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By Way of the Moonlight

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Two courageous young women, tied together by blood and shared passion, will risk everything to save what they love most.

For as long as she can remember, Allie Massey, a gifted physical therapist, has dreamed of making her grandparents’ ten-acre estate into a trauma recovery center using equine therapy—a dream her grandmother, Nana Dale, embraced wholeheartedly. But when her grandmother’s will is read, Allie is shocked to learn the property has been sold to a developer.

Decades earlier, headstrong Dale Butler’s driving passion is to bring home the prized filly her family lost to the Great Depression, but with World War II looming, she’s called upon in ways she never could have imagined. And while her world expands to include new friends and new love, tragedy strikes close to home one fateful night during the Battle of the Atlantic, changing her life forever.

As Nana Dale’s past comes to light in Allie’s search for answers, Dale’s courage and persistence may be just what Allie needs to carry on her grandmother’s legacy and keep her own dreams alive.

391 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 2, 2022

65 people are currently reading
5643 people want to read

About the author

Elizabeth Musser

39 books703 followers
ELIZABETH MUSSER writes ‘entertainment with a soul’ from her writing chalet—tool shed—outside Lyon, France. Elizabeth’s award winning, best-selling novel, The Swan House, was named one of Amazon’s Top Christian Books of the Year, one of Georgia’s Top Ten Novels of the Past 100 Years and was awarded the Gold Illumination Book Award 2021 for Enduring Light Fiction. All of Elizabeth’s novels have been translated into multiple languages and have been international bestsellers. Two Destinies, the final novel in The Secrets of the Cross trilogy, was a finalist for the 2013 Christy Award. The Long Highway Home was a finalist for the 2018 Carol Award. The Promised Land won second place in Literary Fiction at the 2021 Georgia Author of the Year Awards and won the 2021 Carol Award for Contemporary Fiction. Elizabeth’s most recent novel, By Way of the Moonlight, is a Publisher’s Weekly Top Ten Pick in Religion and Spirituality for Fall Releases in 2022 and Parable and ECPA bestseller and was a finalist for the 2023 Christy Award.

For over thirty-five years, Elizabeth and her husband, Paul, have been involved in missions’ work in Europe with One Collective, formerly International Teams. The Mussers have two sons, two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren.

Find more about Elizabeth’s novels on her website and on Facebook, Instagram, Bookbub, and Pinterest.

Sign up for her email list https://6231db35.sibforms.com/serve/M....

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 228 reviews
Profile Image for Amanda (BookLoverAmanda).
705 reviews1,003 followers
August 17, 2022
Review updated to have my full video review: https://youtu.be/Y7I2qeyTIsg

By Way of the Moonlight by Elizabeth Musser has completely blown me away. This is in my top 5 books of the year! I was so beautifully surprised by this book and can’t wait to tell everyone about it on my YouTube channel! This is perfect for lovers of historical fiction and horses!

Thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing me with a copy to honestly read and review. I loved this book so much that I have ordered a physical copy for my shelves!

By Way of the Moonlight is a generational story about 2 courageous women who share their love for horses, family, and what matters most.

About the story: Allie Massey is a physical therapist who has dreamed of making her grandparents’ ten-acre estate into a trauma recovery center using equine therapy – a treatment that uses the connection between people and horses to enhance physical or emotional healing. This has been a dream of Allie’s grandmother, Nana Dale, for as long as she can remember. Unfortunately, when Nana Dale passes away and her will is read, Allie is shocked when she learns the property has been sold to a developer. What can Allie do to try and save her grandmother’s legacy and property to keep her dreams alive?

Set in Georgia, this story was a beautiful dual timeline story set both in modern day, right before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and during the late 1930s-early 1940s. (Ya'll know I love a good southern setting!)

In the modern day, we follow Allie’s journey with her family and fiancé Austin as Allie navigates through what to do with the devastating news about Nana Dale’s property and her relationship with Austin. Allie becomes obsessed with trying to find out everything about Nana Dale’s past from all the clues she has left behind before it’s too late and the property is demolished.

In the World War II time, we follow Nana Dale’s entire life story as a young teenager to young adult, with her one true love, Tommy. She was such a feisty, strong willed young woman and had such a love for horses and dreams unlike anyone has seen before. I also loved learning about the Coast Guard Beach Patrol and the guarding of the coastline – I did not know about this! This story was so interesting and a part of history I think many would enjoy learning about. Plus, I don’t know a lot about horses so that was a big plus! I loved learning about them too.

I absolutely loved the way the author did the dual timeline in this story. Sometimes it can be difficult to follow what’s going on in a dual timeline, but Elizabeth Musser did a phenomenal job! For example, one scene would end with the daughter looking at a rainbow and then the next opens with her grandmother looking at one as well. It was just so well put together that I could see it being a movie and easy to follow.

The characters in this story are what made it so beautiful and inspiring for me. I was so invested in Nana Dale and Tommy’s story – I had to know what happened next. I cried so many times at the end of this story – it truly will move you to tears. I could feel what the characters were feeling – my heart broke right there with them as they went through some terrible hardships. I felt like they were my own family and I was with them through everything.

I also loved the main character of Allie – she was so determined to figure out her grandmother’s story and do everything she could to keep her dreams alive and I loved it.

The Lord truly worked in such a way in this story, and I could see His hand in it. This story showcases the significance of putting our faith in the Lord.

The ending shocked me in a good way and I am still reeling in my feelings over this story.
It’s easily in my top 5 books of the year. My heart was broken and restored all at the same time. Overall, a beautiful Christian historical fiction that I will be thinking about for a long time.
Profile Image for Caitlin Miller.
Author 4 books312 followers
June 12, 2022
A stunning novel, By Way of the Moonlight transports readers back to a time where the world knew hardship and struggles—the Great Depression and WW2, shedding light on aspects of the war that make this book stand out amongst the others. This book made me smile, hold my breath in anticipation, made my heart hurt and put it back together again. That, coupled with a beautiful demonstration of bravery, love, and sacrifice—what more could you ask for in historical fiction?

By Way of the Moonlight is a book to prioritize high on your TBR!
Profile Image for Haley Annabelle.
359 reviews186 followers
September 17, 2022
I had my ups and downs with this book. But in the end I did like it! Basically it’s the story of Allie, an equine therapist, discovering all the secrets of her grandmothers past.
I think most of the reason it wasn’t an instant like was because of the dual timeline. That always throws me off.
The message in the end was so sweet and important-stop being obsessed with getting more than you have, just be grateful. I always need this reminder, and this was such a great time to finish this book.

I totally choked up crying in this book, the sadness was overwhelming. But also the joy and happiness was so well written. My favorite part was learning about the Atlantic during WWII. I had no idea that there was so much action off the coast of Georgia!
And how weird it was to read a book talking about the Coronavirus. It’s like reading Historical fiction about my own history 😂 the conspiracy theorist guy even made his appearance.

What I didn’t like(cleanliness): I think the romantic aspects were too much for my taste, the was a lot of focus on a crush that started when she was only 12, and there was a whole lot of kissing. Also, I would have liked more actual Bible and church in the story.
Profile Image for Paula Shreckhise.
1,523 reviews140 followers
July 30, 2022
Such a rich story of equestrian competitions and equine therapy dreams. Ms. Musser draws on her childhood memories of her love of horses and weaves in a fascinating time in history when the east coast of the US was threatened during WWII. The author masterfully combines the 1930s and 40s with present day to teach us about family and legacy, hopes and dreams, obsession and disappointment, and grit and determination.
This lovely story had me in tears at times-both happy and sad. I have loved history for a long time and my heart goes out to those who preserve old things especially family houses. I would have loved to visit Barbara Dale Butler’s estate. Even though it is fictional, I could see it! I loved how Ms Musser brought the WWII home front battles to life with such vividness. The story of Dale and Tommy was so touching. Equally interesting was the present day timeline and the search for treasure. When you weren’t sure if the treasure was something real or something to be learned. “Life is a paradox, Allie. When you learn to embrace it all, let it mix together like molasses in oats, well, the sweet fragrance comes out. Even when life stinks.”
Since the present time was 2020, Covid 19 did play a part in the story. However, the author used the virus as a plot device to bring people together, rather than as a scary situation.
This was an excellent story of family, faith, and fortitude. Not to be missed.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
Profile Image for Emma.
490 reviews2 followers
September 12, 2022
This book was so, so beautiful! It touched me in a way I didn’t expect. This is a story of family, faith, dreams, loss, and love. I loved it so much! When I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. It made me feel so many emotions. I was lost in Allie and her grandmother’s story until I had finished it. And when I finished it, I was left feeling so many emotions but ultimately I was left feeling inspired by this book.

Time-slip novels are usually tricky for me. I sometimes get disoriented when books hop from one time-period to the next. Not so with this one! The dual timeline was so, so well done. It transitioned from one time-period/ point of view so seamlessly! I quickly got invested in both Allie and her grandmother, Dale’s, story. Both of their stories were woven together so beautifully! It was so bittersweet to watch as Allie went through her grandmother’s treasures, discovering her story one piece at the time, and then getting to see the past come alive through Dale’s point of view. It was beautifully done!

The characters felt so real! Their story felt so real to me. I could see many similarities between Allie and Dale’s personality as well their story which was neat to see. But at the same time, they were both their own person with their own stories. Both passionate, strong, driven women who had their faults but learned to work through them with God’s grace and love.
Then there were the men of the story. Austin seemed like a great guy, and I thought he and Allie were perfect for each other!
But Dale’s Tommy Ridley was the one who stole my heart. I immediately fell in love with the historical timeline the moment Tommy came into the picture. I couldn’t help but fall in love with the determined, courageous, vivacious boy just as Dale did. Dale and Tommy’s love story had me in tears. It was so beautiful. I adore childhood friends-to-lovers and I adored this one. Oh my goodness, just thinking about it! I haven’t read a story that made me that emotional in a while.

I love books set in the south so I enjoyed the setting a lot! And while I don’t know a lot about horses, I really did enjoy that aspect of the plot. Equine therapy sounds amazing!
I found the history in this story really interesting, especially the WW2 storyline.

Content wise, there were some kisses but not very descriptive. There is some mild innuendo. There is not much on-page violence but there are descriptions of wounded men but not overly descriptive as to make me lightheaded. I’d recommend to older teens and up.

As I said before, this story inspired me so much. The faith in this book was beautiful. It talks about the power of prayer and relying on God is such a beautiful way. The faith was woven so beautifully into the plot. It really touched me and I took it to heart. It also has themes of finding contentment in what you have and where you’re at in life which is something I especially needed to hear!
It talks about grief and loss in a real, raw way. I teared up several times. I even felt like my heart was breaking along with the characters. It’s true there are many sad, heartbreaking moments in this story but there’s also really happy ones. I liked that this story was true-to-life because life isn’t always smiles. There will be tears and sorrow. But I loved that this book told a story of how you can find help in your hurting and you are not alone.

Overall, I loved this book more than I ever anticipated! It was beautiful, heartbreaking, and hopeful all at the same time. It broke my heart and I cried, but I also smiled and found hope between the pages. I loved it, especially the message. If you love dual timeline stories that center around family history, horses, faith, and love, I think you’ll really enjoy this one!

*Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for a review! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Profile Image for Jennifer Delamere.
Author 15 books583 followers
December 9, 2022
Both timelines in the story had me totally absorbed, and the characters were vividly drawn. I loved the details regarding the horse patrols along Georgia and South Carolina coasts during WWII. The contemporary thread was lovely too. It's a wonderful story of how holding tightly to faith can carry us through the worst of times and ultimately bring the answers and the peace our hearts crave.
Profile Image for MJSH.
1,313 reviews74 followers
August 4, 2022
"It will never be enough until you decide that you already have it all. You settle in your mind a grateful heart, a content spirit, and everything else will be gravy, girl."

Elizabeth Musser has a beautiful and lyrical style of writing that draws you in completely into her world. She invites you to settle in to her characters' lives and become fully immersed in their experiences - the joys, the sorrows, the heartbreaks. The first person storyline narrated by Allie in 2020 is cohesively entwined with third person narrative of Allie's grandmother Dale spanning the 1930s and 1940s. Allie and Dale are quite similar in their passionate, driven personalities but Dale had seen much loss and grief, as well as triumph and purpose, that Allie just starts to discover when she attempts to organize her grandmother's estate after her passing. I loved Austin, the steadfast dependable one, from the present and Tommy, the adventurous daredevil, from the past and how easy it was to get to know them though the eyes of the women who love them.

I learned quite a bit about horses, equine therapy, horseshows, and large animal vet work through the characters and the setting. Faith thread is strong and themes of true contentment and healing are powerful and moving.

Poignant, nostalgic, and thought-provoking, this newest book by Elizabeth Musser is a must-read of 2022. I received the book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Kelly Bridgewater.
1,202 reviews60 followers
August 29, 2022
By Way of the Moonlight by Elizabeth Musser is a time-slip novel featuring a horse ranch and broken dreams. The synopsis says some elements of the Great Depression and World War II, but the time period really was not that important to the story. The story does feature a modern day heroine, Allie, who is on a hunt for a cedar box among her grandmother’s things to see what was in it. The past is showing Dale, her grandmother’s, story and legacy with the horses. The writing was deep and could have been a lifechanging story for Allie and Dale, but the first third of the novel was really hard to get in to. The story does show Dale as she matures and starts to fall in love with Tommy. BUT in my personal opinion, there is no action. It appears to be a dynamic story, but I really need more action. Maybe have the heroine and hero react more to what happened to their family during the Great Depression. Show how it affected their riding life. Show how it affect their family dynamics and friendship. The Great Depression was such a horrible time for families and should have been a horrible time for Dale’s family, but Mussner glazed over it and focused on the horse training and young love. After a while, I prayed for the novel to end. I flipped through the story, praying to find some World War II action. Not much of that either. Overall, By Way of the Moonlight by Elizabeth Musser really did not capture my attention. I had a really hard time with the plot, wanting more.

I received a complimentary copy of By Way of the Moonlight by Elizabeth Musser from Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
Profile Image for Christine Indorf.
1,348 reviews163 followers
October 7, 2022
Amazing 5 star!!

Two women tied together by blood and the shared passion with horses. Allie has to give up her dream when her Grandmother Dale sold her house and farm to the wrong person. Now Allie is going through her Grandmother belongings she discovers a life that no one knew about. Can Allie finally discover the truth and save the farm and the man she loves?

I have to admit I don't like books about horses. I almost didn't give this book a try but so glad I did. An amazing book about love and lost, everyone should give this book a try. The two main characters are wonderful and will have you crying throughout. This will go one my list for one of the best of the year!!
Profile Image for Monica H (TeaandBooks).
833 reviews92 followers
August 29, 2022
Are you a fan of horses? By the Way of the Moonlight by Elizabeth Musser ties together a love of horses through generations along with other family history and struggles to weave a fascinating dual timeline story.

Allie Massey is a physical therapist with a dream of making her grandparents' estate into an equine therapy center. Her grandmother, Nana Dale, embraced Allie's dream and promised her that it would happen for her one day after she passed away. However, to Allie's shock and utter disbelief, when the will is read, things have changed and the land is sold to a developer.

Allie is tasked with cleaning out Nana's house within three weeks before the house is knocked over. During that time, she reflects on her life and we learn more of Nana Dale's history. Can Allie's dreams stay alive through this crisis?

I'm not a real fan of horses but I enjoyed By the Way of the Moonlight. If you are a horse fan, I imagine it would be even better. However, I found it easy to follow the characters stories in this dual timeline story. I also could empathize with the struggles Allie faces--as well as Nana Dale's struggles. I like how faith is woven in the book. I like how the character's personalities shine through. I like how the book makes you think about how you are treating others and spending your time.

This would be a good book to use with a book club. There is a list of questions in the back of the book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review are my own.
Profile Image for Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm).
1,112 reviews88 followers
August 25, 2022
Read this if you love
🌎 great world building
🐎 to ride horses
💪🏼 accomplished women
❤️ true love
👵🏻👩🏼 a dual POV

•What it’s about

Wow. What an absolutely amazing story. Told from two POVs, we see Allie, in 2020, and her grandmother, Dale, growing up throughout the 30s and beyond. Allie is currently going through her grandmother’s house that is set to be demolished in a few weeks time. Nana Dale left everything to Allie, but at some point, something went wrong. The house is no longer hers. Now Allie is trying desperately to find the last thing Nana Dale left for her, a small cherrywood chest that holds the key to her future.

Dale’s story, on the other hand, tells all about her childhood; growing up, rearing horses, and meeting the love of her life, Tommy, at a young age. As she lives through the Great Depression and WWII, Dale will see and accomplish things no other woman was doing at that time.

Intertwining with one another, each woman’s story builds off of the other as Allie learns more and more about the mysterious past her grandmother never shared with anyone, until now.

•My Thoughts

I loved everything about this novel. Both the past and the present were fascinating. The author did an amazing job of winding real history into this story, and she created a world so real for me. I could picture everything. In short, I fell in love with these characters. Every last one of them. I admired the love between Tommy and Dale, and how that love seemed to be reflected in Allie and Austin’s relationship. The twist at the end was also unexpected but perfect!
Profile Image for Staci.
2,284 reviews661 followers
November 2, 2023
1931-1964 & 2020 Atlanta, Georgia

Time slip novel that highlights the impact of WWII on the American homefront, young love and horses.

The way the novel is unfolded is so engaging. The chapters alternate between Dale's point of view in the earlier thread and Allie's in the later one.
Profile Image for Jenny.
134 reviews
February 24, 2024
Although I didn’t like Allie’s character for most of the book, I came to love her development and understanding. I loved reading Dale’s portions and her struggles throughout moved me to tears at the end. The theme of being grateful for enough and not obsessing for more struck a chord and a lesson we can all learn from.
Profile Image for Morgan Smith.
Author 3 books96 followers
May 13, 2023
A stunning, hope-filled dual timeline novel! The characters are raw and flawed and the situations heartbreaking, but there is so much hope showered on this story that even through tears I felt it.

A beautiful tale of the many facets of love and the difference between want and need all wrapped in an evocative setting in Georgia and South Carolina. I especially loved learning about equestrians and horses and equine therapy. Very interesting!

I received this book free from the publisher, but I was not required to leave a positive review or any review.
Profile Image for Katie Powner.
Author 7 books448 followers
Read
November 13, 2022
I'm so glad I finally got around to reading this book. I don't want to give anything away, but I can't believe I've never heard about the particular historical events described in this story! I loved reading about them and really want to learn more about them now. I love horses as well, so there were many wonderful things in this book to hold my interest. If you love inspirational, dual-time stories, this one is for you.
Profile Image for Deborah Raney.
Author 75 books681 followers
Read
February 14, 2022
Elizabeth Musser gives us another beautiful story with a lush setting on the Golden Isles off the southern Georgia coast. The fascinating equestrian thread and compelling characters weave through both the contemporary and historical facets of this novel, making this one you won’t want to miss!
Profile Image for Rosalyn.
1,249 reviews33 followers
October 4, 2022
This story is one of those that will be a bit difficult to write an adequate review.
Thought provoking and much more
Written in two different time lines, this is the story of Allie, and also her grandmother, Barbara Dale.
Two lovely young women, tied together by family, and also their deep love of horses.
Allie just knows that her grandma intended for her to keep the family home and farm. And she's just a bit obsessed with making this happen. Somehow, before her grandma died, she managed to sign the deed over to another, a hungry land developer/schemer. But, she also said enough that Allie is convinced there is money (or something!) hidden somewhere in the old home that will enable her to keep that property.
And then there's Dale's story. It happens just as WWII is beginning. But she manages to get involved in the war.
There is so much about Dale's life that her family doesn't know about. And she left a book for Allie to read, to learn about that time period, and Dale's involvement in history.
This is a fascinating novel. Delightful characters. Gripping story.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Profile Image for Meagan | The Chapter House.
2,037 reviews49 followers
August 1, 2022
Some books enter your life at the perfect time. You couldn’t have planned for or expected them; they just…came. And the only explanation is that it’s a God thing.

This is definitely one of those books and experiences.

Musser is at her best, again, with _By Way of the Moonlight_; I felt it harkened back to _The Swan House_, my favorite of hers and among inspy fic in general. It epitomizes her tagline of writing “entertainment with soul,” and takes the reader on journeys around the South and within a family and century loaded with layers, depth, and meaning. Finding out some of Musser’s own familial basis was inspiration for the story lent gravitas and elevated the read even more deeply.

I learned so much in this read, about stateside WWII history, the power and importance of contentment and trust in what God has given each of us, and how to look to Him, and how He will sustain us, in dark times. Truly one that will stay with me for a long time to come.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Michelle Ule.
Author 16 books109 followers
August 6, 2022
By Way of the Moonlight introduces readers to an unheralded part of WWII I'd only read about in Homer Hickam's "Torpedo Junction."

This is an interesting split time novel I would have enjoyed better if not for the "info dumps" in the dialogue. Some of the history needed to be shared in action, not telling and every time I encountered such an explanation, I lost interest in the story.

It also has a trademark happy ending, which didn't need to be such a surprise for me.

Still, a story worth reading.
Profile Image for Sarafina.
587 reviews
Read
December 10, 2023
**To be read later**
This is very good but it’s also very very slow and very sad. It’s almost putting me in a reading slump. I’m definitely going to pick this up again down the road. I think it will be a wonderful story I’m just not in the right headspace for it.
2 reviews
December 6, 2022
I don’t like giving bad reviews, but this book was so slow and full of too much detail that was irrelevant to the story. I struggled to finish it.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
2,347 reviews163 followers
August 13, 2022
"In life, you often have to take the risk of being misunderstood. That's what I've done. I love my family, you know that. But I can't trust them with the money. . . . My daddy's cousin tried to find a way to steal all our property back during the Depression. Got to watch out for property hawks. . . . I've seen too many families ripped apart over inheritances."

Then why in the world had her Nana Dale stipulated in her will that Allie's inheritance be sold to a developer upon her death? What about Allie's dream, the one she thought that her grandmother shared? They had talked over and over again about an equine therapy center, but in the end Allie was going to lose everything; the house, the land, her future with Austin. Well, if the truth were known, Allie had lost Austin all by herself. She had been determined, or in his words "obsessed", with finding answers that were apparently hidden in a small wooden chest which Allie couldn't seem to locate. What secrets could the diminutive woman with a fierce passion for faith and family (and horses! especially horses!) have kept hidden away all of these years? . . . . monumental ones.

"Life is a paradox, Allie. When you learn to embrace it all, let it mix together like molasses in oats, well, the sweet fragrance comes out. Even when life stinks."

Upon first glance this book reads like two totally different stories . . . until they aren't. Granted, it's lengthy and the word count made me realize that in order to fully appreciate the depth that I needed to take breaks, needed to let the impact and the emotions sink in before bravely pushing ahead. For this is a courageous story for these characters to tell. They not only have to move forward, they have to look inward and we all know how painful that can be at times, but we haven't been left to our own devices. . . . " faith don't stop the horrible things. But faith helps you walk through those things, whipped and angry and screaming on the inside. . . And the surprising thing is that the Good Lord will fill up all that emptiness with good things".

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I also purchased a copy. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
Profile Image for maiaisreading.
550 reviews10 followers
August 13, 2022
#BookReview: BY WAY OF THE MOONLIGHT by Elizabeth Musser

“It’s like learning to ride a horse, Allie. Praying, trusting God – the more you practice, the better you get at understanding how He wants you to live. It doesn't happen overnight. In my case, He’s had a stubborn, ornery woman to work with. Some things have changed. I'm a work in progress.”

Aren’t we all a work in progress? I love those lines in the book. Everyday is a blessing for us to continue to be hopeful and faithful to God.

Nana Dale’s heartbreaking yet hopeful story during the Great Depression and WWII was inspiring. She was one determined lady. She was a hard worker with a big heart. I am not into horses but even I found it engaging with Dale’s passion borderline obsession with horses. It was nice to learn more about the equestrian world..

It was great to know about the mounted soldiers on the coast of Georgia. Florida, Georgia, North or South Carolina during WWII.

The characters were realistic to the point that I wasn’t a fan of Allie. Nonetheless, I was still engaged in the two stories. The book was a tad too long for me but the switch was seamless and it made me want to know more. Maybe I was just impatient as the mystery unfolds. I was excited with each revelation. The faith aspect was weaved nicely in the story.

I enjoyed the author’s other books and this one didn’t disappoint. Christians like everyone else are not perfect. Everyday is a journey to grow and be more Christ-like. Christian fiction lovers will surely enjoy this dual timeline story of family, inheritance, faith, hope and courage.

Rating: 4 stars
Pub date: out now

Thank you Bethany House for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Faith.
2,186 reviews
August 11, 2022
Two resilient women decades apart are challenged by love and loss as the world changes around them.

Allie Massey is watching her life go to shambles around her, the future that she had all mapped falling to pieces. She has a short time frame to pack up all of her beloved grandmother's things and clear out the property before everything is leveled and the commercial landowners take over. But going through the mementos reveals a secret side of her grandmother and her amazing courage.

A well crafted read that is a mix between character and plot driven. The story meanders at its own pace, taking time to carefully bring all the pieces together in rich detail, while keeping me invested and wondering how it would all work out. I loved learning about Allie's grandmother, especially how she served in the war, as well as her courage and daring. I liked how the story was told through alternating viewpoints in the present day with Allie, and decades earlier with Dale, sometimes foreshadowing what would happen in the other time and place.

Overall, a compelling, richly woven read, with a strong message of faith and hope. A compelling read that will take you through a gambit of emotions, captivating in the best way!


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Profile Image for Debra Slonek.
376 reviews74 followers
August 27, 2022
I was absorbed into this well-written and well-researched, dual timeline, historical fiction novel. I learned many things from the WW2 timeline. I now have a better understanding and appreciation for the folks who bravely served to protect our coastlines. I also learned about two life changing diseases that we no longer worry about, thanks to modern medicine.

I loved the bonds between the horses and their owners…heartwarming and heartbreaking. The horses trained and competed in equine events, patrolled beaches and provided therapy to precious folks in need. Horses are truly noble creatures.

It is so amazing and gratifying when almost forgotten prayers finally get answered. This happened for Dale. Her answered prayers led to the sweetest of reunions. This reunion yielded much joy and encouragement, not just for her, but for everyone around her. Definitely a happy tears moment!

I loved the relationship between Nana Dale and Allie. Nana Dale passed, leaving behind deliberate clues which would reveal and explain many of her secrets, some of which she had held and guarded for most of her life. These clues and revealed secrets were life changing for those she left behind. Grief and joy can and do go hand in hand.

I received complimentary copies of this book from Bethany House Publishers through UpLit Reads and NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are mine.
Profile Image for Kate.
1,915 reviews70 followers
September 25, 2024
This book broke my heart, and then put it back together in such a beautiful way! I loved both Allie and Nana Dale, even through their obsessions and difficulty turning things over to God. I especially loved that both Allie and Dale had Godly influences in their lives to help point them back to Him.
The parts where Allie was led on a journey to discover Nana Dale's story . . . her love of all things equestrian, her participation on the home front in WWII . . . her heartbreak, and ultimate decision to trust God and move forward despite said heartbreak . . . all of it was just so beautifully, poignantly written.
This one's going to be one I'm going to be thinking of for a good long while to come!
Profile Image for Caitlin (CMAReads).
1,621 reviews90 followers
August 23, 2022
Thanks to Bethany House for the free book.
This book caught me by surprise. It started off slow - a bit too slow for me - but as the book neared the 150 page mark, I became invested in this story. The story is started a lot in Dale's timeline and her time with her horses. If you're a horse fan, I have no doubt that you would enjoy this book. What an interesting time of WWII to focus on. I had known a smidge about u-boat spotting from the Atlantic coast, but I knew nothing about the Sand Pounders. And in between the history, I fell for Dale and her assertiveness. I love it when a young woman fights for what she wants and believes in. The relationships in this novel are tender and deep. There are also some real pains present, which caused me to tear up a time or two.
Dale's story is also balanced with Allie's in March 2020. I was intrigued by this timing and how the pandemic would be incorporated into the novel. There is a lot of hurt and grief that gets worked through in this timeline, too. These timelines converged to make a beautiful story of family, love, dreams, hurts, and resilience.
Profile Image for Yvonne.
277 reviews4 followers
August 3, 2025
Kan 6 sterren ook? Dit boek en verhaal gaan nog lang nazingen in mijn hoofd. En nu wil ik hem eigenlijk opnieuw lezen, want nu weet ik alles...
Goede opbouw. Van heden naar verleden en weer terug. Een groot mysterie dat ontrafeld wordt tot en met het laatste hoofdstuk. Na minder dan 100 pagina's dacht ik: Hoe gaat dit lopen want de auteur heeft nu al zoveel goede spanning op weten te bouwen, en toen ging het nog een paar honderd pagina's door.
Ik ga zeker nog meer boeken van deze schrijfster lezen!
Profile Image for Meagan.
341 reviews
March 14, 2023
This was a nice surprise of a book. I picked it as a free audiobook and it exceeded my expectations. It did take me a while to get into it, but I enjoyed the storyline especially Nana Dale. Also, it was set in Georgia so bonus points for that. If you are a horse lover, then definitely grab this book.
Profile Image for Jeanne Alfveby Crea.
964 reviews106 followers
June 23, 2022
Unforgettable!! What a beautiful and compelling story with an equestrian thread woven through both timelines, rich in history, including the Great Depression, and aspects of WWII that I had never known about. I absolutely loved it!

Love, heartbreak, bravery, courage, and secrets are wrapped up in this incredible novel, along with a beautiful and gentle faith thread. "But Nana Dale was filled with secrets and surprises, not the least of which was barnyard wisdom that often included phrases that sounded a lot like they came from the Good Book."

Excellent historical fiction, I highly recommend By Way of the Moonlight by Elizabeth Musser.
I love learning about history through historical fiction!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own. I have pre-ordered a copy for my keeper shelf!
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