DNF 20% - this story moves so slowly. I don't want to read it anymore. Sorry, but the pace really needed to pick up way earlier on. The tornado scene was great, but the reminiscing and all of the details are just way too much. The level of detail the author gives would be what I'd want to read regarding my own grandmother - not a fictional character.

https://www.amazon.com/Way-Moonlight-Elizabeth-Musser/dp/0764238809/ref=asc_df_0764238809/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=564680339415&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17915092908445460924&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019676&hvtargid=pla-1596528051119&psc=1


This is a review for By the Way of the Moonlight, by Elizabeth Musser, which will be release on August 2, 2022. It is published by Bethany House.

I was drawn to this book because of its author, which I really love her books, and because it is about horses, which I also love as I grew up on ranch in Idaho. Even though I am a huge fan of Christian historical fiction, which is the genre of this book, I am not normally a fan of multi period novels, but I decided to give this one a try because I love Elizabeth Musser's work, and Bethany House hasn't published a book yet that I have been disappointed in. Its like I tell my grandson, Atlas, when he doesn't want to try something new: just try it because you might like it. Well the same happened for me here, because when I tried this book, I didn't only like it, I ended up loving it!

The story begins in modern day Atlanta where Ellie, who has always dreamed of inheriting her grandmother's beautiful home and horse barns and arenas so she could fulfill her dreams of opening a equine therapy treatment center, finds herself at a point where those dreams have seemed to come to a screeching halt! The place where her beloved grandmother, Nana Dale, grew up riding her beloved horses, and showing those horses in competitions all throughout the years with many blue ribbons, silver cups, and trophies to show for it, also passed on her love and passion for horses to her granddaughter, Ellie, but more than just love and passion for horses, and would be a perfect place for her equine therapy center. Her grandmother agrees, and together they start making plans to open it, but then Dale dies, and Ellie finds out her grandmother sold the whole place. Now Ellie must go through all Nana Dale's things, and it lead her down the road of Nana Dale's life, and many secrets. It looks like there is no hope, but you must read to find out what happens, as I don't want to spoil it!

Nana Dale's story would take Ellie down a road that would eventually teach her about life - how to love deeply, how life can be glorious one minute, and cruel the next, how some things that seem insignificant in your life at one turn, end up being the most important, and how God uses our pain and suffering to mold and make is into the people we are today. Ellie also learns a lot about herself through Nana Dale's story, and she will see that the things we do in our lives affect future generations, some for the good and some for the not so good. Ellie will also learn what the true meaning of love is through Nana Dale's relationship with a crazy, but incredibly handsome boy named Tommy, who is a fellow horse lover, and who competes with Dale in all her competitions, and whose wild romance will keep you turning the page. Ellie will be led to stories of amazing courage and selflessness through the men and women in America who helped keep our shores safe during WWII. She will also learn through Nana Dale's story never to give up, and to rely on the Lord, as Dale was taught by her beloved nanny Husy, who teaches her that faith doesn't keep bad things from happening, "But faith helps you walk through those things, whipped and angry and screaming on the inside. Lord don’t mind our screaming and raging."

So, as you read this book Ellie will learn a lot from her grandmother's life, which will help guide her own life, maybe not in the way Ellie has always planned, or maybe it will go as planned...you have to read to find out!

I was engaged in this story from the beginning. The reason I don't really like multi period novel is because they never seem to flow well for me, but this book did. Elizabeth Musser began with Ellie's story, which easily tied into her grandmother's story, and then kept adding to that story, but it was easy to follow, and very exciting! This book kept surprising me over and over again. I learned a lot during this book, and loved how she visited the era of WWII. Usually when I think of WWII, I think of battles in Europe, but through this book, I learned the war came to our shores, and there were many courageous men and women, many who were volunteers, not all tge men military men, like Tommy, who was unable to sign up for the military, but still wanted to serve his country, so he and many others used their horses, and headed to the coasts to keep us safe, and there were many who killed who were protecting our shores right here in America! So I humbly enjoyed learning about that!

What I loved the most about this story was watch Dale's life unfold, which then affected Ellie's life, and eventually helped Ellie figure out Gods plan for her life. I am a grandmother, and this book made me think about the legacy I am leaving, and I am so glad that like Dale, I am leaving my grandchild a legacy of belief in Jesus!

Usually a fiction story tells us what the reader wants to hear, everyone falls in love and lives happily ever after, but that's not realistic! In this story there was love, yes lots of it between Dale & Husy, Dale & Ellie, Dale & Tommy, but there was a lot more than just love, which included lots of great times, but also frustration when life didn't turn out like the characters thought, or hard times came, or even when hearts were broken, but instead of letting life beat them down, both Dale & Ellie surrendered to Gods plan for their lives, and both experienced joy throughout their lives although they also experienced heartaches. The heartaches didn't make them bitter, but helped mold them into who they became, which was strong women who God used mightily! So after reading this book, I know that I have been right to put my faith in God like they did, and realized that hard times happen but as Husy tells Dale one day when she asked Husy how she keeps on living after Husy experienced a deep loss, and this was her answer, "“Bitterness’ll rot out your soul, Miss Dale. You know we’ve talked about that many times. Barbara Dale, you may never get the answer on this side of life to the why, so it’s much better to ask the question ‘Now that I’m in this place, Lord, what do You want me to do?’” What do You want me to do?"
Great advice Husy!

I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars and would highly recommend it! You won't be able to put this book down! It's so interesting, an unpredictable! It was highly enjoyable!!

Horses are not my favorite animals, but I did enjoy this book. I liked the chapters going back and forth between Allie and Dale. This was a very different perspective on historical fiction during the war. I will recommend it to our library patrons.

I like the way the author incorporated the two timelines, with the present-day character uncovering clues to her grandmother's past in order to save their dream of turning the family estate into a horse-therapy endeavor. I thought the ending came together at little quick, but all in all an enjoyable read.

A stunning novel, By Way of the Moonlight transports readers back to a time where the world knew hardship and struggles—the Great Depression and WW2, shedding light on aspects of the war that make this book stand out amongst the others. This book made me smile, hold my breath in anticipation, made my heart hurt and put it back together again. That, coupled with a beautiful demonstration of bravery, love, and sacrifice—what more could you ask for in historical fiction?

By Way of the Moonlight is a book to prioritize high on your TBR!

This book has a lot to offer for readers of romance novels. There is Depression Era coming of age, World War II romance, horses, and contemporary romance. I have many friends who would enjoy this book. Elizabeth Musser has written a deeply contemplative novel that tells two stories--the story of Barbara Dale Butler growing up through the Depression and her love of horses. There is a story of Allie Masset, Dale's granddaughter who has inherited Dale's horse ranch/riding stable.

Elizabeth has used the dual time aspect of the novel in the most cohesive way possible. Allie is trying to learn about her grandmother's life while at the same time trying to save her grandmother's legacy. All her grandmother's life, the family homestead has been the target of unscrupulous relatives, and Allie is finding out that Nana Dale had sold it to one of those relatives who wants to take the ten acres and make a housing development, but a letter from Nana Dale gives hints to Allie that there may be a way to save the homestead. This becomes Allie's obsession to the detriment of her relationship with Austin, her once fiancé.

I learned a lot of things about horses, riding, the Sand Pounders of the Coast Guard, and about my own faith. Elizabeth is not shy about showing how much faith sustains us in the hardest of times and that gave me a mental boost while I read the book.

One of the things I learned about horses is that flea-bitten is not a pejorative, but a designation of color. It is a primarily white or grey horse with darker spots all over the body of the horse.


This is not a story to rush through, but to read in increments, slowly digesting the tidbits and nuggets of truth woven into the fabric of the narrative. It is a five-star book, with two thumbs up, and an equine therapy center.

Bethany House Publishing provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

BY WAY OF THE MOONLIGHT by ELIZABETH MUSSER is a beautifully written novel in which the author’s Christian beliefs form a strong foundation for the main characters in the story. I also love the horse theme and the fact that each horse has its own character and is cherished by its owner.
Allie Massey has always had a close relationship with her feisty grandmother, Nana Dale, which is largely based on their love of horses. This leads to Allie’s determination to carry out her grandmother’s dream of turning Hickory Hills into an equine healing centre. This hope is dashed when Nana Dale’s will is read.
Allie digs deep to uncover Nana Dale’s well hidden secrets. The author moves easily between the present day and the 1930’s and war years, gradually uncovering the mysteries of the past and giving us insight into the characters’ emotions.
This book, with its wonderful cast of characters, touches on so many topics auch as dysfunctional relationships between mothers and daughters, forgiveness, being thankful for what one has rather than wishing for the next thing, an answered prayer which brings encouragement to many, WW11 and the Battle of the Atlantic where the Sand Pounders patrol the coast, and so much more, including some heartwarming romance.
i highly recommend By Way of the Moonlight as an enjoyable and inspirational read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

By Way of the Moonlight by Elizabeth Musser is a time-slip novel featuring a horse ranch and broken dreams. The synopsis says some elements of the Great Depression and World War II, but the time period really was not that important to the story. The story does feature a modern day heroine, Allie, who is on a hunt for a cedar box among her grandmother’s things to see what was in it. The past is showing Dale, her grandmother’s, story and legacy with the horses. The writing was deep and could have been a lifechanging story for Allie and Dale, but the first third of the novel was really hard to get in to. The story does show Dale as she matures and starts to fall in love with Tommy. BUT in my personal opinion, there is no action. It appears to be a dynamic story, but I really need more action. Maybe have the heroine and hero react more to what happened to their family during the Great Depression. Show how it affected their riding life. Show how it affect their family dynamics and friendship. The Great Depression was such a horrible time for families and should have been a horrible time for Dale’s family, but Musser glazed over it and focused on the horse training and young love. After a while, I prayed for the novel to end. I flipped through the story, praying to find some World War II action. Not much of that either. Overall, By Way of the Moonlight by Elizabeth Musser really did not capture my attention. I had a really hard time with the plot, wanting more.

I received a complimentary copy of By Way of the Moonlight by Elizabeth Musser from Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

I stayed up way past midnight last night finishing this book! I loved it! Musser does such a good job in weaving together the 1930s and 40s timeline story of Dale and Tommy with the 2020s story of Allie and Austin, and the mysteries affecting both stories. The characters become good friends (or enemies to boo over), and then there’s horses! Add in World War II shore patrols, things hidden that need to be found, mothers and daughters not understanding each other, broken hearts and broken bodies, and a plot twist right at the end that I never expected. Over all are the themes of finding contentment in what you have and learning to embrace the paradoxes of life. I highly recommend this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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