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jbro12's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
vinylsandvino's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
elisabethd8a's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This book excelled at setting up the series and introducing characters, but the romance was so much of a slow-burn that it practically wasn't there. The settings were fantastic, the Pluto was interesting, and the characters were perfect for their roles, but the story should have had a little more romance than now you don't, now you see it.
foreverbookworm's review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
melmo2610's review
4.0
I am always impressed at the way Mary Connealy sets the stage for her books. She is a master at coming up with dangerous and exciting plots for her characters and infusing them with humor which makes for stories I can’t put down. Chasing the Horizon is a great start to a new series, I really like Beth, Ginny and Kat and can’t wait to read each book in this series. The villain in this series is excellent and I am looking forward to the ladies besting him once and for all. This is going to be a fun adventure!
yvette_bookworlder's review
adventurous
hopeful
3.75
A wagon train story that begins with an insane asylum escape? This first in series adventure/romance is brim full of both unexpected and things to always love from a Mary Connealy cowboys-and-humor Historical Christian Romance. Chasing the Horizon, hopefully followed by the whole of her A Western Light series, is a new favorite.
Recommended.
This review refers to a library ebook that I voluntarily read and reviewed. All opinions expressed are my own.
bubblewombat's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
My favourite Mary Connealy book I've read so far!!! It was romantic, exciting and, when paired with excellent narration, right up my alley. I adore the found family trope, and this has that in abundance.
We first have Beth and her mother, then add Kat, Sebastian, Oscar and his bothers, Jake and the O'Toole's. It's a full house, hah. Absolutely loved them all, and I'm hoping all of them get their own story. I know the next one is about Kat & Sebastian, but I'd also love to see Ginny and Oscar get a story and I have an inkling Bruce would mesh well with the O'Toole's. Please make it happen Mrs Connealy!
When I read the Wyoming Sunrise series, one of the things I loved most was how there was a background plot with the villain(s) that stretched throughout the three books, and it seems that will be the case here too. We even got a PoV from the villain and oh, how I hated him. The whole time I was like "JUST LEAVE THEM ALONE".
I was so scared about what would happen when he finally caught up to them, and my mind went in a totally different direction from what actually ended up happening. I'm satisfied though, I feel that justice was served (for now).
I have another idea, even though I don't like Thaddeus, what if he and Yvette got together for real at the end of the series? After he redeems himself though, if that's even possible. Either way I liked their chemistry.
Jake & Beth are my faves (in their own book? Shocker), their slow burn relationship was goals. I love how ready Jake was to protect Beth and her family, and how he respected her & wasn't gonna let her slip through his fingers. He knew what he wanted and went after it as he should.
I'm sooo excited for the next book in the series, I can't believe I have to wait till June, that's so unfair. Hopefully my library will add it as soon as it's available, because when I go and preorder a physical copy it likely won't arrive for a month or longer. I really like the audiobooks though so ideally for the next book I could listen & read along.
We first have Beth and her mother, then add Kat, Sebastian, Oscar and his bothers, Jake and the O'Toole's. It's a full house, hah. Absolutely loved them all, and I'm hoping all of them get their own story. I know the next one is about Kat & Sebastian, but I'd also love to see Ginny and Oscar get a story and I have an inkling Bruce would mesh well with the O'Toole's. Please make it happen Mrs Connealy!
When I read the Wyoming Sunrise series, one of the things I loved most was how there was a background plot with the villain(s) that stretched throughout the three books, and it seems that will be the case here too. We even got a PoV from the villain and oh, how I hated him. The whole time I was like "JUST LEAVE THEM ALONE".
I was so scared about what would happen when he finally caught up to them, and my mind went in a totally different direction from what actually ended up happening. I'm satisfied though, I feel that justice was served (for now).
I have another idea, even though I don't like Thaddeus, what if he and Yvette got together for real at the end of the series? After he redeems himself though, if that's even possible. Either way I liked their chemistry.
Jake & Beth are my faves (in their own book? Shocker), their slow burn relationship was goals. I love how ready Jake was to protect Beth and her family, and how he respected her & wasn't gonna let her slip through his fingers. He knew what he wanted and went after it as he should.
I'm sooo excited for the next book in the series, I can't believe I have to wait till June, that's so unfair. Hopefully my library will add it as soon as it's available, because when I go and preorder a physical copy it likely won't arrive for a month or longer. I really like the audiobooks though so ideally for the next book I could listen & read along.
readingwithmrleo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
In this book, we follow Beth and her mother through their escape on the Oregon trail. After being put in an asylum by her husband, Beth's mom is able to get away with the help of her daughter. Together, they leave on a wagon train heading west, with fake identities and in hopes they can reach Idaho without people asking too many questions. It isn't that often that I read about that specific time period so I always find it interesting to learn more about it. The reality and the hardship of it, it makes you feel grateful for what we have these days and always make for a touching story.
Surprisingly, this book was more about a bigger story than focused on two characters. You get all these people traveling together, Beth and her mother are helped throughout their journey, you also get to see the dad in parallel with all of it, which keeps the suspense going. There are lots of side characters that you can tell might be of some importance later and are full of secrets. The romance wasn't the biggest part of the book, it was more about that journey, about the people, about their hope for a better life and what it took to get there.
My main problem with the book was probably my expectation VS what it was. After reading the blurb, I just assumed this would be about two characters and be more of a love story. So it was disappointing to me that there was practically no romance whatsoever (a little love at first sight thingy, that's all) and the book focused on so many characters that we barely knew them all in the end. I'm more of a get to know characters on a deeper level, otherwise I don't get attached and it leaves me with a very indifferent feeling about all that is going on. I also assumed the interactions between Jake and Beth would be all about trying to hide secrets and all, but what it really was was "I know you are hiding things and I'll protect you no matter what"... so I didn't get what I was hoping for, once again.
I also found it hard to have so many characters that seemed important but still not knowing any infos about them when the book ends. For example, I get that Sebastian will be in the next book, but as someone who only read the first book I was expecting to learn a little something that would make me want to know more but my infos about him are the same as when the book started, I got nothing more through it, even though he still was an important character in the story. Or I would have loved to get just a hint of a possible relationship with Kat since it was mentioned multiple times she took care of him, but we saw none of it.
And last thing, the whole ending wrapped-up so quickly and with nothing really resolving, so it was a little frustrating.
I still think that this book has its public, it just wasn't me. The story is interesting, it follows through and you get a great feeling of found family, the importance of being there for each other and helping others as best as we can, it also approaches harder subjects such as grief and the whole asylum aftereffects.
Thanks to the publisher and austenprose for my eARC. All opinions are my own.
Surprisingly, this book was more about a bigger story than focused on two characters. You get all these people traveling together, Beth and her mother are helped throughout their journey, you also get to see the dad in parallel with all of it, which keeps the suspense going. There are lots of side characters that you can tell might be of some importance later and are full of secrets. The romance wasn't the biggest part of the book, it was more about that journey, about the people, about their hope for a better life and what it took to get there.
My main problem with the book was probably my expectation VS what it was. After reading the blurb, I just assumed this would be about two characters and be more of a love story. So it was disappointing to me that there was practically no romance whatsoever (a little love at first sight thingy, that's all) and the book focused on so many characters that we barely knew them all in the end. I'm more of a get to know characters on a deeper level, otherwise I don't get attached and it leaves me with a very indifferent feeling about all that is going on. I also assumed the interactions between Jake and Beth would be all about trying to hide secrets and all, but what it really was was "I know you are hiding things and I'll protect you no matter what"... so I didn't get what I was hoping for, once again.
I also found it hard to have so many characters that seemed important but still not knowing any infos about them when the book ends. For example, I get that Sebastian will be in the next book, but as someone who only read the first book I was expecting to learn a little something that would make me want to know more but my infos about him are the same as when the book started, I got nothing more through it, even though he still was an important character in the story. Or I would have loved to get just a hint of a possible relationship with Kat since it was mentioned multiple times she took care of him, but we saw none of it.
And last thing, the whole ending wrapped-up so quickly and with nothing really resolving, so it was a little frustrating.
I still think that this book has its public, it just wasn't me. The story is interesting, it follows through and you get a great feeling of found family, the importance of being there for each other and helping others as best as we can, it also approaches harder subjects such as grief and the whole asylum aftereffects.
Thanks to the publisher and austenprose for my eARC. All opinions are my own.
emilylovesreading_'s review
4.0
I hadn’t read a historical fiction book with an old Western setting in such a long time! Chasing the Horizon is a gripping story of a daughter helping two women, one of them her mother, escape from an insane asylum that they were unjustly thrown into and treated horribly. On the run from her father and his hired Pinkerton agents, Beth and the women, now with a strange man they’ve rescued in tow, join the wagons headed west on the Oregon Trail to try to make a new life for themselves.
This story felt like it began very abruptly and it took me a bit to really sort out how certain people were connected and what was really going on. However, once I got further into the story and was able to really envision the connections and the setting, I was completely invested and on the edge of my seat the rest of the way through. In fact, I stayed up entirely too late to finish the last few chapters!
The romance between Beth and Jake was really sweet and I wished that there had been a bit more of that, so I’m really excited to get to know them better in the next book of the series. The ending has me wondering so many things about Sebastian and Kat and I can’t wait to find out.
Book #2 of the series, titled “Toward the Dawn,” is expected to be published this June already, so definitely jump to read this first book. You don’t want to miss it!
This story felt like it began very abruptly and it took me a bit to really sort out how certain people were connected and what was really going on. However, once I got further into the story and was able to really envision the connections and the setting, I was completely invested and on the edge of my seat the rest of the way through. In fact, I stayed up entirely too late to finish the last few chapters!
The romance between Beth and Jake was really sweet and I wished that there had been a bit more of that, so I’m really excited to get to know them better in the next book of the series. The ending has me wondering so many things about Sebastian and Kat and I can’t wait to find out.
Book #2 of the series, titled “Toward the Dawn,” is expected to be published this June already, so definitely jump to read this first book. You don’t want to miss it!