Review: In Too Deep by Mary Connealy

Colorado. 1866. Ethan Kincaid is doing his best to block childhood memories, but it’s hard now that he’s back on the ranch with his two brothers: overbearing eldest brother, Rafe, and the loco youngest brother, Seth. Problem is, it’s his fault Seth went crazy. He remembers. Still, Ethan has a smile for every occasion. Not because he’s happy but because it’s a mask he can hide behind.

Trust newly-married Rafe to decide the only sensible thing for Ethan to do is marry Audra, a young mother of two who was recently widowed. Audra doesn’t have any place to return to or the money to get there, and she seems biddable enough. Ethan figures he might as well.

But Audra has decided it’s time she stood up for herself, and made her own decisions. So it’s not caving in (again) when she agrees to marry Ethan, right? It’s her choice, and the only chance she can think of to keep her two young daughters away from the terrible caverns on the Kincaid ranch near where she’s been living in a dilapidated shack. The caverns where Seth lost his mind years ago.

Trouble was following Audra’s late unlamented husband and it’s quite ready to follow her, too. Apparently he’d stolen a small fortune and carried it to Colorado, and its owner wants it back. Audra has no idea what it could be or where it’s hidden, but that doesn’t stop those who are desperate to regain it.

Worst of all–or is it?–Audra and Ethan are falling for each other. But they’re not sure–are they In Too Deep?

In Too Deep is the second tale in The Kincaid Brides series. I reviewed Out of Control, the story of Rafe and Julia, back in August. I’m eagerly awaiting the third book, Seth’s romance, as the author has been developing his character through the two stories thus far. Also in the third book will be (better be!) the revelation of what the outlaws following Audra’s late husband have been searching for.

I keep saying I don’t read historical novels, but I’ll make an exception any day of the week for Mary Connealy. I just love her voice and the way her characters come alive.

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She wrote for ten years, with a total of twenty completed books, before she got published. She had just enough encouragement through those ten long years to keep her going. Since 2007, she’s had more than ten novels published as well as a handful of novellas. She lives in Nebraska, where she teaches GED.

“Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group”.

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