cover image Tried and True

Tried and True

Mary Connealy. Bethany House, $14.99 trade paper (320p) ISBN 978-0-7642-1178-2

Connealy’s (Stuck Together) view of the Idaho Territory in 1866 is a surprising delight in this inaugural novel of her Wild at Heart romance series. Kylie Wilde had followed her two older sisters, all disguised as men, into the Civil War after their brother’s death. As if that weren’t enough, after the war, her father insisted the whole family move out West to homestead, using the credit earned from military service, in honor of their deceased brother. Kylie, however, is not cut out for homesteading and is only biding her time until she can return to the East and what she calls civilization. Their plan goes awry when Kylie is caught by land agent and veteran Aaron Masterson, who finds her in a skirt and sees right through her sisters’ disguises. Love blooms despite their differences—and despite the best attempts of mysterious persons attempting to drive them apart. The light tale is spiced with both humor and a glimpse into the darker side of the great land rush. Agent: Natasha Kern, Natasha Kern Literary Agency. (Sept.)