4.5 stars
Delightful fast-paced story that kept me flipping pages easily. But now I have to wait for the rest of the story? Ugh! I want to know the rest now!

I've always had a bit of a morbid fascination for how easy it once was to shove an inconvenient relative into an insane asylum and basically give them a prison without any trial. This is an epic escape story as Eugenia and her daughter flee along the Oregon trail to the homestead a former servant has located for them.

The romance is understated, which I quite liked, with the thrill of the run being the main driver of the story. It's a well balanced narrative of some of the things encountered along the trail in its later days after the rail route went in, some of which are sad, but most of which are interesting/informative.

Quite the twist at the end with Yvette 👀 which leaves a solid question at the end of the book for what may or may not happen next.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for my ARC of Chasing the Horizon by Mary Connealy. All opinions are my own.

This was my second book by this author, and I just think this author’s writing style isn’t for me. That being said, this isn’t a bad book at all. It just isn’t my preference.

I think you would like this story if you enjoy slower paced books with a strong focus on characters and their experiences during their historical period. The author does a great job researching the time period for her stories, and I like the added faith elements that she includes.

While there is a bit of a romance in this book, that is definitely not the focus of the book. It’s more about overcoming hardships and the importance of looking out for each other.

The last few chapters were a bit weird to me, but I guess the author was trying to set up the reader for the next book in the series. It just felt like it was too open-ended.

Overall, I appreciate what the author was trying to do, but it just wasn’t for me.

This is the first book in a new series by Mary Connealy, A Western Light. It’s a bit different than her other books, in that the majority of the action takes place while most of the main characters are traveling west as part of a wagon train. With all the things that can happen to wagon trains, there are plenty of plot twists available to keep up interest – the reader definitely doesn’t get bored.

One thing that’s similar to Mary’s other books is the dastardly villain(s) who are bent on wreaking havoc on the characters we’ve come to love and care about. I wanted to finish the book in one day, but there was enough of it left when bedtime came that I knew I’d better wait to finish it because several major plot twists were obviously coming… and then I dreamed about possible ways the book ended :-)

I enjoyed the book, the characters and the relationships between them, and the moving setting of a wagon train. Connealy leaves several plot threads hanging at the end, so I’m eager for the next book!

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

CHASING THE HORIZON is the rirst novel in the “A Western Light” series by MARY CONNEALY.
The story takes place in 1869 with Beth Rutledge and her mother Ginny travelling west on a wagon train, pretending to be members of the Collins family after Beth has helped her mother escape from the lunatic asylum where her wicked and grasping father has shut her away. We see the courage of these two women, who pose as sisters, and their kindness in helping Kat and the injured inventor, Sebastian Jones, who end up with them on their escape.
I like to see the cameraderie amongst the pioneers on the wagon train, their strong faith in God, willingness to work hard, and acceptance of one another.
Jake Holt, one of the leaders, is the first to suspect that Beth is hiding something…..
The book is exciting, full of adventure on the trail, and then, when they reach their destination, with wicked men and Pinkerton agents involved in chasing after the runaways……..
I highly recommend Chasing the Horizon as a most enjoyable and worthwhile read.
I waa given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

I always love diving into the old west with Mary Connealy! This time we got to join a wagon train and venture into unexplored areas of Idaho. There is a lot going on in this book as it introduces a new series. As you've read in the synopsis, Beth sneaks her mother with help from the new friend Kat out of the asylum and they go on the run from her father who put her there. Thomas Rutledge is a nasty piece of work. (shiver)

Sebastian is the quirky character who is the odd man out in their rough group--and I am curious to know what his invention actually is. I read the sneak peak for next book in the series and am tickled that we will get BOTH Sebastian and Kat's story.

It is hard to think that there were such rules during that time period regarding committing a wife to an asylum, yet plenty to document that it was true. Such horrible inhumane places. NOt much better than internment camps. and I don't say that lightly.

Mary wove beautiful imagery with her painting of the land as they travelled. And there were webs of faith scattered throughout the book--even though it wasn't in the main limelight.

4 stars. I look forward to the rest of the series.

*I received a complimentary ARC from the publishers and NetGalley. I wasn't required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.

What an incredible book! It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I read it - I needed to know if Beth and her family would be able to make it safely to freedom. In some ways this book reminded me of Healing Hearts by Sarah M. Eden. If you are a fan of her Wyoming series, be sure to check this book out!

The book starts with Beth rescuing her mother from an insane asylum several years after her father paid off doctors to declare his wife insane due to a financial dispute. Beth works with a family friend to take her mother to safety and finds good friends and a wonderful man along the way.

Here are a few things I loved about this book:
- The salt trick
- Beth's ever growing family (she was willing to add anyone to her "family" who needed protection)
- Jake's proposal
- The Cabin surprise

Overall it was a 5 star read for me. I really really enjoyed this book!

Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy of this book. A positive review was not required.

This was an enjoyable read. I love the idea of taking wagons west, but a lot of times it's all about the hardships on the way. This one was different because it was set a little later when the trains were all set up. It didn't feel as dire, which I enjoyed. Although, traveling by wagon to the west is never without difficulty. However, Connealy was able to concentrate on less of the hardships and more on enjoying the rugged lifestyle. I enjoyed the characters and the plot was interesting. The love story seemed to take more of a secondary role in this book, but I did enjoy the main hero and heroine.

Chasing the Horizon
Mary Connealy
Pub Date: FEb.13, 2024
Bethany
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Connealy did a great job with this book, taking me on a wagon train adventure. She does such a good job she made me hate one of the characters.
Upon uncovering her tyrannical father's malevolent 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, and escape together on a wagon train heading west. 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.

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 more sinister is at hand. Can they risk trusting each other with their lives--and their hearts--when danger threatens their every step?
Definitely a 5 star! Fans of Connealy will love this book and if you haven't read her please do! You're missing out on great Christian fiction.
5 star

I started this book and wasn't sure I wanted to finish it. The reason, Thaddeus, was not just mean, he was evil.
I didn't know if I could handle his cruelty. I did finish the book and don't regret it. Enjoyed the wagon train story and the people that Beth and Ginny met.
Looking forward to the next book in the series.

I enjoyed this book so very much. Lots of things going on in this story of the old West. Wagon trains and a bit of romance mixed in.
I loved every minute of it.
I did NOT like Thaddeus Rutledge. He mad me so mad that I wanted to smack him myself!
I loved the women in this story. Most especially their determination is what amazed me. They are my heroines.
Connealy has done an excellent job with this one. The way she describes the scenes and events had me hooked in an instant. I finished this novel one evening.
Beth's and Ginny's story will offer hope to women everywhere in today's society too.
5 stars for a wonderful adventure in the Old West. I loved my trip West and in 2005 we took the old trail West which is now route 70 West. Along the way I pretended that I was on a wagon trains. It was fun.
I highly recommend this book. The 1st in a new series and a great beginning!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.