Releasing the Reins

A Novel

By: Catherine Matthews

Narrated by: Shelley Reece

Secrets hiding on the tundra . . .

In the dawning of summer, the rugged landscape of rural Alaska sets the stage for a tale of determination and dark secrets. Headstrong Bunny O'Kelly arrives on the sprawling expanses of Buck Miller's horse ranch with the fiery ambition to make a name for herself. Against the backdrop of wild horses and unchecked wilderness, she embarks on a grueling journey to prove her worth, not just as a ranch hand, but as a woman in a world that doesn't want her.

But when Bunny stumbles upon the shattered remnants of Katie Miller's life, the ranch transforms into a web of lies. Katie's fatal accident, long unexamined, whispers of hidden truths and cloaked motives. As Bunny delves deeper, she uncovers a sinister layer to the tragedy and finds herself caught in a dangerous game where her quest for justice could unravel the very fabric of her newfound haven . . . yet silence could enshrine a killers freedom.

Releasing the Reins spurs you to unravel its mysteries. Can Bunny OKell'y expose the truth when trust shatters and daylight reveals the deadliest secrets?

PRAISE FOR RELEASING THE REINS

©2024 Catherine Matthews (P)2024 Catherine Matthews

Critic reviews

"It takes writing chops to create a women's fiction/mystery/modern western mash-up like Releasing the Reins, but author Catherine Matthews does it seamlessly. Set in the wild expanses of Alaska farmland, this debut novel honors the majestic landscape, explores the power of the human/animal connection, and exposes the destructive force of family secrets. Bunny OKell'y is an intriguing protagonist: smart-witted, strong, stubborn, and a little lost. Her journey to unravel a hidden truth is also a hard path of self-discovery—readers will love her, fear for her, and root for her to find the answers she desperately needs. An up-all-night page-turner." Carla Damron, award-winning author of Justice be Done, The Orchid Tattoo, The Stone Necklace

A mystery and horses... SO GREAT!

Set in the 80's, (practically historical fiction now... 🤣) a mysterious death explored through multiple points of veiw with an engaging past/present time line. A horse story at heart...💕🐎💕 with the bonus of a loyal white dog named, Ruff. A salute to the women who fought against gender roles to follow their dreams when everyone said they couldn't. AND one of my favourite bookcovers of the year!

Great writing, characters, story and narrators!

What a beautiful trip to Alaska. Great writing, characters and story. Special thanks to Catherine Matthews.

I got involved in this story from the very beginning and did not want to put it down, even at the end. There are 3 main families involved and all of them have drama of their own. The characters were easy to relate to - all of them were broken in different ways - just like all of us are. Some of the characters had very special relationships with horses, the way that this was described was spot on. Also, one of the main characters was the ranch dog, what a great dog he was too.

This story is full of heartbreak and healing. Some of the characters were awesome and others were just bad people. Two of the families ran boarding stables and bred horses. We board two horses at a stable with a trainer and this part of the story was really good. The other family had a milking operation that was not in Alaska. This trip to Alaska included descriptions of the beauty of Alaska - it was like taking a trip. I also loved the title and cover.

Wonderful story - hard to stop listening

Beautiful descriptions and engaging characters fill this page turner. Hard to stop listening, Releasing the Reins keeps the reader wanting more—you'll be sucked in until the last page.

Alaskan Ranch Hand Proves Herself

Matthews takes us into a world few know. Alaska. Tough ranch life. How can a woman fit into all of this? Matthew’s weaves mystery into the plot to tell a riveting tale and keep things going right to the end. Narrator was good too.

Great characters and story

Love, hate, revenge, retribution, honesty, deceit, bravery and hesitency, family ties and family dydfunction -- all play into this Alaskan coming-of-age novel. You will care about the characters while you also shake your head at them. They are believable and complicated -- just like we are.