Fire and Ice (Wild at Heart Book #3)

Fire & Ice is the third book in Mary Connealy's Wild at Heart series. In this book, it is Bailey Wilde's turn for a little romance. When her married sisters move away, Bailey is quite lonely during the long winter months at her homestead. When Gage Coulter makes a proposal after a long and lonely winter, Bailey agrees.

There is so much more I could say, but I don't want to give away too much from the book. I really enjoyed the interactions between Bailey and Gage. They are both so independent, and both have been hurt in the past. The two of them complement each other and help each other heal from their past hurts. It is fun to see them fool Gage's mother into thinking they have been married for a while. I definitely recommend this book! It has a little bit of everything-- humor, romance, mystery and more.

*I received this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.*

Another in the series by Mary Connealy about these strong sisters, who seem to go up against equally strong male characters. Always interesting, with some twists that you may not expect. Bailey had fought in the war (yes disguised as a boy) and came out hardened. All three sisters tried hard to please their father, who seemed to wish they were sons, and expected them to do all to honor the memory of their dead brother. Excellent read!! Christian Historical Romance set in the old west.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Bethany House Publishers - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”. [...]

Bailey Wilde is an independent woman who lives her life without depending on others, even if she has to pretend to be a man to do it. Gage Coulter is determined to build a successful ranch. Bailey has something that Gage needs: access to the land that rightfully belongs to him. And Gage has something Bailey needs: land for her herd to graze. When he realizes that Bailey Wilde is a woman, things change. And when a surprise visitor comes to visit Gage, he and Bailey realize that together they might both get something they need even more: each other.

I liked Gabe and Bailey. Individually, they are great characters and together they are even better. Connealy does a great job creating characters that you want to read about, and who really want to root for! I’m always hesitant about reading the last book in a series. Will it end the way I want it to? Will my characters all get their happy endings? Overall, I was very pleased by the ending to the stories about the Wilde sisters, and I look forward to the next adventure that Connealy takes us on.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review.

Quite an interesting read! I enjoyed reading about the battles between Bailey Wilde and Gage Coulter. It was like never knowing what to expect next. Bailey has posed as a male homesteader getting a cattle ranch started through the first two books of the Wild at Heart series. If you haven't read the first two books, you really should read them first because most of the main characters are introduced in those books and things continue to build through this one. The setting is the tough Rocky Mountains shortly after the Civil War. I would love to see that part of the country but would not want to see it as the Wilde sisters saw it back when there were no interstates, four-wheel drive vehicles, etc. It's hard to imagine roughing it the way people did back then. The book is historical fiction with some romance, plenty of action, some humor, and some thought-provoking conversations. If you enjoy good, clean reading with a message of hope woven into it, you will enjoy this book.

I loved reading the previous two novels in Mary Connealy’s Wild at Heart series (Tried & True and Now & Forever) with the fabulous sister heroines and quirky, romantic situations, so I’m really glad Fire & Ice finished the series with similar wonderful qualities. In this novel, the third Wilde sister becomes the story’s focus, as she determinedly attempts to maintain her male ranching image - until fellow rancher Gage Coulter sees through her disguise and convinces her to go along with a crazy plan. Seeing these two characters interact is amusing and entertaining, and I thoroughly enjoyed following along on their adventure toward romance. Fans of Connealy’s series will not be disappointed with Fire & Ice - it’s a great read.

Thanks to Bethany House, I received a copy of Fire & Ice and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

Another classic Mary Connealy story! The bits of Bailey and Gage that we got to see in the first two books in this series made me quite interested to see how their romance would play out. Thankfully it didn't disappoint!
While at first the reasoning behind Greg and Bailey getting married didn't seem entirely logical to me the author made it work and I enjoyed watching their relationship! I loved their exchanges when they fought over the canyon, and the moment that Gage discovered Bailey wasn't the man she had pretended to be was quite funny! There were several more laugh-worthy moments as well as some sweet ones and a bit of adventure that all added up to one enjoyable conclusion to a great series!
I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

A fun marriage of convenience story to wrap up the Wilde at Heart Series.

Bailey Wilde, the oldest of the Wilde sisters, is determined to homestead her ranch now that her sisters have married and moved away. Haunted by her time spent in the Civil War disguised as a man, she's reclusive and likes it that way. Then Gage Coulter appears at her door, claiming he owns the canyon she runs her cattle on and he wants it back. But in order for Gage to access the canyon, Bailey has to agree to let him cross her land. She refuses, of course, so Gage finds another way in, using dynamite to blast a path through to the canyon. During a long, snowed-in winter, Bailey's loneliness engulfs her. When Gage shows up at her door come spring, offering marriage to increase their ranches, Bailey gives in. The rest is a Wilde ride!

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romances, especially ones with a twist

Fire & Ice was a very cute love story. Unlike many romance novels, I felt like the feelings between the couple were genuine and realistic. They had mixed feelings toward each other instead of everything being sunshine and rainbows. They fell in love gradually, and in a circumstance where it was believable.

I'm not saying that Fire & Ice itself was believable, but the love between Bailey and Gage was. The book itself was full of action and drama, and like most novels, it wasn't all realistic. I was okay with that, though, because it was a very entertaining read. One of the things that made it entertaining is the unique setting and some unique characters and circumstances. Setting the book after the Civil War and in the Rockies was unique. It was played into the plot a lot. I also thought that the main characters' families were very unique and quirky. Family played a large role in Fire & Ice. One of the themes in the book was loving even the most difficult family members. I enjoyed that aspect.

Overall, I thought Fire & Ice was a sweet and enjoyable read. I would recommend it for people who like light-hearted historical romances.

*I received a free copy of this book in order to review it.

Mary Connealy is an author whose talent lies in writing books guaranteed to make the reader laugh. The conversations and interactions of the two characters, Gage and Bailey are hilarious to read about. From the moment you step into the story, with bullets whizzing, until the very last page your attention is sure to be captivated. I know I was. It was definitely a struggle to put the book down; so much so, that I almost read it all in one day.

If you're looking for a book with a western theme, small-scale mystery, comical characters, and a romance sure to make you chuckle, Fire and Ice is the one for you.
(The Booklover's Tranquility - http://bookloverstranquility.blogspot.com/2015/10/new-releases-fire-and-ice.html)

I really like the fact that the author found such unique ways to change the hearts of the main characters in all three books. There was humor and suspense, yet the twists and turns were not overly predictable. All in all, I loved the books and was rather sad there were no more sisters so the series could continue.

Mary Connealy continues her great writing in the third book in her Wild at Heart series. Although part of the series, Fire and Ice is a stand alone book. Fire and Ice is the story of the oldest of the three Wilde sisters who were raised as boys by their widower father. Bailey Wilde is a well-written character who avoids people and wears pants so the neighbors think she is a man! I recommend Fire and Ice to others who enjoy western historical faction.

I won a copy of Fire and Ice through a Soul Inspirationz giveaway.

Mary Connealy’s books are consistently excellent. You can count on being entertained, encouraged, and inspired. You’ll also learn something along the way. I was given a copy of Fire & Ice by the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I give it 4.75 stars, but I give the series a 5.

The Wild at Heart series began with Tried & True, continued with Now & Forever, and concludes with Fire & Ice. And I was right about the setup I saw in the second book. A really good writer does that though, and Mary is a really good writer, excellent in fact.

I’ve said before I wish I could write like her, but I can’t. We’re all unique and that’s what I love about Mary’s writing. Karen Whitemyer comes close with some of her western comedies, but each writer is unique just as each person is unique.

Plot Summary: Bailey Wilde, the oldest of the three Wilde sisters to soldier in the Civil War and homestead to help their Pa, Cudgel Wilde, build a dynasty to honor their dead brother Jimmy, dresses and acts like a man, because she was raised to act and be like a man. All three sisters were. But Bailey is afraid of men in groups. She can deal with them one-on-one, but a crowd of men moving towards her sets off a nasty memory from the way she’d like to forget. After spending the winter alone and nearly dying during a blizzard, Bailey accepts a strange marriage proposal from Gage Coulter, who owns a large ranch, and she’s had countless run-ins with him over property lines and who owns what. Her sisters are leaving the region, Kylie is moving back to Virginia, and Shannon is moving to the mountains.

When the story begins, Gage still believes Bailey is a young man, but he soon discovers his mistake. Good thing, too, because Gage received a letter from his mother that will change his life forever.

Gage Coulter needs a wife badly. His smothering mother is coming for a visit, and he already wrote her he was married. That should have been enough for Ma, but not her. The day Ma comes is the day Gage and Bailey are married. They ride into a vicious trap of hidden spikes in road, and Bailey is severely injured. Who is out to kill Gage and why?

As the story unravels, motives and means are brought to light, but Bailey and Gage are like fire and ice, each one sets the other off. Bailey’s the fire, she doesn’t hold much back. Gage’s eyes are like ice when he hides his true feelings.

I highly recommend Fire & Ice because even it’s comical, it’s very serious. Mary deals with serious issues in her books. Bailey’s fears of men and why, Gage’s flight from Texas to get away from charges of cowardice.

You’ll never be disappointed reading anything Mary Connealy has to offer.

This whole series was exciting and a blessing to me. All the heroines were strong women and all the heroes were knights in shining armor. There was no explicit sex but wonderful love between the spouses. Many modern romance books make heroes of those who lust after each other. This series built characters who loved each other for ver strong and lasting reasons. I hope this author keeps writing more novels for us.

Great ending to this fun series! Loved the spunky heroine and tough on the outside marshmallow soft inside hero. Throw in a bunch of bad guys, borderline personality mother, a herd of cows, plus a few rounds of dynamite, and boom! Glad that poor gal finally had something nice happen in her life after all the horror she faced from the war and her pa. Recommend for fans of western themed Christian fiction!

The story of the Wilde sisters and their tough and unexpectedly caring men have carried readers three three Wild at Heart books. Each book I thought would be my favorite...and I wasn't disappointed. Bailey and Gabe were forces to be reckoned with and true enough, stole my heart.

Thanks to Mary C. For her soulful books that remind us that love is out there...and God will always be at hand.

I really enjoyed this book. Mary has a great sense of humor and her books are fun and interesting. This is the third book in the Wild at Heart series, but you don't have to read the others to get the point of this one. I can't wait to read more by Mary.
This book was received by TBCN in exchange for a review. A positive review was not required.

Fire and Ice is the third installment of the Wild at Heart series. I have really enjoyed this series but I think this is my favorite. Full of fun and surprises with action and romance mixed in, makes it a great read.
Highly recommended.
5 plus stars.
I received this book from bookfun.org in exchange of my honest opinion, which was given.

I thoroughly enjoyed “Fire & Ice”—the third book in the Wild at Heart series by Mary Connealy. I found it well-written, engaging, with some unexpected twists. I am a big fan of Mary Connealy’s books and loved all three of the books in this series.
From the opening sentence to the satisfying conclusion, this is a great read.

Mary Connealy does it again! Fire and Ice will melt your heart. Bailey Wilde faces the challenges of many new brides- the mother-in-law from you know where, living with a man and her own crazy father. The story is fast,the characters thoughtful, and the outcome reassuring. It's a Wilde ride.

I enjoyed reading Bailey's story as she fought to remain independent and self sufficient. She begins to recognize that she needs other people, Gage to be exact. Mary Connealy does a nice job developing Bailey and Gage's characters. They learn to rely on each other without loosing their strong individual character and strength. If you enjoy historical fiction with a little humor, this book is a good read for you. See a more in-depth review at (...)

Great revisit with the characters in this series. This writer is relately new to me and I have to say, she has above average skills to weave a story that makes putting a book down! If you enjoy a western romantic novel written above the average fluff, this series is a must read.

As the oldest of the Wilde sisters, Bailey has always been tough and looked out for her sisters as they lived as disguised as men in the West. Now that her sisters have both married and moved off, she finds herself lonelier than ever and questioning her isolation and living as a man. When Gage Coulter comes to get her to leave her homestead so he can get his cattle through to his canyon, they immediately butt heads. It doesn’t take long for him to figure out Bailey is no man, she is a very tough intriguing woman. He is an honest man who prides himself on not being weak. He refuses to break the law but has no problem pushing the limits to get what he wants. After a tough winter alone, Bailey has to make some tough choices. Gage has told his mother he is married and with her due to arrive any day for a visit he does the only thing he can think of, he asks Bailey to marry him. In return he makes promises that are almost too good to pass up. Together they try to decide to tolerate each other, much less find love for one another.

As the conclusion to the Wilde at Heart series we get to see the eldest Wilde sister. Bailey was introduced in the previous books and we saw a rough and tough cowgirl that had a lot of story hidden deep inside. In Fire and Ice Bailey is the main focus, Kylie and Shannon have gone off and aren’t mentioned but only briefly. For me Bailey wasn’t my favorite of the sisters. She just seemed more standoffish, which was the intention of the author and done really well. Bailey and Gage had a very tense relationship from start to finish. Bailey was averse to being around him, and any other male for the most part. We don’t really understand why until she relays some of her experiences during the war. It was obvious Gage and Bailey would end up together, not many other eligible men around. Once Bailey realized how alone she was she became more vulnerable and we got to see a different side to her that I enjoyed. I did not like the way Gage was with his mother around. If he had the feelings he said he did for Bailey, he shouldn’t have let his mother act the way she did around his wife.

There were several good lessons throughout the series. One was if you make a commitment to someone you should see it through and have faith. Once Bailey and Gage realized this they found the common ground they needed to find love. It is amazing any of the sisters turned out as good as they did with a father like they have. This book had a bit more suspense than the others with the threat placed on Gage’s life and how that affected Bailey and everyone else. The nice thing about Mary Connealy’s writing is you get a fun light hearted story that is a quick easy enjoyable read.

Quite an interesting read! I enjoyed reading about the battles between Bailey Wilde and Gage Coulter. It was like never knowing what to expect next. Bailey has posed as a male homesteader getting a cattle ranch started through the first two books of the Wild at Heart series. If you haven't read the first two books, you really should read them first because most of the main characters are introduced in those books and things continue to build through this one. The setting is the tough Rocky Mountains shortly after the Civil War. I would love to see that part of the country but would not want to see it as the Wilde sisters saw it back when there were no interstates, four-wheel drive vehicles, etc. It's hard to imagine roughing it the way people did back then. The book is historical fiction with some romance, plenty of action, some humor, and some thought-provoking conversations. If you enjoy good, clean reading with a message of hope woven into it, you will enjoy this book.