Life in a protected canyon can get old when you have things to do and places to go. For Sebastian, our resident inventor, and Kat, escaped after being wrongly locked in an asylum, with spring came the time to leave. Believing that finding an out of the way homestead would keep them safe, they start a new life.

Somehow the past never seems to go away and it begins to catch up with them. Those who wished them ill have not changed their minds and the story takes many interesting turns. Will they finally learn to trust that the Lord has only their best in mind?

An early copy of A Western Light #2 was received through Bethany House Publishers, Baker publishing Group and NetGalley. These thoughts are my own and were in no way solicited. ( )

It’s always such fun to read one of Mary Connealy’s books. History, action, romance, suspense, and a bit of inspiration all combine with Connealy’s signature wit and humor to make each tale an exciting adventure. With creative, engaging characters and an intriguing plot, Toward the Dawn is another entertaining story that kept me turning pages.

Kat Wadsworth and Sebastian Jones star in this second book in the series about a ragtag group of settlers that joined a wagon train headed west. After being isolated in a hidden canyon for months with some of the settlers, Kat and Seb want to head back to civilization, so they enter into a marriage of convenience and also into a lot of danger and trouble. I enjoyed the banter and the relationship that grew between the two as they tried to stay alive.

This book is part of a series, and while you could possibly read this one on its own, it would be best to read them in order so you get the full backstory. There is a thread of suspense that continues through the series. I’m looking forward to reading the concluding tale in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House. All opinions are my own. ( )

What's better than a blossoming relationship that's flavored with some witty banter and a good dose of chemistry? How about a shoot-em-up adventure, a marriage of convenience, and memorable characters, both good and bad? If you're a fan of Western historical romance.... this book's for you! Toward the Dawn is set in Wyoming, during 1870 and it continues a story that began in the first book of the "A Western Light" series. Eugenia Rutledge and her daughter Beth are still hiding from the very evil Thaddeus Rutledge, but this book has another damsel in distress. Kat Woodridge's husband has died, and his uncle is trying to put her away, so she's running from him and an unknown person who's after her also. She needs protection but is a marriage of convenience the answer to Kat's problems?

Author Mary Connealy is known for Western stories that are often fun and romantic, but this book shares a poignant reminder of women's struggles over the years. It has women who were forced to live in insane asylums simply because they weren't wanted by the men in their lives. Can you imagine being perfectly sane and unable to prove it? The action never stops, and the danger is always present, but Toward the Dawn is also a heartwarming story of friendship, commitment, and hope. I loved the sweet romance that developed between Kat and Sebastian Jones and the faith journeys that made their story even more relevant. I'm looking forward to the next book that will be available in the Fall!

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. There was no obligation for a positive review. ( )

After spending the winter snowed in a canyon, inventor Seb and runaway Kat want to return to civilization. Seb is hiding from someone who tried to kill him, while Kat is trying to escape the long arm of her uncle who wants her to return to an asylum. Solution- get married!
Thrilling chases, running from unknown bad guys and discovering the truth take center stage in this second book in the Western Light series. But much is going on inside the hidden canyon, too, where babies are born and a crazy person from the past makes an appearance.
Witty banter between Seb and Kat plus a sweet romance and a suspenseful plot make this a clear winner. Two themes were: Truth will come out and reconciliation is always best. The faith of the characters was evident and discovering how to get priorities straight was a helpful lesson.
I cannot wait to see how things play out in the final book.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House on behalf of the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.* ( )

This is a very interesting and exciting book to read! There's so much going on! There's a sweet love story that's filled with secrets! There's also murder, kidnapping, and attempted murder. There's new friendships and twin babies being born!

The characters are wonderful! They're so well written, even the perpetrators. I love how Kat and Seb start to work together towards a common goal. I also like how the community living in the canyon helps each other and truly acts like family.

I feel like this can be read as a stand-alone, but it would have made a little more sense if I'd read the first book. Mary Connealy does such a good job writing that it's easy to pick up where the story is heading.

I won a complimentary early review copy of the book from LibraryThing through Bethany House via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.