Book Review: The Laws of Attraction by Mary Connealy


The Laws of Attraction - Mary Connealy - 4 Stars - A great continuation in the Wyoming Sunrise Series! (Book 2)

Another book that pulls you right into the story! We are back in this small town of Pine Valley in 1871 Wyoming and the dead eye gang continues to reek havoc! 

In book 2 of the Wyoming Sunrise series, we follow Nell, the widowed seamstress we met in book 1, Forged in Love. I was so interested in Nell's story as in book 1 she was a fantastic, and a bit mysterious, side character. The book opens in Nell's shop where she primarily makes chaps for westerners. A young girl runs into her shop to hide when her father comes in looking for her. The young girl is embarrassed about her father having her wear breeches instead of a dress to town. When  the girl explains this to her father, Brand, Nell overhears how she and her 2 sisters wish they could wear dresses - but Brand can't afford to buy them. Nell offers a proposition to Brand and the girls that if they will work in her store for a dime a day, she will make the girls dresses. Nell truly loves making dresses but no one ever needs to buy them from her so she sees this as the perfect opportunity to make dresses and have some nice company in her shop working with her. She also doesn't want to appear as giving Brand charity so she offers the work trade. The girls are ecstatic, their father agrees and so the girls start to come after school and work for the dresses, while learning how to sew. But things get crazy quickly as the dead eye gang make their way back to town, men end up killed and injured, danger is lurking everywhere, leaving Brand, the girls, and Nell in trouble. Things take off from here as we see Nell take a leadership role in town, Brand try to protect his family and a romance begin to form between the two of them.

Brand and Nell are both widows so I knew I would love this story from the beginning because I am always here for a second chance at love story when they never expected it. Especially a single Dad with children just trying to do the best he can. And Brand was just that. I loved his character as he was a great guy just trying to provide for his family after the death of his wife in childbirth. When he meets Nell he starts to wonder if he could find love again. Nell is a bit of a broken character as she has a history of arguments with her husband, but its not explained in detail. We know she is very on guard about getting into a new relationship and makes it clear her next husband will never raise their voice to her in any way as her previous one did. Seeing them get to know each other and seeing Nell help Brand's daughters was beautiful. 

We have some nice mentions of prayers, going to church and asking God for protection that I really appreciated seeing too. 

Nell is a strong woman and we have a lot of discussion centered around women's rights and the women's suffrage movement that was going on during that time. I did really like some of this detail and showing how a woman can do anything just a man - but sometimes it was a bit overdone for me personally and I wanted to get back to the story to develop more of Nell and Brand's romance together, instead of so much of those details. But it was still nice to see that representation and history aspect as Nell was the first Justice of the Peace there in town - and that was a big deal for women during that time. 

Overall, I did really like the story and will be continuing on in the series. My favorite parts in this story were surrounding the 3 daughters - they were great and it was nice to see Nell get to know them and Brand learn how to help them in ways he couldn't before.

I think if you love a good western story, a strong female lead, widowers finding love again and great family vibes - you will enjoy this! Thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for a copy to honestly read and review. 

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5616628111
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3r5muFW
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/492077

YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlfoIBkAmlc&t

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