By Mary Connealy
Bethany House, 2020
305 pages
Amazon Description:
After years of isolation on top of Hope Mountain, Ilsa Nordegren may finally be ready to leave. Raised to fear the world, Ilsa and her sisters never planned on coming down, but when the Warden family arrived in need, they had to help. And it may cost them everything.
Having made his fortune, Mitch Warden returned home and found the family homestead abandoned. In a land grab, a ruthless cattle baron had forced his family to escape up the mountain, and when he follows, the last thing he expects is to fall smitten to a black-haired woman who dresses like Robin Hood.
Warden is intent on helping his family reclaim their land, but doesn’t realize the risks his past has brought. Dangerous men have tracked him, and rather than risk innocent lives, he’s determined to end the danger. But that means a journey to the city–and when Ilsa insists on joining him, the mismatched pair suddenly find themselves on a venture they’ll never forget.
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What a fun book! I love Mary Connealy’s witty writing and lovable characters. And Mitch and Ilsa have a great relationship that is equal parts argument and affection, with a little bit of chemistry, too.
There are several interesting themes in Woman of Sunlight. One is the commentary on technology from a historical perspective. It’s interesting to watch Ilsa experience things like trains and towns for the first time. She embraces things like pie very easily, but is more resistant to modern conveniences like plumbing, preferring the simpler life she’s always known on the mountain.
“It’s ridiculous to talk of pumping water out of the ground when we have streams flowing right at arm’s reach. And a bathtub inside a house? What for? Simply bathe in a stream instead of shipping so many crates across hundreds of miles.”
Mary Connealy, Woman of Sunlight
Other books I’ve enjoyed by Mary Connealy: Too Far Down and Hearts Entwined
Another subtext I found interesting is the way Ilsa pushes back against anything that constrains her as a female. Her tone is half outrage and half confusion, because she has grown up completely unaware of societal expectations and limitations placed on the women of that time period. She questions why men are not obliged to follow the same rules as women and proves herself capable of doing almost anything Mitch can do. His respect for her abilities and his trust in her are a very sweet part of their relationship.
I’ve been reading Mary Connealy’s books for years. They are always a delight and Woman of Sunlight is no exception. This book is the second in a series, and I would say that it can be read alone, but that you will likely get more enjoyment from it if you pick up book one first, which is called Aiming for Love. They are easy to fly through, so don’t be intimidated by starting a new series.
Oh my god. That quote is killing me!
This book is so stinking funny. There was another quote I almost used about her bringing a knife to a gun fight and winning, lol.
Wow. The themes in this book are SO good! I love how she would rather stick with her simple way of living instead of snatching up every available modern day convenience there is. Also, it’s so important to see how she just doesn’t understand the limitations that are placed on women. It just goes to show that those certain expectations are unreasonable if she as a woman doesn’t agree with them. I feel like I would really enjoy this book.
It really is interesting to think about social rules from the perspective of someone who is totally unaware of them.
I’m on my fifth book of the year, Jordan! This one will be the sixth!
You are on a roll this year, woman!
Sounds like a series I’d be interested in reading. I’ll have to add it to my Goodreads list.
Ohh sounds like a great read! I’m been craving a novel lately, i’ll have to pick this one up.