Saddle up for the second installment of the Brothers in Arms series! Mary Connealy has written another page-turner of a book. Falcon Hunt is a man with a past, but he can't remember what it is. Cheyenne is a woman with a world of hurt after losing her land. She works harder than anyone she knows just to prove that she won't be outdone. Fireworks ignite when Falcon and Cheyenne unite to discover who is trying to kill their family. Can they agree to work together before someone ends up dead? Or will their stubbornness be an obstacle they can't overcome?

I highly recommend this story for those who love historical fiction set in the Old West!

Part family drama, part romance and part western style battle for what's his, A MAN WITH A PAST is an excellent example of story that will keep you reading on a long afternoon when your chores will just have to wait another day. As the story builds and he struggles to regain his memory, this frontiersman will need every skill he has to find those who would harm his family.

A Man with a Past was written by Mary Connealy. It is book two in the Brothers in Arms series. It is not necessary to have read the first book in order to enjoy this one.

Summary: With the passing of his wife and child, there is nothing left for Falcon Hunt in the place he has always called home. So when a letter comes telling him his father has just died and he has inherited land out west, he jumps at the chance to start over.

But someone is trying to kill him. A near-death experience leaves Falcon with no memory of the past. Can he move forward when he doesn’t even know his past?

My Thoughts: I liked this book. It was really interesting to watch Falcon try to rediscover his past while trying to reconcile himself to having a family of brothers he never knew about. And, there is a good mystery as everyone has to work together to discover who is trying to kill Falcon and his brothers.

This was a fun, well-written read, with plenty of shoot-outs and backstabbing.

If you enjoy western fiction with a bit of a love story, this book will probably be right up your alley.

I would like to thank Bethany House for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

Words from my 12.5-year-old avid Connealy fan.

A Man with a Past is my favorite Mary Connealy book so far. The book is about Falcon Hunt who is from the Tennessee wilderness. It is the second book in Mary Connealy’s Brothers in Arms series. The book tells about Falcon Hunt’s side of the story from the point where he got pushed over the waterfall and so on. It also tells his side of it when he caught the men trying to ambush him by ambushing them.

After Falcon gets pushed over the waterfall, everyone else thinks he is dead. He’s not dead but he forgets his past. Although, he still knows how to hunt, light a fire, and to find or make good shelter. Falcon describes her as the prettiest woman in the area (not out loud), after he had just met her and caught her sleeping soundly in the woods a few nights before. A Man with a Past also tells about Falcon’s and Cheyenne’s growing affection for each other.

Oh my goodness! I adored book one from Mary Connealy's Brothers in Arms series. And with the second installment, A Man With a Past, I love even more. It was great! Five stars.

Mary Connealy delivers another great historical fiction. The second book in the Hunt brothers series has it all, suspense, intriguing plot twists, appealing characters and romance.. A great read with the anticipation of more.

I think I might have been most excited for Falcon's story after meeting him in the first book of the series. His amnesia added so much to the mystery that I couldn't wait to find out what had happened to him. I wasn't disappointed! This book had so much mystery, adventure, comedy, and romance that I don't know how Mrs. Connealy was able to fit it all in! Now I am really looking forward to the final book in the series to see how the whole family mystery turns out! I recommend this book to those who enjoy romantic comedy set in the west. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A man with a past he can't remember and a woman who has just lost her future of working her ranch. Another of the brothers who has suddenly showed up to claim a part of an inheritance she thought was hers! When she get teamed up with Falcon to figure out what is going on with attacks on the family... An interesting romance begins between these two very independent people. A lot of interesting interactions, fast moving action, mystery and suspense on every page! I requested a copy through the publisher and NetGalley. No review was required, my review is voluntary.

First sentence: When a man grows up in wild country, huntin' food, eyes wide open for trouble, he knows when he's being watched.

A Man with a Past is the second book in the Brothers in Arms series by Mary Connealy. The first book is Braced For Love. The opening chapters of both books overlap. I would say the first four or five chapters of A Man With A Past overlap with the first book, just from different perspectives.

There are alternating narrators in A Man With A Past. The top two being Falcon Hunt and Cheyenne. But also Wyatt and to some extent Molly. (Win and Kevin are very much present in the book. But I don't know that we experience the book through their eyes, their perspectives.)

Falcon, our hero, has amnesia. He spends a good bit of this one walking around thinking things like, "This is a tree. I remember this is a tree." Or "I know how to sit down and stand up." The amnesia aspect of this one gets old really fast--in my opinion.

Falcon and Cheyenne (and to some aspect the others on the ranch) spend most of their time trying to track down super bad guys. I wouldn't say the villains are fully actualized or fully developed characters. But the plot seems more substantial. I think more time was spent developing the dangerous mystery plot than the romantic relationship. The relationship felt VERY insta to me. Even more insta than Win and Kevin. It's like he is, "I just met you ten minutes ago and I know you're super angry about the situation, but you know what you're beautiful and I think I want to marry you." And she's like "OKAY. I think I'd like that." Swoon. I do get that they are thrown into a situation where their lives depend on trusting each other and they are days (and nights) on the trail with only each other for company. So maybe that's why it's so insta.

A Man with a Past is Mary Connealy’s second book in her Brother in Arms series. This is Falcon and Cheyenne’s story.

If you haven’t read the previous book, this story will have a few spoilers in it. If you have, then the first few chapters will be a bit of a recap, but from Falcon and Cheyenne’s perspectives. From there, the story continues the trouble that the Hunt brothers and their step-siblings face after discovering the three of them didn’t know the others existed. Let alone that they inherited part of land that originally belonged to Cheyenne’s grandfather and biological father, not the Hunt brothers’s father.

Falcon and Cheyenne are the hardest to get to know of the family, it seems, but they understand each other in a way that leads them quickly into friendship, and perhaps more. They fit each other well, from their ability to track to their love of being alone in the out of doors. They are a strong pair and the romance is not a cuddly-feely one. That makes this story unique.

This story also made me anxiously await Wyatt’s story. Book three is about the third and final Hunt brother. I can’t wait!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.

This is book two in the Brothers in Arms Series, however it is a stand alone book. I love the writing style of Mary Connealy. She has a fun, spunky, action packed way of writing. I usually have a hard time putting her books down, and can not wait for the nest one. I fell in love with the Hunt brothers in book one, Braced for Love, and was glad to continue their journey. This book does take place at the same time as book one, Just from a different perspective. This one focuses on Falcon Hunt and Cheyenne. We meet Falcon and Cheyenne both in book one but get to follow their unique journey in book two.
I look forward to reading more about the Hunt brothers in book three. I was given a copy of this book for my honest opinion.

To get a full grasp of the plot of this book, I would highly recommend the first book in the series, "Braced for Love". As you can see, the book covers fit together nicely to make one image, and the stories fit together in a similar way. "A Man With a Past" backtracks to the beginning of Falcon's story, before "Braced for Love" begins. You see the different parts that the two stories intersect, but this focuses primarily on Falcon and Cheyenne. I loved the way that this was written. Different inner thoughts and experiences that weren't revealed previously were now clearer and cleverly written. Towards the end of the book, the story moves forward, joining the plot of the previous novel and all of the characters move forward together. The stage is also set for book three, which was given in little hints and moments, just enough to make me curious about what will happen next (and I definitely plan to read book 3!). Mary Connealy is a long time favorite of mine because I love the way she writes her characters. Bad guys are bad and the good guys (and gals) are tough and spirited. Throw in some plot twists and I am here for all of it! I was definitely entertained. I will say that there have been previous novels of Connealy's that the romance was clean...but the tension was sizzling. I like the sizzle. This didn't quite have that, but was still a pleasant campfire level romance, and I like that, too. This book met my expectations and I look forward to reading more!


*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion, which I gave.*

Mary Connealy has a gift for drawing readers into her stories quickly with surprising circumstances and a compelling writing style. Some of the situations in her stories are far-fetched, and yet she makes them work...

Falcon is fascinating! I could almost hear his drawl as he narrated his portions of the story. His role in Braced for Love was small, yet I could tell from that taste that I was going to like him. And I did!

Cheyenne was fun, too. She was so independent and strong - which is what attracted Falcon to her. And yet, she had a gentle, tender side - as evidenced by the way she responded to the puppies.

I have mixed feelings about the way Falcon's story started before he got amnesia and therefore we knew his past even though he didn't. Some speculation and tension were thus removed that might have existed if the details of his life had been revealed as slowly to us as they were to him.

Quirky, dramatic, fun, and romantic, this Western adventure had me turning pages (figuratively) as fast as I could to see what was going to happen next! The ending was satisfactory and yet hinted at more to come when the third Hunt brother gets to have his story told. The Brothers in Arms series is designed to be read as a set, so don't just jump into A Man with a Past without first reading Braced for Love. With Love on the Range releasing in just a few months (October 2021), you won't have long to wait for the conclusion.

Lovers of historical romance will want to be sure to read this series.


I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.

What a fun read! This set of Mary’s is definitely one of my favorites of hers. I really enjoyed Falcon as a character and Cheyenne was a great match for him. The mystery is super good and kept me guessing. I am really looking forward to book three to see how it all ends up. It can’t come soon enough for me!

I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own. I did purchase my own Audible copy. The narration is excellent.

If you are wanting to read a good old western historical romance you have come to the right place. This has great characters, lots of romance, and lots of thrills. Cheyenne and Falcon teach each other some ways to get along and become friends. You will not want to put this down before finding out what is happening in their lives. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House for a fair and honest review that I gave of my own free will.

Falcon was a bit of an enigma in the first book, so I was excited to read this book from his perspective. We learn some of his history before he loses his memory, which makes the reader aware of things that he has forgotten and is concerned about. I love his mountain man skills and confidence that comes naturally. The beginning of the book retells much of what happened in the first book, but from Cheyenne and Falcon's perspective, so it seems like events happen very quickly and the thought processes are choppy. Once the book ventures into new territory the pace becomes more steady and I was able to enjoy it more. There is plenty of action, adventure, and suspense as the new family bands together to fight against their enemies, who are finally revealed, along with other interesting characters. I'm excited for the concluding story with Wyatt and Molly coming next!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

A Man with a Past by Mary Connealy

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
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Story Notes

Mary Connealy brings readers the second in her Brothers in Arms series that turns its focus to Falcon Hunt and the past that he doesn't remember paired with a future that smells of danger.

This is an interesting story line that flows through the series. Three half-brothers who's father "married" each of their mothers in different places around the US country and leaves his ranch in Wyoming to them after his death. Problem is, none of them know that the others exist, nor are they excited about fighting over land they haven't really obtained in the right way. Clovis Hunt was low-down snake of a man who took what he wanted and gave no one quarter. His sons are now the rightful heirs of his property but first they have to move beyond their shock and frustration at the terms of the will. Plus, there seems to be someone out there who wants to eliminate the brothers in whatever way necessary but who could it be? Falcon Hunt is the first to suffer attack on the way to the ranch and is also the first there to find himself in trouble. After a head injury leaves him with no memory of his past at all, he must try to puzzle out more that just his name and where he is at the moment. Cheyenne is Wyatt Hunt's half-sister and thought she was going to inherit half of the ranch - until it turns out that the will leaves her nothing at all. Despite her anger at her step-father, she feels drawn to Falcon and his grumpy practicality. Turns out, he's as good at tracking and living off the land as she is and is just as determined to find out who attacked him and the rest of the family. If they can sort it all out, there just might be a chance for the Hunt brothers to come together as a real family. And Cheyenne might just find the true love her heart has been longing for since she was a girl.
The story is definitely very engaging and entertaining. I love the snarkiness and snap that flies during the conversations. There is respect given but everyone is sure to have their opinion heard. The biggest problem I had with this story was that it rehashed too much of the first story. Essentially, the first 60 pages were identical to what was written in the first book. After that, the story picked up really well and drew me back in. I liked Falcon and his matter-of-fact way of speaking. He was a hardened man from living in the wilderness but that didn't mean he didn't also feel things deeply when challenged. It was great to see how he opened his heart again to his unexpected family and the chance at love again. Cheyenne was also a good character who's interests were so varied but useful. I found it interesting that along with her many incredible outdoor skills she also loved to knit. That made me laugh to find out as Cheyenne works so hard to be tough in front of everyone. I certainly recommend this story and the series but would suggest that less repetition of the previous story be included in the next one.

I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

I loved this sequel from Mary Connealy! The couple was made for each other. I enjoyed them creating a family and finding love. The book has beautiful settings, is full of humor, and I can’t wait for the next one!

Another great book in this series. This book deals with another brother, Falcon. This tells of his and Cheyenne’s love story. Falcon Hunt hasn’t a clue who he is after he is shot in the back of his head and falls down a cliff into an icy, raging river, over a deadly 20 foot waterfall. How he ever survived is a mystery. But survive he did to go on and become an important brother in tracking and using his wits, although he only remembers tidbits of his past life. The main thing is trying to find out who tried to kill him and why did they want him dead? All the while fighting his attraction for the tough, smart mouthed Cheyenne. This book has it all, the perfect blend of adventure, intrigue and romance. While this book continues where the first one left off, it can be read as a stand alone, for you gather much information as the book progresses. Thanks to the publisher for letting me read and review this interesting book.

His inheritance just put him in real danger...

The bullets are flying just as fast and furious in Mary Connealy's second Brothers In Arms novel as the first! I wasn't sure if she could up the ante in A Man With A Past but, lo and behold, Mary Connealy did just that!

I'm gonna be honest, I did not like Cheyenne at all in the first book. She was too temperamental, self absorbed, and unstable. I was a little wary when I started A Man With Past because I never like starting a book predisposed to dislike the heroine, but good grief, by the end Cheyenne had changed my mind...mostly...I still think she's a bit unhinged but that's OK now. When it comes to Falcon, well, he reminded me a bit of a Louis L'Amour character. Strong, half wild, capable, and to quote a Louis L'Amour story, he'd 'druther fight than eat'.

One of the things I found fascinating about A Man With A Past was Mary Connealy's choice to not pick up the story where the first Brothers In Arms book left off but rather to go back and tell the story from Falcon and Cheyenne's point of view before moving forward. I also liked how this book, as with its predecessor, solved a smaller mystery that was tied into the overarching plot against the Hunts and their assorted kin. There was enough resolution that this book felt like a completed story but left enough unanswered questions to make sure I will be back for the final Brothers In Arms title. And, believe me, I will definitely be returning to the RHR to find out if any of my hunches are right...

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)