret Song more than I expected. Woman of Sunlight (Brides of Hope Mountain Book #2) is still probably my favorite, but the ending of this book makes the whole series worth reading. I’d love to know what you think of it!
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.
What a perfect finale! This is easily my favorite of the series. Watching Wax finally find a happy ending after all the heartache he went through was awesome and Ursula was the perfect match for him. The story kept me so engrossed I had trouble putting it down. I really really enjoyed this book.
I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
Oh what a joy to read this last book in Mary Connealy’s Brides of Hope Mountain series. This book follows Ursula, the oldest of the Nordegren sisters, as she learns about facing her fears and learning to love.
Wax Mosby is living a life that leads to death. He desperately wants to change. He meets Ursula, and she helps him recover both physically and spiritually.
This book was everything I’d hoped it would be. The story brings all the loose pieces of the first 2 books together and weaves a beautiful story.
In the 3rd & final book in the Brides of Hope Mountain series, Her Secret Song, Mary Connealy does not disappoint! Ursula Nordegren realizes she must overcome her fears of the outside world but a trek down Hope Mountain puts her in the path of a wounded man. With so many fears in the world today, it is easy to see why Ursula would want to stay on Hope Mountain…it is super tempting to run away from it all! But the love of her family, her surprise of falling in love with Wax, her music & God all help Ursula to overcome her fears.
I love when there are quotes in a novel that are meaningful to my life…here are some that I loved from “Her Secret song:”
“The pain was on the surface, so it took all his will to reach upward. But maybe that’s what God asked of man. To reach upward even when it was hard.”
“A smile curved Wax’s lips. ‘Let’s don’t blame God for the bad but thank Him for the good.’”
This is a great book! The Brides of Hope Mountain series, and any book by Mary Connealy, are highly recommended by ‘just me!’
Ursula Nordegren was raised on Hope Mountain with her younger sisters, Jo and Ilsa, by their grandparents after their parents went down the mountain and never returned. They had quite a few years on their own after their grandparents died. Raised with a mistrust of outsiders and a fear of going down the mountain, Ursula retreats to a lonely stone shelter when her sisters marry the Warden brothers, whose family has “invaded” their mountain when their ranch below came under siege. After a long lonely winter, Ursula decides to draw upon her faith and courage to venture down to see Jo and Dave, singing on the way since it has been a way of life for her, especially singing the scriptures. She comes across a badly wounded man who had been shot and fell a considerable distance into trees. With her blonde hair and lovely voice, he thinks she is an angel. Ursula helps him the considerable distance back to her house, which is no small feat considering his injuries. Anyone who has read the first two books in this series might think it is rather strange that Wax Mosby would be a good match for Ursula. It is interesting to read of his reformation to being a better man and Ursula’s journey of self-discovery. Of course, there is plenty of action as the Wardens work to regain their ranch. I appreciated the epilogue that wrapped up the series very nicely. It is always so fun to read a book by Mary Connealy. They always make me smile.
I received a complimentary copy of Her Secret Song. All thoughts are my own.
I have been looking forward to Ursula’s book so much. I feel a kinship with her, being the oldest, responsible one of my family, and also struggling with anxiety issues most of my life. Mary Connealy didn’t disappoint! Her Secret Song is filled with beautiful settings, laugh out loud, humor, quirky historical details, and is full of heart. The reader will be cheering for Ursula and Jake to find true love, and for both to be able to move on from their pasts and forward together. I loved the characterization, like Ursula’s singing! The action in this book was amazing too, and my only complaint is that I wanted the book to go on longer! I enjoyed the ending where many details from the other books where wrapped up, including the big mystery of the series. I also loved the glimpse into the future of the sisters and their children! It was so satisfying!
Go back in time to Bucksnort, Colorado one last time to see the Nordegren sisters of Hope Mountain help their men save the Warden family ranch. This is primarily Ursula’s story about how she meets “Wax” Mosby, but we definitely get to see her sisters a lot too. If you haven’t read the first two books, Aiming for Love (Jo and Dave’s story) and Woman of Sunlight (Ilsa and Mitch’s story) you really need to do that first as this wraps up things that started in those books.
This is a great Christian fiction/western/romance…exactly what we’ve come to expect from Mary Connealy! She always gives us lots of adventure and in Her Secret Song there’s even a high speed horse chase! This was a beautiful conclusion to the Brides of Hope Mountain,
I could not wait to get my hands on this book! Her Secret Song was long anticipated and Mary Connealy didn’t let me down. After reading the first book in this series, “Aiming for Love”I fell in love with the world that Connealy created. The Nordegren sisters were so unlike any characters I had met before. Living their whole lives on a mountain and afraid of what might lie below, they lived sheltered lives and only relied on each other. But when strangers invade their little world, they have no choice but to adapt. In this novel we focus on the eldest sister, Ursula. Deathly afraid of disease and the bad things the world below brings, she finds herself isolated in her own little house of stone. Being trapped alone all winter might drive anyone crazy, and most would say Ursula was there to begin with. I loved watching her fight to grow and go beyond what she ever thought possible. When she runs across an injured Wax, their whole interaction is one of a kind. I loved watching them get to know each other, and learn even more about themselves along the way. I couldn’t get enough of their chemistry, and hope to visit Hope Mountain again someday.
This book kept me turning pages way too late into the night. I loved everything about the interactions between the sisters and their respective husbands. I was so excited to see how Ursula would turn out. The battle over the Warden Ranch was a fun one to watch. Each family member is so unique and I can’t imagine how Connealy came up with so much details. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a book unlike any other. I couldn’t guess what could possibly happen next, and enjoyed every moment of it. This book can be read as a stand alone, but I totally recommend you read all three. I have a feeling you will love the sisters just as I do, and you’ll want to know them as much as possible. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and was in no way forced to post a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
(4.5 stars) – “Durnedest gunfight I’ve ever been in.”
Book 3 of the Hope Mountain series brings us to Ursula’s long-awaited redemption. Her fear led her to hide away from her sisters & the Warden family, but being alone all winter has driven her to attempt to climb down the cliff side of the mountain. Maybe. She’s still wrestling with her fear & doubts when she comes across a very injured Wax Mosby.
Wax thinks she’s an angel come to take him to heaven. And in a way she is, as Ursula realizes that God has brought her to this man to help save him, & so she does. The two of them find they have much that draws them together both mentally & spiritually.
With the spring thaw opening the mountain pass, the final battle with Pike is at hand at last. While the gunfight has all the dramatic tension one would expect, it’s also an unusual & rather entertaining one.
The epilogue of the story & series wraps up all the loose ends, & though the timing of 2 things is overly pat, it’s thoroughly satisfying. This is absolutely the best series Connealy has done yet, and one of my most favorite!
*Romance level: passionate kisses, nothing graphic
*Religion: overtly Christian, not preachy, Ursula’s innocent confusion about salvation & the Bible is thought-provoking but not irreverent
I had read the first two books in this series and I really wanted to read this book. I knew that Ursula deserved her own book. I was super excited to find I liked it as much as I had hoped. Her Secret Song is the third book in Mary Connealy’s Brides of Hope Mountain. This series features three sisters who have lived isolated from people on top of a mountain all of their lives. Her Secret Song is about Ursula, the oldest sister and Wax, Jake, Mosby.
Ursula had lived in fear her whole life. But one day she decides to venture down the mountain and there she finds Wax Mosby, a man who has caused her family much harm. However she does not know who this man is or what he has done. She cares for him and as she tends his wounds, she finds the one thing she had been looking for the past winter. She never realized how much she had isolated herself until she started to care for Jake.
I really wanted to read about Ursula because I felt like there was more to her then just portrayed in the first two books. She was scared of the outside world, but she was also kind and she truly loved her sisters. I loved reading about her relationship with Jake, they were sweet. Ursula found courage while caring for Jake.
I really liked Jake. He had hardened himself to the world but he knew that he needed to do something different with his life, helping people instead of hurting them. He was so cute with Ursula, he wanted her to see the best side of him.
This book was really good and I loved the way everything wrapped up. I couldn’t put it down and it held my interest the whole time. I felt like it had a good pace and I would definitely recommend it. I think that Her Secret Song was my favorite book in the series!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Net Galley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Where to begin? I’m just not sure! Just when I thought Mary Connealy could not write a better story, she totally outdid herself! The final installment of the Brides of Hope Mountain series is definitely not a story to be missed and is probably my favorite of the three. With tough-as-nails characters and a mountain setting, the bad guys are no match for what they’ve brought on themselves.
I highly recommend this story for lovers of Christian western fiction and happily-ever-after.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and my opinions are my own.
I liked this story and found Ursula quite the interesting main character. Of course having read each of her sister’s stories it made me want to hear hers. Fear has so stunted her life over the years. But even though she has some misunderstandings about there being two bibles, she still has strong faith.
Adding to the story was another person, Wax Mosby who I had also wanted to know more about too. What a life he has led and he’s not as evil and ruthless as his reputation has suggested. He has a code of honor and he finds the man who hired him has lied to him big time.
I really enjoyed reading about the two main characters and how they saw goodness that others might have missed. Emotions run high in the story. I also enjoyed the rest of the Warden family being revisited and seeing how the Nordegren sisters are faring.
There is plenty of villains plotting against the Warden family which leads to a lot of action. There is at least one point where I felt like the story did slow down some but things do rev back up again. Overall, it’s a fairly full, long story.
I liked how the story ended with H.E.A.’s and a peek into their lives in the future through the Epilogue.
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
Taking a Chance!
Ursula, who was raised by her grandparents isolated in the mountains, has come face to face with a battered and bruised man, Wax, who needs her help to survive. Tired of her hermit ways, she decides to nurse him back to health. Just as Wax improves, her two sisters with their husbands show up. They insist they must go to the lowlands to protect themselves from killers and thieves–despite being outnumbered and out gunned. Except Ursula has never been off the mountain, and she was told all her life she would die if she left.
So begins an exciting yarn set in the 1870’s. There will be the plans of two different bad guys that need to be overcome, hilarious miscommunications and situations between the men and the mountain women, along with an exciting showdown. Different threads from many circumstances end up coming together for an exciting finale. Murder and robbery, along with talk of God’s love and angel’s songs pepper the pages! This rousing tale will keep you glued to it until the end of the story.
This is the third installment in a series, but can be understood by itself. But do yourself a favor, and read the other two for pure enjoyment. I highly recommend this 5-star book to those who like clean, exciting stories with a dash of humor and romance.
Bethany House Publishers, through NetGalley, has provided Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, Her Secret Song, for the purpose of review.
With Her Secret Song by Mary Connealy had tied some of the stories loose ends. While the romance and the budding relationship between the sisters advanced and moved forward, Connealy did not forget some of the elements that made this story different from other stories. I like how Ursula did not want to come down off Hope Mountain, even so far, as to be scared of the choices her sisters were making, but she overcame those and learned to live again. I liked how the plot kept moving forward. The parents were explained, and readers will learn more about the grandparents who taught the young girls to be afraid of the outside world. While the story does not have the non-stop action that I enjoy in my stories, the story was unique and definitely captured my attention. I liked how the heroines in this series were brave, yet a little timid. Different than what I have previously read. Overall, Brides of Hope Mountain was an enjoyable read, and I’m glad that I came back to reading all three of them.
I received a complimentary copy of Her Secret Song by Mary Connealy from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.
The satisfying conclusion to The Brides of Hope Mountain.
Ursula Nordegren is the eldest of the sisters, she has chosen to live alone deep in the mountains over the winter, which has given her the time to hone her skills and realize that she can’t hide from the outside world forever.
Wax Mosby regrets his mistakes of becoming a hired gun for a less than honest man. On his way to warn the Warden family he finds himself injured and is rescued by a beautiful woman with a golden voice.
An engaging read, with Mary Connealy’s trademark humor and fast paced adventure. I loved revisiting Hope Mountain and all the sisters, and their spouses. This was a satisfying conclusion to the series, and I would definitely recommend reading the books in order to get the most out of it.
Ursula is a capable young woman, the oldest of the sisters, she was also the most influenced by her grandmother’s fears. I loved how Wax isn’t quick to judge Ursula, and comes to admired her strength and abilities.
Overall, a fun read, with some humorous misunderstandings and memorable characters. I liked the strong themes of second chances, facing fears, and standing up for what is right. A must read, if you enjoyed the previous books in the series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I loved the conclusion to the series! My daughter is still on book 1 and I had to resist telling her why I was laughing hard so many times. This is definitely the best book of the series. It never lost my interest. I was excited and had a difficult time putting it down. I really enjoyed it. It answered all my questions and resolved so much. Someone I thought I disliked changed into a loved character. I understood another character, especially during this Covid pandemic, as so many live in fear. This character learns to depend on God and turn those fears over to Him. I LOVED this book!
I was given this book Bethany House Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way. The pleasure was all mine!