“Thaddeus saw the sense in both his women pre-deceasing him” (location 1696). Thaddeus is as vile a villain as any you hope never to meet. Unfortunately for Beth and Ginny, he won’t stop trying to get what he wants from them.

Beth is a wonderful, strong woman. She goes to great lengths to free her mother from Thaddeus’ clutches knowing she must give up her own hopes to do so. She willingly and generously pursues ways to survive. I appreciated the way she systematically went about learning skills that would help her and her mother.

There are several characters that have a lot of mystery surrounding them and I look forward to finding out their secrets in future books. It was interesting learning about the insanity laws and practices of the time. How horrific to be declared insane because you had a difference of opinion. I am curious to see how this thread plays out.

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was a sweet romance. I liked the suspense and Beth and her mother attempting to hide their identity. Beth has a sweet relationship with Jake, and I loved seeing them develop a friendship that led to something much deeper.

Chasing the Horizon covers a lot of the tragedies that occured on the Oregon Trail, and Connealy uses this opportunity to explore faith and grief. She also gives you the villain’s point-of-view to build to suspense as Beth and her mother make their way west.

For those who’ve read Connealy’s past works, you may recognize some familiar faces in this story. I enjoyed the fun little Easter egg.

Overall, Chasing the Horizon is a sweet western romance with plenty of suspense.

Chasing the Horizon
Mary Connealy was a new author to me, so I was pleasantly surprised by Chasing the Horizon, which is a real page-turner historical fiction.

Elizabeth and her mother must flee her greedy and evil father. Beth (aka Elizabeth) was brave and creative, and had help along the way. Her father was wealthy and determined and hired the best investigators.

The story was not very long, but I thought the characters were well developed, as was the plot. There was tension, danger, and a little romance. It is Christian fiction, but not preachy.

I highly recommend Chasing the Horizon and give it 4.5 stars

A daring rescue from an insane asylum and that is just the beginning of an epic adventure on the Oregon Trail with evil men dogging their path. Mary Connealy’s Inspirational Western Romances have long been on my radar to try, but the new Western Lights series opener, Chasing the Horizon, was my first opportunity. Imagine my chagrin when I started reading and didn’t want to stop. Oh yes, dear friends, I’d waited too long to discover a gem of a writer.



Chasing the Horizon is told mostly from Beth Rutledge’s point of view as this intrepid young woman schemes for three years to rescue her hapless mother from the insane asylum where her evil, ruthless father placed his wife when she wouldn’t knuckle under and meekly hand over the inheritance meant for their daughter. With the help of dear friends, Beth and Ginny- along with a couple of extra surprises- join a wagon train headed west.



Beth shares the narration with tough and capable wagon train scout, Jake Holt. Jake is on his last wagon train. The era of the wagon trains over the trail is over now that the transcontinental railroad has gone through and he’s ready to finally settle. He is attracted to the beautiful, intriguing Beth who has a secret mysterious past and a willing spirit to take up western pioneer life and ranching.



And, the third narrator is Beth’s villain of a father who is determined to punish both the women for escaping him and once for all get his filthy hands on their inheritance. His wife’s family might have been fooled when he turned on the charm to win a wealthy wife of good family to give him a leg up, but they saw through him in time to tie up the family money so he couldn’t touch it- unless he forces the women to give it up voluntarily.



The chilling insane asylum situation of Ginny and the even more secretive Kat who came with her, the hard journey along the trail, and the fear of what was coming behind them made this a riveting read. The author displayed her work in researching the historical elements involved and showed a gift for writing it all organically into the story.



The characters were well crafted, particularly Ginny who was working through her nightmares and learning to be a useful woman on the trail. Beth was so capable and, because of growing up the way she did, learned to be strong and independent quite young even if she came from wealth. The mother-daughter dynamics were different for this pair. I appreciated the ‘found family’ camaraderie they formed with the Collins brothers and the O’Toole family on the trail. The bad guys were not even shades of gray and truly vile, but I appreciated that their characters and motives were colored in so that their threat to Beth and Ginny felt even more real.



Beth and Jake’s romance grew along the way and felt like one element of several rather than the main event. I enjoyed seeing their respect and work together on the trail lead to the trust and love that became a solid, foundation right when it needed to.



This is an inspirational fiction and prayers, trust in God, and the assumption that several are Christians is part of the story, but, like the romance, its molded into the fabric with the rest.



Chasing the Horizon is a series opener and carries the story so far with a couple dangling threads and the hint that others in the group will have their story take the forefront next. I loved this beginning and will wait for the next book with great anticipation. Those who love sweet romance set against a historical western backdrop should pencil this one onto the wish list.

I have a newly acquired love of Westerns thanks to Taylor Sheridan’s TV series, 1883. So I was delighted to return to this period of American history and embark on another wagon trail to Oregon - in fact, one of the last ones thanks to the new rail line which would see wagon trails become obsolete.

“You seemed to want to be away from trouble, too,” he added. “Did that trouble follow you all the way out here?”

This is the first book in a new series by Mary Connealy. It covers a few themes with a range of primary and secondary characters which made this read multidimensional. Firstly is the journey on the wagon trail itself. As one can imagine there are plenty of hardships, majestic scenery and day-to-day life on the trail with these true pioneers working together when times are tough.

‘They rolled into and across the prairies of Wyoming. For days, weeks, months, the horses and cattle plodded on. The early excitement among the pioneers had been given a quick death … Now it faded to dull drudgery as each day stretched out the same. The only break in the sameness came when terrible storms whipped across the plains. Then they longed for the boring sameness to return.’

Secondly, there is a fabulous plot with mother and daughter escaping and running away from an all controlling husband/father. Underpinning this is the awful recount of how the husband had placed Eugenia ‘Ginny’ in an insane asylum for no other reason than a form of control. This is the story of their escape and how they felt that moving West was their only hope of freedom.

‘So they were leaving trouble behind. So be it. Many who headed west were doing the same. Just so long as they didn’t bring trouble with them’

Finally, there is some romance which is very understated. I like that the focus remains on the above two factors. The thrill of being on the run deserves precedence but all up, the tale is well balanced and most engaging. Be warned - there are some incomplete storylines especially regarding secondary characters. This book definitely lends itself to future installments, however, this was a story I could easily follow and a series I would willingly return to.
















This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

This was the first time for me to read something by Mary Connealy, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was a riveting tale of escaping a corrupt and abusive (emotionally mostly) husband / father by attempting to change their identities and fleeing west at a snail's pace on the Oregon Trail. This had just enough suspense to keep me guessing but not stress me out enough to stop reading (I tend to lose interest if the story line starts stressing me out too much). It was a very unique twist on the wagon train / Oregon trail genre. I'm already looking forward with anticipation to the continuation of the story in book two!

There is a lot going on in Mary Connealy's latest book, Chasing the Horizon. This is Western historical novel that starts in Chicago and ends in Idaho after months on a wagon train on the Oregon Trail. Beth, the daughter of a wealthy, unscrupulous member of the Chicago elite, stages a rescue of her mother who has been committed to an insane asylum by her husband for refusing to give him her inheritance. Beth is intrepid at getting her mother as far away from Chicago as she can. This involves extensive planning, a riverboat journey, and a wagon train journey to the far West with the help of several other characters involved in the rescue. Jake Holt, the scout on the wagon train, becomes the love interest for Beth. Connealy explores several social issues here, the lack of women's rights, the abusive insane asylums, the overpowering rights of men/husbands, abuse within families, and the struggle and hardships of immigrants to find a place. The plot contains plenty of action, suspense, danger and struggle. The characters are well rounded and both the good and the bad guys are believable. The history seems authentic. The Christian elements emphasize the positive. This is the beginning of a new series, A Western Light, and a great read. Strongly recommended for lovers of Western historical fiction or anyone who loves a well told story.

Book Review: Chasing the Horizon by Mary Connealy:
Ever since her mother was wrongly committed to an insane asylum by her awful father, Beth Rutledge has been carefully planning a way to get her out. She needs to get them both away from his cruel domination. Heading west on a wagon train isn’t something her father would ever expect, so they pose as sisters and settle into the long journey ahead. Hopefully, they can stay under the radar, because Beth knows her father will never stop looking for them.

Jake Hoult is one of the wagon scouts helping the train make the journey out west. A trip he’s done many times over. He suspects there’s more to Beth’s story. It seems these women are running from danger, so he keeps alert and observant.

As the days and months pass by, Jake and Beth become close, discussing hopes, dreams and the things needed to make their plans successful. Their sweet romance filled me with joy!

It chills me not so long ago, a woman could be committed easily by her husband or father on their word alone. Often for flimsy excuses. The treatments sounded brutal and sadistic, and my heart broke for Beth’s mother and what she endured. Thankfully, the recollections were a small part of the story.

Chasing the Horizon was an exciting, suspenseful adventure! I find stories about the wagon trains making their way out west fascinating! What an undertaking it would’ve been! I was thoroughly engrossed in Beth and her mother’s journey. Beth’s father was an awful man, and I was on edge over his continued pursuit, but his nasty character didn’t go unnoticed. I was pleased with how it all turned out and I’m looking forward to the next in the series featuring Kat and Sebastian in Toward the Dawn!

Did you ever play the game, Oregon Trail? I loved playing it on computers when I was in middle school, even though I always seemed to die of dysentery on the way. Maybe this is why I became an environmental engineer concerned with water quality. We have a card game version that my kids like to play.

Beth Rutledge has worked for years putting together a plan to rescue her mother, Ginny, from the insane asylum. Her father committed her mother to get rid of her since she did not follow his commands or allow him access to her and her daughter’s trust funds. Beth spirits her mother away from Chicago and onto the Orgon Trail. On the trail, guide Jake is attracted to Beth and wonders why she is running. Will Beth and Ginny be able to escape? Will love find Jake and Beth on the trail?

What I enjoyed in this novel:
• It was action packed right from the first chapter and the suspense continued throughout the novel as Beth’s father continued his pursuit.

• The characters were all well drawn and interesting.

• It is a very good look at how dangerous and hard it was for pioneers as they made their way west. There is a horrifying accident that results in the loss of life.

• I also like how it showed the melting pot that America was at the time with various immigrants joining American raised pioneers heading west looking for a better life.

• This novel was also a good look into how few rights women had at the time. Men could just declare a woman insane for any reason and have her locked up.

• I loved how Beth’s father had Pinkerton agents after her and he slowly figures out how she has been working for years to learn the skills required for her escape. I loved her very detailed plan.

• The romance in this novel was sweet and included one of my favorite tropes, a marriage of convenience.

• It was a clean read, and it was faith based. There was a prayer and service after the wagon accident and other discussions of faith. “The morning service was full of Bible services about strength and hope and loss. God’s love was woven generously through it all.”

• I also love how Beth was able to put together so many people to be a “family” to help with the escape and to settle together in Idaho.

• This is Book 1 of the new A Western Light book series. The story will continue in book two which will be out this summer. The first chapter was included at the end of this book, and I am ready to read it! The ending of Chasing the Horizon did not feel complete, and I am ready to read more about these characters.

Overall, I enjoyed this pioneer suspense and adventure on the Oregon Trail. I loved the characters and can’t wait to read more about them.

I think I’ve decided that I really enjoy cowboy historicals, and I need to read more of them. There is just something about the grit and perseverance that is essential to mere survival that provides for some great growth and tension. I love it! (And also, cowboys in books are amazingly swoony.) And this book provides some of that.
Beth is remarkably resilient and resourceful. I love how she went to work to learn the skills she knew she would need to survive the wilds of the West, after having lived a privileged life among the wealthy elite of Chicago. She put in so much effort and time, and was incredibly dedicated. Helping her mother escape from her wrongful commitment to an insane asylum and hiding on a wagon train, Beth proved her determination and love for her family. She went to work, and didn’t give up getting her mother safely away from her ruthless, conniving father, Thaddeus Rutledge.
It’s easy to admire Jake, who didn’t allow his curiosity and suspicions to cloud his ability to see goodness in others. Naturally, his treatment of Beth and her entourage was sweet, and I loved watching him gradually grow in his esteem for Beth. Their romance was sweet, though it felt a tad sudden for me, without a lot hinting toward it. But, again, the dedication they showed to each other, especially on Jake’s side, was really sweet.
I adored Oscar and his brothers, who helped Beth plan and train and prepare, and saw them all to safety. And the valley they found to settle sounds amazing! I want to live there in real life.
The rest of the cast of side characters really rounded out the book, and I grew to love all of them. My heart really went out to Ginnie and Kat. It is disgusting that men could have their wives committed to insane asylums just because they didn’t want them around. And the treatment of the women in those places was deplorable. Both Ginnie and Kat have to deal with PTSD because of the conditions of their lives in the asylum, and my heart ached for them—and knowing that those were stories patterned after real women. Sebastian is extremely mysterious, and I’m still trying to decide how much I trust him. I’m looking forward to reading his story.
There are some sections from the perspective of Thaddeus Rutledge, Ginnie’s husband and Beth’s father. He is sinister and vicious. Thank heavens for the Pinkerton agents who could tell the truth from the lies.
This was an enjoyable read and I am looking forward to the second book in the series.

**Many thanks to the publisher, through @austenprose, for the copy. This honest review was voluntarily provided.

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"That she couldn't control her words or obey her husband was all the evidence Thaddeus and Horecroft had needed to be satisfied that Eugenia was insane.”

How could such an injustice occur in our not-so-distant past? I wanted to know more. What was shared regarding the legal system and asylums of the 1860s was disturbing. I thoroughly applauded Beth’s clever escape plan. I was instantly rooting for these ladies to succeed! Following their quest for freedom via riverboat and wagon train was something I just had to do.

Mary Connelly gave us a cast of strong characters. Beth was strong, capable, and eager to learn all she could to succeed in her new life in the West. She was always alert to any possible danger, both to her group in the wilderness and to anything that might reveal her hidden identity.

Ginny was trying to flee not only the threats and violence of the past but also to be rid of those terrors that caught up with her while she slept. This really touched my heart. Thaddeus Rutledge was a character with so much evil that he easily provoked strong emotions in me. Family friend Oscar brought humor to us while he watched over Ginny on the trail and helped her learn the domestic skills her upbringing did not allow.

My favorite character was Jake Holt, a trail scout. A quiet cowboy who was observant, reliable, and knowledgeable about the ways of life in the West.

"Jake gave her a sharp look as she stumbled over claiming Oscar's brothers as her own. His eyes narrowed as he leaned close, too close, and whispered, 'Your accent slips when you're upset.' Beth pulled away from him, thinking fast. Before she could come up with some bumbling excuse, he said. 'I'm just giving you a warning. Not threatening to expose you as something you're not.'“

The story was slower-paced, relaxing, and still kept my attention. I took pleasure in learning about life in the West, right along with Beth. What I enjoyed the most were the strong bonds formed as strangers turned into friends and friends became family. So many fine characters came alongside Beth and Ginny as they strived for their new lives.

I was left a little wanting with the ending. I found myself imagining the possibilities of what could be. Maybe we will find more closure in future novels.

All in all, this book was a worthwhile read. Those who look for inspiring historical fiction could surely add this book to their reading list.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.

Chasing the Horizon by Mary Connealy - 3 to 3.5 Stars

Readers who enjoy Westerns Christian Historical Romance will enjoy this one but be aware of some intense descriptions of women being sent to insane asylums and their horrible treatments. This brings awareness to how easily a husband could send his wife to an asylum when she did something as simple as disagree with him. This is the 4th Mary Connealy book I have read so far.

In this book, Beth Rutledge helps her mother and friend escape from the insane asylum they were wrongfully imprisoned in. Her father put her mother away and Beth went on the journey to save her from the terrible conditions she endured. They go on the run from their father, assuming new identities on a wagon trail out west. In comes Jake Holt, a wagon trail scout, who helps the women in their journey. Beth and Jake fall in love and he makes sure to take care of her and family at all costs. Meanwhile, Beth's crazy and vindictive father is right on their trail searching for them....

Overall, I liked this book but wasn't exactly in love with it and felt like I wanted the ending to be wrapped up a little more, but I know there is another book in the series to continue to see what happens next. I have enjoyed several of Mary's books but I think I also wanted something different with the romance in this one. It was very awkward to see no real romance and then all of a sudden things moved very quickly between them. It's a clean romance but I wanted more of their interactions together, getting to know each other more, etc. But I understand there was so much going on with the main plot, so that makes sense. This This also seemed a bit formulaic compared to other books I have read by her so it didn't stand out to me necessarily. However, I do recommend this book to anyone who loves a good Christian Western Historical Romance story.

Thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have not read a great wagon train historical fiction in some years. It's funny because I was just talking to my husband the other day about how I've missed reading these types of stories and stories about pioneers recently. I've been reading a lot of WWII stories recently and while I do enjoy them it's nice to have a variety in my historical fiction so I'm glad the author has written this book.
I've been reading this author's books for so long and I can always count on a fabulous and realistic story that has you feeling as though you're there and can talk to the characters. In this case I could feel the danger the characters are in, for example the wagons as they are fording the streams. This is something we wouldn't worry about today, but the author writes it in with such authenticity. How easily someone could be admitted to an asylum while claiming the person was having hysterics and paying off a doctor is just wrong. There was danger filled times and joyful times and I enjoyed the book a lot. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Pub Date 13 Feb 2024
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Once again Mary Connealy has outdone herself with her latest novel, Chasing the Horizon. As the first book in her captivating new series, Connealy once again showcases her unparalleled storytelling ability, effortlessly delivering another page-turner. As a longtime reader of this talented author, I can confidently say that each new release surpasses the last. While the zany sense of humor may be somewhat toned down in her more recent works, the adventure, drama, suspense, and romance are even more pronounced, amplifying the overall reading experience. While I love her humor, I am impressed by the new direction she has taken.

Imagine the thrill of a daring escape from an asylum, followed by an adventurous cross-country journey on a wagon train, as a desperate mother and daughter flee their controlling and cruel husband-father. Unexpected fellow travelers join them, and a subtle romance with the courageous wagon train scout adds an additional layer of interest to the already compelling narrative. I’ll leave the finer details for you to discover as you immerse yourself in this gripping tale. Personally, I cannot express enough how thoroughly I enjoyed Chasing the Horizon, and I eagerly await the next installment of the A Western Light series.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

Wow! What a roller coaster ride. Beth is an amazing character. She is able to rescue her mother, Ginny, from the asylum her greedy father places her mother in they both set out bravely on the Oregon trail.

The book is so exciting and full of twists and turns as the women strive to remain undetected and several steps ahead of Beth's evil father.

The book ended as a cliffhanger and I am hoping forba second installment soon to see what happens.

Highly recommend.

It is always exciting to start a new series with Mary Connealy. Her first installment from her A Western Light series,
Chasing the Horizon, just what I would have expected. It has just the perfect mix of delight, humor, romance, suspense, action, and adventure. I loved it.
Five plus stars.

When her greedy father tried to put her in an asylum, Beth takes matters into her own hands rescuing her mother and joining an Oregon bound wagon train.

I liked how Beth found true friends and allies to help her on her adventure, like Oscar, Kat, and Jake. This was a tougher book for me to read, because Beth's father was just so awful, and I just didn't want to read about him and his scheming.

A great start to a new series, with a full cast of characters. Not as much humor as I am used to from this author, but still a enjoyable story, with strong characters and themes of faith.

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

I could hardly wait to start Mary Connealy’s newest series, A Western Light. Chasing the Horizon is book 1 in the series and shows Connealy’s signature wit, humor, and creativity. Filled with courageous and daring heroines, competent and protective heroes, and some particularly despicable and dastardly villains, it’s set first in Chicago in 1869 and then in a wagon train along the Oregon Trail. When Beth Rutledge makes plans to escape her ruthless father, she has to first rescue her mother from an asylum and then join a wagon train west. Traveling incognito along with some friends that are helping them, they plan to settle in a place where her father can’t find them. The wagon train scout, Jake Holt, befriends and helps them along the way.

I love the way Mary Connealy creates the most amazing, interesting, and competent heroines for her stories. They’re always such fun to get to know. The plot is imaginative, and there is plenty of action, suspense, inspiration, and a dash of romance. It would be best to read the series in order, as there are some plot lines that continue through the series. It’s not really a cliff-hanger, but the stories are connected. I’m looking forward to Kat and Sebastian’s tale. I recommend this book to those who enjoy clean historical fiction. 4.5 stars

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

Assumed identities, a wagon train west, and the appearance of Pinkerton agents make this an exciting story that's worthy of being labeled as Western fiction. I even found myself humming the theme to the old TV show, Wagon Train, as I quickly turned the pages! I couldn't stop reading about their adventure!

Author Mary Connealy is known for her 'romantic comedies with cowboys' and Chasing the Horizon certainly doesn't disappoint. Jake Holt is the brave wagon train scout who senses that there's more to Beth and Ginny's story. I loved the flourishing relationship that develops between Beth and Jake as the wagons travel on. There's humor, the beginning of trust, and a sweet romance waiting to be explored as the journey continues. Will they end up chasing their horizons together?

"It's going to be a long winter in Hidden Canyon."

This ending sentence of this book suggests that there's more exciting adventure ahead in the second book of Connealy's A Western Light series! If you want Western adventure sprinkled with historical details, clean romance, a hint of mystery, and one of the worst villains ever, grab a copy of Chasing the Horizon. Well done, Mary Connealy!

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. There was no obligation for a positive review.

Mary Connealy has always been a must buy author for me. Her historical fiction books are always full of amazing details that pull you into the story. This story takes its readers on a wagon train adventure through the wilds of the Oregon trail.

Beth slips her mother, and an extra stowaway, out of the local asylum. They then slip away to join a wagon train in order to hide from Beth’s father, the man who put her mother in the asylum just because she had an opinion of her own. On their way to meet up with the wagon train, they stumble upon Sebastian, who has been shot. They then decide they can’t leave him behind so they load him up and take him along. Once they join the wagon train, an adventure of a lifetime begins for them all. This book is an emotional roller coaster full of loss, desperation, friendship, love, and intrigue. Just a little warning, it does end on a bit of a cliff hanger. I’m excited to read the next book in the series!

I was provided a copy of the book from the author/publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.