Zephyr Trails

by Nicki Ehrlich, Rebecca Stern (Narrator)

Winner of the Independent Publishers Book Award! (IPPY)

Winner of the Literary Titan Award!

The fine line between friends and enemies blurs as Ellis Cady sets out to reach the new frontier of post-Civil War America.

After waiting out winter at the Cady ranch in southern Missouri, hope blooms in the Spring of 1866. Ellis receives news of a mysterious man arriving in St. Louis. Will she find her father alive and well, or finally put his memory to rest?

Grasping at the illusive promise of her father’s whereabouts, Ellis is distracted by the intrepid trick rider, Jimmie, a woman who rides with Levi Jack’s Wild West Exhibition. Then, talk of reinstating a messenger service akin to the Pony Express rekindles a faded dream. Since the war’s devastation, important letters and messages still need to get through a Western landscape governed by Indians and outlaws. When an untimely epidemic threatens, Ellis finds herself back in the saddle, a young woman and her horse on a perilous trail.

Genres: Historical Fiction

Audible Audio

Published July 23, 2025

About the author

Nicki Ehrlich grew up in Southern Illinois before attending college at the University of Denver and later, Idaho State University, where she graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy/English. After living ten “horse-rich” years in Idaho, she moved on to Oregon, and later Washington, where she realized she had unwittingly traveled the Oregon Trail.

While living in the Pacific Northwest, Nicki continued to write fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Her debut novel, Ellis River, won the Independent Book Publishers Association's Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book - fiction. The novel was also a finalist for the Eric Hoffer First Horizons Award, and received an Honorable Mention for the Eric Hoffer Grand Prize. Nicki has won additional awards for her poetry and creative writing, including the Writer’s Digest Annual Poetry Awards and the Ray Fabrizio Memorial Award. Nicki holds a Certificate in Creative Writing from Monterey Peninsula College and is a member of the Central Coast branch of the California Writers Club. She also holds a Coast Guard Captain’s License and currently lives on California’s inspiring central coast where she is at work on the sequel to Ellis River.

Reviews

[Stanley McShane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my full review on Rosepoint Publishing.

Zephyr Trails continues the story of Ellis Cady of Book 1 who discovers herself alone following the end of the Civil War. After the loss of her twin brother, she assumes his identity to safely travel alone, cutting her hair and wearing male clothing. She is an accomplished horsewoman.

Ellis is seeking her father, said to have finished out the war in a POW camp. As she studies her options and refines her skills, she takes on a number of jobs, working with a Wild West show and signing up for Pony Express rides.

I liked her connection to the characters in the Wild West show, but had a bit of a problem with the pace of the storyline, which seemed to bog down a couple times. The thread with the father becomes convoluted and she struggles with her own identity.

Does she find her father and re-establish some semblance of family? Or will she find her way west?

I read Zephyr Trails as a standalone, perhaps would have been better had I started with Ellis River? I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley that in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.

[Lisa A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up.

Zephyr Trails is a great follow-on from Ellis River. I hadn’t realised this was a trilogy, so I was very excited to see there’s another book to follow. Although not a fast moving book, this one grabbed my attention, and I enjoyed experiencing a glimpse of life in post-Civil War America, a time when there was a lot of change, unrest and discrimination, and outlaws were running rampant.
Ellis Cady is on a journey to discover the whereabouts of her father who was imprisoned in the war. She continues to struggle to figure out who she is, so this is very much a journey of self-discovery as well. She stands firm about fulfilling her desire to travel West and won’t give in to peer pressure to settle down and marry. The story also deals with ptsd, something that little was known about at the time.
I recommend reading Ellis River before reading this one as it will all be a bit clearer and you’ll have more of an appreciation for the character of Ellis Cady and all she has endured to get where she is. I can’t wait to read book 3!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bay Feather Books, and the author, Nicki Ehrlich, for an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest & unbiased review.

[Athena (OneReadingNurse) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parts of this I really liked, others my mind kind of glazed over - definitely recommend for the horse girls if you like historical fiction set in the reconstruction era!

A few interesting glimpses at early awareness of PTSD and treating soldiers (not much), Jesse James and the western outlaws getting started, and a lot of coming of age/identity/teenager trying to find their way forward.

And of course the horses

Full thoughts to come

[Susan J. Barrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story felt like a series of excerpts from the life of the young rider, Ellis. The thread throughout was her search for her missing father, but the story felt a little disjointed to me.
I think that if you’re a huge horse fan, and fond of the post-civil war period in the US, this story would appeal to you. Otherwise, it’s pretty much a narrative about what Ellis does on a daily basis, her family and the friends she makes. There’s no real mystery to solve, and there’s no tension that you’d get with a thriller. I struggled to engage with it on an emotional level.
It’s the second book in a series (and I imagine there are more coming), so maybe I’d have been a little more invested if I’d read the first book, which I gather is about her experience of fighting in the civil war while disguising herself as a man.
I’m grateful to NetGalley and Bay Feather Books for the chance to listen to an ARC of the audiobook, which published on 20 June.
This one wasn’t really my cup of tea, so three stars from me.

[Star Gater · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Bay Feather Books | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks for allowing me to read and audibly review Zephyr Trails on NetGalley.

Narrated by Rebecca Stern

Published: 06/20/25

Stars: 3.5

Nice continuation of Ellis River, book one. Ellis is still hiding and taking on male jobs as she looks for her father and heads west.

This is a simple story. During the Civil War times people worked hard and went to church. Nothing was easy and there is only so many ways you can describe a job or terrain.

Recommend both books as a gift for a young reader.

I enjoy the narrator.

#NetGalleyNovember

[Dione Hanke · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great book! If you like historical fiction (civil war), stories about family, strong female characters, horses or nature this book is for you. The writing is moving and the characters are amazing.

Zephyr Trails is about a family after the Civil War. This family raised and sold horses before the war. So horses are a very special part of this story, just like they were in the author's last book, Ellis River. Ellis has her family torn apart by the war and is looking for family members that are missing.

I really enjoyed the audiobook for Ellis River. I was looking forward to listening to Zephyr Trails, but could not find the audiobook. The covers for both of Nicki Ehrlich's books drew me to the books.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Zephyr Trail by Nikki Ehrlich, with great narration by Rebecca Stern we learned the sequel to Ellis River. Ellis sets out dressed as her brother for St. Louis to run errands but mainly to put the question of her father to rest. In the last book Alice had heartbreak but it seems in this one she will have adventure for meeting Jimmy and hanging around with trick pony riders lead her to meet some strange horses while delivering mail with the Zephyr trail, from those she meets who may or may not be friend but foe to so much more it has been a while since I’ve read this book and thought I reviewed it but the one thing I remember most is I absolutely loved it. I love Alice and her “this is who I am“ attitude and Love following her on her trail rides adventures and even when she’s just home on the ranch. Will she find her father you’ll have to read the book to find out and it is so worth it I really enjoyed this book and truly and honestly recommended. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,#NikkiEhrlich, #TheZephyrTrails,

[Literary Titan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellis Cady, a spirited young woman, navigates a world fraught with uncertainty and change. Zephyr Trails opens in Southern Missouri, where she endures the harsh winter of 1866 on her family’s ranch. As spring breathes life back into the land, tantalizing rumors suggest that her father, presumed lost, may still be alive. Simultaneously, Ellis becomes captivated by Jimmie, a dynamic performer in Levi Jack’s Wild West Exhibition, and grows intrigued by whispers of a groundbreaking messenger service. Torn between her burgeoning interests and an unfolding epidemic, she finds herself grappling with the challenge of choosing the right path forward.

Zephyr Trails, by Nicki Ehrlich, weaves a stirring narrative of frontier life, blending a vivid historical backdrop with the inner turmoil of a compelling protagonist. Drawing comparisons to the Little House on the Prairie series and the works of Louis L’Amour, the novel expertly balances sweeping adventure with introspective character development. Ehrlich’s prose stands out as a hallmark of the book. Her distinctive style alternates between poetic lyricism and sharp immediacy, pulling the reader seamlessly through Ellis’s journey. This fluctuation mirrors the protagonist’s inner contradictions: a deep love for the wild beauty of horses and expansive landscapes tempered by the constant awareness of the era’s many perils. Ellis is a multifaceted character, torn between the quest to uncover her father’s fate and the pursuit of her own ambitions. Yet, like many young people, her aspirations remain tantalizingly undefined. The colorful and engaging characters she encounters, such as the fiery and unpredictable Jimmie, offer glimpses of the possibilities that lie ahead. Ellis understands that the resolution of her father’s mystery is essential before she can fully embrace her own future.

The novel’s charm lies in its ability to resonate with younger readers, especially those enchanted by stories of horses and the untamed West. While danger looms on the horizon, the narrative’s buoyant tone ensures that it never becomes overly dire. Like Ellis herself, the story brims with vitality, imbuing even the gravest moments with a sense of resilience and hope.

Nicki Ehrlich’s Zephyr Trails offers an enthralling journey through the rugged frontier, anchored by a protagonist whose courage and curiosity make her an unforgettable guide. Readers will find themselves swept up in this vibrant tale, eager to follow Ellis’s path as it twists and turns through the uncertainties of the Wild West.

[Tissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have this personal tradition that—well. No. Not really.



It’s more of a curse than a tradition, to be honest, but over time, I learned how to use it to my advantage. You see, I have the habit of starting a series from either the second or the third volume, never from the beginning. I don’t do it on purpose, I promise. It just happens—distraction, the previous volumes aren’t available anywhere, and so on.



Zephyr Trails, by Nicki Ehrlich, is the latest victim of this trend. The story of Ellis Cady starts with Ellis River, which I haven’t read. But! I did say I learned to use this to my advantage. If I’m able to follow a story no matter what, then it’s a mark on the plus column. Here, I’ve been able to dive right in! What happened in the first installment got recapped nicely enough, without being an infodump or just plain obnoxious. Well-done.



The story itself is quite interesting. There’s the main conflict about Ellis’ father, still in development, and new (to me!) conflicts that act as subplots. While reading, I started to empathize with Ellis and her struggles, even if my favorite character turned out to be Jimmie. Still, the whole cast read vibrant and vivid.



As for the technical parts, I appreciated a lot the balance between prose and dialogues. This is a personal bias, but I vastly prefer it when books rely on dialogues to advance the plot. On the other hand, Zephyr Trails is also slow-paced. More often than not, it happens when a story is prose-heavy, so that left me a little puzzled.



Per se, however, the grammar is sound.



This is part of a trilogy, I’ve been told. I’ll catch up with Ellis River first, and then wait for the last installment. My TBR pile is getting longer :D



4 stars on GR

[Maxine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zephyr Trails is the second novel by Nicki Erlich and continues the story of Ellis Cade which began in Ellis River. This is a beautifully written tale of life after the Civil War, more character-driven than action and, as such, it tends to follow a slower pace than the first book. However, that is not a bad thing. Sixteen-year-old Ellis is a strong resilient protagonist still dressing as a boy to be able to live as freely as possible at a time when women’s rights and freedoms were severely limited. But all of the characters, and there are a lot, many of whom we met previously as well as many new, are all well-drawn, with distinct personalities and back stories that make them come alive as individuals and make it easy to care about them. Even horses, and again there are many, are vividly drawn and distinct.

Ehrlich also provides a fascinating view of the changes in the country, the fascination with the west and the push westward, the wagon trains, the rise of the wild west shows, the building of the railways that meant the end to such iconic parts of the American story like the Pony Express. and the effects the war had on soldiers, both physical and mental, and the rise of lawlessness as many found it difficult to reenter this post-war society and felt a debt was owed.

Zephyr Trails is both entertaining and compelling and I found it almost impossible to put down. I had not realized that this is a trilogy but I am glad that there is more to come in Ellis’ story and look forward to reading more about Ellis’ saga as she makes her own way west.

I received an arc of this book from Netgalley and Bay Feather Books in exchange for an honest review

[Jeannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second in the trilogy about Ellis Cade. I absolutely loved Ellis River, the first book in the series, and this one is every bit as good. Ellis is still at her uncle's ranch in Missouri when she receives more clues about her father's possible survival after his Civil War imprisonment in Andersonville. Not sure if or how to pursue it, she is torn between family and new friends, finding her father or heading West, and is drawn to a local Wild West show and its troop, as well as a new Pony Express type start-up perfect for her skills. Ellis wrestles with the mystery of her father, and who she is in a complex, exciting, and emotionally satisfying story of new beginnings.
Nicki Ehrlich is a brilliant writer. Her prose is incredibly vivid, drawing you in to another time and place, its look and smell and sound. There is no past here, only now. Her characters are varied and believable. The strong are weak, and the weak are strong, and nothing is easy. The plotting flows organically from people's actions and decisions. Just a beautiful piece of work. Highly, highly recommended.

[Megan Blank · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Zephyr Trails” is the sequel to “Ellis River”; it is a story of self-discovery, as well as, Ellis’s journey to discover if her father is alive or dead. Against the backdrop of post-civil war, outlaws, unknown and new challenges propel Ellis on an adventure. Continuing to adopt her deceased twins identity she hops from job to job testing the waters of what she might want to do with the rest of her life while searching for the whereabouts of her father. It’s hard to remember that Ellis is only 16 when following this story, but war stole her naivety and innocence long ago. This is for lovers of historical fiction, horsewomen, affinity to nature and strong willed women. While not fast moving the story line is still intriguing enough to keep you coming back. I’m really looking forward to following these characters into the final book of this trilogy whenever it is finished.

If you liked Painted Horses by Malcom Brooks this might be for you.

Thank you #NetGalley, Bay Feather Books and Nicki Ehrlich for a copy for consideration and review.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a stand alone but it is part of a triology although I have not read any other books and could follow. Zephyr Trails is about a family after the Civil War. This family raised and sold horses before the war. So horses are a very special part of this story Ellis lost her twin to the war and her father who has finished his imprisonment due to the war. Provides a fascinating view of the changes in the country post war, the fascination with the west and the push westward, the wagon trains, the rise of the wild west shows, the building of the railways that meant the end to such iconic parts of the American story like the Pony Express. and the effects the war had on soldiers, both physical and mental, and the rise of lawlessness as many found it difficult to reenter this post-war society and felt a debt was owed. Well researched packed with information it is a bit slow but has some good content, 3.5 rounded up. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher.

[Vicuña · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a UK reader, but interested in the Civil War era in the USA and particularly the role of women, rodeos and Pony Express. So, for me, this tale brought together a number of those elements in a fictional setting. Elli, the central character is searching for her father…this is the second book in a series and I haven’t read the first. I guess there’s more character development and detail if read in sequence, but I enjoyed this as a standalone. I particularly enjoyed the way the free spirited women are depicted. They are strong characters and the post civil war period must have left many with difficulties establishing their role. I think the sense of adventure, freedoms and constraints are well told and I feel there’s a lot of accuracy wrapped around the fictional tale. Very well narrated throughout.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicki Ehrlich's 'Zephyr Trails' is the sequence to 'Ellis River'. It is 1866 and we follow the 16year old Ellis Cady and her horse Ace on her quest to find her father. She encounters many adventures on her way, meets Jimmie the trick rider and joins the Zephyr Post, a follow up to the Pony Express. But her ultimate aim is to find her father if he is still alive and to head West towards California.
From the way Nicki Ehrlich describes the horses and riding scenes you know she is a horse lover and that will appeal to fellow horsey people. If you are interested in historical fiction this novel gives a great insight into Amerca just after the Civil war. Ellis's adventures are captivating and demonstrate what a strong and resilient women she is.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audiobook. Many thanks to NetGalley, Nicki Ehrlich and the Publisher for making it available to me.

[Matt Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Ellis River, Ellis Cady survived the last days of the Civil War. In Zephyr Trails, she contemplates traveling west as she searches for her dad who hasn't come back from the war. As she's searching, she meets interesting people and has adventures, none of them too dire, but all fun to read. And she's so likeable.
It's a well-written book that takes you for an interesting trip, like a ride in the hills on a fall day.
And Nicki Ehrlich knows her horses. Her love affair with them shows up throughout the book in the details that she includes. Probably my favorite scene is when Ellis reunites with her horse, Billie, after a long absence. It was just one paragraph, but I felt the connection between them as if I were there.

[Julie Tully · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicki Ehrlich’s Zephyr Trails is engrossing and hard to put down! Picking up shortly after Ellis River, the reader is once again taken along for the adventure that is Ellis Cady’s life. While I am normally not a huge fan of “westerns”, Zephyr Trails is more a tale about finding oneself. Ellis Cady, a young girl on the cusp of womanhood, is an intricate and captivating character. The other individuals within her sphere are also well developed and equally intriguing. I never knew that a saga about a young woman on a journey through post-Civil War Midwest would hold my interest so tightly, but this one does…and I can’t wait for the next installment.

[Stacey E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid 3.5-star read for me, so I’m happy to round up for the sake of Goodreads. While I personally enjoyed Ellis River more, this was still a great follow-up, and I was glad to return and continue Ellis's journey to finding her father. I really enjoyed the narration—although they didn’t keep the same narrator from the first book, the new voice still fit the character well and felt cohesive with the overall tone. I just found out there’s going to be a third book, and I’m definitely ready for it!
Thank you, NetGalley and Bay Feather Books, for the opportunity to listen and review this advanced copy.

[Caro D · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 I enjoyed the continued story of Ellis after the war. The story felt a little slower compared to the first but it was nice to follow along her adventures and see her relationships develop along the way.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for this copy of Zephyr Trails. Can’t wait for book three!

[KayG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book with plenty of action and good characters. This is a look at the country after the Civil War. A young woman seeks to find her father as well as determine her future. The most interesting tidbit I learned was that the Pony Express sought to employ orphan boys under the age of eighteen because of the danger of the job.

Netgalley.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The war is over and Ellis is still looking for her Father.
It’s a good follow up to the previous one. I liked Ellis, her strength and desire to see California.
It’s kind of a slow movie book touching on several issues from that time. I’m looking forward to see if there’s more about Ellis.

[Vicki F · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow-paced. Had trouble connecting with the main character.

Releases June 25th. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. This is the sequel and continues Ellis’ journey post Civil War. There are Indians, outlaws, and of course lots of horses. The pace is slow but it’s still a good story.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great follow up to the author's book Ellis River! I would recommend reading the first book before this one to better understand Ellis and all that she endures in both books. The narrator did a fantastic job as well. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Tahera · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Life has a way of lining things up so we get the most out of them. You may not understand now, but you will."

"There is a west wind calling to me."

🐎🌬️🐎

Zephyr Trails begins a few months after where Ellis River ended. After getting reaquainted with her uncle and aunt and her book getting published, Ellis Cady is ready to go out in search for her father, who reports suggests is still alive. More so, the call of the west wind and settling in the new frontier spurs Ellis to new adventures, forging new friendships along the way.

Like the first book, the story telling is engaging and beautiful. Ellis is on a journey to not only find her father but to also find her life's purpose and I loved seeing her grow in confidence each step of the way.

Easily, one of my favourite books I have read this year.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bay Feather Books and the author Nicki Ehrlich for the digital ARC.

The cover picture is once again stunning 😍.