Rebecca Quinn escapes her controlling husband and, with nowhere else to go, hops the red-eye to Arizona. There, Gaby Strand - her aunt's college roommate - gives her shelter at the Salt River Inn, a 1930's guesthouse located in the wildly beautiful Tonto National Forest.
Becca struggles with post-traumatic stress but is enthralled by the splendour and fragility of the Sonoran Desert. The once aspiring artist meets Noah Tanner, a cattle rancher and beekeeper, Oscar Billingsley, a retired psychiatrist and avid birder, and a blacksmith named Walt. Thanks to her new friends and a small band of wild horses, Becca adjusts to life in the desert and rekindles her love of art.
Then, Becca's husband tracks her down, forcing her to summon all her strength. But can she finally stop running away?
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[Authorities are asking for the public's help to find a suspect who shot three wild Salt River horses on Friday evening]***
(@NextChapterPB, 14 June 2020, 200 pages, e-book, #ARC from the author and voluntarily reviewed)
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I'd never heard of the author before but the blurb made this book sound different than the stuff I usually read just when I wanted to read something different so I decided to give it a shot. This is very different than I was expecting. The book focuses on domestic violence and the impact of PTSDA caused by living in such an environment. The main character flees an abusive relationship and finds hope and the possibility of a new life in the Tonto National Forest and the Sonoran Desert. This is well written, powerful and engaging book. The characters were really developed and felt very real. The forest and desert are brought to life with lovely images and descriptions. The book is darker than I expected at times but never too dark if you know what I mean. Given the subject matter it's easy just to focus on the violence and pain but this book is full of hope as well. This is a great read.