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Trouble in Texas #3
Stuck Together
Tina Cahill, newly arrived from the East, is determined to get the saloon in Broken Wheel, Texas, closed for good. To that end, she pickets outside the place every afternoon. Unfortunately, so far no one has paid any attention.
Vince Yates earned the nickname "Invincible Vince" because of his reputation for letting absolutely nothing stop him. Not his tyrant of a father. Nor the injuries he suffered in the Civil War. Nor the fact that he is Broken Wheel's only attorney and sheriff yet has no law degree.
But Vince is about to face his biggest challenge yet: his past has just caught up with him. His father, mother, and the sister he didn't know he had show up in Broken Wheel without warning. His father is still a schemer. His mother is suffering signs of dementia. And his surprise sister immediately falls for one of Vince's best friends. Vince has a lot of people to take care of, and Tina doesn't approve of how he's handling any of them. But with almost all the other men in town married off, Vince finds himself stuck with feisty Tina over and over again. Of course, Tina is the prettiest woman he's ever seen, so if he could just get her to give up her causes, he might go ahead and propose. But he's got one more surprise coming his way: Tina's picketing at the saloon has revealed a dark secret that could put everyone Vince loves in danger.
Vince Yates earned the nickname "Invincible Vince" because of his reputation for letting absolutely nothing stop him. Not his tyrant of a father. Nor the injuries he suffered in the Civil War. Nor the fact that he is Broken Wheel's only attorney and sheriff yet has no law degree.
But Vince is about to face his biggest challenge yet: his past has just caught up with him. His father, mother, and the sister he didn't know he had show up in Broken Wheel without warning. His father is still a schemer. His mother is suffering signs of dementia. And his surprise sister immediately falls for one of Vince's best friends. Vince has a lot of people to take care of, and Tina doesn't approve of how he's handling any of them. But with almost all the other men in town married off, Vince finds himself stuck with feisty Tina over and over again. Of course, Tina is the prettiest woman he's ever seen, so if he could just get her to give up her causes, he might go ahead and propose. But he's got one more surprise coming his way: Tina's picketing at the saloon has revealed a dark secret that could put everyone Vince loves in danger.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
144 people are currently reading
1146 people want to read
About the author
Mary Connealy
116 books2,487 followersMary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys always with a strong suspense thread. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader's Choice finalist.
She is the bestselling author of 65 books and novellas.
Her most recent three book series are: Braced for Love, A Man with a Past and Love on the Range for Bethany House Publishing. She’s also written four other series for Barbour Publishing and many novellas and several stand-alone books for multiple publishers.
Mary will be a published author for ten years in 2017 with nearly a million books in print. She has a degree in broadcast communications with an emphasis in journalism and has worked at her local newspaper.
Find Mary online at:
Seekerville
Petticoats & Pistols
My Website
She is the bestselling author of 65 books and novellas.
Her most recent three book series are: Braced for Love, A Man with a Past and Love on the Range for Bethany House Publishing. She’s also written four other series for Barbour Publishing and many novellas and several stand-alone books for multiple publishers.
Mary will be a published author for ten years in 2017 with nearly a million books in print. She has a degree in broadcast communications with an emphasis in journalism and has worked at her local newspaper.
Find Mary online at:
Seekerville
Petticoats & Pistols
My Website
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
December 30, 2020
Rating: 5 Stars!! (Wish i could rate it 10 Stars!!)
Review:
This was my 3rd time reading a book by this author and even tho i didnt like Book 2 in this series i LOVED this one so much!!
The characters were so funny to read about and the setting was so beautifully described it really made me feel like i was in Texas 1868 on New Years Eve.
I will definately read more by this author in the future!!
Review:
This was my 3rd time reading a book by this author and even tho i didnt like Book 2 in this series i LOVED this one so much!!
The characters were so funny to read about and the setting was so beautifully described it really made me feel like i was in Texas 1868 on New Years Eve.
I will definately read more by this author in the future!!
July 26, 2016
Stuck Together, a rowdy little novel set in 1868 in Broken Wheel, Texas, is an entertaining read from seasoned author, Mary Connealy. She writes what she lives and knows best.
The town of Broken Wheel is a desolate little place with a minimal population of mismatched and interesting people. Vince Yates, a do-it-yourself lawyer and unpaid sheriff, meets his match when Tina Cahill, self-reliant, picket toting woman, comes to town to stay with her brother, Jonas. Jonas and Vince are part of a close knit group of friends that survived the civil war in the confines of Andersonville prison by serving as Regulators. A bond that defies normal friendship ties the small group of four together.
The story details the enormous sense of responsibility that Vince takes on for the town and for all the people involved in his life. He is a rather serious, handsome fellow who is determined never to marry due to the dementia that he thinks is hereditary in his family. The novel takes on some serious issues such as dementia, mental illness, and family relationships.
Tina Cahill is a lovely, spirited young woman who wants nothing more than to be loved and needed. She spent her young life in less than pleasant situations and never truly felt loved. She meets Vince, who is dead set against marriage, and the lightning strikes.
The secondary cast of characters, some from previous novels, is an engaging group, individually and as a whole. The storyline would not be complete without the mixture of the entire cast of town characters. The challenges they face as a group are demanding and entertaining. The historical aspect of the novel is interesting with information about Andersonville and the Regulators adding a realistic note to the story.
Readers of light, inspirational historical fiction will like this novel. The book is not a heavy, complicated read, but a nice mixture of inspirational and family drama with a little mystery and a whole lot of romance going on! Read and enjoy! I have not read the first two in the series, but I am definitely going back and read those two so I am up to date on the story!
This ARC copy was received from Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.
The town of Broken Wheel is a desolate little place with a minimal population of mismatched and interesting people. Vince Yates, a do-it-yourself lawyer and unpaid sheriff, meets his match when Tina Cahill, self-reliant, picket toting woman, comes to town to stay with her brother, Jonas. Jonas and Vince are part of a close knit group of friends that survived the civil war in the confines of Andersonville prison by serving as Regulators. A bond that defies normal friendship ties the small group of four together.
The story details the enormous sense of responsibility that Vince takes on for the town and for all the people involved in his life. He is a rather serious, handsome fellow who is determined never to marry due to the dementia that he thinks is hereditary in his family. The novel takes on some serious issues such as dementia, mental illness, and family relationships.
Tina Cahill is a lovely, spirited young woman who wants nothing more than to be loved and needed. She spent her young life in less than pleasant situations and never truly felt loved. She meets Vince, who is dead set against marriage, and the lightning strikes.
The secondary cast of characters, some from previous novels, is an engaging group, individually and as a whole. The storyline would not be complete without the mixture of the entire cast of town characters. The challenges they face as a group are demanding and entertaining. The historical aspect of the novel is interesting with information about Andersonville and the Regulators adding a realistic note to the story.
Readers of light, inspirational historical fiction will like this novel. The book is not a heavy, complicated read, but a nice mixture of inspirational and family drama with a little mystery and a whole lot of romance going on! Read and enjoy! I have not read the first two in the series, but I am definitely going back and read those two so I am up to date on the story!
This ARC copy was received from Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.
June 25, 2014
I always know when I pick up a Mary Connealy book that I am in for a good read and this one was no different. A historical romance interlaced with both humor and a little mystery, this is the third installment in the Trouble in Texas series, but this book can stand alone, in other words reading the previous books in the series is not necessary. When I get a book I literally pick it apart always starting with the cover. This one has such vivid colors and the characters personalities are portrayed by the models. I loved the dedication the author gives.
When I began the story I don't know if it was the imagery, the storyline, or the characters that pulled me into the story, but I suspect it was all three. We are introduced to Tina Cahill who is struggling with abandonment issues. As a young girl she was left orphaned and with her brother, Jonas, off at war Tina had to go live with an older, opinionated aunt. She has recently moved to Broken Wheel, Texas to live with her brother. At present she is on a mission and that is to shut down Duffy's Tavern, thus far she has had little success. Tina is character that anyone can love, but at the same time get a little frustrated with. She is very head strong, but her heart is always in the right place. She is constantly putting others before herself.
Next we meet Vincent "Vince" Yates the local law officer, who serves as an attorney and the sheriff. Vince and his friends moved to the out of the way place after the war and being POW's of Andersonville. They had all learned what it took to survive, but nothing had prepared him for Tina Cahill. She made him yearn for things he knew he could never have, a wife and family. When his family mysteriously shows up and brings with it a new set of problems for him to deal with. I loved his character and how he also was trying to take care of everyone. Vince is the kind of guy that could sneak up and steal a girl's heart before she even realizes it.
This is a wonderful story and I was pulled into it from page one. The author's wonderful use of imagery makes you feel that your actually right in the story as a bystander. I would recommend this book to anyone.
I was given this book by Bethany House for a honest review without any outside influences as you seen above.
When I began the story I don't know if it was the imagery, the storyline, or the characters that pulled me into the story, but I suspect it was all three. We are introduced to Tina Cahill who is struggling with abandonment issues. As a young girl she was left orphaned and with her brother, Jonas, off at war Tina had to go live with an older, opinionated aunt. She has recently moved to Broken Wheel, Texas to live with her brother. At present she is on a mission and that is to shut down Duffy's Tavern, thus far she has had little success. Tina is character that anyone can love, but at the same time get a little frustrated with. She is very head strong, but her heart is always in the right place. She is constantly putting others before herself.
Next we meet Vincent "Vince" Yates the local law officer, who serves as an attorney and the sheriff. Vince and his friends moved to the out of the way place after the war and being POW's of Andersonville. They had all learned what it took to survive, but nothing had prepared him for Tina Cahill. She made him yearn for things he knew he could never have, a wife and family. When his family mysteriously shows up and brings with it a new set of problems for him to deal with. I loved his character and how he also was trying to take care of everyone. Vince is the kind of guy that could sneak up and steal a girl's heart before she even realizes it.
This is a wonderful story and I was pulled into it from page one. The author's wonderful use of imagery makes you feel that your actually right in the story as a bystander. I would recommend this book to anyone.
I was given this book by Bethany House for a honest review without any outside influences as you seen above.
June 3, 2014
There are only a handful of historical authors whose books I automatically snatch up, and Connealy, queen of romantic comedy with cowboys, is one of them. She had me chuckling from the very first scene, a wild saloon brawl instigated by the heroine. Tina, a woman who's been abandoned for most of her life, is always thinking of causes to fight for, and she's determined to shut down the saloon by picketing. As much as she annoys Vince, a self-acclaimed lawyer and a not-wannabe town-appointed sheriff, he can't help but appreciate her spunkiness.
"Broken Wheel was a north Texas town set smack-dab in the middle of Indian Territory. Only idiots lived here, and idiots rarely needed a lawyer. Vince figured it was only fair to count himself and all of his friends among the idiots."
Vince hightailed it away from his childhood home after he healed from the war, escaping a mother with dementia and a tyrant father. But that doesn't last long and Invincible Vince finds himself caretaker for his mother and a sister he never knew existed. As much as he might enjoy a lasting relationship with Tina, Vince recognizes that it's only a matter of time before it becomes apparent which parent he'll take after, and he refuses to pass either of those genes down to a child or to saddle his wife with a tyrant or a man who can't remember her name. For me, how and when Vince finally resolves this issue seemed hasty and a bit rushed. But then, he was tracking down a...well, I won't spoil your reading pleasure. :)
We met Vince and Tina in the second book in the Trouble in Texas series, Fired Up, where the fireworks were already sparking between these two. You can read my review here. All of the Trouble in Texas books can be read as stand alones, but really, why not scoop them up and settle in for a few laughs? With subtle spiritual references, both mainstream and inspirational romance lovers will enjoy Stuck Together.
Disclaimer: Sending a big thank you to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for allowing me the privilege of reviewing Stuck Together and for the free copy I received in exchange for my fair and unbiased review. This opinion is my own, and I received no compensation.
"Broken Wheel was a north Texas town set smack-dab in the middle of Indian Territory. Only idiots lived here, and idiots rarely needed a lawyer. Vince figured it was only fair to count himself and all of his friends among the idiots."
Vince hightailed it away from his childhood home after he healed from the war, escaping a mother with dementia and a tyrant father. But that doesn't last long and Invincible Vince finds himself caretaker for his mother and a sister he never knew existed. As much as he might enjoy a lasting relationship with Tina, Vince recognizes that it's only a matter of time before it becomes apparent which parent he'll take after, and he refuses to pass either of those genes down to a child or to saddle his wife with a tyrant or a man who can't remember her name. For me, how and when Vince finally resolves this issue seemed hasty and a bit rushed. But then, he was tracking down a...well, I won't spoil your reading pleasure. :)
We met Vince and Tina in the second book in the Trouble in Texas series, Fired Up, where the fireworks were already sparking between these two. You can read my review here. All of the Trouble in Texas books can be read as stand alones, but really, why not scoop them up and settle in for a few laughs? With subtle spiritual references, both mainstream and inspirational romance lovers will enjoy Stuck Together.
Disclaimer: Sending a big thank you to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for allowing me the privilege of reviewing Stuck Together and for the free copy I received in exchange for my fair and unbiased review. This opinion is my own, and I received no compensation.
June 5, 2023
I loved this book! I really loved this whole trilogy, but this one in particular because Vince Yates was the main hero! And boy oh boy how I utterly loooove Vince Yates! 😍😍🔥😍
This whole series was so so good! I loved the brotherhood between Vince, Luke, Dare, and Jonas and I loved the feisty ladies that ended up with them! 💕
Mary Connealy will always be one of my all time favorite authors! She writes romantic comedy westerns like no other! She’s written some of my very favorite heroines and cowboys EVER! 😍😍🔥😍
This whole series was so so good! I loved the brotherhood between Vince, Luke, Dare, and Jonas and I loved the feisty ladies that ended up with them! 💕
Mary Connealy will always be one of my all time favorite authors! She writes romantic comedy westerns like no other! She’s written some of my very favorite heroines and cowboys EVER! 😍😍🔥😍
August 28, 2014
Updated 7/23/14 -Note Author 'like' came before my full review.
I really enjoyed this. It was cute and funny as Mary Connealy's always are.
There was just one thing that bothered me. (And this is not limited to this book, but many 'historical' novels. We let our modern ideas color the past)
On page 35-36 "since she'd come to Broken Wheel, she was learning to leave off the extra petticoats and corset. Her life was much easier without them."
O.K. I get the extra petticoats. It is hot in Texas. It is currently 112* here in Phoenix. But, you know what? I am still wearing a bra. Why? Because I appreciate the support. (And also my clothes would fit funny if I didn't) So say she leaves off her corset. It is the same as leaving off her bra. They serve the same support function. Their object was not to constrict, but to support the chest (and also to give clothes a better line. If she leaves the corset off, her clothes won't fit in a flattering way)
She also talks about Mrs. Yates wearing "most likely a corset and any number of other unmentionables" on page 199. No maybe about it. EVERYONE wore them. To the point where Tina would not even note its presence. It would be like saying, She is wearing jeans and a T-shirt and probably a bra. These days you pretty much assume someone is. Even if you don't assume, you can tell by how the clothes fit whether or not one is there. That hasn't changed in the last 200 years (and more).
Now before you get up in arms, it is true that some women did (do) use it to achieve a really tiny waist. This was most common in the 1880's, Gilded Age, etc. but, it was really not the norm, its main purpose was support.
Now lets look at it a different way. Say you broke your leg and it was in a hard cast (no walking) for 6-8 weeks. What does your leg look like when it comes off? Aside from being hairier than the other, it probably looks a little shrived too, because you haven't been using those muscles. The same is true with a corset. If you have been using one your whole adult life, the muscles in your back and shoulders are not used to holding you up on their own. So take it off for any length of time (other than sleeping) and your muscles start to really hurt from the extra strain. You start to hunch over, because you don't have a bra or the support of a corset to hold you up. In fact you might even get sick from the massive muscle cramping. I wouldn't even mention this part but on page 44, "Tina sat ramrod straight. Aunt Iphigenia had always insisted on on correct posture" That is next to impossible for any length of time, if you are used to having a corset assist in support.
Anyway, sorry about all that. It is a pet peeve of mine, and inaccurate historical portrayal seems to show up quite often in the books I read. No matter how you feel about them (and have you tried one?), I do think it is important to make sure a story fits with history. If it doesn't, why mention an item or subject at all?
I did not intend for this to be an attack on the author (or any other for that matter). I love Mary's books and they are always on my must read list :o)
Giveaway June 1
Entered
I really enjoyed this. It was cute and funny as Mary Connealy's always are.
There was just one thing that bothered me. (And this is not limited to this book, but many 'historical' novels. We let our modern ideas color the past)
On page 35-36 "since she'd come to Broken Wheel, she was learning to leave off the extra petticoats and corset. Her life was much easier without them."
O.K. I get the extra petticoats. It is hot in Texas. It is currently 112* here in Phoenix. But, you know what? I am still wearing a bra. Why? Because I appreciate the support. (And also my clothes would fit funny if I didn't) So say she leaves off her corset. It is the same as leaving off her bra. They serve the same support function. Their object was not to constrict, but to support the chest (and also to give clothes a better line. If she leaves the corset off, her clothes won't fit in a flattering way)
She also talks about Mrs. Yates wearing "most likely a corset and any number of other unmentionables" on page 199. No maybe about it. EVERYONE wore them. To the point where Tina would not even note its presence. It would be like saying, She is wearing jeans and a T-shirt and probably a bra. These days you pretty much assume someone is. Even if you don't assume, you can tell by how the clothes fit whether or not one is there. That hasn't changed in the last 200 years (and more).
Now before you get up in arms, it is true that some women did (do) use it to achieve a really tiny waist. This was most common in the 1880's, Gilded Age, etc. but, it was really not the norm, its main purpose was support.
Now lets look at it a different way. Say you broke your leg and it was in a hard cast (no walking) for 6-8 weeks. What does your leg look like when it comes off? Aside from being hairier than the other, it probably looks a little shrived too, because you haven't been using those muscles. The same is true with a corset. If you have been using one your whole adult life, the muscles in your back and shoulders are not used to holding you up on their own. So take it off for any length of time (other than sleeping) and your muscles start to really hurt from the extra strain. You start to hunch over, because you don't have a bra or the support of a corset to hold you up. In fact you might even get sick from the massive muscle cramping. I wouldn't even mention this part but on page 44, "Tina sat ramrod straight. Aunt Iphigenia had always insisted on on correct posture" That is next to impossible for any length of time, if you are used to having a corset assist in support.
Anyway, sorry about all that. It is a pet peeve of mine, and inaccurate historical portrayal seems to show up quite often in the books I read. No matter how you feel about them (and have you tried one?), I do think it is important to make sure a story fits with history. If it doesn't, why mention an item or subject at all?
I did not intend for this to be an attack on the author (or any other for that matter). I love Mary's books and they are always on my must read list :o)
Giveaway June 1
Entered
December 10, 2014
Note: I received this book for free through GoodReads FirstReads.
Although this book held my attention for the most part, I was not overly impressed and at times felt that the story was a bit disjointed. The good parts were that the characters in the story got their happy endings. But that is where the good parts of this story stopped. From the first chapter, you are given the impression that the female lead is liked by no one due to her fierce stand-up attitude and strong faith that does not seem to be shared with anyone else in town, even her brother the parson. You also get the impression from the first chapter that no one can even stand to be around the female lead but they tolerate her because she is the best cook in town, second only to an insane woman in jail that the townspeople are trying to get out of prison purely so that she can begin cooking again and they can get rid of the female lead. The male lead is someone in the story who especially hates the female lead and does anything he can to make her life uncomfortable and miserable. Throughout the book, until almost the very end, the male lead continues to act as if he hates her ever-living guts and is constantly plotting a way to get her out of town. Then, at the very end (and I'm talking like the last two chapters of the book), the male lead pronouces his love for the female lead and says that he can't live without her. To which the female lead responds that she would love to marry him that evening and loves him too. The female lead completely ignores how the male lead treated her up to those last two chapters and says that she loved him all along. There is just no part of this book that was a romance. This is not the "explosive chemistry" that the author was obviously trying to go for. Instead, the reader only ends up hating the bi-polar male lead and wishing he would leave the story and be replaced by someone who actually has a kind attitude and would at least be willing to get to know the female lead rather than trying to think of a way to get rid of her by any means necessary. All of these attributes did not make me even remotely like the male lead and I wished that the author would have made an actual hero rather than the more anti-hero role that her character seemed to be playing. Another thing about this book that really bothered me was that the author introduced mental issues that both the female and male leads had then the author completely forgot about them three-fourths of the way through the book and just wrote the characters loving each other without any problems. Overall, I think that the storyline needed A LOT of work and that the author wasn't really sure where she wanted to go with this story. Instead she just jumbled together what she had available. Although this book didn't reach good for me, I wouldn't refuse reading another of her books if I didn't have anything better to do.
Although this book held my attention for the most part, I was not overly impressed and at times felt that the story was a bit disjointed. The good parts were that the characters in the story got their happy endings. But that is where the good parts of this story stopped. From the first chapter, you are given the impression that the female lead is liked by no one due to her fierce stand-up attitude and strong faith that does not seem to be shared with anyone else in town, even her brother the parson. You also get the impression from the first chapter that no one can even stand to be around the female lead but they tolerate her because she is the best cook in town, second only to an insane woman in jail that the townspeople are trying to get out of prison purely so that she can begin cooking again and they can get rid of the female lead. The male lead is someone in the story who especially hates the female lead and does anything he can to make her life uncomfortable and miserable. Throughout the book, until almost the very end, the male lead continues to act as if he hates her ever-living guts and is constantly plotting a way to get her out of town. Then, at the very end (and I'm talking like the last two chapters of the book), the male lead pronouces his love for the female lead and says that he can't live without her. To which the female lead responds that she would love to marry him that evening and loves him too. The female lead completely ignores how the male lead treated her up to those last two chapters and says that she loved him all along. There is just no part of this book that was a romance. This is not the "explosive chemistry" that the author was obviously trying to go for. Instead, the reader only ends up hating the bi-polar male lead and wishing he would leave the story and be replaced by someone who actually has a kind attitude and would at least be willing to get to know the female lead rather than trying to think of a way to get rid of her by any means necessary. All of these attributes did not make me even remotely like the male lead and I wished that the author would have made an actual hero rather than the more anti-hero role that her character seemed to be playing. Another thing about this book that really bothered me was that the author introduced mental issues that both the female and male leads had then the author completely forgot about them three-fourths of the way through the book and just wrote the characters loving each other without any problems. Overall, I think that the storyline needed A LOT of work and that the author wasn't really sure where she wanted to go with this story. Instead she just jumbled together what she had available. Although this book didn't reach good for me, I wouldn't refuse reading another of her books if I didn't have anything better to do.
July 14, 2014
Stuck Together is the third book in Mary Connealy's Trouble in Texas series. Book one is Swept Away and book two is Fired Up. The trilogy follows the lives and troubles of a group of men who met in the war and have bonded closer than brothers. They now all live in the same small town in Texas called Broken Wheel.
What I liked: Stuck Together is another notch in Mary Connealy's belt in telling entertaining, romantic comedy. This story is a lighthearted read filled with fun and adventure.
The heroine, Tina Cahill was fun. Her natural penchant for trouble combined with her fragile self-esteem made for a character you could root for. Vince seemed like an appropriate match for her. He's smitten with her from the first moment he saw her, but restrains due to his own hurts and fears of every having a family. His restraint only feeds her inner turmoil that she is unlovable. The cat-chasing-his-tail conundrum created by these two makes the pages easy to turn to find their resolution.
The mystery side of the plot was engaging as I couldn't guess the trouble maker until the characters started to figure it out. Also the tension that Connealy added in page after page pushing "Invincible" Vince to the edge was enjoyable to read.
What I didn't like: Jonas' story. I was very disappointed with this part. If you've read along with the series so far you will understand what I'm talking about. If you are just joining with the Trouble in Texas Series now, you may not find anything out of joint at all.
Jonas is the last leg of The Regulators group to fall in love. Instead of giving him his own book like the others, he is given a few chapters throughout this one. It is a whirlwind romance ending in a proposal after a couple days. Then the rest of the book the two lovebirds sneak off constantly, returning with messed hair and disheveled clothing. He is the town Parson! I absolutely did not like this part of the book.
I also found the writing disjointed. It felt "narrated" most of the time. It made the reading choppy for me. This series has not been as good as her earlier one The Kincaid Brides.
I would recommend this book to others who are familiar with Mary Connealy and like romantic cowboy comedy. However this is not a good one to start out with if you've never read her before.
Thanks to Bethany House and the author for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not expected to review it positively.
What I liked: Stuck Together is another notch in Mary Connealy's belt in telling entertaining, romantic comedy. This story is a lighthearted read filled with fun and adventure.
The heroine, Tina Cahill was fun. Her natural penchant for trouble combined with her fragile self-esteem made for a character you could root for. Vince seemed like an appropriate match for her. He's smitten with her from the first moment he saw her, but restrains due to his own hurts and fears of every having a family. His restraint only feeds her inner turmoil that she is unlovable. The cat-chasing-his-tail conundrum created by these two makes the pages easy to turn to find their resolution.
The mystery side of the plot was engaging as I couldn't guess the trouble maker until the characters started to figure it out. Also the tension that Connealy added in page after page pushing "Invincible" Vince to the edge was enjoyable to read.
What I didn't like: Jonas' story. I was very disappointed with this part. If you've read along with the series so far you will understand what I'm talking about. If you are just joining with the Trouble in Texas Series now, you may not find anything out of joint at all.
Jonas is the last leg of The Regulators group to fall in love. Instead of giving him his own book like the others, he is given a few chapters throughout this one. It is a whirlwind romance ending in a proposal after a couple days. Then the rest of the book the two lovebirds sneak off constantly, returning with messed hair and disheveled clothing. He is the town Parson! I absolutely did not like this part of the book.
I also found the writing disjointed. It felt "narrated" most of the time. It made the reading choppy for me. This series has not been as good as her earlier one The Kincaid Brides.
I would recommend this book to others who are familiar with Mary Connealy and like romantic cowboy comedy. However this is not a good one to start out with if you've never read her before.
Thanks to Bethany House and the author for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not expected to review it positively.
September 10, 2015
The Wild West, a one sheriff-town, saloon brawls, gunfights, and angry Indians… Makes for a jam-packed story but Mary Connealy does one better and adds spunk with a feisty picketing-protester heroine, a hero with too many roles and a valuable lesson to learn, and enough sparks between the both of them to light a bonfire!
Tina Cahill, the last unmarried girl in Broken Wheel, spends her spare time pacing outside the saloon whilst hoisting placards sermonizing on the evils of alcohol. When Tina gets embroiled in a fight with its patrons out in the street, Sheriff Vince Yates knows she’s more trouble than what she’s worth. But that doesn’t stop him from developing some mighty strong feelings for her. However, with a tyrant for a father, and a mother addled in her mind, he refuses to foist those bad genes upon his future wife. And so ‘Vince the Invincible’ continues to fetter his emotions, which is not easy considering he continues to get stuck together with Tina! Vince’s life is turned upside down by his parent’s sudden arrival in Broken Wheel, a mad woman in jail, and an Indian uprising to quell… But nothing sets him more on edge than that pretty picketing woman with whom he can’t get out of his mind.
Mary Connealy has delivered an action-packed romance that merges history, humor, and an inspirational thread that encourages the reader to trust in God for their future. This has been an amazing series and the old band of friends from the war, the Regulators of whom Vince was a part of, has snatched a permanent piece of my reading heart! Highly recommended!
Tina Cahill, the last unmarried girl in Broken Wheel, spends her spare time pacing outside the saloon whilst hoisting placards sermonizing on the evils of alcohol. When Tina gets embroiled in a fight with its patrons out in the street, Sheriff Vince Yates knows she’s more trouble than what she’s worth. But that doesn’t stop him from developing some mighty strong feelings for her. However, with a tyrant for a father, and a mother addled in her mind, he refuses to foist those bad genes upon his future wife. And so ‘Vince the Invincible’ continues to fetter his emotions, which is not easy considering he continues to get stuck together with Tina! Vince’s life is turned upside down by his parent’s sudden arrival in Broken Wheel, a mad woman in jail, and an Indian uprising to quell… But nothing sets him more on edge than that pretty picketing woman with whom he can’t get out of his mind.
Mary Connealy has delivered an action-packed romance that merges history, humor, and an inspirational thread that encourages the reader to trust in God for their future. This has been an amazing series and the old band of friends from the war, the Regulators of whom Vince was a part of, has snatched a permanent piece of my reading heart! Highly recommended!
July 3, 2014
Tina joined her brother in Broken Wheel after her aunt kicked her out. She barely knows him, but he's the only family she has. Her mission field is to picket the local saloon. But her picketing days are soon numbered when more trouble than just a glass of whiskey rolls into town.
Vince has a grudging respect for Tina, but is sure that he can never marry. His mother is crazy and his father is cruel. So he admires her and finds ways to spend time with her, but refuses to marry her. Escaped prisoners, drunk cowboys, and an elderly lady with dementia add to the chaos and craziness that make up Broken Wheel, Texas.
I've enjoyed the other two books in this series so it was no surprise that this one was so fun to read. Since I've read the other books I knew who all of the characters were and enjoyed reading more about them. I probably wouldn't recommend this book as a stand-alone, because of the characters from previous books. The characters are comical, caring, and realistic. The author did a great job of keeping my attention and interest through the entire book. The sense of family between the men who weren't brothers was heartwarming. I was disappointed when everything wrapped up at the end. I was really hoping this series would continue for a while. I'll definitely be keeping my eyes open for her next book.
I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.
Vince has a grudging respect for Tina, but is sure that he can never marry. His mother is crazy and his father is cruel. So he admires her and finds ways to spend time with her, but refuses to marry her. Escaped prisoners, drunk cowboys, and an elderly lady with dementia add to the chaos and craziness that make up Broken Wheel, Texas.
I've enjoyed the other two books in this series so it was no surprise that this one was so fun to read. Since I've read the other books I knew who all of the characters were and enjoyed reading more about them. I probably wouldn't recommend this book as a stand-alone, because of the characters from previous books. The characters are comical, caring, and realistic. The author did a great job of keeping my attention and interest through the entire book. The sense of family between the men who weren't brothers was heartwarming. I was disappointed when everything wrapped up at the end. I was really hoping this series would continue for a while. I'll definitely be keeping my eyes open for her next book.
I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.
March 9, 2016
Another fun western adventure from Mary Connealy! I always enjoy the humor that makes her characters so likeable. Although it can be read as a stand alone, I'd recommend reading the previous novels in the series since they are just as wonderful and the group of men that are "closer than brothers" from their experiences in the war prison camp each take their turn as the lead character. The author does do a good job of making sure the reader knows who everyone is and how they are important.
The initial attraction between Vince and Tina isn't very romantic- kind of like they were each the only ones left to pick from- but as they each accept the others quirks and begin to depend on one another, the relationship blossoms and the chemistry has a foundation to build on. What they have in common is that they both put up a strong front in spite of their vulnerabilities, and they come to admire that in each other.
Vince's sweet mother and her dementia was a unique twist to the story, and had everyone pulling together to support her. I was struck with how the perception of mental illness was so extreme back then, and makes me understand a little more the roots of the social stigma there still can be found today.
(Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review)
The initial attraction between Vince and Tina isn't very romantic- kind of like they were each the only ones left to pick from- but as they each accept the others quirks and begin to depend on one another, the relationship blossoms and the chemistry has a foundation to build on. What they have in common is that they both put up a strong front in spite of their vulnerabilities, and they come to admire that in each other.
Vince's sweet mother and her dementia was a unique twist to the story, and had everyone pulling together to support her. I was struck with how the perception of mental illness was so extreme back then, and makes me understand a little more the roots of the social stigma there still can be found today.
(Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review)
July 15, 2014
I'm always happy to pick up a book by Mary Connealy. I've read many of her books. I know exactly what I'm going get when I pick up her books and I depend on that.
Stuck Together was exactly what I hoped it would be. A western setting with two likeable characters. Clean, light Christian fiction. Easy reading that I can settle into without too much thinking- the perfect snuggle in distraction. What's not to love about that?
Tina is a funny character. She is quirky but has a great big heart of gold. She cares about people and does her best to help, even though sometimes her good intentions cause a bit of trouble. (like the all out mud brawl in front of the saloon)
Vince isn't as gruff and hard as he tries to be but he is a tough guy who works like he has something to prove. He cares about the people in his town and does his best to protect them. He has all sorts of hero qualitites.
I always like books with a sense of community- where people help each other just because that's what neighbors and friends do.
What's nice about books in this series is that you never really have to let go entirely of any characters. Once they play a major roll in their own books, they play minor rolls in the others. It's just nice to keep those old friends around in each book.
My thanks to Bethany House publishers for allowing me to read and review this title for them.
Stuck Together was exactly what I hoped it would be. A western setting with two likeable characters. Clean, light Christian fiction. Easy reading that I can settle into without too much thinking- the perfect snuggle in distraction. What's not to love about that?
Tina is a funny character. She is quirky but has a great big heart of gold. She cares about people and does her best to help, even though sometimes her good intentions cause a bit of trouble. (like the all out mud brawl in front of the saloon)
Vince isn't as gruff and hard as he tries to be but he is a tough guy who works like he has something to prove. He cares about the people in his town and does his best to protect them. He has all sorts of hero qualitites.
I always like books with a sense of community- where people help each other just because that's what neighbors and friends do.
What's nice about books in this series is that you never really have to let go entirely of any characters. Once they play a major roll in their own books, they play minor rolls in the others. It's just nice to keep those old friends around in each book.
My thanks to Bethany House publishers for allowing me to read and review this title for them.
September 18, 2014
Hott Synopsis:
Tina can’t believe that she’s still unloved and unwanted. Her parents ran off. Her aunt dumped her for a man. Her brother never came to find her. No man has ever looked at her. Sure, she hides the hurt behind a picket sign, but still… it’d be nice.
Vince isn’t much better. He can’t chose whether he’d rather grow up to be like his shallow mother or tyrant father. He may have been on his own for years but he so scared that he can’t see his way to the future.
Can either of them Let go and Let God?
Hott Review:
OH MY GOODNESS!! I laughed and I cried – sometimes in the same paragraph! It was amazing! As much as Tina and Vince frustrated me I loved them! Oh, I’m so going to miss this Texas gang!
It takes quite a talented author to weave all of the titles of her book into one conversation on the last page of the book!! ;)
More…
Author: Mary Connealy
Source: Bethany House via Netgalley
Grade: A+
Steam: YA
Setting: Texas
Series: Trouble in Texas #3, Kindcaid/Stone Connection
Tina can’t believe that she’s still unloved and unwanted. Her parents ran off. Her aunt dumped her for a man. Her brother never came to find her. No man has ever looked at her. Sure, she hides the hurt behind a picket sign, but still… it’d be nice.
Vince isn’t much better. He can’t chose whether he’d rather grow up to be like his shallow mother or tyrant father. He may have been on his own for years but he so scared that he can’t see his way to the future.
Can either of them Let go and Let God?
Hott Review:
OH MY GOODNESS!! I laughed and I cried – sometimes in the same paragraph! It was amazing! As much as Tina and Vince frustrated me I loved them! Oh, I’m so going to miss this Texas gang!
It takes quite a talented author to weave all of the titles of her book into one conversation on the last page of the book!! ;)
More…
Author: Mary Connealy
Source: Bethany House via Netgalley
Grade: A+
Steam: YA
Setting: Texas
Series: Trouble in Texas #3, Kindcaid/Stone Connection
June 9, 2014
Believe it or not this was my first time to read Mary's Books. I have to say that I was not disappointed ! I have been drawn to Mary through her posts to facebook about her ranch life and her DH's cattle. Being a country girl at heart myself I love things old fashioned and Country ! I was occasionally chuckling out loud at some scenes and at other times a sigh would escape my lips. My DH probably thought I was crazy. My favorite character is Tina for her determination and for her love she shows. I truly enjoyed how dementia was dealt with in the story, It was very close to home for me in that my own MIL suffered some from that before she died. Dealing with mental issues or illness with a loved one is not easy, no matter who it is. This is a tender yet so touching story of Love in many ways for others and I found it most enjoyable throughout ! If you love romantic comedy, this is a book for you ! We each have our own things we find funny and love in a book, this book is truly one for everyone !
Linda
Linda
March 2, 2016
Another great story and if you haven't read Swept Away, and Fired up you must before reading this. All 3 books are meshed together. Same storyline but will different view points with all finding love. I love the epilogue because she tells how all 3 couples are doing in their marriages.
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February 17, 2020informational post: http://creativemadnessmama.com/blog/2...
October 26, 2017
This was a good end to a good series.
July 23, 2017
Poor characters and plot.
March 30, 2019
It took me way too long to actually read this one but I really enjoyed it! Loved catching up with the gang and seeing Vince fall in love! He and Tina were great together!
Read
March 12, 2023Tina Cahill, Jonas' sister, has arrived in town and pickets the saloon every afternoon. If she were not so pretty, the men might be a little more upset about it. Her picketing is the least thing that the folks of Broken Wheel have to worry about though as this book brings many more issues to light.
Vince, "Invincible Vince" as he is known to his friends, is a man that likes to be a leader and has found himself in the unpaid job of sheriff of the town. In this book, we find that his childhood was not a happy one and that his father was a man of few words other than to demand things of Vince. Suddenly, life changes dramatically for Vince when his father, mother, and a half sister that he was not aware of arrives in town and little does he know that his father has a plan that will change his life in a huge way. Vince struggles with knowing that his mother has a memory problem and mostly calls him by his fathers' name, which he hates. A half-sister, which he finds out is from a long going affair that his father had and whom Vince sees as a caretaker to his mother. This half-sister draws attention from Jonas almost immediately though.
With no place for them to stay, Vince takes them to the only boarding house in town. Within a few days, Vince learns that his dad has bought the boarding house and left town. Leaving Vince to deal with his ailing mother, a sister that he never knew about, his feelings for the beautiful Tina Cahill, and his prisoner, Lana and a former Broken Wheel lawman who has some kind of a bond with Lana.
With Luke and Ruthy expecting a child, life is good for them until Ruthy dicovers that there is a ranch hand that is drinking on the job. When shots are fired into their home, Luke is suddenly faced with the idea that someone may be trying to harm him and his family. A ranch hand blames the nearby Indian tribe that Luke has many friends from. Could it be that they want him out of their land suddenly?
With someone needing to be a constant caretaker of Virginia Belle, his mother, the four friends and the family members they have gained suddenly find life in Broken Wheel much busier and suddenly find themselves in more danger then ever expected. What will the four friends do and will they find peace, love, and happiness in the end?
I highly recommend this series of three books to anyone that is looking for a western style romantic book that also includes murder, mystery and all that comes with that writing.
Vince, "Invincible Vince" as he is known to his friends, is a man that likes to be a leader and has found himself in the unpaid job of sheriff of the town. In this book, we find that his childhood was not a happy one and that his father was a man of few words other than to demand things of Vince. Suddenly, life changes dramatically for Vince when his father, mother, and a half sister that he was not aware of arrives in town and little does he know that his father has a plan that will change his life in a huge way. Vince struggles with knowing that his mother has a memory problem and mostly calls him by his fathers' name, which he hates. A half-sister, which he finds out is from a long going affair that his father had and whom Vince sees as a caretaker to his mother. This half-sister draws attention from Jonas almost immediately though.
With no place for them to stay, Vince takes them to the only boarding house in town. Within a few days, Vince learns that his dad has bought the boarding house and left town. Leaving Vince to deal with his ailing mother, a sister that he never knew about, his feelings for the beautiful Tina Cahill, and his prisoner, Lana and a former Broken Wheel lawman who has some kind of a bond with Lana.
With Luke and Ruthy expecting a child, life is good for them until Ruthy dicovers that there is a ranch hand that is drinking on the job. When shots are fired into their home, Luke is suddenly faced with the idea that someone may be trying to harm him and his family. A ranch hand blames the nearby Indian tribe that Luke has many friends from. Could it be that they want him out of their land suddenly?
With someone needing to be a constant caretaker of Virginia Belle, his mother, the four friends and the family members they have gained suddenly find life in Broken Wheel much busier and suddenly find themselves in more danger then ever expected. What will the four friends do and will they find peace, love, and happiness in the end?
I highly recommend this series of three books to anyone that is looking for a western style romantic book that also includes murder, mystery and all that comes with that writing.
October 8, 2025
A lawyer and a parson fall in love with each other sisters.
Enjoyed finishing out this series after a long absence. Vince and Tina story was love at first sight story as was Jonas and Melissa. Tina was a little spit fire and fit well with Vince. But he had some worries about having a wife because of his upbringing. Which kind of came to head when his family came to town. But his friends and their wives were a big help. Tina was always there for him. It's funny how he a Jonas would become friends and then become brother in law later on. So happy for Jonas and Melissa I was hopping he would find love too. His and Melissa was a slow burning love that was wove into the story. So happy that all the bad men were taken care of. Enjoyed hearing about all the kids that joined into Luke, Dare, Vince and Jonas lives. Will read more by this author. The Regulators all got great women to join along side them . The women got the men they needed.
Enjoyed finishing out this series after a long absence. Vince and Tina story was love at first sight story as was Jonas and Melissa. Tina was a little spit fire and fit well with Vince. But he had some worries about having a wife because of his upbringing. Which kind of came to head when his family came to town. But his friends and their wives were a big help. Tina was always there for him. It's funny how he a Jonas would become friends and then become brother in law later on. So happy for Jonas and Melissa I was hopping he would find love too. His and Melissa was a slow burning love that was wove into the story. So happy that all the bad men were taken care of. Enjoyed hearing about all the kids that joined into Luke, Dare, Vince and Jonas lives. Will read more by this author. The Regulators all got great women to join along side them . The women got the men they needed.
March 3, 2023
Actual Rating: 4.5*
This is THE BEST book of the series. Dare may have been my favorite Regulator, but Tina is my favorite of the women.
Yes, she can be annoying, but she's also pretty darn funny, and smart as a whip. The whole first chapter had me giggling so much that I couldn't catch my breath for a moment!
Vince's mother, Virginia Belle, coming to town, along with his surprise sister, Melissa, as her supposed caretaker, was the bright spot in the whole book. She is just so sweet, even if she does have early onset dementia. Mary Connealy wrote of that with grace, humour, and a lot of love. I knew what Vince's father would do the moment he was mentioned.
I wonder why Jonas and Melissa didn't get a book of their own?
This is THE BEST book of the series. Dare may have been my favorite Regulator, but Tina is my favorite of the women.
Yes, she can be annoying, but she's also pretty darn funny, and smart as a whip. The whole first chapter had me giggling so much that I couldn't catch my breath for a moment!
Vince's mother, Virginia Belle, coming to town, along with his surprise sister, Melissa, as her supposed caretaker, was the bright spot in the whole book. She is just so sweet, even if she does have early onset dementia. Mary Connealy wrote of that with grace, humour, and a lot of love. I knew what Vince's father would do the moment he was mentioned.
I wonder why Jonas and Melissa didn't get a book of their own?
October 14, 2017
No Trouble Reading This Book
Stuck Together, by Mary Connealy, stuck in this reader's mind to the very last word and beyond. Story line grabbed my attention as the characters wormed their way into my heart. I shook my head, and my finger, at some of the obtuse things the guys did, but cheered their heroism. The ladies got an equal amount of headshaking over some of their dense thoughts and actions. Laughed out loud at some of the shenanigans these friends pulled, but my heart was strangely warmed (to borrow a phrase from John Wesley) by their tenderness, faith, and honor as they Stuck Together. Good book. Good series. Well written. Loved it.
Stuck Together, by Mary Connealy, stuck in this reader's mind to the very last word and beyond. Story line grabbed my attention as the characters wormed their way into my heart. I shook my head, and my finger, at some of the obtuse things the guys did, but cheered their heroism. The ladies got an equal amount of headshaking over some of their dense thoughts and actions. Laughed out loud at some of the shenanigans these friends pulled, but my heart was strangely warmed (to borrow a phrase from John Wesley) by their tenderness, faith, and honor as they Stuck Together. Good book. Good series. Well written. Loved it.
December 27, 2021
Very interesting that the book set in the 1860's would have someone suffering from dementia and how the people around them respond to them. It was pretty much unheard of and there were no homes to put them in unless is was the asylum and most family members did not want to do that to their loved one. How the town handles Vince's mom is touching. They all rally round Vince to help. Loved this story because the Regulators (Vince, Dare, Luke and Jonas) were a tight group of people and what one suffered with they all rallied around that person to help in anyway they could. Happy ending with everyone finding a love of their life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2017
Good light read. Fun story, not overly deep. A little too much recapping of prior events from prior books in the series. A little backstory is fine when it's required to keep the current story making sense, but this book goes beyond that. More often than not, the back story detracts from the current situation and ends up getting skipped over. If you've read the prior books it's redundant, and if you haven't it does nothing to make you want to read them. Seems to be a common problem with Mary Connealy, but I still find her books entertaining enough to overlook it.
October 21, 2019
This is the third (and last) book in the Trouble in Texas series. I would recommend you read the first two books before reading this one.
The main characters in this book are Vince and Tina. In this book we get to know both of them a lot better; Vince and they way he grew up and Tina and her life with her hateful aunt. Both carry scars from their youth that make them distrustful with each other.
As with other Mary Connealy books, shenanigans ensue. I felt the conclusion was rushed but I really enjoyed the epilogue.
The main characters in this book are Vince and Tina. In this book we get to know both of them a lot better; Vince and they way he grew up and Tina and her life with her hateful aunt. Both carry scars from their youth that make them distrustful with each other.
As with other Mary Connealy books, shenanigans ensue. I felt the conclusion was rushed but I really enjoyed the epilogue.
July 9, 2020
Another wonderful book from this author. I'm going to miss these characters and their different personalities each one has. Loved this spit fire Tina and the roughneck and handsome Vince in this book. Love their back and forth fired up conversations. Tina is big on getting rid of the saloon every day with her signs and Vince is the lawman always keeping watch on Tina ever since she moved in the area with her brother. Vince having to deal with family issues. Fun adventurous book with action, twists and other things to read about.
November 23, 2020
This historical romance was such a sweet Western hit! Tina and Vince are wonderful characters and I love the way they were brought together. This action-packed story embraces loyal friendships, the last unmarried woman in town, and loads of wit. I haven't read the other books in the series and I'm sure doing so would have made this one all the more enjoyable, but it was still a treat to read.
Content: mild romance; mild religion
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
Content: mild romance; mild religion
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
November 16, 2023
Christian Historical Romance
I love Jonas' words! Something like she was a gift from God! Each one of these stories tell of a deep pull for the other when first meeting. Maybe not love at first sight, but God did create each couple just for their spouse. There's just something beautiful about that! But the hurt in this couple, it's so deep rooted and painful, but it too created a hole that only God could fill. And he used these two to help fill their holes with love!
This narration seemed better, but there's still times I couldn't tell if it was a guy or girl speaking.
I love Jonas' words! Something like she was a gift from God! Each one of these stories tell of a deep pull for the other when first meeting. Maybe not love at first sight, but God did create each couple just for their spouse. There's just something beautiful about that! But the hurt in this couple, it's so deep rooted and painful, but it too created a hole that only God could fill. And he used these two to help fill their holes with love!
This narration seemed better, but there's still times I couldn't tell if it was a guy or girl speaking.
July 28, 2020
Cute little western story. Vince was convinced he would never marry. Acting Sherriff kept him busy, but not enough to keep his eyes from going toward Tina.
Things are never dull with his father bringing his mother and a sister that he never met to visit. Lots of twists in this nonstop book. It was not my favorite book by Mary, but for some reason it just didn’t click as much for me. I love her other books
Things are never dull with his father bringing his mother and a sister that he never met to visit. Lots of twists in this nonstop book. It was not my favorite book by Mary, but for some reason it just didn’t click as much for me. I love her other books
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