Forged in Love (Wyoming Sunrise)

After a fatal highway robbery leaves her father and brother dead, Mariah Stover must try to rebuild her life, not only by physically recovering from her injuries and emotionally recovering from her grief but also by settling into her father’s blacksmithing business so the town won’t be left entirely without its services. Complicating matters is her growing attraction to Clint Roberts, owner of the diner in town.

Complicating matters further is the fact that one of the highwaymen has no intention of leaving a witness to the robbery alive.

Connealy did an excellent job of balancing tender moments with heart-pounding action. She was less adept at showing the depth of feeling. The relationship between Mariah and Clint grows slowly. While I have no complaints about a romance that prioritizes tenderness over passion, there were many moments in the book where I felt nothing for or between the two at all. Aside from the friendship between Mariah and her two best friends, the book left me feeling largely flat. I’ve given it three stars rather than two because even though it felt hollow in places, on the whole, it’s still sweet and charming.