On July 16, 2017 and July 16, 2017, I will be joining the discussion of The Princess and the Foal by Stacy Gregg. You may chime in at any time, any date! Anyone can join the WINGBEATS BOOK CLUB.

Here are my first thoughts on the story, and I can't wait to hear yours!

Well, I adored this book from ears to tail! I think it is charming, well-written, thrilling, and heartbreaking. I like that the book is based on a real-life princess.

As a fellow rider and horse-lover, the author's intimate and authentic knowledge of horses is refreshing. Bree and Haya are an exceptional pair, but the horse scenes felt realistic to me in spite of their off-the-chart talents. And the riding accomplishments of Princess Haya are real, you can look them up and see her photos and competitions, like the King's Cup and the Sydney Olympics.

I also enjoyed the main character, Princess Haya. She's a small girl with a fierce spirit whom we can all look up too! She's a trail blazer for women in her country. I loved traveling to Jordan and becoming immersed in her palace and stables. While there is heartbreak in this book, overall it's very encouraging and positive. I cried over the sad parts and cheered (and cried) during the happy parts.

What did you think? Did you like the book? The characters? The plot? What did you think of Bree? Of Sama? Did you research the real Princess Haya? If you did, what did you find out? Here is a picture of her as a kid. Thank you for joining WINGBEATS BOOK CLUB! Please share your thoughts.