A female horse whisperer finds her place among the ranchers of WWI-era Oregon in this heartwarming historical Western with “its own unique pleasures” (Publishers Weekly). In the winter of 1917, nineteen-year-old Martha Lessen saddles her horses and heads for a remote county in eastern Oregon, looking for work “gentling” wild horses. She finds employment with the rancher George Bliss, whose … rancher George Bliss, whose regular ranch hands are overseas fighting World War I. George glimpses, beneath Martha’s showy rodeo garb, a shy but strong-willed girl with a serious knowledge of horses.
So begins the irresistible tale of a young woman determined to claim her place in a man’s world. Over the course of several long, hard winter months, many of the townsfolk witness Martha talking in low, sweet tones to horses believed beyond repair–and getting miraculous, almost immediate results. It’s with this gift that she earns their respect, and a chance to make herself a home.
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Great read. It was great to read about a proud, gritty young woman making her way through the world in the World War I era. The author did a good job of explaining life in those days, while focusing on the heroine’s personal story. Well written, well-edited — a truly enjoyable read.
Delightful story set in Oregon just at the begining of the Great War when many young men volunteered and left their farming communities with out hands to round up cattle or bring in crops. Main character is a young woman in her late teens who has always wanted to be a cowboy. Having left an abusive home, she arrives in a valley far away and …
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the young woman following her passion to train horses.
She has strong values and beliefs.
Interesting time in history.
I seem to be drawn to this era of American history, late 1800’s early 1900’s.
So much was changing but the rural life had not. Especially the west.
Independent, strong woman starting new lives in that harsh but beautiful
world that has disappeared except in the books of talented writers.
I never want to stop reading these stories.
Great insights into what the WW1 time period was like.
very informative. great caracters
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I learned quite a bit about our country during the first world war. But more interesting to me were the horses and the young girl that worked with them.
Great characters, courageous heroine, realistic situations. Horses! A terrific story well told!
I just really enjoyed it, as an animal lover in general but not knowing much about horses.
I love this story! People who survive and overcome their past with a capacity to love and care for others are my favorite book characters. Kindest to animals seems like such an easy and rewarding thing for me. Why is it so hard for some people?
The setting is the early part of the last century. The main character is a young Oregon woman in a very rural setting who makes her living breaking and training horses. The story introduces the reader to many ideas and characters of that time thru the experiences of the main character who is very engaging and likable.
I loved the book but it ended too suddenly without telling enough about the main character after she married.
Poignant – made me want to go find a horse and begin the exchange of love.
Very well written historical novel.
Learned a great deal about the time period and the life style. Very good character depicting. Realistic. Took me a little to get into the story but truly and interesting and lovely story. Pertinent to today as parallels were drawn especially in the end.
Interesting story and characters with realistic history of world and events at the time.
Seemed like the author lost interest halfway through, and rushed to finish. I loved the first half
Loved, loved, loved this book. I’ll re-read it again soon.
Great book to take you back in time.
Historical novel, I learned about our West prior to the “Dust Bowl” and how the atmosphere of WWI contributed to the making of that dire situation.