This first book in the Circle of Souls series is indeed magical. Fourteen year old Meg and her brother, Sam, meet Elke, a woman who lives in a small house in the woods. She helps their sick cat and introduces them to her horses. She teaches them to ride, much to their delight. However, the kids have been sneaking away without their mother’s permission, which ultimately results in trouble.

Misunderstandings abound, causing considerable problems that get more complex with the kids forbidden from seeing Elke or the horses again. Not wanting to wander into spoiler territory, I’ll just say that this story is intriguing and loaded with insights on dealing with a person who’s emotionally disturbed. When I was growing up, my mother was a lot like Meg’s so I could relate. I remember well being given the silent treatment without knowing what I had done wrong. As a teen it’s hard to understand why a parent acts like that and it can be very difficult to deal with.

Back to the story, Elke has a variety of secrets that add considerable depth to the story which contribute to a very touching, tearjerker ending. Her past ties back to WWII and the heartbreak caused by separations. I highly recommend this as the first book in this series and have already read another one out of order as I binge this series. I look forward to reading the next one to see what continues in the life of these many endearing characters in a fictitious town that reminds me a lot of the one where I grew up, right down to it’s geological location.

You can get your copy on Amazon here.