"Now & Forever" by Mary Connealy

About the Book

Saddle up for romance and adventure with the Wilde sisters!

Shannon Wilde is the middle sister--and the one who loves animals. She's established her own homestead and is raising sheep for their wool. Things are going fine...until Shannon gets swept over a cliff by Matthew Tucker!

Tucker seizes every opportunity to get away from civilization, but one particular walk in the woods ends with him sprinting away from an angry grizzly and plunging into a raging river, accidentally taking Shannon Wilde with him. Their adventure in the wilderness results in the solitary mountain man finding himself hitched to a young woman with a passel of relatives, a homestead, and a flock of sheep to care for.

As Tucker and Shannon learn to live with each other, strange things begin to happen on Shannon's land. Someone clearly wants to drive her off, but whoever it is apparently didn't count on Tucker. Trying to scare Matthew Tucker just makes him mad--and trying to hurt the woman he's falling in love with sets off something even he never expected.

Please visit Mary Connealy's website

Buy "Now & Forever" from Amazon

Buy "Now & Forever" from Barnes&Noble

This book was released in February 2004

This is a well loved library book that was reviewed

My Review

“Now & Forever” by Mary Connealy is the second book in her 'Wild at Heart' series, and wow what a book. This is a book where it is not exactly necessary to have read the first book “Tried & True” but it will help with figuring out a few of the characters, especially the Wilde family and that dynamics. I think that reading this first two books will be somewhat required reading when it comes to “Fire & Ice” this fall, for the two major characters are seen all through the first two books. I would like to say that the two major characters in “Fire & Ice” is not a great surprise, HOWEVER, this is Ms. Connealy and with her nothing is a sure thing.

This is so predictable again to Ms. Connealy's writing, which of course is not predictable. The villain of the story is one of two characters, though I suspected one more than the other, just because of a hunch. However, the hints and clues all fitted each of the characters that are suspect, so honestly either one could have been it. The one who was the villain truly had a hidden dark soul without a doubt and frankly it was almost scary how this character seem to find enjoyment with what they were doing.

This is Shannon Wilde's story and what a story it is. As her back story comes out it almost horrific with what this young lady went through in her past. Regardless what happened though there is something gentle within Shannon that she is not afraid to show to her sheep, though she is guarded with everyone else. It seems almost if Shannon is trying to figure out where she fits in the world, for she is so use to doing things one way but now due to a marriage of no choice she is finding that there are other ways of doing things. Some of those new things are things she likes and some not so much.

Matt Tucker is a man we also meet in “Tried & True” and we learn a great deal more about this mountain man. He is the typical Alpha Male who has to protect everyone, can do everything, doesn't need anyone, and especially hates being laid up. His pride gets in the way at times but he is not reckless on the most part. Tucker is a man who is a thinker, and careful. There is a reason why he has the reputation that he has and frankly it is well earned. Though Tucker seems almost perfect for the Alpha Male, he isn't and it shows at times.

The romance within the story is some different and yet, so similar to “Tried & True”. Again the chemistry between Shannon and Tucker is there from the get go, well maybe from “Tried & True” but honestly that is only hinted at. But now in “Now & Forever” that chemistry is different for it is not between a man and woman but now it is between man and wife. It is that same chemistry with a little more intensity, after all this time it is between man and wife, though never once is the reader privy to their private husband and wife moments. I truly found myself falling in love with the characters as the story works itself out even with all the crazy things going on by the hands of the villain.

The story takes several twists and turns throughout the story and I almost have to wonder if there isn't a part of this story that will be carried over into “Fire & Ice” for things seems to have gotten off track on that. Other than that wondering, the story on the part is pretty well concluded within the book, but with Ms. Connealy what might seem concluded in a book, but in the next book shots that idea out of the water. So I am looking forwarded with baited breath for the fall for “Fire & Ice”.

I highly recommend this book to all who enjoy historical romances that has a touch of suspense and plenty of humor, all of which are so characteristic of Ms. Connealy's writing.

Other "Wild at Heart" Books

Tried & True

“Small-Town Bachelor” by Jill Kemerer

About the Book 

A Place to Call Home  

When Reed Hamilton arrives in Lake Endwell for a family wedding, he expects to do his part as best man then head back to the big city. But when a a tornado postpones the wedding, the town is in shambles and Reed is injured. Thankfully maid of honor Claire Sheffield offers him one of her cottages to recuperate in. Dedicated to her family and her dream job at the zoo, Claire is all about roots. She's this city slicker's opposite, yet as they help the town rebuild, Reed is captivated by her stunning looks and caring ways. He can't ask Claire to leave the life she loves for him, but he also can't imagine ever leaving her behind…

Please visit Jill Kemerer's website

Buy "Small-Town Bachelor" from Amazon

Buy "Small-Town Bachelor" from Barnes&Noble

This book was released in April 2015

This is a well loved library book that was reviewed

My Review

“Small-Town Bachelor” by Jill Kemerer is the first book of hers for Love Inspired and frankly I hope it is not the last for Ms. Kemerer.  She drew this reader into the story from the get go and had me laughing at several different points. Then there is her unique way of describing things.

Frankly I rarely ever quote from a book and when I do it is usually only one quote, but this book has three memorable and I have to quote them for they were so different and priceless when I read them.

       All quotes are from the larger print book:

• Page 8 ~ “He was hot enough to melt the ice sculpture sitting on second shelf of the walk-in freezer.”
• Page 199 ~ “get the heart paddles, women are collapsing”
• Page 281 ~ “That man could ignite a forest fire in the dead of winter."

Each of those quotes made me stop and laugh out loud for I had never seen anything like them before in describing a character before.

The story itself had moments of heart break that this reader couldn't help feeling, and humorous moments where I laughed out loud. The details of the story were balanced in such a way that I didn't feel overwhelm with pointless details, nor feeling as if I was not getting enough information to form a good mental picture. The details were enough to keep the story moving at a pretty good clip to where I didn't feel as if the story was stalling until the next step was taken. Okay honestly it seemed as if there was part of the story line that didn't move quickly but I think if it was rushed then it wouldn't have had the effect that it did on me.

Both Reed and Claire are so well developed that it was hard not to feel like I meet two new friends. These two friends, who were facing their own problems, are so sure they know what the truth is and not looking to change any of that. Through out the story there are little changes that one who is on the outside, like the reader, can see, sometimes really small changes while sometimes really big changes. If a couple of times it seems like a person is hit upside the head with the truth, and not the truth they were so sure of.

Claire is a woman who puts family first and then her dream job. Though those are the important things to her, she is also someone who is willing to help others without second guessing. Her heart is large, and her humor is visible to all. She is constantly thinking of others while working towards her goal. When things go south for her, she still finds something to smile about. That doesn't mean she is a Pollyanna for she isn't for she knows that there are something she just can't  change and her temper flares a couple of times.

Reed is a man who is going places and knows where he wants to go. He is so certain about his life that it honestly clouded his view of life at times. When people need him though he does what he can to help out without thought. It is understandable for his actions to be honest at the beginning of the story for I think anyone under the same circumstances would be the same way.

After looking a bit more for Jill Kemerer it does look like there will be another story coming out in a few months and frankly I can't wait. I hope we see a whole lot more about Sheffield family for all of the siblings have really touched something inside of me because of their stories. Yes, in this story we learn a few details about the back-stories of a few of the siblings, and that is what has me hoping for all of them to find their happy ending.

This is a book that is really worth the read so go ahead and pick up the book to read, I can't see anyone being disappointed in this book.