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Fire and Ice (Wild at Heart)
by Mary Connealy - I had a lot of fun reading the first two books in this series that focuses on three sisters that homesteaded in the west following the Civil War - disguised as men! The Wilde sisters had all been bullied by their father into pretending to be boys and serving during the war. Then Pa moved them all out to the west where they could claim homesteads - still wearing britches and with their hair cut short. Younger sisters Kylie and Shannon left off their disguises and found husbands in the first two books, but big sister Bailey is determined to keep her britches and her independence on her homestead.
Trouble is, her homestead blocks the entrance to a prime grazing area in a canyon that belongs to her equally independent and stubborn neighbor, Gage Coulter, and during one of their confrontations, he discovers that Bailey is woman. And after a long and lonely winter, Bailey is even ready to consider Gage's crazy proposal for how they can share the canyon. Yes, it's a proposal of marriage, and Gage comes up with the idea because his over-protective mother is coming to visit! To complicate matters, they realize that some recent accidents are actually attempts on Gage's life - but who is behind the traps?
Bailey and Gage might even be able to trust each other and find love and happiness, but first they have to work together to stop their enemy and they'll also need to get Ma Coulter to go back to Texas before she drives them both crazy! This was another fun read from Mary Connealy, with quirky characters and wild adventures. And of course, a happy ending.
My only complaint is with the cover. That's gotta be Bailey on the cover, right? Great job on finding a model with the right sass and attitude. But the story is constantly mentioning Bailey's "golden" eyes and her curly hair, so why does the cover Bailey have blue eyes and straight hair?
By the same author:
Now and Forever,
Tried and True
From the publisher:
Saddle up for mysteries and laughs with the Wilde sisters!
Bailey Wilde is the oldest sister--and the one who takes care of everyone else in her family. But after her sisters marry and move away, her little homestead becomes bleak and lonely, especially during the long winter months. In a moment of weakness, Bailey agrees to a wild plan concocted by her neighbor, Gage Coulter.
Gage is an honest man, but he didn't make his fortune by being weak. He won't break the law, but he'll push as hard as he can within in. Five thousand acres of excellent grazing land is lost to him because Bailey's homestead is located right across the entrance to a canyon full of lush grass. Gage has to regain access to this land--and he's got to go through Bailey to do it. So he makes a proposal...
Can these two independent, life-toughened homesteaders finally loosen up enough to earn each other's respect--and maybe find love in the process?
Visit the
Baker Publishing Group for info on where to buy.
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