Toward the Dawn - (A Western Light) by Mary Connealy

I truly enjoyed this sweet marriage of convenience story with an intelligent hero, strong heroine, dastardly villains, and faith filled themes. I loved seeing the character development for Kat and Seb as they face danger while also learning more about one another in their marriage of convenience. Watching them settle the frontier and then face the villains that hunt them was exciting! Back in Hidden Canyon, I loved seeing our friends from the first book in the series face trials and find joy together. The sad truth of how mental health issues were treated over 150 years ago is heartbreaking, and I am so glad we have come so far. The deep topic was handled well in this book. Toward the Dawn will delight readers who enjoy western romance with touches of danger and mystery, and the faith elements preach the truth of the Gospel! I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own and I really did enjoy it!

This is a very interesting and exciting book to read! There's so much going on! There's a sweet love story that's filled with secrets! There's also murder, kidnapping, and attempted murder. There's new friendships and twin babies being born! The characters are wonderful! They're so well written, even the perpetrators. I love how Kat and Seb start to work together towards a common goal. I also like how the community living in the canyon helps each other and truly acts like family. I feel like this can be read as a stand-alone, but it would have made a little more sense if I'd read the first book. Mary Connealy does such a good job writing that it's easy to pick up where the story is heading. I won a complimentary early review copy of the book from LibraryThing through Bethany House. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow! 😮 I couldn’t put this book down!! Towards the Dawn picks up where the first book Chasing the Horizon leaves off. This book tells Seb Jones, the mysterious inventor, and quiet Kat, the nurse story. What a story it is!!! After being trapped in a hidden canyon in Idaho all winter both Seb and Kat are ready to take their chances on coming out of hiding and moving on with their lives. The leave and finally decide to settle down in Cheyenne, Wyoming claiming a homestead where Seb can continue to work on his inventions and Kat can be his wife. They have only been married and own their homestead for two weeks when Kat is attacked and almost kidnapped. They knew that their past could catch up to them but they never dreamed this fast or from whom for the only one who knew their true identities were the church and Seb’s attorneys and best friend! So with that the true adventure begins as they head to Independence, Kansas to confront the attorneys. Kat is also running from her uncle who had her committed to a mental asylum after her husband death to keep her from her inheritance of the family company. She had escaped the asylum with the wife of Thaddeus Rutledge. Mr. Rutledge is a greedy evil man who committed his wife to the asylum to try and gain her and their daughter’s inheritance and money and he is vigilant seeking to get his hands on Kat to learn their whereabouts. Everything ends up catching up with them in Kansas will they gain their freedom or will they lose everything? You will have to read this page turner and find out!! I highly recommend this book and series looking for to the final conclusion! I received this ARC from NetGalley and Bethany Publishing House, however I was not required to leave a review and the review and opinion of this book is completely my own personal one.

Life in a protected canyon can get old when you have things to do and places to go. For Sebastian, our resident inventor, and Kat, escaped after being wrongly locked in an asylum, with spring came the time to leave. Believing that finding an out of the way homestead would keep them safe, they start a new life. Somehow the past never seems to go away and it begins to catch up with them. Those who wished them ill have not changed their minds and the story takes many interesting turns. Will they finally learn to trust that the Lord has only their best in mind? An early copy of A Western Light #2 was received through Bethany House Publishers, Baker publishing Group and NetGalley. These thoughts are my own and were in no way solicited.

What's better than a blossoming relationship that's flavored with some witty banter and a good dose of chemistry? How about a shoot-em-up adventure, a marriage of convenience, and memorable characters, both good and bad? If you're a fan of Western historical romance.... this book's for you! Toward the Dawn is set in Wyoming, during 1870 and it continues a story that began in the first book of the "A Western Light" series. Eugenia Rutledge and her daughter Beth are still hiding from the very evil Thaddeus Rutledge, but this book has another damsel in distress. Kat Woodridge's husband has died, and his uncle is trying to put her away, so she's running from him and an unknown person who's after her also. She needs protection but is a marriage of convenience the answer to Kat's problems? Author Mary Connealy is known for Western stories that are often fun and romantic, but this book shares a poignant reminder of women's struggles over the years. It has women who were forced to live in insane asylums simply because they weren't wanted by the men in their lives. Can you imagine being perfectly sane and unable to prove it? The action never stops, and the danger is always present, but Toward the Dawn is also a heartwarming story of friendship, commitment, and hope. I loved the sweet romance that developed between Kat and Sebastian Jones and the faith journeys that made their story even more relevant. I'm looking forward to the next book that will be available in the Fall! I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. There was no obligation for a positive review.