Take Me Home - A Whisper Horse Novel | Heartwarming Equestrian Fiction Book for Adults | Perfect for Reading by the Fireplace or Beach Vacation

REVIEW OF SERIESAny native West Virginian knows every word of John Denver’s legendary hit and can sing the lyrics from the time they can follow the tune and form the words (or near sounds). “Take me home, country roads, to the place I belong. West Virginia, mountain mama, take me home, country roads.” Driving down the back lanes of the winding mountain roads you can almost hear the strains of the banjos and guitars blowing with the wind through your hair as it whistles through open windows of your vehicle.There is a sense of having arrived and wanting to belong, a sense of finding home every time you visit, or come back home. I should know, I lived in one of the most remote areas of the state, not too far from the settings of these three novels, for almost five years. Just like the scenes and places in the great Louis L’Amour’s novels, even though the names of the locales and business were fictionalized, I have walked the streets of similar towns in the area and am well acquainted with the personalities of many of the small locales. Nancy nailed the spirit of the small, isolated town in rural West Virginia. She was able to verbalize the spirit and genuineness of the people. In these three novels Nancy singlehandedly dispelled the longstanding aura of “dueling banjos” that has so haunted the area and villainized the souls of people who lived there. No wonder outsiders who wander through or seek a place of solace, find themselves putting down roots and settling in this little piece of heaven on earth. The central focus the three novels revolved around was a horse stable run by a former Olympic medalist. The name of the stable was Healing Springs Stable. Sharon, the owner of the stable, took in horses nobody wanted anymore or were old or ill. She also believed that every person had a Whisper Horse. Whisper Horse? No, not a horse whisperer, but a whisper horse. “A horse you can tell all your troubles to.” Horse owners have a special connection with their animals. Horses will run themselves to the ground for their owners, they respond to body language, to voice nuances. They are highly intelligent. Sharon’s idea of a whisper horse is not a bad idea. Horses need to be needed as much as humans need someone. Nancy recently quoted on her FB page about the friendship between man and his horse."When your horse follows you without being asked, when he rubs his head on yours, and when you look at him and feel a tingle down your spine...you know you are loved." --John LyonsThis energy and joy was evident throughout her novels. Until you have known the joy of a horse’s love, you have not known the joy of unconditional love.The stories, though each is a stand-alone, grow and build upon the one before it. The characters have active full lives that are not narrow in scope. They care about each other, their neighbors, and their community. They are close knit, and beware he/she who threatens one within their community. In fact, “community” is very much a sub-plot through the entire series. Community is very much a way of life in the mountains of West Virginia.Nancy Herkness has been recognized for her literary skills and abilities. In 2014 Country Roads received the nomination for the coveted RITA award for Contemporary Romance Novel. Then in 2015 The Place I Belong also received a RITA nomination. It is a privilege and honor to be able to write a review on this series.Review-Only someone who has had to run for their life, someone who has had to truly look over their shoulder in fear, could have expressed the fear and desperation that the young girl (Julia) was experiencing when she first arrived in Sanctuary, West Virginia. Nancy Herkness captured the essence of what it would be like to be suddenly on your own and alone. But what was she really running from or was it something she was striving to run to? The “White Knight” that comes to her rescue not only is the protector of her legal matters, but becomes the “Knight” who takes on the conquest of her heart.Once again Nancy pairs our heroine, Julia, up with an injured horse at the riding stable run by the former Olympic star, Sharon. This time the stallion is one that has been abused and strikes out at any and all who reach out to him – until he meets the red-headed Julia. An immediate spark between the two leaves the entire staff at the stables puzzled and awed as the two become inseparable.Nancy opened up in this telling of her story. The depth of the development of each of her characters, from the young artistic Julia and her love of painting horses to the gallant Paul who was the “white knight” and lawyer who fell head-over-heels in love with Julia from the moment he laid eyes on her. The characters lived and breathed as they walked between the pages. The back stories on some of the intricate details and focus points of the story gave it depth and weight that you would expect to “know” about everybody and everything in a small mountain town in the back woods of West Virginia.There were times I felt like I was walking along with the characters through the lanes and down the streets of Sanctuary. I could feel the rip of the wind through my hair as we raced down country roads and felt my stomach flip and roll with the sharp corners. I even felt the sting of the gravel on the country roads when riding the bike. Oh and the smell of the pine and moldering leaves high in the mountains where there was no pollution and only the smells of nature to catch your attention as you set on that cool damp moss by the river. Yes, I lived and loved every word of this wonderful novel. It is no wonder that it was nominated for the 2014 RITA Award!!A definite FIVE STAR review of my favorite novel by Nancy Herkness, to date!!!!