The Train to Santa Fe

by Ginger Pinholster

In the 1880s, sixteen-year-old Chenoa, a gifted Tewa potter, boards one of the first trains from Española to Santa Fe, desperate to save her family from a bitter winter. Her journey sets in motion a legacy shaped by survival, sacrifice, and silence. Generations later, her granddaughter Rose, now elderly and ailing, pleads with Jonah— a kind-hearted nursing home orderly— to help uncover the truth of her stolen Native heritage before it' s lost forever. As Jonah searches for answers, he grapples with his own raising his young son and falling for Jemi, a wounded veteran who longs to return to Bluebird Mountain. As their lives intersect, long-buried truths rise to the surface, revealing the enduring scars of colonization— and the strength required to heal. Inspired by historical accounts, The Train to Santa Fe imagines the impact of the railroad' s arrival in northern New Mexico, tracing one family' s story across generations. It' s a powerful tale of cultural loss, love, and the quiet resilience of the human spirit.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Indigenous

278 pages, Paperback

Published August 25, 2026

About the author

During sea turtle season, I volunteer in support of the Volusia Turtle Patrol's mission to protect endangered and threatened species.​ I've also volunteered with the Marine Science Center of Ponce Inlet.

Before retiring, I served as a science writer for academic and nonprofit organizations including Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), where I'm an elected Fellow.

In summer 2026, Regal House Publishing will release my third novel, THE TRAIN TO SANTA FE.

My second novel, SNAKES OF ST. AUGUSTINE was released by Regal House in September 2023. Read reviews online at https://www.gingerpinholster.com/.

​in 2019, my debut novel, CITY IN A FOREST, received a gold award in the Florida Writers Association's 2020 Royal Palm Literary Awards competition.

A fourth novel is in the works. Suffice it to say, there are sea turtles.

I earned my M.F.A. degree from Queens University of Charlotte and my B.A. in English from Eckerd College.

​My short stories and essays have been published by Pangyrus, Atticus Review, The Northern Virginia Review, Eckerd Review, Blackheart Magazine, Crab Fat Magazine, Gravel Magazine, and Dying Dahlia Review, and in the book Boomtown. Long ago and far away, I was a journalist.

Through the simple act of reading, you make the world a better place. Thank you.

HOW TO FIND ME:

www.GingerPinholster.com
Email: pinholsterginger@gmail.com
​Instagram: @gingpin
TikTok: @ginger_pinholster
Facebook: @GingerPinholster

Reviews

[kw · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Train to Santa Fe blends a present-day love story with Native American historical fiction, following Jonah, a nursing home caregiver, and Jemi, an Afghanistan war veteran and amputee rebuilding her life after divorce, as their relationship develops. Alongside their story runs Jonah's effort to help Rose, a beloved 94-year-old resident, uncover the truth about her Tewa heritage, a mystery that ultimately traces back to Chenoa, a talented young Native American potter sent away from her family generations ago.

What makes the novel work is how many threads it manages to hold at once without losing the reader. We get Jemi's perspective on her war injury and the end of her marriage, Jonah's struggle to stay present in his young son's life amid a strained custody situation, and even Bonnie, his son's mother, given real interiority rather than reduced to an obstacle. Bonnie's own mother turns out to be an unexpectedly supportive presence, which is a nice subversion of where that relationship seemed headed. The author does a genuinely skillful job weaving these generational lines together, and the historical material, including the harsh treatment Native Americans faced in the 1800s and its lingering effects today, is handled with care rather than feeling like a history lesson bolted onto a romance.

The structure rewards patience: rather than unfolding chronologically, the novel reveals how these seemingly unconnected lives are quietly linked, and that slow-build mystery around Chenoa and her pottery kept me turning pages. If there's a shortcoming, it's that the pottery and tribal history could have used more depth and specificity; given how central Chenoa's craft is to the plot, I wanted a fuller picture of that tradition. The romance itself is sweet and heartfelt, if occasionally predictable in its beats.

Overall, this is a smooth, absorbing read that balances tenderness with real historical weight, character-driven in the best sense, and a book I'd happily recommend to readers who want their romance served with a meaningful dose of history.

[Sydney · Rating 0.25 out of 5]

White author co-opts Native culture in a stereotypical manner, is endlessly repetitive in the narrative, and still manages to write a story centered around a toxic white couple - with a white woman who faces no consequences for her actions.

I’ll be honest I was excited at first because this was the first book club book I thought I would enjoy. Then I found out it was not OwnVoices and it went downhill from there.

[Richard Gresham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good

[Rebecca · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

A bittersweet story about broken families finding healing. While the writing style is rather simple, the story is full of meaning, reflecting on the way the revelations of the past can bring both pain and hope.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review of The Train to Santa Fe by Ginger Pinholster

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

First of all, the cover is absolutely lovely—it immediately gives the book a warm, inviting feel. Inside, Ginger Pinholster tells a thoughtful, multigenerational story about family, identity, and the lasting effects of cultural displacement.

The novel begins in the 1880s, when Chenoa, a sixteen-year-old Tewa potter, boards an early train from Española to Santa Fe. She is trying to help her family survive a harsh winter, but her decision sets off events that affect her descendants for generations. Many years later, her granddaughter Rose, now elderly and seriously ill, asks Jonah, a compassionate nursing home worker, to help discover the truth about her Native ancestry before it disappears with her. While Jonah investigates, he is also dealing with the challenges of raising his young son and developing feelings for Jemi, a wounded veteran who dreams of returning to Bluebird Mountain.

I enjoyed how the story gradually revealed the ways these seemingly separate lives were connected. The mystery surrounding Chenoa and her pottery unfolded slowly, and that steady build kept me interested and engaged. The book also does a moving job of exploring stolen heritage, colonization, family secrets, and the quiet strength people find while trying to heal.

My one small criticism is that I wish we had been able to spend more time with Chenoa and learn more about her life. Her story was so compelling that I wanted additional details about her experiences and the choices she made.

Overall, this was a tender and heartfelt novel with a strong sense of history and emotion. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to readers who like family sagas, historical fiction, and stories about uncovering the past.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction about three generations of a Tewa family whose lives were intertwined but unknown to the other is revealed in this charming book.

The main characters are Jemi, an amputee from the Afghanistan war, beginning her life over after her divorce. She meets Jonah, a caregiver at retirement home, on line. Jonah’s life is complicated by the meanness of his son, Pete’s mother, Bonnie. The story of these three and how their families are related is part of the history, Rose, a 94 patient at the nursing home where Jonah works shares. She’s central to the Tewa family story that was shattered when a young Native American girl, Chenoa, was sent away by her white family. Chenoa was a talented pottery maker with a distinctive style. Jonah cares for Rose and agrees to help her find her family. What unfolds is part mystery and part family dynamics especially that between Bonnie and Jonah.

From the blurb you think you’re going to read a chronological story but instead it’s a contemporary story that shows generational ties and how important it is to know our roots. I thought the author did a bang up job intertwining three lives to keep the suspense going on who was Chenoa and how did she fit with this seemingly unlinked group of people. It certainly held my interest. My only criticism I think is that I would have liked to have known more about the pottery and the tribe. But that didn’t diminish the enjoyment I had in reading this book.

My thanks to NetGalley and Regal House Publishing for granting me access to this ARC.

[Miranda Beystehner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Train to Santa Fe mixes a tender love story with Native American historical fiction. Set in the present day, the story follows Jonah, a nursing home caregiver, and Jemi, a veteran, as they begin building a relationship. Jonah also becomes involved in helping one of his favorite residents, Rose, as she tries to uncover the truth about her heritage.

Along the way, we get Jemi’s perspective as she deals with her war injury and tries to move on from her marriage, while Jonah struggles to find his place in his young son’s life. We also hear from Bonnie, his son’s mother, as she tries to make a name for herself, as well as Bonnie’s mother, who surprisingly becomes very supportive of Jonah and his efforts to be more involved in his son’s life.

Through all of these characters, we get glimpses into the past and learn more about what brought each of them to where they are today. Their histories have crossed paths in ways they don't always realize, and ultimately, they all play a part in helping Rose prove her heritage.

At its heart, this is a story about relationships, figuring out what really matters, and learning to look beyond yourself. It was a sweet and heartfelt story, although I did find some of it a little predictable. Overall, I really enjoyed it and gave it 4 stars. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet romance with a touch of historical fiction.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Regal House Publishing for the advance copy!

[Judy Tiemeyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about Native Americans in New Mexico; and the story of how their families were separated from each other, and their artisan crafts were stolen and copied with no compensation. There is a lot about Native American lore and their connection to the land and their people and their artistic creations. There is also a lot of other representation in this book: ADHD/dyslexia, substance abuse, wounded veteran etc. And for once there was a good social worker who wasn't too overworked or disillusioned to do a good job. While this story was very compelling, I found the writing to be simple and choppy. The characters' interactions felt stilted and unrealistic at times. In spite of that, I loved the ending and learned a lot about Native Americans in New Mexico and the difficulties that they had to endure. You will like this book if you enjoy stories set in the Southwest that prioritize the experience and resilience of the Native Americans who lived there.

Thank you to NetGalley and Regal House for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Jonathan Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first page, I felt myself settling into its world as if I’d been invited somewhere warm, generous, and full of heart. There’s a quiet confidence in Ginger's storytelling that makes it easy to trust the journey, and I found myself happily carried along, eager to see where each chapter would lead.
What truly makes this book shine is its humanity. The characters feel wonderfully real—flawed, wounded, hopeful, searching—and I grew genuinely attached to them. Their struggles and triumphs resonated in a way that lingered long after I’d put the book down.
Above all, this is a book with heart. It reminds us of connection, resilience, and the small, meaningful moments that shape our lives. I closed the final page feeling grateful, uplifted, and already wishing I could experience it for the first time all over again. Bravo Ginger Pinholster!

[Suzanne Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I appreciate the topic and premise of this book, I did not enjoy the writing. At times the characters seemed unbelievable and cliche to me. I kept thinking that the writing was “corny”. I liked the multiple character story lines and the time lines. The character of Bonnie reminded me of the book Run Rose Run by Dolly Parton and James Paterson. This storyline was my favorite part of the book and seemed the most realistic. I would recommend this book to readers who are interested in the history of Native Americans in the South West United States.

I couldn’t find a connection to the author and the Native American community or ancestry. I am concerned when non Native Americans tell the Native American story and benefit from book sales.

[Lauren Harr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I am the publicist for this book. However, as a reader, I found myself pulled into the current of this novel gently and carried along a gorgeous river of character development, setting, and place. These characters are complicated and don't always do what you want, but, for the most part, they are full of heart. Trying to make a better life for their children and find a way to be exactly themselves in the world. Which, we all know, isn't easy. Meanwhile, they're carrying around generations of trauma, hurt without resolution, and the lingering affects of others' greed. And somehow, Ginger Pinholster makes it hopeful, keeps the lights on, and brings readers to a conclusion that's satisfying. It's very much worth a read.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The train to Santa Fe is a wonderful multigenerational story of perseverance and humanity. The writer takes us a journey in which each character has lost something in life. The story of each character draws you in from the very first page. Their journeys become intertwined as the story progresses through each character’s struggle. Your heart drops with each setback. The author writes with great detail, painting a movie in our minds, while keeping the story flowing along smoothly. The farther into the book I got, the faster I read to get to the climax of the story. It was indeed a treat and a well enjoyed adventure!

[Saf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is more than a historical novel, it is a tribute to the enduring spirit of Native American creativity and the ways art can bridge divides while honoring roots. The story effortlessly blends moments of joy,sorrow, romance and hard won triumph.
I came away with a better appreciation for Native American traditions and the historical realities of life in New Mexico during a time of profound transition.
Whether you are drawn to history, compelling protagonists or immersive cultural narratives, this book is a must read!

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a interesting multigenerational stoty that is filled with a exciting family experience I would highly recommend checking out this story. It follows three generations of the Tewa family who are native American and live in New Mexico. This captivating book will give you the experience that this family has gone through and how they managed to persevere no mattet what life throws at them. It really puts things into perspective when it comes to change and how things tend to change as time goes by.

[Chris Corkum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting from the first page I found myself engrossed in this novel. The Train to Santa Fe weaves together several different narratives, exploring the effect that generational trauma can have on people. It's a story about flawed characters, who through their bravery, are able to confront the past and heal the present. As a reader, it takes you on a journey, a reminder that though we all come from different backgrounds and have different experiences, we are all in one way or another connected.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely and compelling read that I couldn't put down. The writer weaves descriptions of the beautiful New Mexico landscape into a love story, a sadly accurate recounting of the suffering inflicted upon the indigenous people who were driven out of their own lands, and ultimately gives us a story of healing.

[Linda Fritze · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Train to Santa Fe" is a moving generational story that brings together three families with twists and turns like the honeysuckle vines on Bluebird Mountain. Each character is struggling through their own trials but the real story of a shared Native American background gives the familes the answers they need to find peace.

[Michaela Jarvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Train to Santa Fe is an engrossing, multilayered story with a range of very human characters set against a beautiful New Mexican backdrop. The characters' challenges and even their very real shortcomings come across as mutable in a work that is loving yet realistic. The book draws you in, first with its rich texture, and then with some hints of suspense as the story drives to a conclusion.

[Chris Barwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! The characters were relatable and genuine, each one with their own secrets. I particularly loved the Native American story and its history. The author did a great job of interweaving the characters, introducing their stories and forming their relationships. I recommend this book - a great read!

[Carol Longacre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not much of a fiction reader, but this book pulled me in with its well done character development, and a story about humanity (good and bad). I also enjoyed the balance between the past and present native American culture.

Much enjoyed, Mike T.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short and sweet novel about a disabled veteran trying to move on with her life, a single dad fighting for joint custody, and a woman on the brink of death trying to unravel her family's secrets. The connections between the characters were a little too convenient, but still an enjoyable read.

[Tracy Crelin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story and history!

[Dawn Griffith Hansard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book that explores our interconnectedness and also the importance of exploring our history and ancestry. I loved finding how the characters were linked. Thanks #NetGalley