A Model of Devotion by Mary Connealy

Mary Connealy finishes her latest series, The Lumber Baron’s Daughters, with A Model of Devotion, a sweet historical romance.

Book Blurb

A brilliant engineer, Jilly Stiles has been educated since childhood to help run her father’s dynasty. Now with the company safe after the marriages of her two sisters, Jilly can focus on her dream of building a mountaintop railroad–and never marry.

Nick Ryder came into Jilly’s life when he saved her mother from her no-good stepfather, and he’s prepared to protect Jilly from anything that threatens to harm her. Haunted by the pain of his own past, Nick is determined not to get his heart involved while protecting Jilly from losing her hard-won independence.

But when a cruel and powerful man goes to dangerous lengths to make Jilly his own, marrying Nick may be the only way to save herself and her dreams.

My Thoughts

I’ve been waiting a while for Jilly and Nate’s story, especially since I wanted to confirm my suspicions about why Jilly objected so to marriage. Their romance is sweet, especially the way Nate treats Jilly. Though they challenge each other often, they both show respect for one another, which I always appreciate in a romance.

Connealy provides plenty of twists and turns throughout the story, and I couldn’t help but become engrossed in the novel. Though this installment is not my favorite of the series (I have to give that honor to Michelle’s story), A Model of Devotion wrapped up the series nicely. Not only is the trouble with Silas and the unhappy suitors resolved, but Connealy also provides some closure to Laura and Caleb’s story as well as Michelle and Zane’s, giving us a glimpse into what they have in store for the future.

Overall, A Model of Devotion is a sweet western romance with plenty of action.

(Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.)

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