Releasing the Reins: A Novel

by Catherine Matthews

Secrets hiding on the tundra…

In the dawning of summer, the rugged landscape of rural Alaska sets the stage for a tale of determination and dark secrets. Headstrong Bunny O’Kelly arrives on the sprawling expanses of Buck Miller’s horse ranch with the fiery ambition to make a name for herself. Against the backdrop of wild horses and unchecked wilderness, she embarks on a grueling journey to prove her worth, not just as a ranch hand, but as a woman in a world that doesn’t want her.

But when Bunny stumbles upon the shattered remnants of Katie Miller’s life, the ranch transforms into a web of lies. Katie’s fatal accident, long unexamined, whispers of hidden truths and cloaked motives. As Bunny delves deeper, she uncovers a sinister layer to the tragedy and finds herself caught in a dangerous game where her quest for justice could unravel the very fabric of her newfound haven . . . yet silence could enshrine a killer’s freedom.

Releasing the Reins spurs you to unravel its mysteries. Can Bunny O’Kelly expose the truth when trust shatters and daylight reveals the deadliest secrets?

PRAISE FOR RELEASING THE REINS
“It takes writing chops to create a women’s fiction/mystery/modern western mash-up like Releasing the Reins, but author Catherine Matthews does it seamlessly. Set in the wild expanses of Alaska farmland, this debut novel honors the majestic landscape, explores the power of the human/animal connection, and exposes the destructive force of family secrets. Bunny O’Kelly is an intriguing smart-witted, strong, stubborn, and a little lost. Her journey to unravel a hidden truth is also a hard path of self-discovery—readers will love her, fear for her, and root for her to find the answers she desperately needs. An up-all-night page-turner.”
- Carla Damron, award-winning author of Justice be Done, The Orchid Tattoo, and The Stone Necklace

“Fierce, vivid, and utterly captivating, Releasing the Reins is a must-read for anyone who enjoys hidden truths, rugged wilderness, and characters who are never quite what they seem.”
- S.G. Prince, author of To Poison A King

“Catherine Matthews shines in her debut novel about a young woman taking on gender bias and tackling her past in the ranching world of Alaska. Matthews’s characters are richly drawn, and the book is fast paced with an edge of danger. A definite page turner. I highly recommend!”
- James D. Shipman, bestselling author of Before the Storm, Beyond the Wire, and Irena’s War

“Evocative. Suspenseful. Lush. Matthews paints the world of an Alaskan horse ranch with unsurpassed skill, as she takes the reader deep into the tundra, and into the dangerous world of Bunny O’Kelly, a female ranch hand in a world of men. As Bunny fights to carve out a home for herself in this unforgiving terrain, she stumbles upon a mystery that she just cannot leave alone. Does a murderer walk free in this close-knit community? Readers will find themselves devouring pages deep into the night as they join Bunny on her suspenseful quest for the truth and for self-discovery. 5 Stars!”
-Heather E. F. Carter, award-winning author of The Black Unicorn

Genres: Fiction, Westerns, Mystery, Suspense, Audiobook, Womens Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

Published June 17, 2024

About the author

Catherine Matthews is an award-winning author who starts her day at 4 a.m. with a cup of coffee and an online writing session with her favorite authors from around the world. A proud Pacific Northwest native, she brings her roots to the page by telling the stories about strong women who face the storm and live their dreams—and the faithful hounds who love them. Her books, including the award-winning Releasing the Reins and Roadside Sisters, are filled with laughter, tears, and the reminder that we are all more powerful than our fears. When she’s not writing, she can be found baking bread, road-tripping with her husband, and enjoying a fire pit with friends and her two beloved dogs, Wally and Delta.

You can connect with her on Facebook, Threads or Instagram or visit her webpage:
www.catherinematthewsauthor.com.

Reviews

[Kendall Gilstad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. Heartbreaking. Inspiring. Heartwarming. Empowering. This book drew me in from the beginning and kept me entertained throughout the whole thing. Congratulations, Catherine Matthews, on creating and publishing this amazing story!

P.S. I need a Ruff in my life!!

[MarvelouslyMad · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the opening paragraph, to the last sentence, Catherine Matthews holds your attention with her strong, multidimensional and very relatable main character, Bunny.
I was immediately sucked in by the captivating writing style, realistic dialogue, and the beautiful descriptions of Alaskan farm life.

This is a wonderful debut novel and I cannot wait to read what comes next!

[Jen Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Releasing the Reins is an epic novel filled with beautiful scenery, a heroine that you root for from the first page, and an abundance of meaty layers. The multiple plot threads all weave together to create a book full of emotion and intrigue leading readers through the unforgiving Alaskan tundra alongside Bunny O’Kelly as she finds her footing in the male-dominated ranching world. So when Bunny stumbles on clues that the rancher’s daughter’s death was anything but accidental, she must decide if she’s going to continue down what might be an even more dangerous path toward unveiling the truth. All these elements combine to create an engaging and fast-paced story. Catherine Matthews is an emerging writer to watch and follow.

[Lisa Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

My sister has horses and I've seen the beautiful friendship that can develop between a horse and their person. I love reading books that incorporate this incredible bond into the storyline. The Alaskan setting is described so well I could every scene perfectly as I read. Bunny is an exceptional character and I loved every minute of this coming-of-age mystery. Her friendship with Carolina, her found family, and the love of a dog named Ruff all contributed to Bunny finding her place in the world and she made it possible for them to find out the truth and be okay with life as they knew it. This heartwarming novel will keep you turning the pages long into the night.

I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Gabi Coatsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

One reason I read is to trace to another place. This book is the first time I’ve traveled to Alaska and I loved it. The author clearly knows the wilder parts of that states, what it is to be a farm hand out there and her love of horses shines through. Pair those with great characters, a mystery that needs solving and a coming-of-age heroine and you have a very satisfying read.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the development of the characters in this book! Bunny O'Kelly, a gritty, determined ranch hand leaves all that she knows behind to prove herself in the back country of the Alaskan tundra. Bunny is resolute, but I love the way the author captures her internal dialogue, both doubt and determination in every situation. The plot shifts from present to past as the author weaves a story of love, jealousy, bitterness and tragedy, leaving Bunny to slowly unravel the mystery of Releasing the Reins. The description is so beautifully written, you can feel the soft fur of Bunny's canine companion or the velvety nuzzle of her horse. As the mystery evolves, Matthews builds the denouement in artful anticipation... and you will not put it down!

Loved the story, and cannot wait for book two!

I received an ARC of this book free of charge from the author/publisher.

[C. D'Angelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievably inspiring, shocking, and memorable, Releasing the Reins is a debut novel you’ll love. I was intrigued from page one through the very last page, pulling for Bunny and needing to know the answer to the story’s mystery. This book shows endless strength and determination in the human race with genuine heart and spirit to boot (a little ranch humor for you!).

[Donna Comeaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

Releasing the Reins doesn’t withhold any secrets. It’s not a book you can’t figure out. Matter of fact, the author, Catherine Matthews, reveals how the death of one of the characters unfolds after reading about one-third of the book. Though the story holds your interest, I thought the author needed to add explosive scenes (e.g., injure one of the best horses, or allow the barn to catch on fire, etc.) to fuel the tension in the story.

The book fails to convince you that two of the characters are in love. Catherine Matthews does more telling the reader they are in love rather than showing the reader. There isn’t adequate affection between the characters to convince the reader they are heads-over-heels for each other. They don’t think much about each other when they are apart. And there’s no sexual tension, a key element even for a Christian novel to be successful.

The book is also confusing in a number of ways. The time period switches between 1982 and 1984, and the story is told from five points of view. To make matters worse, many of the characters’ names begin with the same letter, making this book hard to read, especially toward the end of the story.

Catherine Matthews’ writing style is laid-back, easy to read, but at times the tension abruptly ends and deflates, or there just wasn’t enough tension.

When it is all said and done, Catherine Matthews seemed more interested in showcasing her knowledge about horses than a tightly-woven plot. And for that reason, this is a great book to read if you need to know how to care for horses.

[Linda Zagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catherine Matthews, the Author of “Releasing the Reins” has written an exhilarating, captivating and intriguing novel filled with adventure.The Genres for this book are Women’s Fiction, Mystery and Suspense, Women’s Action and Adventure Fiction, and Adventure. The novel’s timeline is approximately,1984 and 1986 in Rural Alaska at a Farm and Horse Ranch. In the well-written novel, the author vividly describes the landscape, scenery, and animals in Alaska, and the dramatic characters. I love seeing the horses and dog described with distinctive personalities interacting with the characters. I also appreciate that the author describes how some women are courageous, bold, and determined to prove they are just as capable as men in certain situations.

One of the female protagonists Bunny (Benny) O’ Kelly leaves her comfortable home, a dairy farm, when her father tells her that the brothers will inherit his ranch. Both of her parents expect Bunny to marry and settle down. With a heavy heart, Bunny leaves the ranch, as Benny, to work on a horse ranch in Alaska. Bunny (Benny) is determined to prove she can work as hard as any male ranch hand. Bunny shows exceptional talent in training and riding the horses. She also manages to accomplish difficult manual tasks. Both the owner and ranch hands make her feel unwelcome and uncomfortable.

Bunny discovers that the boss’s daughter Katie Millie had been killed in a tragic accident two years prior to this. Bunny also discovers Katie’s car, and other property that seem to show suspicious activity. Some of the characters are manipulative, jealous, power-hungry, and could be suspect of foul play. There are SECRETS and BETRAYALS. The more that Bunny searches for answers, there is more danger and the possibility of at least one murder and cover-up. Bunny herself is putting her life on the line. I highly recommend this suspenseful and intense novel.

[Joan Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the rough glorious setting of Alaska as its backdrop, this captivating story of a young woman, Bunny, and her determined search for acceptance is wonderfully absorbing. After bolting from a family where being female felt like a handicap, Bunny arrives at a ranch to prove to the rancher (and herself) that she can do any work required. Yet, haunting her footsteps is another girl, Katie, whose absence hangs like a ghost over two feuding Alaskan ranchers. When Bunny decides to investigate she finds herself caught in between the past and present as she unravels missing pieces from Katie’s circumstances. A twisty plot with mysterious clues makes this a fun, fast-paced read. But it’s Bunny’s stubborn determination and physical toughness—all designed to mask an aching vulnerability— that made this book a winner for me. In the end she discovers the approval she’s looking for is herself - so satisfying! BTW - I loved the author’s familiarity with horses and her affectionate inclusion of a dog named Ruff (lol!)

[Marina DelVecchio · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is WOW! I have long thought about women taking up space -- not just the domestic sphere of home and kitchen and motherhood, which we are allowed to enter -- but the physical, open spaces of public domain that men are welcomed and feel safe occupying. This book has all of that and more.

From the first page, with both Bunny and Katie, we find ourselves experiencing the frustrations we often encounter when we watch women try to occupy male-dominated spaces. In this case, it's the physical, rugged, open spaces of ranch work in Alaska. This book is a tribute to female resistance and independence, as it shows us women fighting to be seen as more than fragile, dim-witted girls -- because these girls show physical prowess, mental fortitude, and resilience despite all the resistance they face from the men who live and breathe theses spaces as if they own them.

Brava to Catherine Matthews for crafting such relatable experiences albeit in spaces I have not known but have dreamt of inhabiting. And the writing is flawless and rich with details that made me feel as if I were actually there. Great book!

[Chelsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved Bunny's story! Having grown up on a diary farm, she has always had a love of animals so when her father makes a hurtful decision about the future of the farm she decides to make her own future. Having accepted a position as a ranch hand, off she heads to a horse farm in Alaska, it cannot be much different than a diary farm. Animals and lots of physical labor, which she is used to. But Alaska and a horse ranch is much different and she once again finds she has to prove herself. Determined not to give up, she pulls her own weight but the one thing that constantly gets her in trouble is her mouth. As she gets into routine, things seem to settle down a bit and Bunny seems to be growing up Bucky a bit. He is allowing her to do more things and is slowly starting to trust her decisions and insight into the horses, but when she starts to ask questions about his daughter Katie, and gets asked on a date from someone from Katie's past, things start to go downhill and quickly. So when she uncovers what really happened to Katie, it seems this is the last straw even though she was only trying to give Bucky some closure. It seems she may not fit here after all, and all she has worked for will soon be in the rearview mirror. Was this all just another life lesson for Bunny or will she be able to safe face and not have to tuck tail back home? I really loved this read! I loved the ranch, the horses and the characters. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

[Marilyn Goncalves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope you all put this debut novel on your TBR. From the characters to the setting to the mystery and storyline this book left me wanting more.
Bunny moves to Alaska to work as a ranch hand where she’s met by a few who are out to prove to her that this isn’t a world she should be in. That’s not going to stop Bunny, she’s determined, smart, tough and fierce. She will not only stand up for herself but also for those who cannot. Bunny won me over from the first page to the last.
This was an engrossing story and it was fun getting to know the characters.

[Sydney Hampton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A debut novel you will love from the first chapter. Bunny is a feminist icon that knows taking the easy road isn’t always easy what you are meant to do. Bunny and the rest of the characters are so relatable and the details of Alaska are so vivid you’ll feel like you’re there. Overall I loved this book only gave it four stars because I wanted more from the ending at least a few more fictional days or weeks.

Thank you to Victory Editing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bunny/Benny was such an amazing character and had a strong spirit within herself. She leaves her family when it's made clear the dairy farm will go to her brothers and she doesn't get a share. Even though she's worked on it alongside them. She ends up at a horse ranch in the Alaska wilds. There she will stumble into the life of Katie who died 2 years before.

This was set in the '80s and she still had to prove that she could do hard work on the ranch to the men there. Jake especially makes it hard on her. Buck is Katie's dad and I'm glad he eventually softened towards Benny. She almost gets in serious trouble when she just can't let go of the mystery surrounding Katie's death.

I could just imagine myself in this place while reading. It's so lush with detail.

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the dual timelines of 1982 and 1984 as well as the multiple points of view to tell this story that has family drama and secrets. It also has a subtle mystery which makes it a page turner.

The book is set in the Last Frontier (aka Alaska) on horse ranches which gives a peek into that lifestyle.

The book focuses on two women: Katie in the 1982 timeline and Bunny in the 1984 timeline.

Bunny has left her home to come to Alaska to work as a ranch hand. Only the owner, Buck Miller, thinks that he has hired someone named Benny not Bunny.

Katie is Buck’s daughter. She dies in an accident in 1982.

This was a great read. I loved that even though it’s set in Alaska we are given a different perspective of that state than just glaciers.

[Marie Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bunny O’Kelly flees to the wilds of Alaska to prove to herself and others that she can make it on her own. Her journey takes an unexpected turn, however, as she exposes the truth about a tragic accident, putting her own life in danger. You won’t be able to put it down.

[Air · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enthralling mystery wrapped up in a book about account finding one’s place. Bunny leaves the comfort of family after feeling like she doesn’t belong, in more ways than one, to the Alaskan ranch life to show them just what she can do. But there’s a mystery in place that only she feels she can solve, that she’s drawn to. This was a beautiful read with such captivating wiring and it had such a great message to share as well. I definitely recommend!

Thank you to the author and suzzy approved book tours!

[Laurie Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the characters! Bunny trying to find where she belongs in the world, Jeremiah struggling with the past and trying to find his way! The mystery that impacts them all, and a life that ended too soon all make this a great read from new author Catherine Matthews.

[Sherry Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This captured my heart from beginning to end! It was touching, heartbreaking, and had hidden secrets. The short chapters made the reading go fast and had me reading late in the night! It was fantastic!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the end of this book especially.

[Christy Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a compelling read. The dual timelines and multiple POV worked well and I really enjoyed the small town Alaska setting. It was a great mix of family drama and dynamics plus a mystery. Bunny/Benny was such a determined character and my heart ached for the lack of support she got from her family. I was rooting for her big time as she charted her own course.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful descriptions and engaging characters fill this page turner. Hard to put down, Releasing the Reins keeps the reader wanting more—you'll be sucked in until the last page.

[Stacy Pisano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish It Were Longer!

I liked so many things about this book from the setting, to the character development and including the different chapters told from alternating perspectives. I didn’t want to put it down and felt sad when it was over because I enjoyed being immersed in the story so much. A great read!

[Jamie Edson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has to be on your must read list. Matthews expertly constructs a world you can see, smell, taste, touch, and feel. Even though I’ve never been on an Alaskan ranch, it felt so familiar to me, as if it welcomed me in like a home. Her characters become your friends and your enemies all in their turn. That’s why I love this book, but the reason it settled in my heart is the fierce woman at the center. Bunny understands how it feels to be undervalued, but it doesn’t stop her from showing what she brings to the table. In learning to live in her authenticity and standing up for her truth and the truth of those silenced, she impacts those around her in profound ways. This book is utterly un-put-a-down-able.

[Booksandcoffeemx · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those stories that just by reading the book description I knew I was going to love, and I was right. I love books set in Alaska and Bunny’s character was fantastic, add to that a bit of mystery and the result was powerful. Amazing debut.

[Lynn Tipping · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!

This story hooked me from the start and I am really hoping there will be a sequel. Definitely worth reading.

[Tig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I could really relate to Bunny/Benny. I had a hard time setting this book down, I did not want it to end. This debut novel is exceptional and I cannot wait for more from this author.

[Deborah Oberreich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story