Mary Connealy’s Long Time Gone

The Boden clan thought their problems had ended with the death of a dangerous enemy, but have they truly uncovered the real plot to take their New Mexico ranch? Rancher Justin Boden is now in charge. He is normally an unshakable and rugged man, but with his brother, Cole, shot and in mortal danger, even a tough man faces doubts. And it doesn’t help that Angie DuPree, the assistant to the doctor trying to save Cole, is as distracting a woman as Justin ever laid eyes on.

With her and the doc’s timely skills, Cole looks to be on the mend, and Justin and the rest of the Bodens can turn their attention back to the dangers facing them. It’s clear now that everything that’s occurred is part of a much bigger plot that could date back to a decades-old secret. Can they uncover all the pieces before danger closes in on them, or is the threat to the ranch even bigger than any of the Bodens could imagine?

Review

I enjoyed the first book of this series, so naturally I had to read book two. My thoughts:

What I liked:

The Boden family. The Boden family is fully fleshed out by this point. I know how Justin and Cole and Sadie think and react. Most importantly, I enjoy watching them interact with each other. Connealy does a lovely job of showing how siblings can love and support each other and still want to annoy each other at the same time.

The mystery. I like that the mystery is spanning the entire series. Little bits and pieces get solved in each installment, but you know it’s all leading to something bigger.

Ranching/Cowboying. I’ve never been on a ranch and I’ve never met a cowboy, but Connealy writes about this kind of work effortlessly. It feels real. She never forgets the horses and the cattle and the things that need to be done on the ranch no matter what the Boden family is facing.

Romance. One thing I can absolutely count on in a Connealy novel is the couple working together against an outside force. The couple is never torn a part by miscommunication. There is no contrived drama. All adversity comes from the outside.

Spiritually, characters pray and trust God throughout the novel.

What I didn’t like:

I do think this book was a bit slow in moments. It started off with a bang, but slowed down towards the middle. There just wasn’t any real twist or surprise.

Romantically, I do wish that we could actually see the H/h fall for each other. It’s very insta-love.

Some of the characters are a bit over the top in their reactions, but that’s a personal opinion.

Romantic scale: 7

Overall, a good second book. It’s not super exciting, but it’s not bad either.

**I received a copy from Netgally. My opinion was not affected in anyway.**