Simple and sweet, this romantic tale of a wagon train heading west is a delight! I admire the courage of Beth as she and her mother escape her villainous father. Her romance with Jake was sweet and lovely, and he makes a great protective hero. I always enjoy a villain’s point of view, so seeing the story unfold from Thaddeus’ point of view at times was interesting. This story brought up deep topics of how those with mental illness were treated before real treatment options were available, and those parts of the story and their details broke my heart. Despite those heavy topics, the overall story was light and enjoyable, with an action packed plot and a lovely romance. I can’t wait to see what happens next for these characters!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes. My thoughts are my own. I really did love it!

I love Western romances, and this one was so enjoyable! It’s full of adventure, danger, love, loyalty, friendship, and a sweet romance.

After being put in an insane asylum by her despicable husband, Thaddeus Rutledge, Ginny is able to escape with the help of her daughter, Beth. They know Thaddeus is going to come after them, and so they leave on a wagon train heading west on the Oregon Trail, using fake names and hoping to start new lives.

The author did an excellent job of bringing life on the trail to life. It was full of challenges, hard work, and sometimes heartbreaking tragedy. But it also was a place of pristine beauty and unspoiled wilderness. I loved the imagery she created in her descriptions!

I also loved the sweet romance between Beth and Jake, the wagon train scout. Their attraction was immediate, but it grew at a nice, gradual pace.

The viewpoint changed from Ginnie, Beth, Jake, and Thaddeus. This gave a nice perspective of different characters, and helped to build the suspense and tension as you knew vindictive Thaddeus was in pursuit of his wife and daughter.

I feel like I always learn something factual from historical fiction, and with this one it was how few rights a wife had with her husband. At his whim, she could easily be locked up in an asylum. I felt such anger and frustration on behalf of Ginny and every other woman who was so unfairly treated. I was certainly pulling for her to get away, and to find healing from what she had been through.

This book is an intriguing and engaging beginning to a new series, and I’m looking forward to other characters getting their own stories!

Thanks to Bethany House Publishing and Austenprose PR for my eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this adventure across the west via wagon train. Main character Beth is escaping her rich but unhappy life. Her father has already placed Mom in the insane asylum and she fears she may end up there too. Beth lays out a detailed plan that will take her far away. Her first step is to free her mother. She also ends up freeing another inmate. Trouble will be narrowly avoided. Romance won't. Mary's writing always includes wise and strong women who know how to win the west and this is no exception. The story leaves you wanting more at the end, so I look forward to reading the next book in this series. I highly recommend you check this adventurous story out.

Thoroughly enjoyed Chasing the Horizon, the first book in a brand new series by Mary Connealy. I found myself eagerly transported back in time to the Oregon Trail when the last of the wagon trains were headed West. I loved the suspense, mystery, touch of faith, and slow build romance along with the descriptive scenery and multiple points of view as the main characters make the perilous journey from Chicago to Idaho.

Beth Rutledge just helped her mother and a friend escape from the insane asylum they were wrongfully imprisoned in. She’s been working for months to find a way to outsmart her conniving, ruthless father. With the railroads spreading all across the U.S., she’s chosen the last place her father might look for them, on one of the last, few wagon trains heading West.

Jake Holt is a wagon train scout determined to make this his last trip along the Oregon Trail. He’s anxious to get back to the nice property waiting for him in Oregon. The three women who join the wagon train along with an injured gentleman raise his suspicions. As he gains Beth’s trust, he learns they’re running with good reason. Now he must decide how to help the women escape the clutches of a man determined to do anything to get them back under his thumb.

I loved the vivid descriptions of the Oregon Trail. There were so many dangerous situations they find themselves in and I enjoyed the realistic portrayal of what it might have been like. The slow build romance between Jake and Beth was so well done. I loved the natural progression that went from suspicion to admiration to love. Beth is such an intelligent heroine and I loved her bravery but also her determination. Her poor mother Ginnie as well as Kat endured so much in the asylum. Ginnie clearly suffers from PTSD and relives those awful memories along the trail. I was also intrigued by Sebastian who’s the wounded man they rescue. I can’t wait to see what happens with him and Kat.

There were moments I was on pins and needles because part of the book is told from Thaddeus Rutledge’s perspective. You just know he’s going to catch up with his wife and daughter sooner than later. Having his POV added a chilling aspect to the story,

All in all a fabulous historical Western romance that kept me quickly turning the pages. Can’t wait to find out what happens in the next book. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher through AustenProse PR. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided. 4 1/2 stars!

Chasing the Horizon
by Mary Connealy
Pub Date 13 Feb 2024
Bethany House,Bethany House Publishers
Christian| Historical Fiction| Romance


Netgalley and Bethany House Publishers sent me a copy of Chasing the Horizon to review:


Catch a glimpse of post-civil war Chicago in Chasing the Horizon!


After discovering her tyrannical father's plot to commit her to an asylum, Beth Rutledge devises her own scheme. After rescuing her mom, she'll escape west on a wagon train with her mom. Posing as sisters, Beth and her mother travel with the pioneers in hopes of making it to Idaho before the others start asking too many questions.



Jake Holt senses something's up with the mysterious women in his caravan. When rumors start spreading that Pinkerton agents are hunting for wanted criminals who match Beth's description, she starts to open up to him, and he learns something more sinister is going on. Can they trust each other with their lives--and their hearts--when danger threatens their every move?

I give Chasing the Horizon five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

Oh my, Mary Connealy you are a truly amazing story teller!

This book is quite an adventure so if you are looking for it then this book is for you!!
The story is full of love, self sacrifice, well thought out planning, loyalty, friendship, and sit on the edge of your seat for what happens next adventures.

So pick up a copy of Chasing the Horizon and follow Beth, Ginny, Kat as they set out west to escape Beth’s evil father for the adventure and mysteries that follow!

I supper highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the next book Towards the Dawn releasing in June!
I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley and Bethany House Publisher. However this recommendation and review were completely my thoughts and opinions and I was not required to submit a review.

This is the start of the new series by Ms. Connealy and oh what a great start. We are introduced to Beth Rutledge and her mother as Beth devises a plan to rescue her mother from an insane asylum. Keep in mind this was in the the1800’s when a husband had more rights than his wife and could easily have her committed if he chose to.

I loved the grit and determination Beth shows to get her mother, herself and a couple of others who tag along to safety. Traveling with them on the Oregon Trail was equal parts exciting and dangerous. Knowing that there was the rich, powerful Mr. Rutledge looking for them, being careful to hide their identities made me worry for their safety.

The wagon train scout is one of my favorite characters and I loved the care he provided to all, but especially Beth. I have a keen interest in all the characters and cannot wait to reconnect with them in the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

In this book, we follow Beth and her mother through their escape on the Oregon trail. After being put in an asylum by her husband, Beth's mom is able to get away with the help of her daughter. Together, they leave on a wagon train heading west, with fake identities and in hopes they can reach Idaho without people asking too many questions. It isn't that often that I read about that specific time period so I always find it interesting to learn more about it. The reality and the hardship of it, it makes you feel grateful for what we have these days and always make for a touching story.

Surprisingly, this book was more about a bigger story than focused on two characters. You get all these people traveling together, Beth and her mother are helped throughout their journey, you also get to see the dad in parallel with all of it, which keeps the suspense going. There are lots of side characters that you can tell might be of some importance later and are full of secrets. The romance wasn't the biggest part of the book, it was more about that journey, about the people, about their hope for a better life and what it took to get there.

My main problem with the book was probably my expectation VS what it was. After reading the blurb, I just assumed this would be about two characters and be more of a love story. So it was disappointing to me that there was practically no romance whatsoever (a little love at first sight thingy, that's all) and the book focused on so many characters that we barely knew them all in the end. I'm more of a get to know characters on a deeper level, otherwise I don't get attached and it leaves me with a very indifferent feeling about all that is going on. I also assumed the interactions between Jake and Beth would be all about trying to hide secrets and all, but what it really was was "I know you are hiding things and I'll protect you no matter what"... so I didn't get what I was hoping for, once again.

I also found it hard to have so many characters that seemed important but still not knowing any infos about them when the book ends. For example, I get that Sebastian will be in the next book, but as someone who only read the first book I was expecting to learn a little something that would make me want to know more but my infos about him are the same as when the book started, I got nothing more through it, even though he still was an important character in the story. Or I would have loved to get just a hint of a possible relationship with Kat since it was mentioned multiple times she took care of him, but we saw none of it.

And last thing, the whole ending wrapped-up so quickly and with nothing really resolving, so it was a little frustrating.

I still think that this book has its public, it just wasn't me. The story is interesting, it follows through and you get a great feeling of found family, the importance of being there for each other and helping others as best as we can, it also approaches harder subjects such as grief and the whole asylum aftereffects.

Thanks to the publisher and austenprose for my eARC. All opinions are my own.

There's something about this story that really resonated with me. I feel like the author was intentional and thoughtful with the themes and difficulties of the characters and the era. The railroads have made travel to the West more accessible and swift, and the wagon trains are tapering off. It provides Beth and her mother an opportunity to hide in plain sight as her father assumes they would escape via rail travel. I enjoyed the people they meet and become close to on their journey, and loved the way Oscar, a former employee, showed his loyalty and decency by aiding Beth in her plans and supporting them on the trail. Jake and Beth have great chemistry, and their relationship and romance developed slowly and naturally as they work together through all the obstacles along the way. There is anticipation of an impending altercation as Beth's father closes in and we have some passages from his villainous perspective. Overall, the pace is steady and I appreciated the character growth as well as the details of the journey. I look forward to continuing the story with the next book, following Sebastian, a mysterious inventor they rescued and brought on the trail, and Kat, who escaped the asylum with Beth's mother.

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 few years ago I read a book completely out of my typical historical fiction time period, Where the Lost Wander. I absolutely LOVED this book for so many reasons and I have since been looking for ‘the right’ book to read next that might fit within that time period. There aren’t a lot of popular historical fiction books set in the American West that draw me in. Don’t get me wrong I love the American West from a historical standpoint and I grew up watching all the cowboy TV shows (Dr Quinn and Young Riders I am looking at you!) but it’s typically not a genre of book that I go in search of.

When this book came across my desk I was so excited because it features a love story, an adventure, and the Oregon Trail as a backdrop! I live in Oregon and growing up The Oregon Trail video game was super popular and I was always so proud to share my state history with friends. But the Oregon Trail from a historical standpoint doesn’t really lend itself to a backdrop for romances in books. But after reading Where the Lost Wander I had hope that other books would come from its popularity that would include romance and adventure in the same way that that book did.

That was why I was onboard with reading this book! I loved the mix which was promised in the summary, plus I know Bethany House Publishing consistently has solid historical romances that aren’t bodice rippers etc. I was looking for something with a little more substance that would transport me to a different time in a rugged location with interesting characters and great storytelling and I got just that.

Summary

Upon uncovering her tyrannical father’s plot to commit her to an asylum, Beth Rutledge fabricates a plan of her own–she will rescue her mother, who had already been sent to the asylum by her father, and escape together on a wagon train heading west. Posing as sisters, Beth and her mother join forces with other travelers and hope they can make it to Idaho before the others start asking too many questions.

Wagon train scout Jake Holt senses that the mysterious women in his caravan are running from something. When rumors begin to spread of Pinkerton agents searching relentlessly for wanted criminals who match the description of those on his wagon train, including Beth, she begins to open up to him and he learns something much more sinister is at hand. Can they risk trusting each other with their lives–and their hearts–with danger threatening their every step?

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From bestselling author Mary Connealy comes a gripping and adventurous historical novel of survival, sacrifice, and romance on the Oregon Trail. (summary from Goodreads)


Review

First of all, I have not heard of Mary Connealy before. I don’t know any of her other books and honestly I thought this was a debut series/book before I started reading. Right away I noticed that it was well written with clear purpose and intent, and I went in search of more about the author and discovered that she had written a number of other Western books/romances. Instantly I downloaded a few more of her books. I really enjoyed her storytelling style and history that she added within the book and am excited to see this particular series is going to be a new series so that means more to enjoy from this world but I also wanted to explore other books by her.

This time of year I always start to feel the travel bug in my soul, so I always tend to look for books that offer a little ‘vacation’ for me in their pages from Feb to March. This book did a wonderful job incorporating the landscape of the Oregon Trail and all the beautiful landmarks along the way. Not to mention she really highlighted the spirit of adventure which I LOVED and was looking for in this book. The setting and history really came to life and I feel a Western kick coming on in my reading world! As well developed and written this book was, the beginning had me a little confused and it did take me a couple of chapters to sort out what was going on and track the characters but once I got the lay of the land I felt immersed in the story and the setting/history within the book.

As I mentioned this book is part of a new series and I think this series is going to want to be read in order. There were some loose ends that set up for the next book in the series and the stories of those characters but there is certainly going to be carry over from this book to the next in the series. I think this book (and hopefully the rest of the series) will give readers a lot to escape into—-an exciting story of adventure rich in history, a charming romance, a well drawn villain, and great characters that we will get to meet in upcoming books. I am so glad that I said yes to this book, it was really great and I can’t wait for the next book—-in the meantime don’t mind me while I read all the Western books from Connealy!

Book Info and Rating

Format 296 pages, Paperback

Expected publication February 13, 2024 by Bethany House Publishers

ISBN 9781493445158 (ISBN10: 1493445154)

Free review copy provided by publisher, Bethany House Publishers in partnership with Austen Prose Book tours, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Genre: historical fiction, romance, westerns

This story was a ride. While set in a slow moving wagon train, the sense of danger and suspense was palpable. I was thoroughly engrossed. The viewpoint changed from Ginnie and Beth to Jake and also to our antagonist. This gave us the perspective of multiple characters and served to increase the suspense factor.

I also enjoyed the imagery created in the descriptions. I was able to picture the people and the places and be on the trail with them without the physical challenges. Mary Connealy has a masterful way of telling this story and evoking many emotions, including fear, love, determination, exhaustion, and even grief. I felt along with each of our characters and found myself pulling for the happily ever after.

This book was an intriguing beginning to a series, with a few characters that have questions surrounding them that could certainly have and deserve their own stories.

Jake and Beth's love story didn't seem like it at first, it was a quiet and welcome addition to this story. This is really a story of determination and what the meaning of freedom is to different people.

I received an early copy of this story from the publisher via netgalley and this is my honest review.

Chasing the Horizon, by Mary Connealy, is the first book in A Western Light series. This story is well written and very easy to get lost in. It grabbed my attention right from the start, held it to the end and left me looking forward to the rest in the series. This is a good story of family, faith and strength.  Beth’s father placed her mother in and asylum. She and Beth make plans to get her out of there. Beth works a long time getting things in place so they can catch a wagon train and move far away. 

This story was so good. I found my self reading just to get to the end. The story is filled with mystery, suspense, family love, and touches of romance. I really enjoyed how the Collins brothers were so helpful with Beth and her mother. I especially the background story of how Beth was able to learn so much about how to survive away from her father’s home. The story is inspiring with how the members of the wagon train all worked together.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

It's horrible the way women were treated in the 1800's by their husbands and fathers. They had no rights. In order to save her mother from her father's hand, Beth Rutledge helps her mother escape from the insane asylum her father had her committed to (she was opinionated and vocal about it) and along the way picks up two stragglers who are also trying to disappear for unknown reasons. Beth and her group join a wagon train headed to Oregon. Along the way we see what it would have been like to be on a wagon train: the long days, walking, bad weather, wagon accidents, friendships that were formed, what the country looked like, etc. This story has lots of action, humor, faith, romance, and some suspense. Another great read by the author.

I love Mary Connealy's books! This is another wonderful book from her. It follows a mother and daughter trying to get away from a terrible situation. They take a wagon train west to try to hide. They add some unexpected people with their own secrets along the way. I was sad when the book finished and now can't wait for the next one in the series to come out! It was fun to see a couple of characters from another of Mary Connealy's series! I highly recommend Chasing the Horizon.

I received an advanced reader copy from Bethany House Publishers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"Chasing the Horizon" is a beautifully-written, very well-researched and enthralling book from author Mary Connealy! It is book 1 in the "A Western Light" series. The historical setting, characters, and plot were all described very well. The author has done great work presenting the reader with a vivid setting of the Oregon Trail with three-dimensional characters and a captivating and original story! I loved meeting and getting to know these characters! It was wonderful to see the strong sense of community and friendship between the characters as they journeyed along the trail. The author has also done great work showing us many of the dangers, risks, and challenges. It was beautiful to see how much Beth and her mother love and care about each other! Very sweet. I love Jake! It was great to see how protective he is of Beth, her mother, and all of their friends. And the story of how he found the dog and cat, so sweet! I really enjoyed all of the themes of faith and hope as well. This book is definitely a page-turner! Beth's father really is a tyrant. As I was reading I found myself feeling so worried for Beth, her mother and anyone else in his path. The speed of the plot is just right, the author's writing style is smooth and clear, the romance is sweet, swoony, and full of emotional depth, and the story is enthralling, original, and inspiring. Such a beautiful book! I cannot recommend it highly enough! 5 stars and a must read.

Thank you very much to the author Mary Connealy, AustenprosePR, Bethany House, and NetGalley for the wonderful opportunity of being a part of this book tour and for providing me with digital and physical copies to read and review honestly.

"Chasing the Horizon" by Mary Connealy definitely brought out some emotions in me while reading the book. The main character Elizabeth "Beth" Rutledge and her mother Eugenia aka "Ginny" were fleeing Chicago and the greed of Beth's father. After they flee Chicago, he hires Pinkerton agents to find them and sets off to deal with them himself.

After Beth and Ginny who were posing as sisters join the wagon train heading west, they meet Jake Holt. Jake sees right away something is amiss but it doesn't stop him from wanting to get to know the fierce and intelligent Beth.

The historical details provided in this book were well researched. The characters were well written and some are very likeable and some you just want to scream and throw the book (and more at). The storyline includes parts where GInny and another woman were forcibly put in an asylum and some abuse at the asylum is discussed in the book. The book starts after their escape but there are moments where the PTSD from what they experienced there are discussed.

The setting of final destination is a place I would love to move to! The women have strong friendships and good men that are there to protect them so despite some of the rough stuff, the reader is encouraged by those friendships.

This book definitely leads into #2 in the series and I definitely want to pick up #2 when it comes out later in 2024. Parts of the ending were not completely wrapped up so if the reader likes all endings complete by the end of the book, you may be disappointed. I was not because I know those will likely come out in the next book...so in this case stay tuned!

I received an ARC from Bethany House for the book however all opinions are my own. Thank you to Bethany House and Netgalley for the chance to read this ARC.

Kudos to Mary Connealy for writing a riveting story with compelling characters, an interesting plot, danger, and a sweet romance to tie it all together.

Have you ever read about a villain who was so evil you yelled at them internally and then got so mad you had to put the book down? I've read a lot of books with bad guys, but Thaddeus is by far one of the worst! You couldn't help but root for Beth and Ginny as they tried to escape his evil clutch.

A lot going on in this book. The details of the wagon train and the difficulties they encountered were interesting and made one think about the bravery of the few souls in history who made journeys like this. The author did a fabulous job with this bit of history.

Ginny's continuing nightmares from the asylum, combined with the fear that Thaddeus was chasing her and Beth to bring them back and lock them both away, made this book hard to put down. For the most part, I enjoyed this story. However, it was the ending that threw me for a loop. It was so abrupt that it felt unfinished. There were also too many loose ends concerning Sebastian. I understand these things can be picked up in the next book, which would encourage people to be eager for the next book. I am not one of those people. However, if you like the anticipation it is a great read!

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley for my honest review.

“Western and frontier romance” was perhaps my favorite genre when I was younger, especially wagon train stories. After a while, it got to where they all seemed the same, and so I moved on to other things. When I saw Chasing the Horizon, though, I wanted to give it a try.

First of all, the plot involves an escape from an insane asylum–which is horrifying and fascinating at the same time. Also, the wagon train was headed to Idaho. We’ve seen the Oregon Trail remains in southern Idaho, so that made the story more intriguing to me. And then, that cover. Absolutely stunning!

Most wagon train books I’ve read are set in the days before the railroads were completed–and that is, indeed, when most wagon train journeys took place. Chasing the Horizon is set in 1869. There are railroads and towns along the way, which made wagon travel not quite so primitive as it had been in earlier years. That was an interesting perspective.

I loved the characters, the plot twists, and the satisfying ending. However, some of the minor characters beg to have their own story told, so I am hopeful we’ll revisit them in the next book.

This was my first novel from this author. I enjoyed it. I am always so intrigued and disturbed by insane asylums- how people (seems like mostly women) could be so easily admitted, how horribly they were treated, etc. I liked the storyline and the ideas behind everything. The only thing I was somewhat confused by was the relationship between Beth and Jake- there were a couple times I thought things would start building with them, and then it just cut to other things for a few chapters. That's how it seemed to me, at least. Towards the end I like their relationship more. This book was good and I look forward to trying another one by this author.

Mary Connealy is truly an excellent author of Western Christian historical fiction with a touch of romance. All of the major characters are well-drawn out, with their own unique characteristics to make them stand out as individuals, and enough back story so that you truly understand their history and motivations. Like all of Connealy’s books I was drawn into the story. I felt like I was one of the characters riding the wagon train traveling west, and was horrified of what asylums were like and how easily women were committed to them by their husbands or other family members. The romance between Beth and Jake was beautifully written and completely believable. I enjoyed them gradually getting to know and trust each other over the course of their journey west.

The story mainly focuses on the wagon train members and their progress west, but occasionally switches to Beth's father and his wicked intentions toward both Beth and her mother Ginny. When the two storylines finally merge, the drama begins.

This action-packed story, written by Mary Connealy, is the first book is the Western Light series, and what an incredible book it is! Connealy with her exquisite prose kept me on the edge of my seat turning the pages the entire time.

I won this ARC as part of the Library Thing’s Early Review Program via NetGalley from publisher Bethany House. I was under no obligation to write a favorable review, and all opinions are my own.