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a tear jerker at times! ( )

Breaking Free teaches us about change and redemption: Bestselling author Lauraine Snelling has written over 50 books, both fiction and non-fiction, contemporary and historical, for adults and young readers. This is the first by a Christian publisher.

Breaking Free is a heartwarming story of love, loss-and second chance for humans and animals.

Maggie Roberts is serving ten years in prison as the result of a tragic accident. The warden is bringing in a program where inmates work with injured or out-of-control horses--to see if the inmates can rehabilitate them-or the horse has to be destroyed. The warden knows that Maggie loved horses as a teen, and she is one of the first to be selected for the program.

Maggie is able to work around a violent horse named Breaking Free. No one can get near this horse and when they do, he hurts them, prompting the warden to order him destroyed. Maggie steps out of her prison "shell" and asks for a chance to work with the horse. She is also able to suggest other inmates to be in the program.

After years of showing no emotion and giving away nothing about their outside lives, these women start to share and care about each other. Many of these women are tough-and show it at every turn.

A parallel story is about 11-year-old Eric, wheelchair bound because of spina bifida, and his divorced father, Gil. This handicapped boy has the energy and joy of life anyone would envy, while his father spends time worrying about his son--especially when Eric is on top of some huge horse in his therapeutic riding class.

Eric wants his own horse-which brings them to the prison's rehabilitation program. The rest, as they say, is history--or Laurine Snelling's wonderful story.

If you like a nice story of love, living live to its fullest--and hope and redemption, this is a most satisfying read. If you love horses, you will really enjoy that added aspect.

Breaking Free is the perfect name because it means so many things for so many different people.

Armchair Interviews says: This is a story well suited for young readers, young adults and adults.

good--that's all I have to say. ( )

I enjoyed this story of rehabilitation, family and finding that special someone. The story ties up all the loose ends a little to conveniently but overall a good read. ( )