Monday, February 23, 2026

My Thoughts and More on Ambush of the Heart by Mary Connealy

About the Book

Book: Ambush of the Heart

Author: Mary Connealy

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: February 3, 2026

When bandits strike in the wilderness, can love and faith overcome the shadows of danger?

As Owen Riley and his fellow Marshals escort Delaney Bridger, her brother, and an escaped prisoner to Fort Russell, a gang of outlaws ambushes them, bringing death and devastation to their party. With their lives on the line and the outlaws in pursuit, Owen directs the rest of his battered group to temporarily seek hiding at a remote ranch.

After the attack leaves her brother seriously injured, Delaney helps Owen, nursing him and a wounded Marshal back to health while danger looms ever closer. Despite the threat at their heels, romance sparks between Owen and Delaney as they fight for survival on their perilous trek to the fort. Can they overcome the obstacles and find a future together?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

Wow, this story drops the reader right into a gun fight. One that doesn't bode well for either side. However, on the side of the Marshalls, they are determined to get to safety and see to their wounded, all the while not letting the criminal escape. This is Marshall Owen Riley's story as he falls in love with Delaney Bridger that all began when they were being escorted to their family.

There was just something about this story that really escorted me away and into the action. And it was full of action, but also faith and self-discovery. The characters reflections on what was truly important in their lives and what they would be willing to sacrifice to have it.

I also found the story of Stella interesting. She is the daughter of the outlaw's family that started shooting first. I hope we get her story next, because as I was reading, I just had an overwhelming sense of what a shame that the circumstances escalated the way they did. I am very curious how this whole series will be resolved due to what happened in the first couple of pages.

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

About the Author

Mary Connealy writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has sold more than 1.5 million books and is the author of the popular series A Western Light, Wyoming Sunrise, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.

More from Mary

Two things drove my interest in The Rocky Mountain Marshals Series. In book #1, Ambush of the Heart, I got to begin that adventure.

The first thing: U.S. Marshals. I did a bit of research and just began discovering how much I didn’t know. I mean…what are U.S. Marshals? The only one I could think of was Rooster Cogburn in True Grit. But my research was confusing. Yes, there were lawmen out hunting for outlaws. But a lot of that was because Oklahoma Territory back then was Indian territory and thus, had no law beyond tribal law. And, because of that, outlaws had gotten to running into Oklahoma and treating it like they’d reached base in a game of tag.

Because it was federal, the government came up with a federal solution. The U.S. Marshals Service already existed. But chasing outlaws into a place with no law…that was new. I went to Fort Smith, Arkansas, known back in the past as the gateway to Indian territory. So many outlaws passed through there that, a part of my research led me to the brand-new U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith.

I could write an entire series about Bass Reeves alone, a former slave who became a U.S. Marshal. Some of my reading suggests he was in part the inspiration for the Lone Ranger and it’s said in his 32 year career as a marshal he arrested 3000 outlaws. He has a TV Series on Paramount+ TV. A network I don’t have.

I found so much of this out because I went on a research trip. (I don’t do that often) Very fun and I learned a LOT.

My second driving interest was…just how lost could someone get in the wilds of the Rocky Mountains? I’ve read so much about Pathfinders…Kit Carson, John Colter, James Beckwourth, John Mullen (a guy I’d never heard of who is so interesting he deserves his own book!). I definitely count Sacagawea among them. These bold, adventurous explorers who went out in the wilderness and found their way through. It was NOT easy.

One thing I found really interesting (all those pathfinders are interesting!) was talk about The Donner Party. That Donner Pass cut 400 miles off the trip to California on the California trail. That might sound ridiculous to us, but back then, in a wagon train, especially in rugged country, that 400 miles was a huge lure. Of course they tried it. People were always trying to find a shorter way through those treacherous mountains.

So, my hero Owen, is transporting a federal prisoner who escaped jail, from Denver to Fort Russell near Cheyenne, Wyoming—where he’s due to hang.

An attempt to break him free by his gang drives the escorts and those with them—including beautiful Delaney, into the Rockies and whoa…they didn’t know how to get out…especially one pair who got separated from the main party.

One other twist is, my three heroes…the guys (the women are heroes, too of course) but the men, Owen, Morgan and Tex, all appeared in the book Marshaling Her Heart, book three in my Wyoming Sunrise series. Writing that book awakened my interest in U.S. Marshals. And I loved those tough men and wanted to … ahem … well, maybe tame them just a little.

So come and join me as my travelers, including the bold and brave Owen Riley and the beautiful and trail savvy Delaney Bridger, are chased from behind and more lost with every step they take ahead. They fight the outlaws, the Rockies and their growing attraction, to find their way home.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, February 18

Holly’s Book Corner, February 19

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 19

For Him and My Family, February 20

Betti Mace, February 21

Devoted To Hope, February 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 23

Pause for Tales, February 23

lakesidelivingsite, February 24

She Lives To Read, February 25

Labor Not in Vain, February 26

Jeanette’s Thoughts, February 26

Books You Can Feel Good About, February 27

Lyssa Loves Books, February 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 28

Cover Lover Book Review, March 1

Bizwings Blog, March 2

Jodie Wolfe, March 2

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, March 2

Connie’s History Classroom, March 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Bookshop.org gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/3eYes/ambush-of-the-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, February 20, 2026

My Thoughts on Marrying the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund

About:

As the middle child of the Shanahan family, Zaira does her best to keep the peace. She doesn't share her dream of becoming a published author with her family to spare herself their disapproval. When she's caught in a scandal involving the local matchmaker, Bellamy McKenna, she must put her storytelling ability to good use and feign a match with him to avoid wagging tongues and her parents' anger.

Feeling the growing pressure to marry as a well-known, yet single matchmaker to St. Louis's Irish community, Bellamy reluctantly agrees to a temporary match with Zaira. But even though the matchmakers in his family might be able to find love for others, they have a history of disastrous relationships for themselves. When secrets and danger force Zaira and Bellamy to work together, is it finally the matchmaker's turn to be lucky in love?

My Thoughts:

I am beyond giddy that we finally have Bellamy's story. He has been such a cheeky character from the beginning, and I was so excited to finally read his story. I was pleased that he ended up with a Shanahan match himself, and Zaira matched him perfectly.

Their story starts off first as a fake match, but throw in some just causes, secrets that both are keeping hidden from their families, kisses that just happen, and you know Bellamy and Zaira are going to head to the altar for reals. They just need to go through some stuff to get there. Their journey was a perfect ending for this series. Unless of course the younger Shanahan's get their stories told.

Another dynamic to the story was the strong Irish community and their fortitude to make it in America. I appreciated the importance of the old-time style of matchmaking they brought from the home country. There was the fight the town still had against the horrors of cholera, and the orphan population was growing. I do not know if I have a favorite in this series, simply because they all blend and flow so well together. So, I recommend this series for great reading.

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

My Thoughts on Deadly Rodeo Threat by Sami A. Abrams

About:

A trail of missing women

leads him right into a killer’s trap.

When his twin sister disappears, Navy SEAL Logan Russell’s search for her leads him deep into the woods, where he finds her best friend in the clutches of a masked assailant. Sheriff Isabelle Sinclair is determined to solve Lisa’s mysterious disappearance the night of her last rodeo—and someone will do anything to keep her from digging too deep. When crucial evidence links Lisa’s case to a string of barrel racers who’ve also vanished, Logan and Izzie fight against the clock to track down a suspected serial killer. But when he sets his sights on Izzie, can they outsmart their enemy before both women end up dead?

My Thoughts:

Talk about terrifying and creepy situations. This story starts off with Sheriff Izzie's almost murder as she comes out to investigate a report of a body found. Hoping and praying it is not her best friend yet feeling for the poor woman's body she has discovered. And then someone tries to kill her until her once upon a time crush and her best friend's twin Navy SEAL Logan shows up and saves her. Just in time mind you. Now they are in a fight for their lives while trying to find out if his sister is still alive.

Their investigation leads them to more missing women. Aided by his service dog who keeps both of these wounded heroes calm, we go on a fast-track race in time to solve this case before anyone else is snatched or killed. There is also an underlying second chance at romance theme that our characters also question and are dealing with. This was an excellent thriller that kept this reader invested and a little bit creeped out.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

My Thoughts and More on Before the Dawn by Erica Vetsch

About the Book

Book: Before the Dawn

Author: Erica Vetsch

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: February 10, 2026

A determined wife and a blind mining engineer—separated by fear, connected by love, and tested by darkness that threatens to tear them apart.

David Mackenzie was the most capable mining engineer in Colorado until a cave-in left him blind and filled with guilt over the deaths of his workers. Now he fears he’ll never be worthy of love or respect again. When his fiancée returns from nursing her sick aunt, he must find the courage to break their engagement before she wastes her life caring for a broken man.

Karen refuses to give up on the man she loves, but David has built a wall between them that grows higher with each passing day. When he tries to call off their engagement, she forces him into marriage through an unconventional lawsuit. Now she must find a way to break through his bitter shell and prove that her love hasn’t changed—before his fears and pride drive them apart forever and she loses not only the man she loves but also her chance at the family she’s always longed for.

When David’s cousin reveals a deadly secret about the cave-in, Karen and David find themselves trapped underground, forced to work together to survive. In the darkness, they must confront the fears that threaten to destroy them both. But even if they survive, can they find their way back to the love they once shared?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This was a beautiful story that showed what true love between a couple looks like. Especially when the wife is and actually acts like a helpmate to her husband. David and Karen have had a rough go at it. I admired Karen's tenacity to stand up to David and his pity party over his blindness and what she saw as his selfishness. I don't understand when people think they are protecting others like David who wanted to release Karen from their engagement. Why not let the other shine in the role now placed before them.

Karen was tough and learning to be tougher with David, especially threatening to sue her if he wouldn't honor their engagement. I did feel bad for David. As humans when we are hurt, we tend to lash out at those who love us most and want to hide and lick our wounds so to speak. However, like Karen and David's family realize, it really is a form of pride and selfishness. We need one another and Karen proved her worth to David.

There is a bit of mystery, especially revolving around the mine accident. There is also a family history of trauma that showed the other side of not helping one another. All in all, this was a deeply moving and emotional romantic drama of learning to live with what life has thrown at you.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Best-selling, award-winning author of The Debutante’s Code, first in the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery Series, Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum.

More from Erica

My story, Before the Dawn, is set in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. As a girl born and raised in Central Kansas, the first time I visited mountains, I was in awe…and also a little worried. Having grown up in a land where you can watch your dog run away for three straight days, not being able to see very far when in between mountains was a bit claustrophobic.

My children, growing up in SE Minnesota, had a similar experience. We were able to take the kids to Colorado several years ago, which is where I first became interested the history of Colorado Mining.

We took the kids to Idaho Springs, where we toured a mine and ore processing facility from the 1880’s. The Argo Mine was fascinating. When I ask my kids about what they remember, it’s always the panning for gold. My daughter reminded me that I was the first in the family to find any gold in my pan, a few little bright flakes, upon which many an adventurer has wagered his life.

The kids also got to sift through a box of sand and dirt to find colorful stones. As my son was enamored with agates and polished rocks at the time, this was the highlight for him.

When I wrote Before the Dawn, I tried to make the setting a character. The story is so tied to the setting, that if I changed where the story took place, it wouldn’t be the same story at all.

I hope, as you read Before the Dawn, you are drawn into the mountains, that you can feel a bit of the same sense of awe that I felt the first time this prairie girl saw the Rockies.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 5

Sydney Schmied Books, February 5

Books Less Travelled, February 6

She Lives to Read, February 7

Devoted Steps, February 7

Book Looks by Lisa, February 8

Books You Can Feel Good About, February 9

Lyssa Loves Books, February 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 10

lakesidelivingsite, February 11

Melissa’s Bookshelf, February 11

Texas Book-aholic, February 12

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 13

For Him and My Family, February 13

Bizwings Blog, February 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 15

Blossoms and Blessings, February 15

Cover Lover Book Review, February 16

Holly’s Book Corner, February 17

Devoted To Hope, February 17

Pause for Tales, February 18

Simple Harvest Reads, February 18 (Guest Review from Mindy)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Erica is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/QhNDV/before-the-dawn-celebration-tour-giveaway

Saturday, February 14, 2026

My Thoughts and More on Eye of the Mind by Sara Davison

Eye of the Mind JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Eye of the Mind by Sara Davison, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Eye of the Mind
Author: Sara Davison
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: December 17, 2025
Genre: romantic suspense (with thriller elements)

She can't picture his face.
But he knows hers.

Firefighter Jules Adler suspects her blind date with Officer Dante de Marco will not go well. When she witnesses a violent crime, the night goes from bad to worse fast.

Dante, the police sketch artist, is tasked with getting enough details from her to draw the killer. If only Jules could visualize the man’s face.

She and Dante are forced to spend a lot more time together than either would like, trying desperately to come up with a likeness. The problem is, with a ruthless psychopath closing in, that time is about to run out.

For fans of fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat suspense, slow-burning romance, humor, and deep issues of faith.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

Also Available

About the Author

F Sara Davison

Sara Davison is the author of numerous romantic suspense series. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, including the Christy Award, Davison is a HOLT Medallion, Cascade, and two-time Carol Award winner for romantic suspense. She lives in Ontario with her husband, Michael. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason. Get to know Sara better and subscribe to her short, monthly newsletter at ontheedgesuspense.com.

My Thoughts:

Firefighter Jules Adler has had the worst blind date of her life. Not only does she and police officer Dante de Marco not hit it off, but as she steps out for a breath of fresh air, she witnesses a murder. And the murderer witnesses her. When she needs a cop the most, where has Dante disappeared too.

This was a crazy read as two people set up on a blind date must work together to find the murderer now turned stalker against Jules. The author's description of the killer was so eerie and dark that he was certainly someone I would want to stay away from. Jules also has what is called aphantasia where she cannot create a picture in her mind's eye. She forgets faces. That was interesting to learn about especially since she has a killer after her.

All in all, this was a pretty intense read with a somewhat comical second chance vibe. Before these two can even think about a second date, they need to survive the repercussions of their first.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a paperback copy of Eye of the Mind plus a $25 Amazon card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight February 10, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 17, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Wednesday, February 11, 2026