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riskyduck's review
1.0
Cute premise, but not particularly intriguing or interesting. Connealy's ranching experience comes through strongly. But the book's just too simple. Especially Belle/Silas's thoughts, emotions, dialogue.
Belle's a rough and tumble 3 time widow with 4 girls and an unmanageable number of heads in her herd. She needs extra hands for a cattle drive and luckily, Silas falls in her lap.
Silas is a competent, sweet rancher who's clueless about women and constantly shocked by Belle, since she's neither an empty headed flirt, nor a brothel babe. There's not much more to him than that.
Extra characters do their thing and again, their 1-D personalities did nothing for me.
Won from First Reads
Belle's a rough and tumble 3 time widow with 4 girls and an unmanageable number of heads in her herd. She needs extra hands for a cattle drive and luckily, Silas falls in her lap.
Silas is a competent, sweet rancher who's clueless about women and constantly shocked by Belle, since she's neither an empty headed flirt, nor a brothel babe. There's not much more to him than that.
Extra characters do their thing and again, their 1-D personalities did nothing for me.
Won from First Reads
cleah's review
4.0
Belle Tanner has been married more times than she cares to remember. So when her latest husband Anthony passes away, she swears off men forever. Unfortunately, she can't do this year's cattle drive with only the help of her hard-working daughters. She needs to find some men to aid them. When she goes into town, she meets Silas Harden, who instantly convinces her he is the help she is looking for. Still wary about all men, Belle tries to keep her distance. And yet Silas is not like the others...
In book one, MONTANA ROSE (reviewed here), I felt Belle was a fascinating character, as she was so incredibly tough-willed and strong-hearted. I could not wait to read more about her curious life. It was nice to see glimpses from Cassie and Red Dawson, and following along with Wade Sawyer was also a pleasure. I enjoyed reading about ranch life - Connealy writes with such vivid detail that it is easy to imagine yourself there.
No one else can write a story quite like Mary Connealy. She has a knack for writing harsh and frightening scenes side by side with tender, humorous ones. Look for the third book in the Montana Marriages series, THE WILDFLOWER BRIDE, due out in May 2010!
In book one, MONTANA ROSE (reviewed here), I felt Belle was a fascinating character, as she was so incredibly tough-willed and strong-hearted. I could not wait to read more about her curious life. It was nice to see glimpses from Cassie and Red Dawson, and following along with Wade Sawyer was also a pleasure. I enjoyed reading about ranch life - Connealy writes with such vivid detail that it is easy to imagine yourself there.
No one else can write a story quite like Mary Connealy. She has a knack for writing harsh and frightening scenes side by side with tender, humorous ones. Look for the third book in the Montana Marriages series, THE WILDFLOWER BRIDE, due out in May 2010!
tibbarasden's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.0
I was excited to have Belle the focus of this book after reading the first in the series. I really enjoyed the cattle drive aspect of this one. However, I really don't like how the author portrayed Belle. Being historical and Christian fiction I understand there is a certain gender role women fulfill. It was really frustrating seeing the strong no-nonsense woman Belle was in the first alternating between blaming herself for the failures of her previous husbands to being subservient to Silas. The author did sort of bring back her strong-willed nature towards the end, but it came across insincere. There was a way to fulfill the gender role while still keeping the strength of Belle intact. Also, Silas choices at the end seemed inconsistent with the experienced cattleman from the drive. It really felt like it was done just to create more conflict. Lindsay's part of the story also felt inconsistent to her behavior originally, along with Belle and Sila's role. I think with a little more detail that whole part of the story could have seemed more realistic. Overall it was still a fun read, but did leave me a bit disappointed.
elentarien's review
4.0
Another fun, easy read. Almost laughable in places, but in a good way. Some interesting turns of phrases that make the entire scenario a little comical. :)
meezcarrie's review
4.0
This series, specifically this second book, have everything you want/need in a good love story: humor, breathless romantic tension, sweet tender moments, a bit of action, good plot points and great characters. The only problem I have with the series is the moments that require me to suddenly suspend belief and remember that I'm reading a fictional novel. Inner conflicts are instantly resolved with little to no explanation. Minor characters fall in love in a matter of a couple of days. It was enough to prove distracting at times as I went along but overall - i love these books and can't wait to start on the last one in the trilogy tonight!
plettr's review
4.0
I had such high hopes for this book. It was good, but not as wonderful as the previous book in this series Montana Rose.
I felt along with the main character Belle. Her life was hard, but I admired her courage and determination. I loved her daughters. I even liked Silas. I found the cattle drive interesting (though I could have used a little more details).
What I didn't like about the book included the back of the book description. It is wrong! That I blame on the publisher. Belle never meets Glowing Sun in this book. In fact she has scant few pages dedicated to her. And one could argue that the times she is mentioned it is in connection to Wade Sawyer (from the first book).
I also didn't like the ending of the book with Silas going off to build a house (as a surprise) and Belle tending to the cattle, as per her premarriage. She is portrayed as wrong and that should have trusted him. I think Silas should have taken some days to build the house, but also to help is new wife. Of course she is going to think bad of him.... that's all she knows.
So, in conclusion, it was a good book with some trouble spots. I think a little more editing would have gone a long way. I would still encourage people to read this book, but would inform them that it isn't one of Mary Connealy's best works.
I am looking forward to reading the final book in this series.
I felt along with the main character Belle. Her life was hard, but I admired her courage and determination. I loved her daughters. I even liked Silas. I found the cattle drive interesting (though I could have used a little more details).
What I didn't like about the book included the back of the book description. It is wrong! That I blame on the publisher. Belle never meets Glowing Sun in this book. In fact she has scant few pages dedicated to her. And one could argue that the times she is mentioned it is in connection to Wade Sawyer (from the first book).
I also didn't like the ending of the book with Silas going off to build a house (as a surprise) and Belle tending to the cattle, as per her premarriage. She is portrayed as wrong and that should have trusted him. I think Silas should have taken some days to build the house, but also to help is new wife. Of course she is going to think bad of him.... that's all she knows.
So, in conclusion, it was a good book with some trouble spots. I think a little more editing would have gone a long way. I would still encourage people to read this book, but would inform them that it isn't one of Mary Connealy's best works.
I am looking forward to reading the final book in this series.
kairosdreaming's review
4.0
The Husband Tree is the 2nd book in Mary Connealy's Montana Marriages series. That being said you don't have to read the series in order. Sure it will help with some little things, but it doesn't effect the overall enjoyment of the series.
Belle Tanner has been quite a few husbands, and after burying the last one she vows no more. Even her daughters agree they've all been worthless. They can handle the ranch all by themselves. Silas Harden feels the same way about women. Too many wiles and they just are up to no good. So he feels pretty safe helping Belle herd a bunch of cows to sale across a treacherous path with just her daughters for help. But when some other folks come along to help they must put up a guise that they are married to keep Belle and her daughters safe. And they discover they like the playacting a little too much.
Belles a great character. She's strong and vibrant and doesn't take crap from anybody. Although I do think she weakens a bit towards the end. Silas is quite moody but still a good guy all around. The daughters are probably the best though. They're kind of inspiring with how tough and go-to they are. I do have to say that I didn't like Wade though. He appears in the third book as well (which was my least favorite of the series) and he just seems kind of whiny in this book.
The plot was nice. A tough cattle drive run by women. My kind of action anyway. And the romance was quite nice as well. Really the only thing I didn't like was the side plot with Wade and Glowing Sun. It just didn't mesh well with the rest of the book. This is a Christian fiction book, but unlike some of the author's other books, it doesn't come into play as much. God is mentioned here and there but it isn't an overt storytelling or preachy.
A pretty decent book. Not as good as the first but still well done.
The Husband Tree
Copyright 2010
315 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2011
More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com .
Belle Tanner has been quite a few husbands, and after burying the last one she vows no more. Even her daughters agree they've all been worthless. They can handle the ranch all by themselves. Silas Harden feels the same way about women. Too many wiles and they just are up to no good. So he feels pretty safe helping Belle herd a bunch of cows to sale across a treacherous path with just her daughters for help. But when some other folks come along to help they must put up a guise that they are married to keep Belle and her daughters safe. And they discover they like the playacting a little too much.
Belles a great character. She's strong and vibrant and doesn't take crap from anybody. Although I do think she weakens a bit towards the end. Silas is quite moody but still a good guy all around. The daughters are probably the best though. They're kind of inspiring with how tough and go-to they are. I do have to say that I didn't like Wade though. He appears in the third book as well (which was my least favorite of the series) and he just seems kind of whiny in this book.
The plot was nice. A tough cattle drive run by women. My kind of action anyway. And the romance was quite nice as well. Really the only thing I didn't like was the side plot with Wade and Glowing Sun. It just didn't mesh well with the rest of the book. This is a Christian fiction book, but unlike some of the author's other books, it doesn't come into play as much. God is mentioned here and there but it isn't an overt storytelling or preachy.
A pretty decent book. Not as good as the first but still well done.
The Husband Tree
Copyright 2010
315 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2011
More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com .
emlickliter's review
5.0
This one was fabulous too!!! I love it when a series doesn't let me down. Belle Tanner with her 4 daughters has a huge ranch to manage, part of a herd to sell, and a third husband to bury before winter sets in. When husband #3 falls off the roof, its a relief to Belle. Now she just has to find enough hands to drive her cattle over a really treacherous mountain trail in order to profit on her last 10 years of backbreaking work. Luckily for her, Silas Harden is drifting through town on the run from a shotgun wedding (to a girl who made sure witness would see her kiss him). Silas has lost 2 ranches to bad luck, and he could use the cash. When he realizes that he is going to be moving cattle with Belle, Lindsay (15), Emma (13), Sarah (9), and Betsy (1), he is praying that Wade Sawyer actually catches up to them to help out. Over the month long journey, even with the help of the three hands Wade sends after them, Silas has plenty of opportunity to prove that he is a better man than any of Belle's previous husbands. Lindsay deciding to marry one of their trail hands throws a wrench in Belle's winter plans, but Silas agrees to return with them to help prep the ranch for the long Montana snows. The trip back gives Silas time to realize that he wants to be Belle's husband and the girls' father, but the baggage of their past may yet give their marriage a run for its money! You are going to love this cast of characters!!!!
blackngoldgirlsbookspot's review
4.0
I really like this whole series. Laughs and clean romance, it doesn't get much better than that!