About the Book

Book: The Husband Tree

Author: Mary Connealy

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: July 21, 2026

From bestselling author Mary Connealy comes a spirited Western romance filled with danger, determination, and unexpected love—a tale of a fierce widow rancher, a hardworking cowboy, and the family that brings them together. Perfect for fans of historical romance and strong heroines.

Belle Tanner has buried three husbands under the “Husband Tree” and managed her Montana ranch alone while raising four daughters. When she needs help with a dangerous cattle drive, she hires Silas Harden—a man who actually knows his way around cattle and horses. Unlike her previous husbands, Silas isn’t afraid of hard work, but Belle’s not about to let another man take charge of her ranch or her heart.

Silas never planned on falling for a widow with four daughters, especially one as independent as Belle. But as they face treacherous mountain passes, wolf attacks, and winter storms together, he discovers that what he thought was just another job might be his chance at a real family—if he can convince Belle to trust in love one more time.

With winter closing in and dangers mounting, Belle and Silas must learn to work together and trust in God’s plan. But can Belle let go of her iron control and let love lead? And can Silas prove he’s different from the husbands who came before?

A heartwarming story of faith, family, and finding love in the rugged Montana Territory.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedies with cowboys and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys always with a strong suspense thread. She is a two-time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist. She is the bestselling author of 75 books and novellas. She has over a million and a half books in print.

Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Visit her website or find her at Petticoats & Pistols!

 

More from Mary

The Husband Tree remains the book I am asked about the most when I talk to readers.

Or, if I get asked, which is your favorite character…someone inevitably says Belle Tanner.

There’s something about that woman.

The title of the book is based on the tree where she’s buried three worthless husbands. After Anthony died falling off the roof…where he was hiding from work as usual, she’s tossing dirt on his face while vowing to God and her children to never marry again.

She’s taught her girls to work hard at her side, but her main lesson is to teach them to avoid men at all costs. A warning that doesn’t survive, but not for lack of effort on Belle’s part.

She’s the meanest good guy I’ve ever written, the most enduring ‘fiesty lady rancher’. Yet somehow, her REASONS for being mean are so well tuned, that she gets away with being a very hostile-to-men woman.

Not that I haven’t written plenty of feisty lady ranchers…in fact I love the type so much I have to fight putting one as the heroine in every book. But Belle is in a league of her own.

Silas Harden is also NOT interested in a woman. He’s been burned bad TWICE by women. One woman a betrayer, another a sneaking liar who stages a ‘compromising situation’ to force a marriage. He’s lost two ranches because of it. He wants a place of his own and he’s not risking letting a woman ruin things for him. It’s cost him too much.

But, much as she hates to admit she needs a man’s help, Belle’s going to lose her herd if she doesn’t get the cattle to market and there’s no one else to help but the wandering cowpoke, Silas.

Belle and her four daughters, including a diaper-wearing baby, need to punch one thousand head of cattle over the roughest trail in the whole world…not that Belle’s familiar with the whole world, but it’s a brutally hard stretch.

Off they go, both bristling, but soon enough they’re working so hard they’re too TIRED to hate each other.

And then here comes love. A man Belle can’t help but respect. A woman Silas can’t help but trust.

If they all survive this drive…both of them might just take a chance again, on love.

Author Interview

• What is your favorite genre of books? Why?

I’m going to assume you mean favorite genre to read, because my favorite genre to WRITE is obvious. Romantic comedy with cowboys. So, to read, I read widely in most genres. I particularly love Regency Romance, which is strange because I can’t imagine writing one, and I love them. I am also a big fan of contemporary romantic suspense and detective fiction. I read western fiction a lot. Louis L’amore is a favorite and I’ve read his books many times…and there are a LOT of them.

• Are you a one project at a time author or do you have multiple projects going at once?

I’d say one project at a time. I write a book from beginning to end before I start something new. The exception to this is if I need to pull back from strict forward progress and do revisions on a previously finished book.

• How has your life experience helped in your writing journey?

My husband is a Nebraska cattleman. I think I get the mindset of rural life and living in harmony with nature, as well as battling it for survival. And that may add authenticity to my books.

• What is the funniest thing to happen in the process of writing one of your books?

Well, I write comedy so I’d like to think it’s all funny! I remember once, on a book written long ago, a contemporary gothic romance…I was just writing whatever interested me before I got published. And I had my fair and delicate heroine wandering in a spooky old mansion where bodies keep turning up and I had to make her go into the attic. I remember sitting there on that computer and trying to figure out a reason she HAD to go up there, knowing there was a murderer wandering in the house. And I couldn’t bear to have her be an idiot. I kept playing with it and pretty soon I’m laughing about the nonsense I came up with (In the end I came up with something good!) and one of my kids pokes there head in the door of the room I was in and stared at me, checking, I suppose, to see if Mom had finally lost her ever-loving mind.

• How do you relax after a long day of writing?

This is somewhat embarrassing but…I relax from writing by reading. I know, I know, sedentary life. Like it would kill me to take a walk once in a while.

• Where do you find your greatest inspiration?

I get ideas for the next book while researching the current book. I start researching for what I need, then get sucked into the reading online and before you know it some detail jumps out at me and I think, there’s a story there!

• Who is your favorite author? Why?

This is a mean question and I am terrorized to start listing favorites. I’m going to say, just to avoid all my author friends who’s books I love, Mary Higgins Clark. That woman could grab me by the throat and drag me into a roller coaster of a book like no one else,

• Do you ha?e extensive outlines when writing or do you write a book as you go?

I have a very minimal outline…like one page…and I feel no great compulsion to stick to it. I’m very much a seat of the pants author.

• Do you remember the first book you read? What sort of impact did it make on you?

I don’t remember a first. My family were big readers. Mom would take us into the library every week and we’d all come out with a stack of books…from my earliest memory. The first book I remember reading that really struck me as fantastic was The Black Stallion. Walter Farley could just put me right in the middle of those horse races. I could smell the dust kicked up, hear the thunder of those galloping hooves, feel those big bodies crowding to close to each other. So intense. That’s the first time I remember closing a book and flipping it to the front to see who the author was and asking, “How did he do that,”

• What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?

Nothing. I have an uncanny ability to tune the world out and focus. Good for writing, not so good for the children when they were younger and for my husband, who legitimately wants to know if we’re going to eat any time soon. Side-note, since he retired, he does almost all the cooking!

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 28

Texas Book-aholic, July 29

For Him and My Family, July 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 31

Guild Master, August 1 (Author Interview)

Book Holds and Jello Molds, August 1

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 2

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 3

She Lives To Read, August 4

Simple Harvest Reads, August 5 (Guest Review from Donna)

Fiction Book Lover, August 6 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, August 6

Book Looks by Lisa, August 7

Cover Lover Book Review, August 8

Labor Not in Vain, August 9

Holly’s Book Corner, August 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/GRmzP/the-husband-tree-celebration-tour-giveaway