I received this novel as a birthday present recently and devoured it in a number of days. It’s a great mixture of horses, voting for the underdog, overcoming racial prejudices, romance, rediscovering your faith and being committed to your word.
Set in the late 1800s, Maggie Linden and Cullen McGrath are fighting their own battles to get what they most desire in life. Maggie has an extremely talented thoroughbred mare that she can’t ride in races, nor can she claim to be her trainer – because of her gender. Cullen McGrath is struggling to purchase land and live a quiet life, farming in Nashville in spite of having the money. Most Americans loathe the Irish and refuse to do business with them, going so far as to threaten their lives if they think of putting roots down on US soil.
Maggie lost her brothers to the war and her mother to a broken heart. Her ailing father is all she has left and a chance meeting with Cullen provides the one American who is willing to sell his land – at a greatly reduced price – with a catch.
Cullen wants to hide away from society and yet knows that he cannot if he agrees to purchase this land – and with it, a bride in the form of Maggie Linden. Although the purchase of such a property is sure to save Maggie from the heartache of losing the farm she’s grown up on and the mare she is desperate to race, she is far from thankful to the Irishman for his purchase.
Dismayed at having been sold to a man she doesn’t even know, her anger deepens when she discovers his roots. Even Cullen’s hint at a background with racehorses causes to be more of a hindrance then a help.
To Win Her Favor is an incredibly well written story. It moves forward at a good pace, is written emotively and covers aptly the issues of racism, sexism and standing up for what is right. Highly recommended.
Author – Tamera Alexander
http://www.tameraalexander.com/
Fiction – adult, historical
In my library? – definitely is!
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.
“The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit and freedom.” – Sharon Ralls Lemon
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