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Woman of Sunlight

(Brides of Hope Mountain #2)

Mary Connealy (Goodreads Author)

4.31 · Rating details · 560 ratings · 133 reviews

After years of isolation on top of Hope Mountain, Ilsa Nordegren may finally be ready to leave. Raised to fear the world, Ilsa and her sisters never planned on coming down, but when the Warden family arrived in need, they had to help. And it may cost them everything.

Having made his fortune, Mitch Warden returned home and found the family homestead abandoned. In a land grab ...more

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Paperback, 304 pages

Published March 3rd 2020 by Bethany House Publishers

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Start your review of Woman of Sunlight (Brides of Hope Mountain, #2)

Jun 24, 2020 Hannah rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2020-challenge, usa, western-theme, net-galley, usa-colorado, cals-library, audiobooks-2020, libraries-2020, suspense-2020, new-releases-2020

I was looking forward to this one a lot--Connealy to me is escapist fiction for when I don't want something to strike too deep--and my expectation of enjoyment did make my disappointment overly strong as well. Two stars for "okay." Most of the humor was centered around the misunderstanding of having a book of legends considered a "second bible" and after the first book the excessive "humor" about it was really heavy-handed and annoying. I also disliked that Mitch's mom thought it was okay to hum ...more

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Mar 04, 2020 Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...) rated it really liked it

Shelves: christian-fiction, historical, kindle, publisher-bethany-house, reviewed, books-i-own

It was a pleasure to continue the story of the Nordegren sisters from the first book. This one focused on Ilsa, the wood sprite who runs through the trees and gives Mitch what-for. They definitely have a volatile relationship in the beginning which is fun, but everything changes when they face assassins who are after Mitch. Ilsa's fearless defense of him shifts his realization of how he regards her with admiration and affection instead of frustration and guilt for getting her sick with chicken p ...more

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Mar 07, 2020 Randi Annie Framnes rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, kindle, netgalley

Afraid of people and disease, wild child recluse Ilsa Nordegren lives isolated on Hope Mountain when successful business man and neighbor Mitch Warden returns from New York. He brings danger with him as gunmen turn up to kill him. On a trip to the city to get help, Ilsa and Mitch’s relationship gets time to blossom in the midst of intense danger.

Woman of Sunlight is installment #2 in Brides of Hope Mountain Series. The story is about the three young Nordegren women living in isolation on Hope Mo Afraid of people and disease, wild child recluse Ilsa Nordegren lives isolated on Hope Mountain when successful business man and neighbor Mitch Warden returns from New York. He brings danger with him as gunmen turn up to kill him. On a trip to the city to get help, Ilsa and Mitch’s relationship gets time to blossom in the midst of intense danger.

Woman of Sunlight is installment #2 in Brides of Hope Mountain Series. The story is about the three young Nordegren women living in isolation on Hope Mountain, Colorado. New York business man Mitch Warden return to help his family, but brings with him danger as armed gunmen turn up. The Nordegrens and the Wardens use all their skills to apprehend them and go to town delivering them to the local sheriff. It becomes vital for Mitch to hire a nation-wide detective agency to investigate the two strangers so he goes to the city. Ilsa insists on accompanying him and it becomes an eye opening experience for her as she has lived such a reclusive life. The mystery of who is trying to kill Mitch kept me gripped right to the end.

Fiercely independent recluse Ilsa Nordegren, is illiterate but knowledgeable about Indian medicine. She seems socially impaired, cut off from the world for too long. I love that she is such a complex character. On the one hand she seems a person having been isolated from other people having little experience; on the other hand she has the most amazing survival skills that come in handy in dangerous situations.

Civil war veteran and successful businessman, Mitch Warden, is Ilsa’s friend and neighbor. Returning from New York he finds his family has been run off their rightfully owned land and stays to help. He is also trying to escape troubles in New York, but that seems to have followed him to Hope Mountain.

Wax Mosby is a hired gun who helps chase innocent settlers and drive them of land they own by law. He is not shying away from criminal acts in the process. I am happy to see he seems to wise up somewhat throughout the plot. His conscience seems to bother him and he seems to feel a pull back to his mother’s Bible teachings. For initially such a bad character, it’s nice to see he seems to go through a process of wanting to get back to his faith and live a decent life..

This plot has elements of a western tale including outlaw gunmen horse riding, criminal activity and gold, which I really enjoyed. My favorite part of the story is descriptions of Ilsa’s love of nature and Mitch’s tireless work to teach her to read and help her adjust to life outside what she had been used to all her life.
Ilsa and Mitch’s romance seem to start with anger and scolding, continue with moments of closeness and finally more and more awareness of their feelings for each other.

Woman of Sunlight (Brides of Hope Mountain #2) by Mary Connealy is a sweet, entertaining and easy read with elements of faith and family, but also danger and hardship. I read it as a standalone which worked absolutely fine, but as a rule I try to read a series starting with #1. This is the first book I have read by Mary Connealy and I will read Aiming for Love (Brides of Hope Mountain Book #1) to catch up with the story line running through the series.

Woman of Sunlight (Brides of Hope Mountain #2) is recommended for fans of Mary Connealy and for readers of historical romance fiction or historical fiction.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for this eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own. ...more

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Feb 29, 2020 Melissa rated it really liked it

What a fun follow up to Aiming For Love. I really enjoyed the mysteries following Mitch and the adventure he and Ilsa are forced on when the danger following Mitch comes to close to home. The mysteries had few surprises and a satisfying conclusion. Ilsa was such an interesting character and after getting to know Ursula a little bit in this story, I am looking forward to her story later this year. All in all, this was a fun read, with mystery, humor and romance. Recommended.

I received this book ...more

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Feb 04, 2020 Susan Snodgrass rated it it was amazing

'She'd swung in from the treetop. Into a gunfight. She'd brought a knife to a gunfight. What's more, she'd won.'

Mary Connealy adds to her Brides of Hope Mountain admirably with this second novel. I just adore Mary Connealy. The Nordegren sisters have lived on Hope Mountain all their lives, raised to be afraid of the world by their grandparents, who are now dead. Now they must learn that the world is a very odd place for them. This installment deals with the sister Ilsa. We came to know her in bo ...more

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Apr 22, 2020 Rosalyn rated it really liked it

This story was a fun read. I found it to be humorous, intriguing, lots of unexpected events, some suspense, and even a bit of action and danger.
Ilsa is quite the feisty, intriguing young lady. Completely ignorant in the ways of the world. Almost to the point of being unbelievable. And yet, when I think of the circumstances in which she grew up -- all alone like that, with her grandparents, and then just her two sisters, never venturing down into the outside world, ever. Well....then it does make ...more

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Mar 06, 2020 Trisha rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, christian-romance, western

This second story in the Brides of Hope Mountain series picks up right where the last story ended. I enjoyed spending time with Ilsa and Mitch in this story and getting to know them better.

I didn’t want to put this story down for a moment. The adventure, the mystery, and of course the fun banter between these two characters kept me wanting more and turning pages late into the night. I do have to admit that I didn’t like how this book ended. But with that said, I was thrilled to find out that the ...more

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Mar 09, 2020 Vera Godley rated it it was amazing

I can always count on a book authored by Mary Connealy to lighten my heart with humor, faith honoring characters, and general sense of goodness. Woman of Sunlight does not disappoint!

In book #1 of the Brides of Hope Mountain series we met the three sisters living extremely isolated lives atop a mountain. That story involves Josephine. Read my review here Book #2 gives us a delightful encounter and experience with Ilsa and how this isolated woman that is so naive, sweet and fierce, and beautiful ...more

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May 04, 2020 Kav rated it it was amazing

I chose this book for my next read (well, listen, thanks to audible) because I'd just come off a stretch of heavy issue reads and I felt the desperate need to lighten up my fictional life a bit. Cue the dead-pan humour and quirky style of Mary Connealy and suddenly my whole world seems brighter.

Bwahahahahaha! That about sums up this read. Ilsa is such an unconventional heroine. Mitch is both appalled and intrigued by this strange barbarian Nordegren woman. Wily and stubborn, she's as comfortable I chose this book for my next read (well, listen, thanks to audible) because I'd just come off a stretch of heavy issue reads and I felt the desperate need to lighten up my fictional life a bit. Cue the dead-pan humour and quirky style of Mary Connealy and suddenly my whole world seems brighter.

Bwahahahahaha! That about sums up this read. Ilsa is such an unconventional heroine. Mitch is both appalled and intrigued by this strange barbarian Nordegren woman. Wily and stubborn, she's as comfortable swinging from trees and catapulting into danger as his ma is in the kitchen. And what Ilsa can do with a knife! Well, Mitch is just glad she's on his side. :-)

This is an enemy to frenemies to love romance with so many funny quips and comedic moments that I'm still giddy. But danger is lurking on the mountain and beyond and Mitch is determined to put an end to it. There's a price on his head and gunslingers will keep coming for him if he can't figure out who is sending them. And why.

To do that he's got to leave the mountain and Ilsa refuses to be left behind. (Luckily for him, as it turns out.) Some of the best moments in this story happen when Ilsa leaves her cloistered life on the mountain for the first time. Her wide-eyed wonder, the way she takes everything so literally and Mitch's frustration when he tries to explain trains and hotels and banks...even money....to her is soooooooo much fun! And of course, there's tons of action and near death scenes to keep a reader on the edge of her seat right to the end.

This is the second book the Brides of Hope Mountain series and some of the plot has carried over from the first book. Not so that it would be confusing for a new-to-the-series reader though. Connealy does a good job of catching new readers up so they won't feel lost. And while Mitch's issues are satisfactorily resolved by the end of the novel, we're just gearing up for what promises to be a blockbuster ending to the series as the Warden clan prepares to face down the nefarious villain trying to lay claim to their land.

We'll have to wait until October to find out what happens next. That's when the third Nordegren sister's story comes out -- Her Secret Song. ...more

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Feb 25, 2020 Paula Shreckhise rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 1800-s, american-history, owned, bethany-house, for-review, influencer-street-team, read-in-2020, suspense-or-mystery, new-releases, new-releases-2020

Book two, Woman of Sunlight in the Brides of Hope Mountain series, takes us back to the mountains outside Bucksnort, Colorado in 1873. Mary Connealy has long been a favorite author in the Slapstick Historical Western genre. Yes, I just made that up! How could she not have fun with three girls raised by their grandparents and isolated on a remote mountain and then thrust into civilization?
This book is about Ilsa Nordegren, the youngest sister who has learned the art of healing from her grandfath ...more

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Mar 01, 2020 Kailey rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this book! It picks up right where the first one left off. I loved Ilsa’s character! She is so innocent and feisty. She and Mitch made such a great pair! I’m looking forward to reading the next book!

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

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Sep 25, 2020 Loraine rated it really liked it

Shelves: suspense, christian-fiction, romance, historical-fiction, kindle, adventure, western

Once again Mary Connealy penned a historical western fiction that is filled with humor yet so realistic. Ilsa Nordegren lives near the top of Hope Mountain in Colorado with the nearest small town Bucksnort. But because her grandpa raised she and her two sisters, he repeatedly told them to stay away from the lowlands as they were dangerous. So Ilsa and her sisters grew up uneducated and unladylike, but strong Christians.

So many phrases that we take for granted such as hogtied and chip on your sh ...more

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Mar 02, 2020 Lori rated it it was amazing

Ya'll this book! This author!! I just love her and her stories! They are amazing!
I think the reason I love them so much is she adds humor and wit to her stories. They are feel good books that just makes you want to laugh right out loud no matter where you're reading the book at. I love it when people give me weird looks.
I first "met" this author when I picked up The Husband Tree. When I finished I knew I was a fan for life. It too is funny. All of her books are.
This new series is awesome! I me Ya'll this book! This author!! I just love her and her stories! They are amazing!
I think the reason I love them so much is she adds humor and wit to her stories. They are feel good books that just makes you want to laugh right out loud no matter where you're reading the book at. I love it when people give me weird looks.
I first "met" this author when I picked up The Husband Tree. When I finished I knew I was a fan for life. It too is funny. All of her books are.
This new series is awesome! I mean when I started this book I knew that I wouldn't put it down until it was finished.
I must admit that I did snicker at the town's name Bucksnort, Colorado. Sorry but I thought it was cute.
Ilsa and Mitch are something else! I laughed at them in the beginning but yet at the same time it was maddening.
I thought it was wrong to teach these girls to be afraid of the world. Because eventually, they'll need to fend for themselves and meet new people.
I do love Ilsa. I love that she is a healer. It takes years of learning something like that. I"m not sure I'd have patience but if I had to I could. I couldn't imaging living on top of a mountain like that although we did think about it. I'm sure glad we didn't.
You will fall in love with Ilsa. She sort of reminds me of Tarzan who swings through the trees where she's the most comfortable in nature.
The way the author describes Hope Mountain sounds a lot like Kings Mountain here in Kentucky.
Mitch is another story altogether. But, I liked how he took care of some things that continued to follow him.
There's this old saying that you can run but eventually it will follow you. Best to take care of it so you can move on.
I loved every minute of this book and was sad to see it end. I can hardly wait until next year when Ursula's story comes out. And the cover for that book is simply gorgeous!
I loved the cover for this one too. Makes me wonder what tricks she's up to when she grins at you like that.
Thank you Mary and Bethany House for an awesome read!
I highly recommend this book. NO compensations were received I was NOT required to write a positive review but I did because I loved this story so much. There wasn't a thing that I didn't like about this story. It's very entertaining! All opinions are my own.
...more

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Jul 25, 2020 Sherri Ferguson rated it really liked it

Shelves: christian-fiction

Very enjoyable series. I highly recommend it.

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Jun 06, 2020 Ruth Ann Lingwall rated it it was amazing

Shelves: christian-fiction, inspirational

I haven’t read the first book, Aiming for Love, so it took a few chapters to grasp what was happening in this novel.

Woman of Sunlight starts amusingly with Mitch Warden trying to get Ilsa Nordgren to rest even though she is recovered from chickenpox. She is upset with him for spreading the chickenpox to her when he returned to his family. The Wardens were Ilsa’s nearest neighbors but had been driven out of their home so were staying with Ilsa when Mitch returned home.

As they moved along, Mitch l

...more

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Mar 04, 2020 Suzie Waltner rated it really liked it

Diving into any book written by Mary Connealy is a delight because of the combination of romance, western, humor, and mystery that is so unique to this particular author. Woman of Sunlight has everything I expect in a Connealy book and then some.

Ilsa Nordegren is a strong woman. She and her two sisters have to be as they’ve survived alone on a mountain top. Yet, she’s also endearingly naïve about the ways of the world. I mean, once this woman who loves the outdoors, handles a knife better than m ...more

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Mar 30, 2020 Sydney rated it liked it

Shelves: print-books, sydney-s-home-library, adult-library, 2020-read

This book continues the story of the same three sisters and family that removed themselves from society to protect themselves from bad people, situations, and disease, but this story focuses on the next sister, Ilsa and another Warden brother, Mitch. This is the story of their sudden marriage and the adventures they are on together to find a murderer. The story is confusing in a few places as it randomly switches to the point of view of some of the side characters a bit too frequently, when the ...more

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Mar 02, 2020 Janice Sisemore rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020

Woman of Sunlight

Woman of Sunlight is an amazing story. I enjoyed Ilsa and Mitch’s story. I loved that they got married early in the book. Ilsa helps Mitch fight a lot of battles. Someone is trying to kill him. Who is it? It was a surprise to me.

In Woman of Sunlight there is also a mystery involving the Bible. Ilsa was told that there was two Bibles. Mitch tries to figure out why.

The book is an historical set in 1873. I love reading this type of book, how different the traveling was. Mostly b ...more

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Jul 20, 2020 Maria Chapman rated it it was amazing

note:
I am reviewing the audio version of this book...
This is the second book in the brides of hope mountain series.
Just like the first book, I totally enjoyed this one.
It had all the things that were in the first book, pluss the mystery aspect of the ookk deepened.
There were a few twists I wasn't expecting.
Ilsa was totally adorable.
I am hoping for a third book.
Again, the topic of fear and faith was covered. The fact that people need each other was also illustrated.
This was like watching a cowbo ...more

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Jul 27, 2020 Ian Mcnamara rated it it was amazing

Really great book, loved the second book in this series and it was also lovely to see secondary characters also go on there own journeys of discovery also. Set up really well for the third book. can't wait for it to come out. ...more

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Feb 04, 2020 Rachel Kokes rated it really liked it

Woman of Sunlight is book two in the Brides of Hope Mountain series by Mary Connealy.
Summary: Ilsa Nordegren and her sisters have only ever known living on Hope Mountain, and fending for themselves.
Now that Mitch Warden and his family have arrived, everything is changing.
As much as Ilsa loves her home, she is curious about the outside world, and wants to explore it.
Mitch Warden thought he had escaped his dangerous past, but it seems he has brought his troubles home with him. Now, the past is thr ...more

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Mar 27, 2020 Cindy Green rated it it was amazing

This is Book 2 in Mary Connealy’s Brides of Hope Mountain series. I only just finished Book 1 (Aiming for Love) 2 weeks ago, and I was so excited to be able to review this next book as a part of Mary’s launch team. I did receive a copy of this book for free in an exchange for an honest review.

In this book, we take up with Mitch Warden and Ilsa Nordegren where we left off with them in book 1. These two characters were introduced in the first book, and they continually butted heads. In the next bo This is Book 2 in Mary Connealy’s Brides of Hope Mountain series. I only just finished Book 1 (Aiming for Love) 2 weeks ago, and I was so excited to be able to review this next book as a part of Mary’s launch team. I did receive a copy of this book for free in an exchange for an honest review.

In this book, we take up with Mitch Warden and Ilsa Nordegren where we left off with them in book 1. These two characters were introduced in the first book, and they continually butted heads. In the next book, their interactions quickly change and before you know it, they are married out of an issue with propriety and on an adventure of their own in Chicago shortly after the 1871 fire.

Because this is a story of marriage of convenience, we get to see Mitch and Ilsa fall in love. They find themselves on a honeymoon that includes Ilsa comically figuring out the modern world (since she’s lived her entire life on top of Hope Mountain with only her sisters as company) in the midst of murder attempts, kidnappings, shootouts, and carriage chases through the city. The last portion of the book is very exciting and you will be on the edge of your seat. A honeymoon is a time for a married couple to bond together and that’s exactly what happens with Ilsa and Mitch. Who knew a honeymoon could be fraught with such danger and mayhem!

The Brides of Hope Mountain is indeed a series. There are plot elements that continue from book to book. The focus just changes from each book depending on who the main point of view characters are. In book 1, both of the major problems are introduced. One problem is solved in Book 2 and the rest I imagine will be resolved in book 3. It would be wise to start at the beginning in book 1 and continue with all three books. You’ll be glad you did.

Woman of Sunlight is an enjoyable and amusing story. It contains characters to care about and root for, an engaging plotline and in the end it will leave you with a warm, feeling to combat the troubles we are currently battling in the world today. ...more

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Feb 18, 2020 Amy Tyner rated it it was amazing

A wonderful and delightful experience! If you are looking for a great and light hearted experience then this book will not disappoint!
Ilsa and Mitch constantly find themselves fighting with one another. Mainly due to Ilsa wild way of climbing trees and her insistence on the belief in 2 Bibles. Mitch is almost killed until Ilsa comes swinging in to his aide. Thanks to her help one killer is killed and the second is rendered unconscious. Thus leading to a trip to town to turn them in to the sherif ...more

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Mar 25, 2020 Stacey rated it really liked it

Living in the quarantine era, I'm actually enjoying a little slower pace of life and those quiet moments in the evening when I'm able to read. In light of all that's happening in our world right now, this book was just the escape I needed! "Woman of Sunlight" is about love, courage, loyalty, and trusting God in the face of evil and uncertainty. Mitch is not going to sit around and wait for head hunters to take him down...he's going to fight back. In one of those heated battles, he sees the fairy Living in the quarantine era, I'm actually enjoying a little slower pace of life and those quiet moments in the evening when I'm able to read. In light of all that's happening in our world right now, this book was just the escape I needed! "Woman of Sunlight" is about love, courage, loyalty, and trusting God in the face of evil and uncertainty. Mitch is not going to sit around and wait for head hunters to take him down...he's going to fight back. In one of those heated battles, he sees the fairy-like Ilsa turn into a force to be reckoned with. She isn't afraid to fight, and is quite good at it, too. I loved the way that Mitch and Ilsa were a pair of warriors, complementing each other in their fierceness and skill. The action scenes were fantastic! I also appreciated how Mitch let go of any reservations he had about trusting Ilsa and learned to work with her as an equal teammate. The romantic tension in Connealy's novels are some of the best there is. The fun banter between characters, their thoughts about the woman or man they are attracted to, little tidbits here and there that hint at what's going on after the "fade to black"...love it all! Connealy really captures the passion perfectly. Ilsa's journey is probably my favorite. Due to her isolation, she hasn't had the opportunities to learn about things most people take for granted. Her determination to keep learning and understanding, and Mitch's patience in teaching her, really made me think. I'm a teacher, and sometimes it is easy to get frustrated when my students (and now my own children who I'm doing homeschooling with during the quarantine) don't understand things easily. Taking a humble and patient approach is the best, and most effective, way. Appreciated how that was portrayed in this novel. I loved this book and would also recommend the first book in the series, "Aiming for Love."

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in order to share my honest opinions, which I did.** ...more

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Mar 02, 2020 Kris Johnson rated it it was amazing

This book does not disappoint. The journey of the unknown continues with Ilsa. I laughed. I couldn’t put the book down. Ilsa reminds of my younger sister. Not afraid to speak her mind. Protective of those she cares about. Mitch is wanting to protect all those he cares about, even if it means he has to leave. When the two join forces nothing will stop them.

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Mar 18, 2020 Kelly Bridgewater rated it really liked it

The synopsis for Mary Connealy's current series, Brides of Hope Mountain, captured my attention. really like the covers too. Lots of bright colors and beautiful woman grace the wilderness. I throughly enjoyed Aiming for Love, the first book in this series. Jo was an unique and different style of character. Connealy does it again with Ilsa. She is not like any heroine I have ever read. And I read a lot of suspense novels. She is brave and unfamiliar with the new world outside her mountain home, b ...more

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Mar 03, 2020 Connie Saunders rated it it was amazing

I have come to expect fun and romance when I see a new Mary Connealy book and I certainly wasn't disappointed with Woman of Sunlight. This second book in the Brides of Hope Mountain series introduced another Nordegren sister and once again, I was drawn in by the tale of three sisters who had always lived on Hope Mountain and been warned by their grandparents to reject everything connected to modern civilization. Ilsa is the focus of Woman of Sunlight and she is a brave young woman who dresses li ...more

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Mar 04, 2020 Johnette rated it it was amazing

I have long been a fan of Mary Connealy’s books. This series is different from her previous ones, but still keep me intrigued page after page.

Woman of Sunlight is book 2 of Mary’s Brides of Hope Mountain series. It follows 3 sisters that have grown up very sheltered and away from other people. It focuses on Ilsa, she is such an interesting character- full of life, love of nature ,the woods and very stubborn. She finds herself annoyed with Mitch quite often.

Mitch, finds himself just as agitated ...more

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Feb 14, 2020 Doreen rated it it was amazing

I was looking forward to this book and it was even better than I’d hoped. Ilsa is such a fun character. She reminds me a bit of Mowgli in the Jungle Book when he sees civilization for the first time. Mitch takes Ilsa, the woman who likes to fly through the trees like Tarzan, to some big cities and of course, it’s confounding to her. I hadn’t thought about the noise of a big city until she pointed it out but it’s so true.

I liked the way Ilsa is determined to protect Mitch and that she has the ski ...more

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Mar 17, 2020 Jerrye Bell rated it it was amazing

Woman of Sunlight by Mary Connealy

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

______________________________________________________________________________

Story Notes

Mary Connealy’s second book in the Brides of Hope Mountain is a hilariously fun read with a little suspense thrown in to keep things interesting.

Mary Connealy knows how to keep readers entertained with her wonderfully created stories, smart characters and witty conversations. This latest story is no exception and unlike many second books in a trilogy, Woman of Sunlight by Mary Connealy

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

______________________________________________________________________________

Story Notes

Mary Connealy’s second book in the Brides of Hope Mountain is a hilariously fun read with a little suspense thrown in to keep things interesting.

Mary Connealy knows how to keep readers entertained with her wonderfully created stories, smart characters and witty conversations. This latest story is no exception and unlike many second books in a trilogy, I liked it just as well as the first book. It begins right where the first book left off with the Warden family still residing in the Nordegren sisters’ cabin on the side of Hope Mountain. All those who had gotten the chicken pox have sufficiently recovered and are mostly back to normal routines. The unexpected arrival of two gunmen on the mountain sparks a shoot out and creates the need for Mitch Warden to seek out the nearest sheriff. Ilsa Nordegren is not about to miss her chance to finally go into a town and quickly insists that she is going. Mitch points out the lack of chaperone but his mother happily agrees to accompany them as they might meet up with his father and brother on their way down. Their arrival in town with two men slung over horses causes both the local sheriff and the territory US Marshall to question what has happened. Mitch has plenty of questions of his own that he needs answers to but doesn’t seem to be able to get them in Bucksnort. He’s worried the troubles in his past have caught up to him and will put innocent people in danger. Mitch determines to head back East and see what he can discover about the mysterious person paying outlaws to kill him. But before he can leave town, he finds himself in a compromising situation with Ilsa which requires them to marry. Neither of them expected this to happen but both agree to keep things platonic until they get to know each other better. Mitch tries to no avail to get Ilsa to stay with his parents but she is determined to watch his back in light of the continuous onslaught of men coming after Mitch. As they head East, they will find bits of information along the way but until they reach Chicago, they cannot talk with the Pinkerton National Detective Agency who might be able offer the most help. Working alongside the Pinkertons, Mitch and Ilsa begin to puzzle out who is holding a grudge against Mitch and why. But if they are to stay alive, they will have to work fast because someone is determined to silence Mitch forever. This was definitely one of the best stories I’ve read in some time. It had a very good plot, wonderful characters and excellent writing. I loved how protective Mitch was of Ilsa and his kindness in helping her see the error of her belief in two Bibles. Though often frustrated with her stubbornness, Mitch did not leave her behind or demean her. Rather, he let her come along and solve their problems together – even if he was reluctant to put her in more danger. Ilsa is so naive because of her years of isolation on Hope Mountain that she is constantly surprised by her new surroundings. She is terrified of the train they must ride on but is amazed at it’s speed. Ilsa has also never seen food appear as fast as it does in the restaurants they visit. But her sweetness will inspire Mitch to look beyond revenge to justice and ensure that the law takes care of those in the wrong. I loved how they each caused the other to consider the consequences for others of an action rather than just doing what was best for themselves. It made them into better people and taught them the importance of self-sacrifice. And the many discussions of whether or not there are two Bibles made each of them take a deeper look at their faith and beliefs which gave the story the perfect amount of Biblical discussion. I will certainly be recommending this book to others as I know they will enjoy it as well. I am also looking forward to reading Ursula’s story when it comes out later this year.

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. ...more

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About Mary Connealy

Mary Connealy

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Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys always with a strong suspense thread. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader's Choice finalist.
She is the bestselling author of 48 books and novellas.
Her most recent three book series are: Cimarron Legacy, Wild at Heart, Trouble in Texas, Kincaid Bride for Bethany House Publishing. She’s also written fo ...more