Mary Connealy's "Long Time Gone" - the saga continues

When Justin Boden's brother gets shot during an assault on their family over a decades-old secret, they call in the doctor, who brings along a pretty city girl to assist him. Though the threat continues on the Boden family, Justin can't help his attraction to the delicate Angie Dupree, and with as much time as she's spending there nursing his brother back to health, she's caught up in their family's problems too. Can Justin protect her from the danger coming their way? And will they be able to figure out who's out to steal their ranch from under them?

I'd forgotten some of what had happened in the first book of the series, and it was helpful to go back and skim some to refresh my memory. Being as the entire series is focused on a single family and an assault against their ranch, these books are pretty closely tied together, and I'd recommend reading the previous books first.

I really enjoy the family dynamics in this series; the siblings really act like siblings, squabbles and all. There's a definite brotherly rivalry between Justin and Cole, with comments about how one of Justin's favorite activities includes punching his big brother, yet there's definitely strong love too. With such an extensive history of squabbles, they tend to fall back on their old habits of annoying each other to express that love rather than a sudden sentimentality. I get it--there are just some siblings you can't get too sentimental with, or they'll assume something is really wrong, and it's easier to fall back on old habits than to change too fast.

I really liked how the author took Angie--a proper, obedient, quiet, city girl--and proved that anyone, when faced with danger, can be brave. And just because one is trapped in unfamiliar surroundings doesn't mean that one has to be helpless. Angie may not know much about the New Mexican wilderness or defending herself, but she makes good use of common sense, and that goes a long way. She's the kind of heroine I like best--the kind that balances femininity with intelligence and bravery, who's willing to both help and accept help.

As usual, lots of humor and fun writing. I look forward to the conclusion to the series!

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free e-book. No review, positive or otherwise, was required, and all opinions are my own.

Cimarron Legacy
0.5:  "The Boden Birthright" (free e-novella prequel)
1. No Way Up
2. Long Time Gone
3. Too Far Down 

Kincaid Brides (related series)
0.5: "Closer than Brothers: Surviving Andersonville" (a related prequel)
1. Out of Control
2. In Too Deep
3. Over the Edge

"The Tangled Ties that Bind" (novella in Hearts Entwined)