Sophia Rose Reviews: Into the Sunset by Mary Connealy

 

Today Sophia Rose shares her thoughts on Into the Sunset by Mary Connealy
Enjoy!

Into the Sunset by Mary Connealy

#3 Western Light

Western Romance, Inspirational Fiction

Publisher:  Bethany House

Published:  10.15.24

Pages:  277

Rating: 4.5 stars

Format: eARC

Source:  NetGalley

Sellers: Amazon

ADD TO: GoodReads

 

GoodReads Synopsis:

To finally escape the clutches of her controlling husband and the threat of being recommitted to an asylum, Ginny Rutledge enlists the help of her friends, Maeve O'Toole and Dakota Harlan. Fleeing their own tumultuous pasts, the group embarks on a journey to prove Ginny's sanity. However, as they confront the shadows they wish they could forget, danger looms from unexpected places.

Maeve grapples with her mother's impending remarriage and seizes a rare chance to escape her homestead--but that means reuniting with Dakota, the man she holds responsible for her father's death, who is caught in the crosshairs of a vengeful family. As the two of them navigate their shared history and a dangerous mission, Dakota is forced to confront his deepest fears and fight for the woman who has unwittingly captured his heart.

In this action-packed series finale, Mary Connealy delivers a riveting tale of danger, romance, and second chances on the Western frontier.

 

Sophia Rose's Review:

Matters have come to a head with this suspenseful finale in the Western Light series.  What began it all when a woman escaped the miserable insane asylum in which her husband placed her and took the wagon train into the west has decided that it is time to face her demons and finish it once and for all.  Mary Connealy captivated me from the opening lines of the first book in the series, Chasing the Horizon, and continues to do it again with Into the Light.

 

Into the Sunset is the final book in the Western Light trilogy.  The story began in book one and so this doesn’t make a good standalone choice. 

 

Ginny Rutledge has come so far.  She and a few other women, with the help of her daughter and former family staff escaped the horrible asylum her greedy husband placed her in back in Chicago, joined a wagon train, and settled in a hidden valley in Idaho where her ruthless husband and his hirelings couldn’t touch her.  Her daughter, Beth is settled with her family, she has her friends on their claims nearby, and all is well.  However, she finally feels strong enough to go to court and get herself declared legally sane and end her husband’s attempts to recapture her and bring her back to that asylum so he can get his hands on her money.  Court means heading to Cheyenne, the Wyoming territorial capital and standing before a judge with her husband and his legal team across the aisle.  This also means a dangerous journey, especially if her husband finds her first, so she needs an escort.

 

Ginny’s decision turns out to be good for both Dakota and Maeve for two different reasons.  Maeve’s mother announced she plans to marry a good man, but Maeve is still holding strong to her grief over losing her pa during the wagon train journey west so she is vocal in resistance and unsettled.  She needs to get away with time to think.  Unfortunately for her, the man she wrongfully holds responsible for her pa’s death because she needs to be angry at someone for the loss is the other person coming along to protect Ginny. 

Dakota liked Maeve on the journey, but knew her grief and anger would mean he was the last man she would consider being with and she’s still angry when they start this journey.  However, he needs a change in scenery when he finds out a bankrobber he was involved in killing has feuding relatives who are all gunning for him.  He’d already had to plant two out on a ridge when they didn’t get him.

 

Into the Sunset isn’t skimpy on the western action and western historical backdrop.  In fact, I enjoyed learning fascinating things like Wyoming being so progressive as to have women judges at the time.  Yes, for those who are long time Mary Connealy fans this means a certain couple from the Wyoming Sunrise series make a guest appearance.

 

This was a grand finale indeed with all the previous couples and most of the whole cast of characters come into play in this one and there is lots of action and suspense as well as personal and relationship growth going on.  Inspirational themes are present and are integrated well into the plot.  The pace stays stead and the tension was good.  This read fast for me and the climax held me in its clinches.  I wasn’t surprised by anything, but still enjoyed seeing it all roll out nicely.  Those who enjoy a smidge of grit and godliness to a western historical romance, with action and sweet romance should definitely give this series a try.

 

 

Author Bio:

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies with cowboys and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys always with a strong suspense thread. She is a two-time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader's Choice finalist. She is the bestselling author of 75 books and novellas. She has over a million and a half books in print.

Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Visit her website or find her at Petticoats & Pistols!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryconnealyfanpage/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryconnealy/

Sophia’s Bio:

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, piano-playing, and gardening. Road trips and campouts, museums and monuments, restaurants and theaters are her jam. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing. Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators. Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance. Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sophia.rose.7587

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiarose1816

GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose