Breaking Free: A Novel

by Lauraine Snelling

Bestselling author Lauraine Snelling crafts a poignant story of hope and restoration for a newly paroled mother rebuilding her life after the loss of her son. Maggie Roberts is starting over again after her reckless driving led to a 10-year prison sentence and the devastating loss of her son. Having learned to repurpose retired thoroughbred racehorses through an inmate training program, Maggie finds a way to rebuild her life. But it's not until she meets single father Gil Winters and his wheelchair-bound son, Edward, that she finds her calling. In helping Edward with his therapy using horses, Maggie finds herself coming to life again. But when a shadow from the past returns, Maggie is forced to choose between her newfound freedom and getting Edward the life-saving help he needs.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Romance, Audiobook, Horses, Contemporary

301 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Award-winning and bestselling author Lauraine Snelling has over 80 books published with sales of over 4.5 million. Her original dream was to write horse books for children. Today, she writes adult novels about real issues centered on forgiveness, loss, domestic violence and cancer in her inspirational contemporary women’s fiction titles and historical series, including the favorite, Blessing books about Ingeborg Bjorklund and family.

Lauraine enjoys helping others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the county. She and her husband Wayne have two grown sons, and a daughter in Heaven. They live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a Basset named Sir Winston ob de Mountains, Lapcat, and “The Girls” (three golden hens).

Reviews

[E.F. Buckles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. In fact, look at what I said in my first progress update: “Reading this because my aunt gave it to me a couple years ago and I thought it was about time I got around to it. When I was younger I gravitated to books involving horses, and while I still like horses, my tastes have grown and evolved, so I can't honestly say I'm "excited" to read this. But I figure it's good for me to challenge myself to read new things from time to time and maybe I'll be surprised and like it.” Enthusiastic, no?

Well, not only did I like it, I think it’s safe to say that I loved it! There is a sweet story hidden under this unassuming cover. We start out from the perspective of Maggie, a woman serving time in a minimum-security prison, though we don’t initially know why. The prison has started a new program where inmates can care for and train abused and neglected Thoroughbreds in the hopes of bettering themselves and the horses, and Maggie ends up participating.

Then, we find that there’s another side to this story: Gil, a wealthy speaker and businessman lives in a gated community with his wheelchair-bound 11-year-old son, Eddie (a.k.a. the most lovable fictional kid ever). I was honestly surprised to discover this second perspective, because only Maggie was mentioned in the blurb on the back cover, and at first, Gil’s story and Maggie’s story seemed so completely opposite, I wasn’t sure how they could be connected. But soon, all becomes clear…

Without giving too much away, I really loved the theme of how God and horses can heal people. The characters (animals included) were very likable too, and seeing them grow and develop as people was wonderful. I was so extremely happy with how things turned out for everyone in the end. <3 So sweet, and I fully admit to crying a little.

Content: This is adult fiction, but it is Christian fiction and very clean. No foul language is actually written out, though we’re told when at least one unlikable character swears. There are occasional instances of violence, both accidental and purposeful, involving both horse and humans, but it’s all very brief and not graphic in any way. No sexual content, but there is a little romance and some brief kissing. I believe this book would be enjoyable for both adults and teens. Mature younger children might enjoy it as well, but the more adult themes such as incarceration, alcohol addiction, and grief over the loss of a child may not be appropriate for all and/or may be more difficult for them to relate to.

[Victoria Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, heartwarming story without the mushy details of an average romance.

[Cindy B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely romance and interesting mystery without any fleshiness. Christian-based - won't beat ya up. I hope it's a series. Will read author again. Nicely narrated and highly recommended.

[Christine Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite quotes from the book was,
“The sun set the horse on fire almost like sparks radiating from his hide.”

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was torn between giving this book two or three stars.

I'm becoming more and more discouraged with the inspirational fiction genre. Lately, it seems that the books I've read in this genre have been poorly written and Breaking Free is on the cusp. There were some good points to the book, but I found too many weak parts for the book to be truly inspiring or "heart-warming." I pick up inspirational fiction books for the positive message with the fluffy, chick-lit aspects. That doesn't mean that an author can slap some storylines featuring kids in wheelchairs and characters needing redemption together and make it work.

I was disappointed in the ending of Breaking Free because it felt too rushed. The reader goes from Maggie and Gil being wary and distrustful of each other to slowly learning to get along to--wham--practically getting married.

Snelling also wrote the characters of DC and Sandra very strangely. While Maggie was in prison, the threat of DC was always lurking around every corner (sometimes literally, when the inmates were working with the horses), but nothing ever came from those threats. Not very realistic. And Sandra makes contact with Gil and expresses a desire to be a part of Eddie's life, but then suddenly she's fallen off the wagon and crashing her car into the barn? The whole book from chapter twenty-seven on took a strange turn for the worse. Very disappointing.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an EXCELLENT story of redemption. It follows a woman named Maggie through some of her prison sentence, and then through her journey towards, "breaking free" when she gets out. I absolutely loved Gil, another main character. I loved how he treated people. Although it was heavy, it was very good. The actual faith based threads were extremely thin. There were a few major scenes where I felt like pieces were missing. Like really heavy and intense scenes were written with minimal depth, leaving me feel like some in between pieces were just left out. But I definitely enjoyed the book! Looking forward to reading more by this author in the future.

[Bo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. An unusual plot, which made for interesting reading. Growth and development of characters. Spiritual message weak; a few loose ends.

4.5 stars

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was enjoying the story but the ending is strange. It just ends suddenly. It's like the author was thought, "Oh, there's two pages left, time to wrap up." And it's a blunt and straightforward ending.

I'm also frustrated by side stories that were just dropped after the author took time to build them up.

[Charmaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice, clean, very predictable story. If you like horse stories and happy endings, then this one is for you.

[Ian Mcnamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a lovely and heart warming story. All the characters apart from Sandra were easy to like. The story was beautiful and went a long at a nice pace. Eddie especially was a lovable character and was very easy to fall in love with. I was really glad that everyone got the ending they deserved in the end.

[Teri Pre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would have been a 5 star except that the author didn't follow through on different events, like DC and the lack of a drivers license. She did a lot of build-up but then...nothing. Unsatisfying.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! She can weave a story like no other! Depth to characters and a plot that keeps you guessing at times. I somehow skipped this while reading all her others - I highly recommend it!

[Debbe · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This was an audio book from my library and the first for me by this author. It wasn't listed as Christian fiction so I was a bit taken aback by all the God/prayer references. Not that I have anything against this kind of fiction but I like to know going in.

The story was fine, I won't rehash the back cover but did find that it rushed to the finish, which of course, you can see coming. There are a couple of characters that really have no purpose as they don't go anywhere.

Anyway, an ok read.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to give this book 3 1/2 stars.

A good story of second chances, of the powerful influence of a horse in the life of a person.
After having seen the positive influence of a horse in the life of someone, and the positive influence in the health and well being of an older horse with care and attention and a connection, I know that the rehabilitation spoken of in this story is real. The romance might be a bit contrived, but the horse relationships and interactions are based on real life.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took awhile for me to get into this book. Perhaps it's because the initial setting of the book is a women's prison....not something I can relate to very well. Maybe, it's just the book.

[Casey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable and preachy but because it featured horses prominently I liked it.

[Kelsie Faulkenberry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay so it wasn’t bad, but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. It was really slow and took me forever to read.

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

So many things I liked about this book. I like how inmates can learn job skills by caring for retired racehorses and how some of those horses are used as therapy. It was lovely to hear the different stories of the horses and then some of the inmates feeling a change after working and caring for the horses. How the horse Breaking Free went through so much and he finally was healed and have a loving person, a young boy named Eddie by his side. I love the friendship with them and a helping dog called Bonnie belonging to Eddie. It was sweet that Eddie's and Gil's housekeeper Maria was able to find her first love again after so many years and how she was able to restart a relationship with Enrico was lovely.


SPOILER's ALERT:
I would have rated this book at 3 stars if the main love story didn't work for me. It's sweet that Maggie was able to restart a new life after what she went through and being incarcerated for 7 years which never made sense to me but how she ended up with the guy just don't make sense to me. The guy didn't trust her at first and somehow they fell in love so quickly after knowing each other for a short time leading to marriage, like what is that. Maggie needed time for herself being a single woman after her divorce from her first husband nearly 8 years ago; she needed to work on herself and build a life.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

A woman, Maggie is charged with and imprisoned for 10 years because of an drunk driving accident that killed her son. Toward the end of her sentence the prison starts a program where the inmates care for thoroughbred horses. Maggie loved horses as a young person and is chosen for the program. They have a great man in charge of the program and he teaches the women not only to care for the horses but how to live again and have a marketable skill when they are released. A young boy and his dad come to the open house the prison puts on. The boy his Spinal Bifida and is already participating in a ridging program and wants his dad to buy him a horse of his own so he can ride everyday. Long story short dad buys the horse the boy falls in love with at the prison and hires the inmate who is working with the horse to come and take care of the horse and teach his son how to care for the horse and learn more about riding. Things start out rocky but quickly change.
It was my kind of story, people helping themselves to be better and through example helping others to be better and best of all everyone lives happily ever after!

[Ona Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess I give five stars to easy but when you read a book you real enjoy, it’s hard to not give 5 stars. Anyway I hope that the prison system really does this. They took retired Thoroughbreed horse and made a program to not only to help the horse but help some women in prison. They got to work with the horse, work with them. It helped both horse and the women. Maggie is one. She worked with a horse called Breaking Free. He had been abused blood-gelding who lashed out others who tried to help him. If he didn’t get the help he needed,he would have to be put down. Maggie wanted to work with this horse. Could they help each other or would Breaking Free lose his life and Maggie need this horse to help heal her.

[Vivacity · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different kind of Laura one Smelling novel

I have long been a fan of Snellings historic novels, and I loved every single one of them. When I was notified about a sale on this book, I wavered... Not sure if she'd be as great with a contemporary novel.
Now, I loved this book because of it's realism, how it reveals the main characters as imperfect. Even the best of heroes have made mistakes but if we , like the characters in this book, fight to undo the wrong that our careless/naive/burdened (etc.) Forgiveness can be found, even when the person most desperate to be forgiven is ourselves.

If you don't usually get Christian novels,this one is not preachy, is well edited, and will make you a fan of this author!

[Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I have ever read. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't put it down. I read it in two days total, and it was amazing. It demonstrates how kids with disabilities may have trouble following their dreams and feel limited. Eddie followed his dream and was mature beyond his years. It was also wonderful for his father to help him achieve his goals. Maggie also followed her dream of staying with Breaking Free. Overall it was a really great book and I recommend it to any horse lover.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great in so many ways! It was interesting to learn more about horses. It was neat to learn about equine therapy for people. The rehab program for thoroughbred horses and prison inmates was interesting. I liked how everything led up to the end, but you didn’t know the end exactly until you got there. It is quite a twist toward the end, which reminds me of how I cannot control some things in life. It all works out for our good if we are going in the right direction though. I would highly recommend reading this one.

[Heidi Morrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic Contemporary Christian book! I've read almost all of this author's books, especially Historical Christian fiction. I learned so much about horse training, relationships between humans and horses, and Spina Bifida. I loved the spiritual growth that the characters went through. I also learned about some of the inside activities of a women's prison, and was thankful to just "read" about it! Due to some of the latter's situations and subject matter, I would recommend this for older teens and above.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did.
The beginning was a little slow, but the writing was engaging. It begins with Maggie, who is in a women's prison for drunk driving. However, the full story was not told until close to the end about how her accident happened. I guess that was supposed to leave an air of mystery to her, but I kinda started wondering if it was ever included.
I really enjoyed how the author talks about, and describes the horses. You can tell she has a love for animals, and the descriptions of horses are very accurate.
While the animal aspect of the story was absolutely perfect, there were a few things that felt unsaid at the end. Maggie never went to visit her son's grave, and there was nothing mentioned about her trying to get her driver's license again.
While the beginning and middle are relatively slow, the story picks up pace and emotion as you read. I began feeling what the characters felt, and seeing what they saw.
By the end I was a little sad to close it up. Overall, I think that the plot and the writing and character development were good, though there are some minor things that were left untied, and a few unrealistic parts.

[Jocelyn Trnka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, but it was a little bit confusing. It kept switching between 2 characters viewpoints and never flat out said it was switching. For most of the part it didn't switch in the chapter, it was always a separate chapter. However, towards the end it seemed like it switched inside of the chapter and that was kind of confusing for me. Otherwise, it was a really good book and I definitely recommend!

[Marie Pinkham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story!

Lauraine Snelling has been one of my long-time favorites. This book was heartwarming, inspirational , and a definite page-turner. I loved the characters, the plot, and the author's writing style. This was one I hated to see end. I've always loved her historical fiction, and now I'm a fan of her contemporary stories as well.

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping this book would be so much more. Although the concept of the book is good, the writing is poorly done. I love the idea of giving race horses a second chance at life, while rehabilitating women prisoners through the program (working with horses) but the writing is sophomoric at best and very surface. It sounded like someone in high school wrote it. Disappointing.

[Brandi Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story and character building up until the main characters are suddenly thrown into love. It felt entirely rushed and not thought out. So many unanswered questions about things that happened to inmates that seemed more central to the story and more fleshing out of characters past could have been done. Solid story, but the ending could be compared to the final season of GoT

[Sarah W · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a story of redemption and a new beginning after a great deal of heartache. If you are looking for a captivating love story woven into the main characters story, you will not find it in this book. Otherwise it was a good, clean read.