I was given this book in exchange for my opinion. All comments and review are my own.
Amazon's Summary:
American horse trainer Adia Kensington is living her dream of working at the famous Janów Podlaski stables in Poland, where they breed the best Arabian horses in the world. But her plans to bring the priceless stallion Lubor to the US are derailed when the German army storms into her adopted country in 1939. Little does she know this is just the beginning of six long years of occupation that will threaten her beloved horses at every turn.
Bret Conway is at Janów Podlaski under the guise of a news reporter, but his true mission is intelligence gathering for the British. That and keeping Adia safe, which is harder and harder to do as she insists they must evacuate 250 horses to save them from being stolen, sold, or eaten by the invading forces. What follows will test their physical, mental, and emotional strength, as well as their faith in God, humankind, and each other.
Drawn from true events of World War II, this epic story of escape, capture, resistance, and love from debut novelist Nicole M. Miller will thunder into your heart like a herd of beautiful horses across a raging river.
My Take:
It's hard to believe this is a debut novel by Nicole M. Miller. I love WWII stories and this one was fascinating. This story is based on actual events that happened to Janow Polanski stables in Poland which is known to breed Arabian horses. The intervention of American Asia Kensington saves these prize horses from both the Germans and Russians.
I love reading books where the characters are well-developed and your become involved in their ives. Adia is such a character. She adopts Wygoda as a second home where she cares for her horses. The Germany invades Poland, she tries to lead several hundred horses across Poland. She faces all kinds of hardships with Ewan, a seven year old thief, and Bret Conway, a British intelligence officers.
I adored the romance that develops between Asia and Bret. Through their trials, they fall in love and their relationship takes off. The book is a thrilling adventure where the romance intensifies the story, so I won't give too many details.
Those who read my reviews know that I am a stickler for historical accuracy where it matters, and this book meets my high expectations.
About the Author:
Nicole M. Miller lives in Washington State with her husband and two sons, along with her Arabian horses, chickens, ducks, dogs, cats, and guinea pigs. As a longtime horse owner, she's been involved in many horse organizations, including serving on the Clark County Fair Court and as Miss Teen Rodeo Washington. She's received national and regional awards for her nonfiction from American Horse Publications and the Society of Professional Journalists.
