Swept Away

I have finished Swept Away by Mary Connealy.  It is the first book in a new series called "Trouble in Texas."

About the book:
Swept away when her wagon train attempts a difficult river crossing, Ruthy MacNeil isn't all that upset at being separated from the family who raised her. All they've ever done is work her to the bone. She prayed for a chance to get away, and then came the raging flood. Alive but disoriented, she's rescued by Luke Stone...so unfortunately, there are more chances to die in her immediate future.

Luke is heading home to reclaim the ranch stolen from his family. But the men who killed his father are working hard to ensure Luke doesn't make it alive. He has no choice but to keep moving. Still, he can't just abandon Ruthy, so she'll have to come along.

His friends--a ragtag group of former Civil War soldiers--take a fast interest in the pretty gal. Luke thinks that's rather rude--he's the one who found her. And the more time he spends around the hard-working young woman who is a mighty good cook, the more he finds himself thinking beyond revenge and toward a different future. For the first time in a long time, Luke is tempted to turn from his destructive path and be swept away by love

My thoughts:
I enjoyed this book overall.  It took me a while to read due to personal medical matters. I wasn't sure if it felt slow to me because of what I was going through or because of the book itself. 

I felt sorry for the characters and all they had faced.  Both Ruthy and Luke have endured challenging circumstances and past relationships, living now with fear and regrets. One thing I enjoyed was the value of friendships and how the friends stood by each other even in the hardest times.  I liked the inclusion of the preacher Jonas who wasn't a main character but had an important part in reminding the others that God was on their side. 

I didn't really like the cover of the book, I didn't think it was very unique compared to some I've seen lately. 

I have enjoyed several books by this author in the past and look forward to reading more from her in the future.  I look forward to seeing the relationships that develop between the characters introduced in this book.

Read more about the author at her website.

I received this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for writing my honest review.   My apologies not getting the review done sooner due to some personal medical issues.  Thank you. 
 
Have a day of blessings!