Montana Rose (Montana Marriages Series #1)

Funny story with a happy ending! Starts out scary with Cassie st

Funny story with a happy ending!
Starts out scary with Cassie standing on her husbands grave as women hungry men maul her while trying to make her choose her next husband. Enter Red to the rescue. He marries her and brings her home and Cassie the sheltered and battered widow who has never been allowed to have a single thought of her own learns to become a ranchers wife. Fun reading all the way.

Got I-Can't-Put-It-Down Syndrome? Don't worry, you're not alone.

I've read pretty much every Mary Connealy book out there, and let me just say that this is my all-time favorite. Probably a safe statement when I say it's my favorite book, period. I want a Red for myself! As soon as I picked it up, I was hooked. Red's character is humorous yet human at the same time. Reading about Cassie's past made me want to scream, and reading about her antics had people giving me strange looks when I burst into uncontrolable laughter. Mary Connealy puts the perfect amount of humor in her writing, balanced with realism that will tug on your emotional heartstrings. I was baffled on how she'd clean up Wade's character for his appearance in the final book of this trilogy, but she did an excellent job of it.
I especially loved how she made Red a tough, rough rider, yet he was the preacher on Sundays. He wasn't one of those wimpy pastor characters, he was a solid guy who could carry a gun and a Bible. His thoughts and actions were purly human and he wasn't perfect, which made him that much more of an enjoyable character to read about.
Cassie's innocense and nieve mind make her endearing, and Red's so sweet to her. However, she isn't a complete damsel in distress. Her backbone is tough and she shows Red in her own way that women are a force to be reckoned with (with a little help from Belle, of course).
All in all, worth the time and money. I promise you, you won't be able to put it down, so make sure you have a bit of spare time before you start reading Montana Rose. Bravo, Mary Connealy!

Another book I picked up and just couldn't put down

Cassie's husband took the easy way out.

Well, now, that's not exactly true. He may have left her without teaching her anything about the life or chores of the ranch but he's left her with the ranch he bought with her money. He left her in Montana with beautiful silk dresses, of course, they can't be worn when milking a cow. He made sure that she was never seen anything a 'lady' wouldn't do including talking to the lowly. Then again, no one in Montana ever measured up t his standards so she had no friends. He let her pregnant but without protection.

Worst of all, he left her completely unprepared. Cassie wasn't prepared to saddle a horse and ride to town for help because he didn't think riding was ladylike. He made sure to tell Cassie what he wanted to be buried in, how she was to dress, and how much to pay the gravedigger but he forgot to mention how she was to pay him. He forgot to mention that the single men in the area would literally fight over her at his graveside service or that she'd be married again with hours of his death while standing on his grave. He also forgot to mention that he'd mortgaged everything they owned - even her family bible, family portraits, and clothes - and hadn't even begun to pay.

What a way for Cassie to start her new life - in shock.

More then just a romance

Cassie Griffin is not noticed by the three other people as they talk badly of her late husband and her. Red Dawson is digging the hole they will be putting Griff into and Seth and Muriel, who have taken her in and helped her since his death yesterday. When the couple leaves Cassie comes forward and attacks Red. He can't be digging a hole for Griff, Griff can't be dead. He is though. Griff was her guardian at twelve and married her at fifteen. He beat all her childness out of her and told her how to be a proper person.

Red Dawson was a believer but he had one big sin, he often thought of another mans wife and now that man was dead. Cassie was an unbeliever though so Red could never make her his own.

After the funeral at least twenty men started grabbing for Cassie. She did not understand what was happening to her. Then the Sawyers rode up and demanded she marry Mort. Wade, the son, had pulled her unto his horse but then his father grabbed her and demanded the pastor marry them right now. When he refused the man was harsh to the pastor, what would he be as a husband. And then Red came and asked if she would marry him. She was considering death as a first choice and Red seemed a good second choice as any.

Cassie did all she could to be obedient. She had been ruled by Griff although she did not realize he was wrong in his ways. She was pregnant and knew nothing about it. The town people thought her a snob as she was not allowed to speak to them and Griff had squandered all her wealth but kept her well dressed. The town thought she was to blame for all that as well.

Wade was obsessed with Cassie. His father was cruel to him and he seen Griff being cruel to her. A side story is Belle, a woman Cassie admires after meeting because she speaks her mind and talks directly to people, even men. Belle is on her third husband even though she hates men.

This is a wonderful story with some humor along with danger and love.

Delightful and Engaging!

I thoroughly enjoyed "Montana Rose." It is definitely reminiscent of the author's acknowledged inspiration, "Love Comes Softly", but with a flavor all its own. The characters were dynamic and believable, and the integration of religion seamless, as is so rare in many purported Christian novels. Even the supporting characters had strong presences in the story, despite its obvious focus on the relationship between Red and Chrissy. I look forward to reading the remainder of stories that were only partially fleshed out in Montana Rose.

M. Connealy's writing style is memorable and engaging, and I don't think I'll spoil anything by saying that the chapter that focuses on Cassie's labor is one I will never forget!!

Montana Rose Moved Me

If the name Mary Connealy is on the cover of a book, I know I'm in for a good read. Having cracked up as I hightailed it through Petticoat Ranch and Calico Canyon, I was fully prepared to chuckle my way though Montana Rose as well. To my surprise, I found this historical to be delightfully different. While some scenes launched me into laughter, Montana Rose offers more than mere entertainment. Connealy has crafted a story with an important message, but she conveys it with such skill and finesse that I was swept into this heartwarming tale and enjoyed every moment with her engaging characters.

Cassie Griffin loses her husband one day, and at his burial the next, the many bachelors in her tiny Montana territory town vie for the opportunity to wed the silk-clad, seemingly spoiled woman they refer to as the China Doll. When the ruthless rancher with the largest spread claims the right to marry her, god-fearing Red Dawson feels led to protect her and proposes, despite the fact that she's not a believer. Pregnant and penniless, Cassie chooses the lesser of two evils and accepts. While Red attempts to live his life as a testimony of his faith, Cassie seeks to mold herself into the wife she thinks he wants, just as she did with her controlling, abusive first husband. Scenes when Cassie attempts to learn new skills showcase Connealy's trademark humor, but others moved me at a deep level as Red exhibits the patience of Job while dealing with his attraction to his beautiful, bungling bride.

Of the Connealy books I've read so far, Montana Rose stands out as my favorite. I love Red's godly character, his devotion to Cassie, and witnessing her journey to wholeness and healing as she learns to accept the love of the Lord and her new husband. I heartily recommend this book.

Recomment

This was a very fun book to read. I highly recommend it!

Western humor at its best!

Mary Connealy and historical westerns - they are like peas and carrots, german chocolate cake and coconut frosting, Husker football and red and white fans - you just can't have one without the other. Mary's books are in the rare category where I will read sections of the book out loud to my husband because the writing is so good I know he will appreciate it along with me, even though he doesn't have a clue about the storyline. I did that with Montana Rose - I read him an entire chapter and we both laughed through the whole thing. Seriously, Mary is probably one of my single favorite authors right now and I just eat up any book she writes. If Mary Connealy is listed as the author then you are guaranteed...

1) Excellent storylines - off the beaten path too, they are not your same 'ol, same 'ol!

2) Fantastic characters - we're talking the kind you love and the kind you hate and especially the kind you laugh at... a lot!

3) Humor - lots of it. Laugh out loud, humor. You can not remain in a bad mood if you are reading one of Mary's books.

To top it off, Montana Rose is one of my favorite Mary books so far - you must get this book!

First in Montana Marriages series is a surefire winner

Montana Rose by Mary Connealy is the first in the Montana Marriage series and what a way to kick it off! Cassie Griffin learned well how to be a perfect china doll under her abusive husband's tutelage; she doesn't interact with other people, she does everything her husband asks without question and she never shows sadness or fear. That facade is challenged when he dies leaving her a penniless pregnant widow in the Montana Territory in 1875. Before his body is buried, the men are lining up in the cemetery in front of the pastor for her marriage. After being violently grabbed and shoved in the fight, she is shocked to see gravedigger Red Dawson propose marriage to her. She marries him purely to escape the brutality of her other suitors and then sets out to be his perfect wife so that she never need feel his anger or his fists. Red has long been attracted to the mysterious woman known around town as the china doll, but did his best to keep her out of his thoughts. Their sudden marriage shocks both of them, especially as he tries to teach her what real love looks like both from a husband and from God. I've read a few of Connealy's other books, and she just keeps getting better and better. The humor and romance are both handled with a light, deft touch. The reader can't help but be charmed by both hero and heroine. She refuses to fall into Western cliche with the handling of the story's villain. She also draws a subtle parallel between Cassie's trying to live up to her husbands' wishes and earn their love through works and rules and how Christians often try to do the same with God. In a glutted genre, this book is truly a cut above the rest.

western romance

Every time I pick up a book by Mary Connealy, it just gets better. Montana Rose is unforgettable, packed with charm, western fun and down to earth circumstances characteristic to the old west. Mary's characters capture your imagination as they struggle with the rustic conditions of the pioneers, their strengths and weaknesses and their faith. Cass Griffin is endearing as she overcomes an abusive relationship with an innocence that tears at your heart as well as the heart and patience of the hero Red Dawson. If you want a great read, Montana Rose is a must.

Fun, Funny, Touching

Mary Connealy has crafted yet another fun, funny, touching book. Her heroine is a sweet, dutiful wife who suppresses all her anger and frustration until the day of her husband's funeral. She unleashes all that anger on the gravedigger. But when some rough men, living in a rough environment, decide Cassie has to choose a new husband immediately, this same gravedigger may be her only hope.

Red Dawson is a simple, hard-working man, so he isn't interested in marrying a woman who's used to wearing silk and has been sheltered from hard work. But if he doesn't step in, the poor little thing is going to end up in a terrible situation. Maybe God does want him to help her.

I enjoyed this book immensely. I especially liked the hero, a man who was very sweet but realistic at the same time-that's some amazingly good writing! I highly recommend this book, and I can't wait for the next book in the series, to see what happens to Cassie's friend, Belle. If you haven't read any of Mary's books, read this one and you'll be hooked like I am!

Marriage and Giggles

Every time that I pick up and read a book from Mary Connealy I am in awe at the topics and issues that are addressed in such a loving and in depth manner. This specific book deals with marriage, courage, abuse, healing, strength, and new faith. The lives of the characters are so real and so easily comparable to real life that it is extremely difficult to remember that it supposedly just a fictitious story in novel format.



Cassie is a woman who was brought up in a closed environment where she was unable to think or be for herself. She was then thrust into a life where the static existence that she formerly knew was practically ripped to shreds as piece by piece she learned to think for herself. Belle is a wounded woman who has endured so much pain at the form of broken hearts in marriage that any hope she once had has dwindled. It is now time for her to either accept the painful defeat of life or find hope in an attempt of grace in action. This book tells the story of Cassie and gets a good foot in the door of the tale behind Belle's life. (Cannot wait for another book in the series to find out more!!)



Many people know and think about abuse and how it is a physical pain, but often they forget about the emotional and spiritual scars that are endured as well. Within this tale, various characters find ways of adapting and moving forward in life from years of proverbial abuse. Some make the right decisions and some do not. Watching these characters and their mistakes and correct actions can cause a reader to grow as well.



This book is filled to the brim with situations where a reader can learn through someone's pain instead of their own. Also in the style of Mary Connealy, conversations and events fill a reader full to giggling whether they want to or not. Their were points where I'm not sure if I should blame my own pregnancy or not for the giggles brought me to tears. For me personally, another best part of this book was reading about two characters and their own experiences with pregnancy. This is the first book with a birth that I have been blessed to read that was more than she's pregnant and in the last chapter has the babe. I was enthralled by the experiences and interactions that it proved to provide with neighbors and spouses.



And now, I impatiently wait for the next book in the series or other from the imaginations of Mary Connealy!!

Great new start to a series!

Mary Connealy is an author who truly knows how to grab your attention right from the get go.

As Cassie Griffin watches her husband get buried, she feels utterly hopeless. Alone and pregnant, she has nowhere to turn. Thank God for the likes of Red Dawson, who steps up to marry her, take her back to his home, and care for her. Though this decision is sudden, it is the only way to keep Cassie safe from slimy villain Wade Sawyer.

Connealy has created two humble, innocent characters in Cassie and Red. Readers will thrill in watching them grow up together, learn together, and best of all, love together. There are some honest laugh-out-loud scenes as Cassie fumbles to learn about Ranch Life, as well as a sincerely sweet, tear-jerking moment when Cassie finally gives birth.

The focus may be on Cassie and Red, but the story is full of dynamic characters. Side characters such as the rough and tough Belle and her daughters, and the lovely Muriel round out the plot, leaving openings for future installments. There is also plenty of Connealy's signature action - fights, weather, wild animals - to keep you turning the pages late into the night. Connealy is a master of keeping solid Christian values in her books, without the message feeling too overwhelming. I am very excited to continue with this new series!

The first Montana Marriages Americana romance is a strong tale that focuses on the impact of spousal abuse

In 1875 in the Montana Territory, Cassie Griffin's abusive husband dies. She has no time to rejoice or grieve her loss as the same day she has her odious spouse interred, she must pick his replacement as that is the law with a shortage of marriageable females. Cassie selects Red Dawson, who, as a Good Samaritan, offers to marry her to keep her safe from a stalker. Neither wants to wed, but do.

They exchange their vows and immediately go to his ranch to live. Cassie quickly realizes how unsophisticated she is when it comes to relationships with people, especially men and even with God. Red quickly understands that his frightened little mouse of a wife is an abuse victim. As they fall in love, he wonders if she will ever trust him.

The first Montana Marriages Americana romance is a strong tale that focuses on the impact of spousal abuse even after the abuser is dead. Cassie is a super soul struggling between her growing attraction and love to her second husband and her fear of being touched. Red is a kindhearted person who marries Cassie to keep her safe not expecting to fall in love with "the mouse that roared". Although perhaps a bit simplistic, Mary Connealy provides a wonderful Reconstruction Era inspirational as love heals all wounds.

Harriet Klausner

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