Nadia is one interesting character!
I really need a copy of Shadow & Bone now so I can keep up with Nadia and what is to come.
This little story gives us an intro into Nadia's world. It's over so fast though that you are left wanting more!
Was also my intro into this author that I have heard so much about. I can see by her style of writing why she is so popular. She knows how to suck a reader in!

Establishing the entire foundation of a new series in a novella is a daunting task and Mary Connealy has done a more than credible job.  

In this brief story, we see what drives Chance Boden to leave Boston for the wilds of the New Mexico Territory on a mission to reconnect with his four year old son, Cole, and with God.  We meet the woman he marries to hold the land her father gave his blood to protect.  We learn the roots and see new seeds planted for future threats and conflicts, while the characters of the three Boden children (Cole, Justin and Sadie) are established. But what I feel is the main take-away is the strong sense of the devotion to family that leads Chance to build a legacy for his children - both the ranch and a love of God.

He leaned close and his lips touched her temple as he whispered, "I will take care of you.  You're safe.  You're not alone."

Somehow it seemed as if those were his true wedding vows. (45%)

Though this at times suffers from the rushed feel that many novellas have, a too common side effect due to the brevity of the form, it is well worth reading.  While more somber and serious in tone than I expected from Connealy, it does have moments of humor that are simply precious.  Having a four year old interrupt a tender moment and later question certain aspects of married life is the perfect touch of humor from an author who says she writes "romantic comedies with cowboys."  

If you are a fan of clean historical romances set in the American Old West, western stories and/or romances in general, or just an enjoyable and uplifting story, then this is well worth checking out (or downloading - currently free on sites like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and ChristianBook.com).  Especially recommended for fans of Mary Connealy, of which I count myself one having adored her Wild at Heart trilogy. 

I'm looking forward to the novels of this series with great anticipation.  Sadie will be the Boden featured in the first novel, No Way Up, scheduled to be published in July 2016.  An excerpt is included at the end of the novella, though I won't be reading it.  I might like it too much, and then waiting is so much harder.

This review was originally published on bookworlder.wordpress.com  Please do not reblog without permission.

No formal review, because it would be too spoiler-ific.  But this is, in my opinion, a 5 star short story.  It is an engaging and accessible take on human/robot relations.  No prior sci-fi experience required.

I keep avoiding saying it surprised me, I'm afraid that that might be a spoiler in itself.  If so, I'm sorry.  I tried not to say it (and at least I didn't say that other word that really would have been a spoiler for me).  

This book is shallow. Shallow,shallow,shallow

The characters,the plot,the descriptions...shallow This book is a lesson in shallow writing.

Kali is Beautiful with an hourglass figure.But she hates being pretty because she just hates it.


Kali had remained flat and straight until her second year of high school. But in the summer that followed, she had eaten an hourglass. Ample curves appeared out of nowhere to fill out Kali’s athletic figure, exponentially complementing her already olive-skinned, dark beauty. A well-above average height lent her the illusion of maturity, and people constantly mistook Kali for a college student.



She also has an off and on again boyfriend ,Callan- who has "perfect blond hair and flawless skin" Why are they together?

No idea beyond that they are apperantly both good looking and the relationship not helped by the fact that Callan for some reason has a problem with her going around kissing other guys.

She needs to do this to get their essence...she tried once with her BF but he tasted wrong. Kali goes to the cinema where an UGLY fat person wants to sit next to her and he makes some lewd remarks (she ponders this might be her punishment for telling to many fat jokes)

This is payback for every fat joke I’ve ever made. Thank you, Universe.

but she is saved by a guy who is"absurdly good looking. Silver lighting accented every perfect line and angle of his face. Several locks from his thick mass of hair fell idly across his forehead, slightly curling at the ends. There was softness to his features that suggested he could be a keeper."

The ugly fat person then turns out to be EVIL and tries to attack Kali...and this is where I checked out of the story

Drucillas has not met her friend whatshername since Before whatshernames wedding when a letter arrives asking her to come.Sensing there is something more than her companionship she requires Drucilla takes her aunt and heads to the countryside.

On arrival she learn that has fallen to her death just hours Before.

Can she solve who did it?

My recap of this is a unengaging as the short story itself.

The mystery in this was very weak. I am not sure how much "skill in detection" was needed for this one,as I swear I knew who the murderer was the moment he appeared in the story.

How am I supposed to find a reason to care for the death of whatshername when her friend takes it so placidly.The murder of a close friend should mean more. Even if she only is fiction.

Then there is the mysterious way "Drucilla" for one instant becomes "Pricilla" Editing here please.