Calico Canyon

What a hoot this was to read. Totally enjoyable from beginning to end. I loved those five mischievous boys and their shenanigans but their poor teacher. Grace has her hands full with these boys at school and when circumstances bring her into their home it becomes chaotic but also opens their hearts to love. Who can resist an ornery boy must less five ornery boys. She is brave and strong to escape her adoptive father and his abuse and as she navigates this new path God has forged for her she discovers that maybe a forced marriage will make her faith stronger and her heart ready to trust. Daniel is a great hero but carries scars from the loss of his wife. These characters are so identifiable as they deal with real issues and show more circumstances. Very well written and the humor puts it over the top in my estimation. I’m loving this series and cannot wait for the next book. I suggest adding this to your must read pile as it is top notch entertainment.
I received a complimentary copy from CelebrateLit/Wild Heart Books. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required. show less

A big shout out to the author for making me laugh so hard as I read the opening pages. Grace is a teacher who loves her job. On one particular trying day chaos breaks out in the classroom. Like a domino effect, one thing leads to another calamity where Grace finds herself embarrassed in front of her students. The unruly boys who have caused this disruption denies everything. I think Grace has reached her limit and starts to take back control until their dad shows up. He is not happy witnessing the teacher threatening to hit one of his children. Little does anyone know that this man will protect Grace one day.

Daniel is rough around the edges and doesn’t take kindly to anyone who mistreats his boys. He takes it upon himself to make show more sure Grace is reprimanded for her actions at school. Does he have any idea that his boys are a tad bit hard to handle? I do like how much Daniel cares for his boys even though they may not always show their appreciation for the sacrifice their father gives to keep them fed and safe.

The story proves to be much more than just a glimpse at family but the deeper meaning of trust. Grace and Daniel find themselves in a predicament that brings them together in a way neither really wanted. I liked how Grace finally showed her courageous side and begins to open her heart to the children she never thought she could care about. Oh how I loved these boys and how much they needed to find security and the love of a mother.

There is danger in the story which adds a depth of learning to trust others. The story also illustrates how two people need to allow God to direct their paths. Daniel is fighting a battle within him that brings out the bitterness he has deep rooted in his heart. With so much unanswered questions and secrets, will Grace and Daniel have a relationship grounded in faith?

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. show less

The 5 unruly Reeves brothers get kicked out of school and Grace Calhoun fired from her teaching job in Mosqueros, TX in 1867. When her cruel adoptive father shows up with murder in mind she runs for her life, hiding out under a tarp in a wagon. By the time the wagon reaches its destination she has passed out from the cold. When she comes to it is to find herself in the Reeves cave house at his ranch. The part of the search party for her that shows up is the preacher and his wife and before she knows it she is married and mother to the 5 hellions. A winter blizzard snows them in the canyon and they find themselves spending the winter figuring out how to be a family. This was funny and poignant. There are side stories involving another show more couple and Grace's adoptive siblings. The adoptive father adopted orphan girls at 3-5 years of age and sends them to work in Chicago's carpet mills. If they get injured he returns them. Grace got him arrested for stealing before she ran off and her next eldest adoptive sister cares for the remaining little sisters on the money Grace makes from teaching. Very enjoyable. show less

A rollicking good book! Grace is running from her adopted father and his cruelty, hiding in Texas, working as a teacher. She gets twisted up with five unruly boys and their father as she has to run for her life. (A truly wild bunch, they're living in a cave.) Entertaining story unfolds, leaving you rolling in laughter as well as sadness and outrage, constantly rooting for them to work it out. Excellent read.

I received this book free from the author, publisher and CelebrateLit book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

#CalicoCanyon #MaryConnealy #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #CelebrateLit #ChristianWesterns #WildHeartBooks

Well. Normally speaking when I'm reading an American Historical Christian Romance I like there to be a school marm involved. I don't know I like old timey school marm romances. So I was excited for this. Except. I'm not sure what happened but this should have really been much shorter then it was. It felt like the obstacles between the two leads--mostly on the male's part after a while--were so forced feeling. He had a good reason to be worried. Except instead of communicating this reasoning to his new wife--who is stuck in a cave with his hellion children who are mostly hellbent on killing her in some way--he just stares at her with lust and runs off for hours on end.

Mind you his wife is pretty naive all things considered so her being show more like 'I didn't know men and women did this!' was shallow sounding. She grew up in a rough environment, must have had SOME inkling as to where babies come from, but the mechanics of it never occurred to her. I wasn't sure what to make of that. show less

When I got the background on this book, I was a little apprehensive about reading it since I knew that it was about Miss Grace Calhoun. Upon reading Petticoat Ranch Miss Calhoun was present, but only faintly. She was definitely not my favorite character, especially in comparison to the wonders of Sophie and her girls. But, upon reading the first chapter of Calico Canyon Grace came slightly off her pedestal and I began to have some compassion for her. It was by the beginning of chapter three that I was enthralled and ready to commit a full friendship, and by the end of chapter five, I was ready to stand behind her and beat off all the bad guys. Grace is a real person, and just one more example of what you should not just a person by show more their first impression they leave with you. Grace is so much more than what she seemed and I'm so thrilled that I gave her a chance. But this book is about so much more than just dear Grace. We meet new characters with Tillie and a plausible romance that just makes sense. Tillie and Grace come from completely different backgrounds, but at the same time could not have more in common. Then there is Hannah and the others in Chicago with their own lives of triumph and struggles. This book captures so many real issues and does it in a wonderful fashion and light. Briefly to mention, there is slavery, and child abuse, and death, and love, and do not forget the idea of multiples!Mary did a great job with this story, and I was not at all let down! As a matter of fact I was nervous, to see what would happen. I am curious and anxious now about Hannah and Libby and I do hope that there will be more stories of their lives coming from our great author Mary Connealy. I strongly urge you to take the time to read Calico Canyon, it will not disappoint. show less

Mosqueros, Texas in 1867 was grateful to have a teacher for their children, even if she was rather young. In her 17 years Grace Calhoun, had already lived a life that was anything but sunshine and roses. Orphaned as a child, abused by Parrish, her adopted father and beaten whenever he so desired, found her jumping boxcars to get as far away as possible, when he suddenly arrives from Chicago ready to continue using her as his whipping post.

Nearly frozen, she is found in her nightgown in the back of a wagon. Forced into a marriage of convenience, she begins the most difficult job of her life. Remembering her mantra to be brave and trust in the faithfulness of the Lord, she heads into a whole new world of what might even, one day, be show more love.

An early copy of Petticoats and Cowboys Book 2 was received through Wild Heart Books and BookFunnel. These thoughts are my own and were in no way solicited. show less