I really enjoyed Mary Connealy 's latest book, "Inventions of the Heart." It is another great story from one of my favorite authors. This is her second book in the Lumber Baron's Daughters series and I love her strong willed heroes and heroines who love to fuss and fall in love against their better judgement. This series adds an interesting technology element. Even adults can get their STEAM fix: science-technology-engineering-arts-math, which many new books in kidlit love to include.
In "Inventions of the Heart" Michelle Stiles will show a stubborn rancher how her creations can improve their lives and save her from the cruel stepfather's plans.

Another literary delight from Mary Connealy!

I finished this book in three days, which is a record for me.

Michelle Stiles and Zane Hart are two people who come together under a veil of danger. The story catapults the reader through some hair pin plot twists and turns. Dashes of humor lighten the mood and kisses of romance.

This might be my favorite series from this wonderful author. Make sure to read it yourself, and the first novel, The Element of Love. Fantastic fiction!

I received this book from the publisher but was under no obligation to write nor post a review.

I enjoyed reading this book, especially the development of the main female character, Michelle, and her journey from self-centered interests to meeting the needs of those she loved. The beginning of the book was a bit unwieldy as the author spent a great deal of time introducing a myriad of characters, evidently from the first book in the series. Connelly did a good job of accurately presenting the realities of “justice” in the early days of Western settlement and the reality of corruption in so many areas of life. I felt that she made the Stiles women almost too smart/rich/powerful, but their personalities were well-developed and fluid as they matured and grew to appreciate the gifts and talent of those around them.. It was definitely a good read.,

I have been looking forward to this story for months! After the fantastic beginning to this series, I was so excited for Michelle's story. It is super! Michelle and her sisters are still trying to stop their stepfather from all of his evil plans, and we have the added bonus of Zane's sister and her family being threatened as well. This story moves quick and has lots of surprises along the way. Really enjoyed this one, now I need book 3 to see how it all ends up!

I received this book from the publisher but also purchased my own Audible copy as well. All thoughts are my own.

The second book in the Lumber Baron's Daughters series about the Stiles sisters. This is Michelle's story. Michelle and Jilly are living at Zane Hart's ranch after their sister Laura marries Caleb and heads home to take control of the lumber company that their step-father is destroying.
Michele loves to invent things and so she is trying to invent a way to get the gold out of a mine on Zane's land while at the same time avoiding being kidnapped by her step father and forced to marry one of his cronies. This story brings in some new villains along with the old ones, some new good guys to help along the way and a bunch of adventure. I can't wait to read Jilly's story in book three.

This is the second book in the Lumber Baron's Daughters series. I highly recommend that you read the first book The Element of Love before reading this book. You will get all the details of why the daughters had to flee from their step-father. Also, you will learn Laura's story and how she became married to Caleb.

This book is Michelle's story. Her and her sister Jillie are staying on Zane's ranch. Michelle wants to run the mining operation since gold has been found on the ranch. Zane won't hear of it. While this discussion is going on Zane's whole family shows up with one problem or another. Someone is still after Michelle and Jillie.

Michelle is a very strong-willed woman, as well as probably the smartest one of the entire bunch. All Zane wants to do is ranch with Michelle by his side. Read the story to find out how they win in the end with typical Connealy fun.

I highly recommend this book. I was given this book by Bethany House Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

Hiding out has its perks, but can be rather tough after a while. Now that Laura is married, she can go home, but that leaves Michelle and Jilly at Two Harts Ranch. How long will they have to remain away from mother and home? Will that sinister step-father continue to try to marry them off?

Book 2 in the Lumber Baron’s Daughters will keep you on the edge of your seat. There is murder, assault and kidnapping just to mention a few of the unexpected happenings. Add the discovery of gold to the mix, and just wait to see what is next! Michelle’s time-saving inventions are a treat to read about, adding to the excitement of ranching in California.

An early copy was received through Bethany House Publishers, Baker Publishing Group and NetGalley. These impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.

I found it interesting to read a book set in the past but where the women were the inventors, mining for gold, and raised to take over a logging company. It was something that wasn't really done back then or at least it wasn't common. I found it a little harder to fully immerse myself in the story though as there were a number of point of view characters so I didn't stay in one person's point of view for an extended time.

Filled with colorful and captivating characters, unusual and creative settings, and her hilarious sense of humor, Mary Connealy’s newest series stars three unusual sisters running for their lives. Laura, Michelle, and Jilly Stiles are highly intelligent and educated in engineering, mathematics, and scientific fields but must escape their evil stepfather’s plans to marry them off to his lecherous friends and gain control of the girls’ lumber empire.

With Laura married off in book one, this book opens with Michelle hiding out at Zane’s ranch and pestering him to let her manage the gold mine the girls found on his ranch.

“But honestly, I want to manage everything. The whole world would run better if they put me in charge.”

“Life on a ranch wasn’t as exciting as blowing up mountains.”

Zane is a fantastic hero, and I loved seeing his relationship with Michelle change and grow. I loved his sense of honor and his love of family. I chuckled and laughed out loud at some of his thoughts and ideas.

“Except for taking care of three babies, Michelle wasn’t doing anything.”

Mary Connealy’s sense of humor just tickles me, and I found myself loving this book just as much or more than the first one in the series. I can always count on her books for some good laughs.

“Don’t talk too much about being kind to the cows you’re planning to eat. It doesn’t exactly ring true.”

With plenty of action, adventure, suspense, humor, and sprinkles of romance and inspiration, this book is a fun addition to this creative series. I can’t wait for Jillly’s story coming up this fall. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishing. All opinions are my own.

NOT FOR ME. I kept pushing myself through the 1st several chapters, wanting to give up as I was not enjoying it.
Book gives new meaning to the phrase "spaghetti western". It's a jumbled mess of characters and situations, like a plate full of twisted spaghetti noodles. 🤦🏻‍♀️
I have enjoyed this author in the past, but after finishing it, this one just did not fit the bill I'm sad to say. This is my opinion alone, so please judge for yourself.
Thanks for an early eBook from Netgalley and the Publisher.

Connealy opens the book with explosive action that sucked me in immediately. Zane and Michelle were just as I remembered them from the first book, both stubborn with hearts of gold. Though there’s plenty of action throughout the book, Connealy balances it with heartwarming moments between Zane and Michelle.

Inventions of the Heart could work as a standalone, but I highly recommend you read The Element of Love first. Connealy takes the reader to visit Laura and Caleb often, and reading the first book helps keep up with what’s going on. All the different perspectives did throw me off a bit, but for the most part, Connealy handles these characters well.

The characters discuss faith and salvation often, especially in terms of reaching to the lost. And there’s also a discussion about the Bible’s view on wealth. None of this felt preachy but rather leaves something for the reader to think about.

Overall, Inventions of the Heart is a sweet western romance with humor and suspense. Historical romance fans don’t want to miss out on this new release.

Readers can always count on Mary Connealy to deliver fun, suspenseful, uplifting and unique inspirational historical fiction. Inventions of the Heart is a captivating continuation of the Lumber Baron's Daughters. Each woman has unique gifts, skills and is highly intelligent. How they navigate the world around them is intriguing. The conclusion to the trilogy is already on my list of books to read.

I received a complimentary copy of the book without obligation. This review is my opinion.

Inventions of the Heart is a historical fiction novel set in the Wild West, and was written by Mary Connealy. It is book two in The Lumber Baron’s Daughters series. I would not recommend reading this book without reading book one first, as you would miss too much of the plot line.

Summary: Michelle Stiles is still hiding out with her sister at Zane Hart’s ranch. What she needs to do, is get married so that her evil step-father no long has power over her future. But, she’s a little busy striking it rich with a gold mine, patching up wounded farmers, and protecting the neighbors and her family from land poachers.

Can Michelle protect her family and those she cares about, or will anyone live to tell the tale?

My Thoughts: I am really enjoying this series, and this book was just as good as the last. The writing is humorous, the story adventurous, there are plenty of twists and turns, and a nice love story besides.

I love the strong and quirky female characters in this series too!

This is a great book that I highly recommend-especially if you enjoy stories set in the old west.

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!

I enjoyed this book about Michelle and Zane. Michelle and her sisters are brilliant and it can be hard for those around them to trust their knowledge. Zane seems to do a pretty good job in this book although he raised some questions at one point that were left unresolved. Maybe they'll be answered in the next book.

Progress is being made in protecting Margaret and her first husband's legacy. I'm excited to read the final book to see how things play out at the lumber mill and with Jilly.

This is the second book in the Lumber Baron's Daughters series and the books need to be read in order to make sense and get the most out of them. I'd recommend this book and the series. Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Picking up right where the previous book left off Inventions of the Heart follows the three Stiles sisters as they continue to evade their stepfather's nefarious plans for their inheritance.

Michelle has been feeling at loose ends since her sister Laura's marriage. She likes to stay busy and offers to help Zane extract the gold from his property, using her mechanical mind to develop efficient ways to speed the process. Michelle is intelligent, but at times insecure about her homemaking skills, I love how she uses her strengths to help Zane manage his property and mine. Zane a dashing cowboy hero, he's never thought much about marriage before meeting Michelle, and I like how he comes to appreciate her more and more as he get's to know her.

A great installment to a wonderful series, there is a lot going on and definitely will be important to have already read the first book in the series. I liked the action, humor, and strong themes of trusting God's plan. I liked the interaction between Michelle and Zane, as well as the close bond between the sisters. A satisfying adventure and romance, definitely recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A fast moving story that had my attention right from the beginning. I loved the strong family values and ties that were shown and encouraged.

This is book 2 of the Stiles sisters series. I’ve fallen in love with all 3 sisters and thoroughly enjoyed reading about Michelle and Zane. I can’t wait to see what happens to Jilly in her book next. Could be read as a stand alone but so much better as book 2.

After read Laura's story in book 1, I was so thrilled to check out Michelle's journey along with Zane, the honest and handsome farmer man who caught her interest still in the first book, and thankfully, It was exactly What I was expecting! A delightful(yet dramatic) narrative, and also full of hope and thoughts about trusting in God even in the middle of difficulties and through hard times. It is always worth the sacrifice and waiting season. Now I am desperate to see What comes next to Jilly's journey. Well done!

Mary Connealy has become my favorite Western Christian author and I am really enjoying her Lumber Baron's Daughters series. I couldn't read the second book fast enough. I think this one was even better than the first. Michelle and Zane are a fantastic couple and all of the other characters are extremely likable. I can't wait for the third book!

Inventions of the Heart
by Mary Connealy
Pub Date: July 5, 2022
#2 The Lumber Baron's Daughters
Bethany
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
Connealy is one of my favorite Christian fiction authors and this one is another good one!
I have already pre-ordered it for our library and I know our patrons are going to love this one too.
This series is really good. An evil stepfather sells his wife's daughters to men who really are creepy just so he can gain complete control over their dead father's business and fortune. Only these girls, educated and super smart, are having none of it. I recommend this book.
4 stars