By Way of the Moonlight - by Elizabeth Musser

By Way of the Moonlight is an absolutely entrancing time-slip story. Even if you're not a horse person don't give up on this novel. It is a book rich in American history along with the author's own childhood memories. And with these two things, along with a love of horses, the author weaves a tale that will not leave you disappointed. In modern day, Allie has lost everything she holds dear. Her grandmother, the family farm, and her fiancé. But her grandmother promised that she'd have everything she'd need to keep the equine estate and fulfill her dream of opening an equestrian therapy center, land & money. So she searches for what she needs on the property. The historical portion of this story tells the full tale of Allie's grandmother, Barbara Dale, and the secrets she kept hidden her entire life. This is a beautiful story of love, forgiveness, and the freedom that honesty can bring. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Allie has always had three loves: Nana Dale, horses, and the dream of opening a horse therapeutic center. Nana Dale had promised to leave her mansion and valuable acreage to Allie for that purpose. But when her will was read, it had recently been redone, with the land and home going to an unscrupulous builder Nana Dale didn't like. Even working day and night, Allie is unable to prove the builder tricked her grandmother into signing the will update. Allie is also trying to find the answers to Nana Dale's mystery. The date she has to give up the property is fast approaching, and she has made no progress. Allie's fiancé, Austin, is convinced she is obsessed with all of it, so breaks up with her. What did Nana Dale mean when she said there would be plenty of money no matter what? What happened to Tommy, the love of her grandmother's life? Nana Dale said Allie would get all the answers about him, but where? How did Nana Dale reunite with her beloved horse, Essie, after she had to be sold for much need money to the Great Depression? Her search for answers will take her back to the 1930's, and World War II. What Allie finds out is not what she expected. There were lots of twists and turns, along with good advice about finding satisfaction in life. Among other things, this exciting tale dealt with solving a mystery, lost love, and problems between mothers and daughters. This clean, five-star book is done from a Christian perspective. I recommend it to fans of mysteries, relationships, and well-written stories. Bethany House Publishing has provided Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, By Way of the Moonlight, for the purpose of review.

This was an amazing dual timeline novel! I think it’s Elizabeth Musser’s best yet! I was glued to the story the whole time! Allie Massey’s dream has always been to have an equine therapy trauma recovery center in Hickory Hills, the legacy estate her grandmother was supposed to inherit her. But Nana Dale is gone now, and with her, all of her dreams too, as she unexpectedly sold the land to a developer just a short time before dying. But how can that be, when Nana Dale was the most wholehearted supporter of Allie’s dream? But when a mysterious letter from her grandmother is given to her after the reading of the will, Allie knows there is something else she has to discover, that holds the key to her dreams, and it will take caving deep into Nana’s history to get to the bottom of it. And the treasures she will discover will prove to be so much more than Allie expected. The story flashbacks to 1930-1940’s era to Allie’s grandmother’s childhood. Headstrong and determined, Barbara Dale Butler, is all about horses. Above all, she prays for the return of Essie, the prized filly her family lost to the great depression. But mostly, her heart is captured by her childhood best friend, her permanent companion in training and love of horses, who quickly becomes a national champion in equitation. And the key to Allie’s dreams -recovering Hickory Hills- may lie in Nana Dale’s history. Unexpected surprises await her. This truly was a fantastic dual timeline novel! I loved how the author passed from the contemporary to the Depression-World War Two era so seamlessly. The portrayal of the scenes, settings and historical context was so vivid that I felt I was transported right there. The descriptions of the horses, daily life, the trainings, competitions, and everything that happened seemed so vivid and realistic that it came alive in my imagination. I’m at loss of words at how good this book was! And I loved the main characters! Allie and Dale. Also Austin, but especially Tommy. They were flawed, and that made them so relatable. Allie and Nana Dale share similar traits, like determination, passion and stubbornness, that will take them far into what they want. The historical part was amazing, my favorite part. Actually, the current day part revolves around Nana Dale’s history too. It was a heart-tugging story that forged the heart of a girl into a strong woman through pain and loss. The storytelling is poignant, gritty, yet beautiful and inspiring. I felt deeply for Allie and Dale’s struggles and loss. Both women loved fiercely and grieved fiercely as well. The best part is how they both learn how to trust God amidst the tragedies they are facing. It was humbling. I really loved their characters! And there were secondary characters very endearing too, like Husy, Mr. Jeffreys, Barnell. Simple, loving characters. And so many things to learn about World War II American History! I didn’t know much about the Coast Guard Mounted Patrol, also called Sand Pounders, during this era. Or the Battle of the Atlantic, or how many merchant marines died because of the war. It left me spinning as I tried to imagine how many people suffered during this time. Also, Dale and Tommy’s relationship was so sweet and beautifully told. I don’t want to spoil the story, so I won’t give more details. But suffice to say, the story completely engaged me until the last page. It had unexpected twists, which captivated me, and the book left me thinking at the end, learning from the characters life experiences. It was a story of hope and redemption! I can’t recommend it highly enough! This book is a keeper. Forgot to say that I loved that it was based on the author’s family history and her parent’s home. So it’s based on true events, even if part of it is fictional. Loved it! I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

By Way of the Moonlight is a beautiful dual timeline story. The historical part tells Barbara Dale Butler's story from a young girl through young woman. She grows up with a great love of horses and trains and competes with her dear friend Tommy Ridley, who is a couple of years older. Dale is tiny in stature but feisty, very stubborn, and not afraid of hard work. The current day storyline centers around Dale's granddaughter, Allie, who has inherited her estate. She has plans to open an equine therapy center there. Allie and her family are shocked when they learn it has instead been sold to a developer. Allie's obsession with getting it back makes her a mess and causes trouble with relationships. There is somewhat of a mystery as Allie searches for answers about her grandmother's life. Both Dale and Allie have to learn the value of faith, especially when facing life's tragedies. Parts of this book are incredibly sad but there is a sense of hope. The historical aspects were very interesting, especially about the Coast Guard Mounted Patrol during World War II. Though I sometimes got impatient with Allie, I really enjoyed By Way of the Moonlight. I received a complimentary copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

"It will never be enough until you decide that you already have it all. You settle in your mind a grateful heart, a content spirit, and everything else will be gravy, girl." Elizabeth Musser has a beautiful and lyrical style of writing that draws you in completely into her world. She invites you to settle in to her characters' lives and become fully immersed in their experiences - the joys, the sorrows, the heartbreaks. The first person storyline narrated by Allie in 2020 is cohesively entwined with third person narrative of Allie's grandmother Dale spanning the 1930s and 1940s. Allie and Dale are quite similar in their passionate, driven personalities but Dale had seen much loss and grief, as well as triumph and purpose, that Allie just starts to discover when she attempts to organize her grandmother's estate after her passing. I loved Austin, the steadfast dependable one, from the present and Tommy, the adventurous daredevil, from the past and how easy it was to get to know them though the eyes of the women who love them. I learned quite a bit about horses, equine therapy, horseshows, and large animal vet work through the characters and the setting. Faith thread is strong and themes of true contentment and healing are powerful and moving. Poignant, nostalgic, and thought-provoking, this newest book by Elizabeth Musser is a must-read of 2022. I received the book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

Unforgettable!! What a beautiful and compelling story with an equestrian thread woven through both timelines, rich in history, including the Great Depression, and aspects of WWII that I had never known about. I absolutely loved it! Love, heartbreak, bravery, courage, and secrets are wrapped up in this incredible novel, along with a beautiful and gentle faith thread. "But Nana Dale was filled with secrets and surprises, not the least of which was barnyard wisdom that often included phrases that sounded a lot like they came from the Good Book." Excellent historical fiction, I highly recommend By Way of the Moonlight by Elizabeth Musser. I love learning about history through historical fiction! Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own. I have pre-ordered and received a copy to give as a gift!