Fired Up by Mary Connealy

This is the second in the Trouble in Texas series, but if you have not read the first one, you can read this one as the back story is clearly given.
Dare Riker is a doctor, well, sort of. He had lots of experience helping a real

doctor in the Andersonville Prison during the Civil War. He's the only one around Broken Wheel, Texas with any doctoring experience, so “doctor” he is.

Glynna Greer is a woman who was rescued from her abusive husband (in the first novel in the series). She is trying to make a living for herself and her two children by opening a diner. But there is only one problem. She can't cook!

Dare and Glynna feel an attraction but there is lots of baggage in the way. Glynna wants to believe Dare is a decent man, but she has had such bad experiences with men, thinking of marriage terrifies her. And her teen-aged son is totally opposed to another man in their lives. He has only seen what horrors they've brought to his mother. And Dare is pretty busy himself, just staying alive - because someone wants him dead.

Connealy has created great characters. I love the rapport between the men. They know each other well and have fun teasing each other. I was just a tad bit disappointed with the romance aspect. It went fast – too fast to have all of the issues worked out. I really felt for the son who was so opposed to the romance. So, this second in the series was not quite as good as the first one. We are set up, however, for the next in the series. Vince has met his match!

I like to learn something when I read novels and in this series it has been about the Andersonville Prison, a Confederate prison during the Civil War. There actually was a group there called The Regulators who kept peace in the prison. It was a dangerous job as some of the Union soldiers thought the group must be in cahoots with the confederacy. The Regulators had a tight bond and we see that in this series. Luke, the main character in the first novel, and Dare are Regulators and their well being depends on their Regulator friends protecting them.

Mary Connealy writes about romance and cowboys. She is the author of three previous series. She has been a finalist for a Rita and Christy Award and two time winner of the Carol Award. She and her husband live on a ranch in eastern Nebraska. They have four grown daughters. Find out more about her and her books at http://maryconnealy.com/.

Bethany House, 337 pages. Please visit your local Christian bookstore to purchase this book

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through the Litfuse Publicity Group for the purpose of this review.