What Frees the Heart

Cowbird Creek #2

by Karen A. Wyle

Can they set each other free?

Cowbird Creek has its share of troubled souls. For Tom, a farmer’s son, losing his leg felt like losing his future. Jenny, a young prostitute at Madam Mamie’s parlor house, has never thought she had much future to lose.

But the job Tom is able to get leads him to rediscover a long neglected talent. And both Tom and Jenny have a knack for hitting on new possibilities. Can they, together, find a better path?

This novel, second in a series, returns to the small town of Cowbird Creek, Nebraska, in early 1876, a few months after the conclusion of What Heals the Heart. It can be read as a stand-alone. Several favorite characters from Book 1 make return appearances.

215 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2020

About the author

Karen A. Wyle is the author of multiple science fiction novels, including The Twin-Bred Series: Books 1-3; YA novel Water to Water; and near-future novels Division, Playback Effect, Who: a novel of the near future, and Donation. Her first novel outside the SF category was the afterlife fantasy/family drama Wander Home. She then turned to historical romance with her Cowbird Creek series, including What Heals the Heart, What Frees the Heart, What Shows the Heart, and What Wakes the Heart. She returned to fantasy with 2023's Far From Mortal Realms: A Novel of Humans and Fae. Her novel The Decision/A Novel of Germany is inspired by a crucial incident in her own family history. Her latest novel, That The Dead May Rest, comes out on October 17, 2025 -- a good month for a paranormal story!

Wyle has also published one nonfiction work, Closest to the Fire: A Writer's Guide to Law and Lawyers, a resource for authors or for anyone interested in understanding more about American law. An updated and slightly retitled edition came out at the end of July 2021.

Finally, Wyle has collaborated with illustrators on five picture books: You Can't Kiss A Bubble; When It's Winter; Wind, Ocean, Grass; Where Fireflies Sleep; and A Boy Who Made Music/The Extraordinary Life of Joaquin Rodrigo. There are more to come!

Wyle was born a Connecticut Yankee, but eventually settled in Bloomington, Indiana, home of Indiana University. She now considers herself a Hoosier. Wyle's childhood ambition was to be the youngest ever published novelist. While writing her first novel at age ten, she was mortified to learn that some British upstart had beaten her to the goal at age nine.

Wyle is a retired appellate attorney, dormant photographer, and mother of two wildly creative adult offspring. Her voice is the product of almost five decades of reading both literary and genre fiction. It is no doubt also influenced, although she hopes not fatally tainted, by her years of law practice. Wyle's near-future novels and her upcoming fantasy novel draw on her legal experience in various respects.

Wyle's personal history has led her to focus on often-intertwined themes of family, communication, the impossibility of controlling events, and the persistence of unfinished business.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Karen A. Wyle takes us back to a small Nebraska town to the year 1876 as two wounded souls discover the power and strength of healing through love.

WHAT FREES THE HEART is the story of Tom, a farmer’s son who thought his value as a man was lost when he lost his leg and Jenny, a young prostitute who felt she no longer had a chance for the future of her dreams. Together, they find a kindred soul and a desire to be more than anyone could hope for in a time when tainted flowers were used and thrown away and a man was judged as less if he wasn’t whole.

Truly a romantic tale, told in a simple way, almost like watching an old black and white western where things could be sweet, implied and far less complicated than we make things today.

Wonderful characters, many with hearts of gold, small-minded characters that truly showed their ignorance and dreams that couldn’t be broken. I felt like I was witnessing how things were, from the dirt, the dust, the hard work and a special something, call it backbone and determination to be more, to be whole with that one special person at your side.

A delightful read that requires only the ability to dream along with these two amazing characters! Do not expect a rapid-fire pace, enjoy the easy flow to relax into. Another hidden gem from an author who lets her words feed our imaginations.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Karen A. Wyle! This is my honest and voluntary review.

Series: Cowbird Creek - Book 2
Expected publication: July 15th 2020 by Oblique Angles Press
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

1876, Cowbird Creek, NE. Pa & Tom (farmer’s son, wooden leg) dropped the fall potatoes sacks off at the train station.
Parlor house. Madam Mamie called Jenny (young saloon girl, soiled dove) to her office.
This could not be good.
Lucette (English, saloon girl, soiled dove) gave Jenny some pointers also.
The other saloon girl, soiled doves are: Penny, Aileen (Scottish), Amanda Jane, Mandy, Sophie, Bessie, & Trudi.

Doc Joshua Gibbs always made sure they were in good health.
Tom Barlow went to work for Mr. Silas Finch (cordwainer).
Parlor house. Tom picked Jenny, well Madam Mamie picked her for him.
Tom continued to ask for her whenever he went.
Madam Mamie sent Jenny with Mr. Blixt (photographer).
Amanda Jane had passed away. Doc Gibbs couldn’t save her, too much Laudanum had killed her.
What did Doc Gibbs & Jenny discuss?
What will the future hold for Jenny?

\I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.

Warning: This book contains descriptive accounts of adult content, violence, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material, prostitution) which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive or have potential adverse psychological effects on the reader. If you are especially sensitive to this type of material, it is strongly advised not to read any further.

An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written Historical fictional Western Romance book. It was extremely easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great Western Romance movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is an extremely easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free author; Oblique Angles Press; Goodreads; MakingConnections; Making Connections discussion group talk; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; ARR; PDF; book.
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Martin Dolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of WHAT FREES THE HEART, a western/romance by Karen Wyle (I received a free copy of this ms. from the author)
Even before I read WHAT FREES THE HEART, I would have assumed that a love story set in a whorehouse should cover a fairly wide assortment of human needs - and I was certainly not disappointed in the least. Karen Wyle has a tender homey story to tell; and she tells it well in an old-time western style syntax that is neither vulgarly pornographic, nor prudishly preachy.
Tom Barlow, a rather self-conscious young farmer's son who lost his lower leg in a farming accident gets a job helping Mr. Finch, a local cordwainer who makes and repairs boots, shoes, saddles etc. One day he sees a pretty girl whom he later learns is named Jenny, and who works at Madam Maimie's establishment.
Jenny and Tom fall in love after letting nature have its way; but they have a lot of things to contend with. Tom's friends and neighbours warn him that a relationship with Jenny would not last because a woman like her could never remain true to him. At the same time the other girls at Madam Maimie's warn Jenny that she would never be socially accepted in the town, something quickly borne out by some of the nastier townsfolk.
I rate this story a full five stars, a very good read.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited for this book to come out. I read and fell in love with “What Heals the Heart” and was excited for another Cowbird Creek title to come out. Wyle did NOT disappoint. This story may have been even more gripping than the first, and I absolutely loved to see yet another “not so common” romance bloom.

One of the things I love best about this book is that it takes two flawed people and puts them together. Anyone who has read my reviews knows I love flawed characters because it creates a more realistic story for me. Perfect heroes and heroines are so hard to relate to. But I also love the combination of old fashioned and female empowerment Wyle uses in her stories. The females aren’t helpless, but they do need help. They can do much of everything on their own, but the few things they can’t, the hero can – while the heroine can do what he can’t. It’s less a damsel in distress and more a real union of meeting the other’s needs.

I highly recommend this title to anyone who wants a realistic yet swoon-worthy romance that will leave you begging for more. I also recommend it to anyone who enjoys westerns, historicals, or mostly clean romance.

The cover is engaging and offers an accurate depiction of what readers should expect inside the story.

[Samantha Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was sweet and well-paced, and I absolutely love the focus on a sex worker heroine in a historical setting. Rather than romanticizing the profession or glossing over some of the worse parts, the book had a balanced portrayal that struck just the right note for me.

I've read several other books by the author, and although I enjoyed those, I can see a definite progression in the writing. I've always liked her ideas and unique approach to whatever world she's created, and this one is better than the previous. Cowbird Creek jumps off the page--and no need to read the first of the series. As you would expect from your romance, this one stands alone. But if you like this one, I also recommend the first!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Happy Booker · Rating 4 out of 5]

What frees the heart is a romantic fiction novel. It is the second book in the ‘Cownbird Creek’ series. Set in 1876, Tom, a farmer’s boy who has lost his leg, feels as if he has lost his manhood and value. On the other hand, Jenny, a prostitute, feels as if she has no different future, and by meeting Tom, things change for each other.
I enjoyed watching Tom and Jenny’s character develop in the story. Both found healing through love, and the added drama made it intriguing. This is a romantic tale, and so it does contain sexually explicit content. It has Western elements and much descriptive writing.

I found the book to be written well and thought the author had cared about writing the story. Although the book is in a series, it is standalone, so you don’t necessarily have to buy the whole series to get into the book.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read Western historical romance stories.

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Musings

What a lovely and unusual plot. I loved both the hero and the heroine from the first page to the last. I am so glad found this one on Kindle Unlimited. Happy reading!

[Amy Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent story

Wyle pens a remarkable historical romance story in What Frees the Heart. I've read the first book in this series, and liked it, but I think this one really caught my interest. Jenny was one tough lady, and not like what others expected her to be. They wanted her a bit more "lady like". This author brings the stories to life, and this was an interesting story. There is a great chemistry between the characters, especially Jenny and Tom, who saw something in each other, along with a great depth that makes them realistic and flawed. A very well-written story, and I enjoyed it. It is always a joy to read this author's stories. The storyline and era were written with great care to make sure the details were correct, but also brought lively and grand characters to both the foreground and background, to lend details to the story. I have fast become a big fan of (this author). I look forward to reading many more stories by this author. This book is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews.

[Phyllis Kerr · Rating 3 out of 5]

What Frees the Heart is a moving story about two young adults, both with life issues holding them trapped in lives that are going nowhere. They meet and the reader watches them learn that together they have the strength, determination and love needed to achieve the freedom to go out in the world and succeed. Character development drives the plot of this sweet, endearing story. Good Read.
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.

[Lizenbyl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is based on a beta reader experience on the above book. This book is set in Cowbird Creek in the 1800's with Tom Barlow and Jenni Hayes being the main characters. Tom has a freak farming accident in which his lower limb has to be moved resulting in a wooden limb. In the process, he meets Jenni who is one of the "girls" in Madam Maimee's house of girls. Tom and Jenni ultimately develop a relationship that leads to bigger and better things for both of them.

Nothing more said--will be spoiler alert.