Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Revell, 2022.
How acquired: Revell Reads Blogger Program
First line: Freedom rushed through Nora Fenton’s veins, erupting with each breath.
(Goodreads synopsis below.)
My thoughts: My first time reading this author and I very much enjoyed her writing. When I was young – a teenager – I was very into thoroughbred horse racing, but never learned as much about harness racing, which is partly why I was interested in reading this book. The details the author provided about the training process – or at least, Nora’s training process, were fascinating. In her Author Note at the back of the book, Ms. McGee mentions she has always loved horses and has an equine science degree, and it definitely shows.
The characterization was also wonderfully done. I loved both Nora and Silas, and hated Nora’s uncle Amos. Nora is strong willed, and chafes at the restrictions placed on women (the story is set in 1905). She has no desire to marry without love, and is more at home in the barn with the horses than in the house cooking and cleaning. Her father had been ill for some time, and after he passed away Nora and her mother learn from their uncle that the solicitor has shown him the will, and Nora’s father left the farm to Amos. And he is making plans to find a suitor for Nora and marry her off. And I have to tell you, as much as I loved the book, it also made me so angry at how little control women had over their own lives in those days. Maybe because of everything going on in our world now, with women’s rights being trampled on so severely, I’m more sensitive to the issue than I used to be. I’ve read other historical books, and I’ve read about women being ruled by men, but it’s never elicited this anger in me before. Although maybe that is because the author chronicles Nora’s life and her feelings so well, and with such detail.
And then there’s Silas. He finds Nora a bit fascinating, and unlike the other hired hands, has no animosity towards Nora for wanting to participate in her beloved horse’s training and acting like she’s the boss. He admires her, her abilities, her bond with the horse, Arrow, and how much progress she makes with Arrow, who won’t perform for anyone else. Although Arrow does accept Silas fairly quickly, because, like Nora, he has an innate ability to understand horses.
A beautifully written story that kept me completely captivated from start to finish. I definitely need to read more from this author.
*I received a free copy of this book via the publisher and have voluntarily reviewed it*
Goodreads Synopsis: A gifted trainer in a time women are not allowed to race, Nora Fenton prefers horses to men. They're easier to handle, they're more reliable, and they never tell her what to do. After her father's passing, Nora is determined to save her struggling horse farm, starting with entering her prize colt into the harness races at the 1905 Mississippi Fair. If she wins, she may have a chance at independence. But when a stranger arrives and starts asking disconcerting questions, she suspects he may have other motives than unseating her in the training job that is rightfully hers.
Silas Cavallero will do whatever it takes to solve the mystery of his father's death--even if it means training an unwieldy colt for Nora, who wants nothing more than to see him gone. But when mysterious accidents threaten their safety and circumstances shrouded in secrets begin unlocking clues to his past, Silas will have to decide if the truth is worth risking ruining everything for the feisty woman he's come to admire.
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