the SECRETS of EMBERWILD, by Stephenia H. McGee, 2022, Revell (Baker Publishing Group)

Horses, women’s rights, love and marriage in 1905 America.

Horses, women’s rights, love and marriage in 1905 America. A young woman and her horse. Family expectations, loyalties, needs and desires. Secrets brought to light.

What will become of Nora and her dearly loved horse now that her father has died? Her uncle takes charge, but something doesn’t seem right.

At the same time, Silas turns up, asking questions about his father’s death 15 years ago and the horse that went missing.

A series of suspicious accidents occur. Something is wrong, but what is really going on, and why? And who is the culprit?

In 1905, women’s roles and men’s roles were distinct. Men took care of horses. Women cooked and kept the house. But Nora’s horse is all she loves.

Bringing history to life

Horses, women’s rights, love and marriage in 1905 America. Stephania McGee brings to life the difficulties of an independent woman of the era. It wasn’t easy to step out and make choices. Women were expected to obey and fit into the lives cut out for them. Nora had to consider her mother, the reputation of her family, and her own needs for protection and provision. But what about the needs of her heart?

McGee has put a lot of research into the writing of this novel. We learn about horses and racing at the time, as well as the lives people lived. I particularly enjoyed the way she describes places, horses and people. The mystery combined with threads of romance is reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s style, with the real culprit revealed at the end.

Thank you, Revell, for sending me a beautiful copy of this book to review. I’m glad I chose it. I recommend it to horse lovers and readers of historical women’s fiction.

This book can be purchased at Chapters.indigo.ca, by clicking here.

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