Union army officer Cameron Scott is used to being obeyed, but nothing about this journey to Lake Tahoe has gone as expected. He’s come to fetch his daughter and nephew, and seek revenge on the people who killed his brother. Instead he finds himself trapped by a blizzard with two children who are terrified of him and stubborn but beautiful Gwen Harkness, who he worries may be trying to keep the … children.
When danger descends on the cabin where they’re huddled, Cam is hurt trying to protect everyone and now finds Gwen caring for him too. He soon realizes why the kids love her so much and wonders if it might be best for him to move on without them. When she sees his broken heart, Gwen decides to help him win back their affection–and in the process he might just win her heart as well.
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I’ve loved Mary Connealy’s books sine her first one. She writes interesting stories withe many plot twists. Her characters leap from the pages straight into my heart. I fine myself thinking about the characters for a long time.
From the very first page, I was involved in this story and the lives of these characters. I found myself thrown into the action and holding my breath to find out what would happen next.
Gwen is spunky and not afraid to say what’s on her mind and tell things like they are. She doesn’t hold back, and you know where you stand with her. She loves the children and comes to realize that by helping them get to know their father, it will make their lives easier. Little does she realize that her heart may be changed in the process.
Cam is battle-hardened. He is used to giving orders and having them followed without question. But he quickly comes to realize that what has served him well thus far, is now the very thing that is causing him problems. Will he be able to admit his short-comings and ask for help?
Survival is difficult enough on its own in the high Sierra’s, but with a murderer lurking, things have only gotten more difficult. It is only by working together as a team that they can all survive. But will their own personalities get in the way?
I enjoyed my time spent reading this newest book by Mary Connealy. These characters are full of personality and I couldn’t help but feel like I was part of the story right along with them. I would recommend reading the first book, before this one as you would miss out on some back-story. I give this book 4.5 stars and look forward to reading more from Mary Connealy in the near future!
(I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)
The frigid conditions and dangerous circumstances sent a chill to my bones as the adventure continues in this second installment of High Sierra Sweethearts. Winter weather and rugged terrain provided an awe-inspiring backdrop for this exciting, humor-filled romance.
Gwen and Cam could nearly qualify as a “beauty and the beast” pairing with her sweet compassion and his gruff thundering persona. Gwen is a natural homemaker, healer, and the kind of person who keeps things moving in the background. Cam is a former army officer who is having a hard time embracing the “former” bit of his reality.
I love that both characters, despite their differences, are willing to learn, grow, and change. This is an entertaining series and I definitely recommend it for readers who enjoy humor and adventurous romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
“His voice was too loud, his manner too abrupt. He treated everyone like soldiers under his command.”
Former Union army officer Cameron Scott has a problem; he barks out orders to everyone around him including his family, his friends, and the children he so desperately wants to re-claim as his own. His own daughter is scared of him; she and his orphaned nephew both run to the way-too-lovely-and -stubborn-as-a-mule Gwen Harkness every time he even enters a room. But when a vicious attack confirms that a cold blooded killer is still on the loose, Cam becomes determined to change his ways.
Enjoy this fun, flirtatious, family feuding that takes the benefits of moonlight kisses to a whole new level.
Mary Connealy continues her High Sierras Sweethearts series with this second offering and it’s so good! Cameron Scott, former Union army officer, is used to barking out orders and having men obey his every word. But now he’s come to the High Sierras to take his daughter and nephew home with him and the folks that have been caring for them don’t want them to leave. And to make matters worse, both children are scared to death of him. He’s been trapped by a blizzard all winter with these folks, characters from the previous novel, and one of them, Gwen Harkness, is determined that he is not going to take the children away from her.
Then danger arrives at the cabin where they are all huddled to wait out the winter. Cam is injured trying to protect them and now Gwen has to care for him. He’s pretty sure she’d just as soon let him die as to save him, too. Then he begins to realize why these children love her so much. But the danger is not going away and they must all stay on high alert if they want to stay alive.
Mary Connealy has once again brought her readers a book worthy to be placed on the keeper shelf! I know her books sit on mine. This one really touched me with its spiritual message, too. We don’t have to fear when we know Christ as our Savior. She has also left enough intrigue to draw readers back for the third book in the series. I can’t wait.
*My thanks to Bethany House publishers for a preview copy of this book. The opinions stated here are entirely my own.
The second book in the High Sierra Sweethearts series picks up from the end of book one. You don not need to read book one first to understand what is going on. Mary Connealy weaves the backstory of the characters into this second book.
Cameron Scott arrives at the High Sierra Ranch to get his daughter and nephew. There’s just a few battles this soldier has to fight first. And one of those is Gwen Hardness. She doesn’t back down to Cameron’s gruffness.
I’ve always liked that in a female protagonist.
Just like the first book, Mary introduces a few new characters to set up for the third and final book which I can’t wait to read.
OH!MY! Connealy delivers swoon worthy romance with her ruggedly handsome heroes and spunky heroines. The suspense of being hunted by a blood thirsty killer will keep you on the edge of you seat. I devoured this novel in one sitting.
Recommend to readers who enjoy historical romance.
I borrowed a copy from my local library. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
The first book in this series was good, but this one was much better. I laughed several times through the storyline, and love the relationship between the two main characters. I can well imagine the drastic change necessary in a tough military man who’s been surviving on the frontier without his family to soften the rough edges, and I think the author handled this very well. I can’t wait to read more!
I absolutely love Mary Connealy’s work. She is such a talented, and funny, author. This novel is no exception. It is a fabulous piece of work.
We continue the story from book one, The Accidental Guardian. Cameron “Cam” Scott arrives at the Riley ranch in the middle of a snow storm to take his daughter and nephew home with him. This creates quite an uproar for everyone involved, especially Gwen Harkness, who has been the main care provider of the children since their parents/aunt/uncle were killed in the wagon train attack.
The children are afraid of Cam and want nothing to do with him. Gwen is angry at the possibility of losing them. Cam and his sister Penny are forced to stay with the Riley’s and the rest of those at the Riley ranch until the snow melts, which will take the whole winter in the High Sierra mountains.
What will the winter season hold for those at the High Sierra Ranch? Will Cam and Penny succeed in taking the children? What happens when things start to heat up between Cam and Gwen? Meanwhile, what about Raddo, the man whose cohorts attacked the wagon train, killing everyone except Deb, Gwen and the children? Is he lurking around somewhere just waiting for his chance to get Deb and Trace as witnesses?
If you like clean, Christian, historical romance, you will love this one! So get to your local bookstore and pick up a copy or borrow one from your local library like I did. Enjoy!
Review of “The Reluctant Warrior”
“High Sierra Sweethearts–Book Two” by Mary Connealy
I did not read “The Accidental Guardian” which was book one in this series, but I could see from reading “The Reluctant Warrior” that it must have set the stage for this book two.
And even though I did not read book one, I still enjoyed book two immensely and did not have any problem making sense of the story.
The “Reluctant Warrior” was a title that peaked my curiousity. Who was this “Reluctant Warrior” and why would a warrior be reluctant I wondered.
The storyline was not obvious. It took me until the books final pages to find out, which is good wriing that keeps one glued to the story to the end.
The story is set in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in April 1868. Even though the calendar may say Spring, in the mountains it was still bitterly winter
and the characters had to not only fight to survive the natural elements, they also had to fight to survive a human enemy who was a cold blooded killer.
If you like reading historical romance set in the West with adventure and drama included, then you will most surely enjoy reading this book.
I know I did, and I look forward to reading the next book in this series as I am expecting from the way it ended that there will be a book three.
I received this book free as I was chosen as a winner in an online book giveaway presented by Mary Connealy and Bethany House Publishers.
I was not required to give a favorable review, but chose to do so, and all comments are my own.
–Leona J. Atkinson
Mary Connealy returns with her unique and thoroughly enjoyable cowboy historicals with plenty of humor and even more heart in The Reluctant Warrior (Book 2 in the High Sierra Sweethearts series).
From the first pages, the action is intense with the group fighting to survive and the interactions between Came and Gwen rocky (and often funny). But those initial impressions turn to something entirely different when Cam gets injured and Gwen is tasked with caring for him. I also loved the interactions with both of these characters with the children.
Throughout the book, Connealy’s ability to place the reader in the setting and situation—from the heartwarming to the heart pounding—is first-rate. I look forward to each and every one of this author’s books, and that goes triple for the third and final book in this series since we are left with hints of what’s coming next).
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Union army officer Cameron Scott is used to being obeyed, but nothing about this journey to Lake Tahoe has gone as expected. He’s come to fetch his daughter and nephew, and seek revenge on the people who killed his brother. Instead he finds himself trapped by a blizzard with two children who are terrified of him and stubborn but beautiful Gwen Harkness, who he worries may be trying to keep the children.
When danger descends on the cabin where they’re huddled, Cam is hurt trying to protect everyone and now finds Gwen caring for him too. He soon realizes why the kids love her so much and wonders if it might be best for him to move on without them. When she sees his broken heart, Gwen decides to help him win back their affection–and in the process he might just win her heart as well.
This is the second book in the High Sierra Series. It can be a stand alone book but some of the details from the first book help fill in the gaps in this book. The Reluctant Warrior starts off several months after The Accidental Guardian ends. They have been trapped in the mountains all winter by snow. Snow so high it covers the doors and windows. We see the first attempt on their lives in the opening pages where someone plugs the chimney’s in hopes they will die from the smoke.
Gwen does not like Cam. The reason being that he is there for the sole purpose of taking his daughter and nephew back with him when the snow melts. There’s a problem with that. The kids don’t like Cam. They don’t know him and he’s loud and gives orders. Against her better judgement, Gwen helps Cam learn how to soften up so the kids will like him. During all this time they are being drawn together. As well as someone is trying to kill everyone.
This is a typical Mary Connealy book. That said I loved it and can’t wait for Penny’s story.
I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.
Adventure in the High Sierras
The saga of the Sierras continues with all my favorite characters from The Accidental Guardian. Battling not only the blizzard that cocooned the cabin and bunkhouse but also the man who attempted to burn them alive and the woman who turned his children against him, Cam realizes that he needs to change and he can’t do it by himself.
I liked Cam and thought it was amazing that he loved his daughter enough to be willing to humble himself for her sake. With his gruff manner and the way he barked orders at everyone as he had been accustomed and even expected to do in the army, the children were terrified of him. He had to learn to be gentle and Gwen was the perfect person to teach him.
As the children needed to learn to trust Cam, he and Gwen needed to learn to trust in the Lord and in His strength. I loved that the message to not be afraid was not because God will rescue us from any type of harm but that we can trust Him to keep our souls safe no matter what happens and that we have eternal security in Him.
A new plot twist surfaces as new antagonists make cameo appearances. It appears they will be playing a much larger role in The Unexpected Champion, (which releases in March and is available for pre-order now), I won’t give you too many details, but suffice it to say that Cam’s sister Penny will get her own story.
This series is designed with each book containing information that will be referenced in the following stories. Though the story comes to a satisfying conclusion, there are cliff-hangers to set things up for the next one.
Read with a Preview at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a free copy of this item. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.
Wonderful story by Mary Connealy. I love the humor in Ms Connealy’s books. The wit she uses makes her books different from most romances. I love her H/h’s.
Another good book! Enjoyed it!
Welcome back to the Sierra Nevada Mountains in 1868! I have been really looking forward to this book after finishing “The Accidental Guardian”! Mary Connealy never disappoints and I’m always ready for a new book written by her. Cowboy stories laced with wit & humor, adventure and a little bit of danger are what gets my heart racing! I loved getting to know Cam & Gwen in this second installment of the High Sierra Sweethearts series. Cam is used to giving orders having been in the Army and Gwen has a softer approach to life. When it comes to young Maddie Sue and Ronnie—Cam’s daughter and nephew—he has to learn the hard way what it will take to win their hearts. When danger edges close to the Riley family where he’s been staying and threatens them all, they must band together to thwart a killer.
You’ll find plenty of action, many moments of laughter, knife-edge danger, two people trying to resist falling in love, and just an all around great story to immerse yourself in. I really enjoyed catching up with Trace, Deb, Cam’s sister Penny, Utah, Adam and the two young children. I can’t wait for the third book, because Penny is up next!
“Two reluctant warriors, glad to finally set aside the danger that had stalked them and to have found faith, home, family and love.”
Just okay.