The original inspiration for this book series appears in book #2 of The Wyoming Sunrise Series.
A woman justice of the peace.
I read a biography of Esther Hobart Morris, the first woman justice of the peace in America…possibly in the world.
Such a fun read. It’s full of the struggle for women’s suffrage and Esther was a champion of that cause.
Very soon, just days after women were given the right to vote in Wyoming, the current justice of the peace in South Pass City, Wyoming, when told he’d have to swear in women on a jury, quit. He didn’t just quit, he stole the record book containing precious legal records in South Pass City. It was never recovered.
When he quit, Esther was appointed to his old job. He just threw such a fit, the old Judge that is, that Esther could have arrested him.
But she didn’t. She said, “We’ll just start this new era with a fresh book and forget the past.”
So I decided my pretty little seamstress, a good friend of the heroine in book #1 Forged in Love, should be the second justice of the peace. (or anyway, real early on).
Nell Armstrong just wants to sew pretty dresses. She likes to put ribbons and lace and ruffles on flowery dresses.

The only trouble is, there aren’t that many women in Wyoming and those there are, make their own clothes. So she made the mistake of making a pair of chaps for one cowboy (she had to take an old pair of his and learn to copy it, he even brought her in a nice piece of leather). And now the orders flood in and there is no escape. She’s got a booming business and is making a lot of money and she hates it.
She is also the widow of a lawman. So when the DeadEye Gang leaves several dead men at the sight of a stagecoach hold-up near her home for Pine Valley, Wyoming, she helps investigate. She asks the sheriff insightful questions. She knows the law and she insists they check the bodies which have been brought to town.
When the old justice of the peace announces plans to move to Nebraska, she gets offered the job.
Newcomer to the area Brandon Nolte and his three daughters are in desperate need of dresses. Brand can’t sew and his daughters refuse to come to town wearing their ramshackle trousers and boots. Nell is thrilled to help, but Brand had no cash money for such frivolity as dresses.
And then there’s another stagecoach holdup and Nell finds herself in the crossfire of the dangerous gang.
Leave a comment…how about how desperately YOU want it to be SPRING!!! To get your name in a drawing for a signed copy of Forged in Love.
The Laws of Attraction
Book #2 Wyoming Sunrise Series
If widowed town seamstress Nell Armstrong has to make one more pair of boring chaps for the cowboys in her tiny Wyoming town, she might lose her mind. So meeting Brand Nolte, a widower father struggling to raise three girls, seems like her dream come true. Brand has no idea how to dress the girls, and Nell finally has a chance to both create beautiful dresses and teach the girls to sew.
But Nell is much more than a seamstress, and the unique legal and investigative skills and knowledge she picked up alongside her late lawman husband soon become critical when a wounded stagecoach-robbery survivor is brought to town. As danger closes in from all sides, Nell and Brand must discover why there seems to be a bull’s-eye on their backs.
Fan favorite Mary Connealy invites you back to 19th-century Wyoming for this adventuresome Western romance, complete with a budding romance, witty banter, and an absorbing mystery.
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Author of Romantic Comedy...with Cowboys including the bestselling Kincaid Brides Series
https://petticoatsandpistols.com/sweepstakesrules
Sounds like a wonderful book!
I’m not desperate for Spring. Spring means allergies go into overdrive.
That sounds wise, Denise. Me? I am so sick of winter!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am definitely looking forward to Spring. I love to see the flowers starting to bloom and the warmer temperatures.
It’s too early of couse but last night My Cowboy and I were talking about ‘when will the asparagus come? It’s always early.
I’m really looking forward to Spring and warmer weather. I’m kind of tired of all the rain we have had here where I live.
Dianam today has a high of FIFTY. it hit fifty at 4 am and has been going down ever since. rainy now with snow coming.
I am very much looking forward to spring. Tired of being cold and deciding which jacket and hat to wear just to take a walk. Also looking forward to my yard smelling wonderful with Daphne, lilacs, roses and mock orange.
Ahhh Lilacs. I have two bushes. They are such a favorite just for the aroma!!!
I can’t wait to open the windows!
We have windows! I remember opening them!!!
Looking forward to warmer temps.
Me, too. I’m desperately looking forward to it!
This book sounds very good! I love spring. Wish it was longer! I live in Florida. So, we have 3 seasons that are short. Can you guess which season is the longest one?
Thanks, Tracy. I think it’s a lot of fun. I know Florida gets hot, but right now, I’m having trouble feeling sorry for you!
I love spring. New life – Easter – the resurrection.
It’s coming, Mary. We’re talking about who’s having Easter this year!
Ugh 70’s on Monday, rain coming in later today and snow this weekend – I knew when it was 70 on March 1st we would be in for a wild ride this month – in like a lamb out like a lion!
That lovely little saying…in Nebraska…should be changed to In like a lion … who proceeds to hunt, kill and eat the lamb. 🙁
I live in Florida. We go from winter to summer, if we participate in winter at all. We’ve already had record heat in February, where we had 90 degrees already! I want winter back!
Atta girl, Trudy. You know what to cling to!
We got twelve inches of snow last week and today we are supposed to have another six. I’m very anxious for spring because I will be waking up my dahlias to plant hopefully the end of May – that is if spring has arrived to warm the ground. Yes – bring on spring! The book covers are awesome Mary! Can’t wait to read this series.
I saw a robin out my window yesterday. I felt sorry for him.
Warmer temps, open windows, flowers & trees in bloom…..I’m ready!
Book series sounds wonderful!
We have a small lake that I drive past on my way to town and it’s covered in migrating ducks. I saw an eagle soar overhead when I passed yesterday. Beautiful, and majestic…of course they eat ducks so I’m sure not everyone is thrilled.
I can hardly wait for this book! Spring is already here in Florida and pollen coats everything!! Will be glad when that part is over.
Thanks, Betti. I’m so glad you’re looking forward to it. I really appreciate it.
Mary – I just LOVE this new series of yours! Strong women in male-dominated roles are favorites of mine. And I love learning about women like Esther Morris who made fiction a reality and paved the way for future women to follow. Your titles are great, your covers are gorgeous, and your story ideas are perfection! This could be your best series yet, and that’s saying something. 🙂 I’ve already added Forged in Love to my TBR. I’ll be adding the others soon!
Thanks, Karen. I love your work, too! Sincerely
Within a few days we’ve had temps in the 70s and snow covered ground! Our time sprang forward this past Sunday so now we need to convince Mother Nature to let Spring come & stay awhile!
Looking forward to this 2nd book in the Wyoming Sunrise series!
Ah, Daylight Savings Time. How I hate you!!!
I’m actually not all that desperate from spring. We don’t live where it snows and I’m sure that plays into it.
Mary Ellen, you sounds very wise to me. We talk about going south for the winter, but wow, it’s hard to arrange. The mail, the bills
Im ready for spring so I can spend time outside. I like to fish and go for walks but cant do it when the weather is cold (well Texas version of Cold).
Kerah, I love the spelling of your name. I might steal it for a book!
As we just had another snow storm in Montana, one would think I would be tired of it all; however, I like the snow.
Might as well enjoy it, David, since there is NO ESCAPE!!!!!!!!!
Sounds like an interesting book. I am more than ready for spring. I found crocuses outside yesterday- just one. I was so happy.
Crocuses??? Wow so jealous. This is usually the time of year my daffodils emerge from the ground and proceed to FREEZE TO DEATH
I love your books and these two sound very interesting. I am ready for all this rain and cold weather to end. I love the spring flowers and the warmer temperatures.
The book sounds interesting. I love all of your books I have read so far. My deceased twin sister and I used to read them together all the time and would comment on how much we loved you as an author. I live in Florida so I have spring already, but I do not look forward to the hot humid summer. Thanks for writing such wonderful stories.
This has been the longest winter, even with the quirky weather, as I know we will pay for it later. It is being said our summer will be almost unbearable. My favorite time of year is spring when the flowers begin to bloom an emit suck wonderful scents. I have never been a lover of cold temps, or hot temps either. Your book sound very intriguing and I will look forward to reading it.
I absolutely LOVE the cover??!! This series sounds very good too?
I await summer since it is my favorite season. Cold and snow is not my friend. Spring is though with sunshine and green grass.
Ah, beautiful warm spring, I’m waiting for you anxiously!
I’m definitely not desperate for spring! For one thing, I have allergies & for another, spring means trying to get things to grow here in our temperamental Wyoming climate! I’m exhausted just thinking about it!
This novel is a real treasure. Luckily our winter has been moderate. Soon I can sit outside and read in the backyard. The light, blue skies and sun brighten my life.
I have snowdrops blooming, a month later than usual and the daffodils are just beginning to peak through the ground. We often have blooming daffodils for my mother-in-law’s birthday March 24. Not this year! Spring is coming, really it is. I just hope we don’t get any more snow.
Even though the allergens are worse, I always look forward to Spring and being outside more. And I love the wildflowers. I always enjoy your books and will look forward to the next with a seamstress as heroine, especially since I enjoy sewing.
Given that we had 8 inches of snow last week, I DO desperately want it to be Spring. My garden can’t go in until all this cold silliness is done and I love having fresh veggies and berries.
I am so looking forward to spring with the warmer temperatures and new life blooming everywhere!!
Living in South Dakota, we just got two more inches of snow and may even get snow in April. I remember going to church on Easter with snow on the ground many times. It will get Spring eventually and sometimes just jumps from winter right into summer! Love your books!
I love the sound of your book! I really want spring to get here soon, especially because alot of our plants are starting to come in, our fig bushes are getting leaves, our other trees are flowers and I love to listen to all th little birds singing, I don’t dare plant any new plants out there just yet, as much as I want to , I usually start planting new plants after Easter. Have a great day and thank you for the chance.
I can’t wait for spring. All the beautiful flowers & warm days mean that all the overcast, cold & rain we’ve have been getting here in California are behind us for a little while. I love being able to just put on a t-shirt, shorts & flip flops & call it a day & be warm & not have to bundle up & still be cold. That just sucks.
welcome today Mary. Oh but this sounds like another fantastic, wild ride of a story. I cant wait for it to come out. Oh I cant wait for spring. Some of our flowers are starting to pop their heads up. I have a new upright garden bed to stain and fill. I have seeds and bulbs already to plant. I have my list of what goes where. My husband and I got a new shed last year, so we are looking forward to organizing things inside. My sister and I have already started making plans for BBQ’s and other get togethers. Oh yes I am so ready for the weather to finally turn quilting dash lady at comcast dot net
I am very much looking forward to spring. Seeing flowers blooming and having green grass again will be so nice.
Can’t wait for Spring despite my allergies. I guess we got to take the good with the bad. Love it when flowers start blooming and pushing their heads up through the ground despite Snow.
Book sounds like a great read and excerpt makes me want to read it just to find out how it ends.
I’m looking forward to warmer temps and no snow on the ground so I can take my daughter on walks. I love to hear the birds singing, too.
Forged in Love was such a fun read! I loved it and can’t wait to read The Laws of Attraction for Nell’s story! I am definitely ready for spring. I’m tired of cold and dreary days.
Christy! You’ve read it!? Thank you!
Thanks for the Wyoming history!
I don’t look forward to spring because I live in a hot climate and dread the upcoming summer when it will be hitting 115 and even though I don’t ‘blame the spring’ haha…I know what’s happening next.
It was 25 here today, sleeting, rainy. Een so 115 sounds ridiculous. Sorry.
want warmer weather
succinct and yet perfect
Oh, yes, please. I am looking forward to taking my new electric wheelchair out to enjoy the outdoors. I have not been able to do that in many years. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
Debbie, you can get outside!? Good. God bless you, too.
Ready for spring . New growth around us reminds me of Gods handiwork in creation!
Very wise, Renea. Yes, spring sings of creation.
Quite honestly, spring is my least favorite season because of my allergies. It is not even officially spring yet and I am already miserable thanks to all the pollen here in Florida.
I am tired of all the rainy weather. Bring on the sunshine and flowers.
I am sotired of being cold. I want to feel the warm sun on my back.
So ready for Spring to be here with the Beautiful sunshine and warmer tempts. to be able to sit outside and enjoy the sun! Have a Blessed Day!
Mary, I read all your books! I look forward to reading this new series! Thank you for not giving up writing!
I would like to see a real spring. The weather has been so crazy this year that it has been difficult to know what to prepare for. The warm spells the East had last month and early in March Have really confused the plants. Fruit trees and bushes have already blossomed and now the Spring freezes will kill off the prospects of a good harvest. A loss few can afford. I wish for more mild frosts and a mild rest of the Winter into Spring and a salvaged crop for the farmers, orchardists, and ranchers.
I’d love a copy. I’m not desparate for Spring. But here in NC we’ve had a fairly mild winter.
Your new book sounds like a Awesome read. Will add it to my TBR list. Yes, I a desperate for spring here in Indiana. Our up & down temperatures are making a lot of us ill & we don’t know how to dress. Between colds, sinus infections & freezing temperature one day & 70’s the next. Come on Spring!!!!! My bleeding hearts are already up & trees are blooming…..
Fresh vegetables
I just finished reading Forged in Love & it was great! (But I’d love to have a signed copy… I’d gift my current one to a friend who is building up her collection of CHF books.) 🙂 I’m looking forward to the next two books in the series!! I already preordered them. 😀
Springtime in Missouri brings thunderstorms & tornado threats, so it’s NOT one of my favorite times of the year! :/
Love your books Mary! Can’t wait to read this one!
I’m ready for warm weather! It was in the teens here today in WV and tomorrow is supposed to be spring!!!
West Texas has been showing bipolar weather lately! Hot, cold, windy, calm! Not much moisture, but spring bulbs and flowering shrubs & trees are blooming.