The Secrets of Emberwild by Stephenia H. McGee is this week’s Reader Friday. Here’s the first line: Freedom rushed through Nora Fenton’s veins, erupting with each breath.
But first the photo and Scripture. I was leaving the church where I take Pilates Tuesday afternoon when I noticed the contrails and clouds against the blue sky. I stopped and snapped this photo. And then as I looked at it last night the Aaronic Blessing just seemed to fit. I’ve used Numbers 6:23-24 on cards I made and miss making them.
Now for The Secrets of Emberwild by Stephenia H. McGee. Here’s the back copy and cover:
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.
My Take:
I love this story about a spirited horse and an equally spirited woman who prefers spinsterhood to marrying someone she doesn’t love. And Silas Cavallero is totally swoon-worthy as he uses gentleness to tame both the horse and the woman. It’s a concept Nora has never seen before, and this man intrigues her. I loved the way the romance builds!
The men in her life have tried to control Nora. First her father, then after his death, her uncle. She is full of fire, but that fire couldn’t stop her uncle from trying to marry her off to a wealthy suitor. All Nora wants is a chance to prove she can train Arrow and run the horse farm her father started. But she’s carrying a heavy secret that involves Silas.
McGee does a masterful job of putting the reader right into the story that is full of mystery and twists and turns that kept me turning pages, one night until one.
You can find purchase links here.
Leave a comment with the first line of the book you’re reading or tell me if you like a mystery with your historical stories, and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library.
The Secrets of Emberwild by Stephenia H. McGee is this week's Reader Friday review. If you love historicals with mystery entwined, you'll love this story. Leave a comment and I'll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library. Share on X
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Comments 39
I love mystery historical stories. This sounds like a good one! I’m definitely adding it to my TBR pile.
Author
It is one of the best, Linda!
Yes, I enjoy reading historical novels w/ mystery woven in!
Author
I think you’d really enjoy this one, MS Barb!
I am adding this to my TBR pile. I love .mystery plus Romance.
Author
I think you’ll really enjoy The Secrets of Emberwild! And all of Stephenia’s books.
Nice photo, Pat. I can see why you paired it with the Aaronic Blessing. It’s also the weekly benediction at my church.
“Laila Rabbinowitz tossed the binoculars onto the passenger seat and stifled a shudder. Jesse Cora, the man she was charged with protecting, had turned out to be a lying creep who didn’t give a second thought about stepping out on his marriage.” is the first line of “Defending Honor” by Kelly Underwood, and is the latest in Lynette Eason’s Elite Guardians Collection series. I’ve enjoyed every book in the series so far; all first rate authors. This book is next up on my TBR list.
My current read is called “The Lightening Tamers” by Kathy Joseph, a high school physics teacher who has an excellent YouTube channel called “Kathy Loves Physics and History.” The book explores the mystery of electricity by telling the historical origins of it’s discovery and understanding. Kathy has a nice informal style both in her book and in her videos, and makes her subjects fun. So I guess you can say I’m reading an historical mystery :-). If you care to give one of her YouTube videos a try, I suggest viewing one of her earlier ones, especially those in the History of Science playlist, because in her latest videos she has done a deep dive into the best understanding of electromagnetism. Her History of Science playlist is the subject source for her book.
Author
Tim, I will check Kathy Joseph’s Youtube channel out! And I love Lynette’s books…
Boy did my eyes ever light up with the photo, Pat! I loved those high cresting waves in the back, the jet streaming across the sky, the mountains at the bottom and there is also a cow head, bottom left. But the cross stately and bold on top of the church, well, it says it all.
Your choice of The Aaronic Blessing was perfect for this! We had a Messianic Rabbi participate at the end of our wedding and he spoke this blessing over us in Hebrew, so it has always been special to me.
I just finished Mistletoe Countess, by Pepper Basham, last night and am getting ready to read Dog Days of Summer by Kathleen Y’Barbo. “When I told Mama that I was fine with whatever Christmas plans she had, I had no idea I would arrive in my hometown of Brenham, Texas, to discover I’d been named Grand Marshall of the annual Lighted Christmas Parade.”
I have been reading historical mysteries lately and discovered I really enjoy them.
Author
I discovered I like historical mysteries, too, Barbara! And the opening line of yours is priceless! I thought you’d enjoy the photo, too. Oh, and when my nephew had his colon resectioned, his surgeon prayed the Aaronic Blessing over him before they took him to surgery.
Pat, aren’t you glad we both decided to enjoy historical mysteries? Just think what we would have been missing. Your review today sounds like another one to add to the TBR and bought pile.
What a blessing and literally as well when the doctor prayed before your nephews surgery. I know that meant so much to him and the family. There are so many Scriptures and memories to cherish. God is so good.
Author
I agree, Barbara. And it was a blessing.
Nice photo with the Blessing from Numbers. I like mystery with any book but have been enjoying Regencies lately. I am reading The Christmas Spirit by Debbie Macomber. The first line is: “Nana, Nana, we’re here,” eight-year-old Lance shouted, as he raced into the house ahead of his six-year-old sister.
Author
Thanks, Gloria! And The Christmas Spirit sounds intriguing!
sounds interesting
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It is, BN!
I love reading historical with mysteries! This book sounds like a very good read and the cover is Stunning! I love your photo and the Bible verse is perfect for it! Have a great weekend and stay safe. Thank you so very much for always sharing your beautiful photos with the beautiful Bible verses.
Author
Thank you, Alicia! I enjoy sharing my photos and pairing them with a Scripture verse. I think you would really enjoy The Secrets of Emberwild by Stephenia McGee. And I thought the cover was stunning, too!
Sounds like a good one!
Author
It is, Gail. Stephenia is a very talented writer!
Beautiful picture. The verse fit’s it well. This sounds like a great book. I just put in a request at my library. I’m reading Fatal Code by Natalie Walter’s. Really enjoying it so far. Here’s the first line. Death has no sting.
Author
Erika, that first line is great! Makes me want to read the book! And thanks. Glad you like my photo and verse!
I’m reading this book now and love it!
Author
Isn’t Stephenia a wonderful writer, Joan! She just draws you into the story.
Beautiful photo and perfect scripture. I enjoy historical books with a mystery. Blessings
Author
Thank you, Lucy! Enjoy your weekend!
I love a blending of mystery and history! I haven’t read The Secrets of Emberwild, but it sounds like a good one. I like how you wove history into your Natchez Trace Park Ranger books.
Author
Thanks, L. I love history, too and the Trace is so full of it. I’ll never forget the feeling of walking the old Trace and thinking of all the people who had walked the same lane. It made goose-bumps! I think you’d enjoy Stehpenia McGee’s book!
Beautiful picture. Great verse. We’ve been traveling the past twelve days. My wife snapped a lot of pictures as we drove along the highways. Yesterday, the clouds were especially interesting with so many different formations, layers, and so forth. God’s handiwork.
Earlier this week, I finished the first read of the book I was working on last Friday. I have not started another one yet because this traveling thing has about worn me out. We get home tomorrow, so I hope to start another book by Sunday evening. To answer your question, I enjoy a mystery in any fiction work. I love to try to figure them out.
The book you shared about reminds me of a book I read two or three years ago. It was about a young lady around the same time period as this one who loved racing cars when very few women even drove cars. She would sneak into the race car at the last minute and disappear as soon as the race was over. Very entertaining. At the moment, I cannot remember the title nor the author.
Author
Edward, the book you describe sounds really interesting! I love mysteries in any genre. I know you’ll be glad to get home–I love to go, but I also love it when I’m back into my routine. lol And I love cloud photos–they truly are God’s handiwork.
love a mystery with my historicals
Author
Me, too, Shelia!
Good review, Patricia! I do like a mystery entwined in a historical fiction story!
Author
Vera, I think you’d enjoy this book!
Love the scripture and photo, Pat!
Prologue
Boston, Massachusetts, Winter 1926
“Where did they find her?” Dr. Lands voice was a pained whisper as he bent over the child’s battered body, lifting translucent eyelids with a clench of his jaw. A Wing and a Prayer – Julie Lessman
Enjoy your weekend.
Author
Oh, my goodness, Caryl, that story sounds absolutely riveting.
Thank you so much! I’m thrilled you enjoyed Emberwild. Thank you for the beautiful review. You’ve made my day!
Author
I love this story! Congrats of a great book!
Thank you!