Sonora by Jenni L. Walsh
Millennial readers will likely think they know the story of Sonora Webster Carver thanks to the beloved 1991 film about her life, Wild Hearts Can’t be Broken. In her latest novel, Sonora, Jenni L. Walsh dives deeper into the background of this incredible woman, capturing all of the spark and resilience of the title character while rounding out the tale with wonderfully complex supporting characters of the two-legged and four legged varieties.
A Leap Toward Freedom and Self-Discovery
Unfulfilled in her role as a department store bookkeeper, nineteen year old Sonora yearns for more but isn’t sure how to find her true calling. Walsh imbues young Sonora with a propulsive knowing; that her adventurous spirit can’t be tamed enough for a desk job, that she’s got confidence and athleticism in spades, and that there has to be more ahead of her than growing up and settling down. As with all of Walsh’s characters, Sonora feels period-appropriate while also exhibiting some very contemporary feminist sensibilities. Sonora is wise beyond her years, and fully aware of her gifts.
When Sonora’s newspaper scouring mother presents her with a want ad looking for an attractive woman who can swim, dive, and likes horses, Sonora summons up her trademark courage and takes a leap that will lead to a lifetime more of them. After watching Carver’s High Diving Horse Act with her mother and sister Arnette, Sonora discovers that this could be her future; the chance to ‘be on the back of a horse, owning the sky.’
From Strangers to Found Family
A bumpy introduction to the less-than-hospitable team of traveling entertainers eventually leads to full time employment as the star of their unique horse diving act, and as the story unfolds the crew shifts from prickly strangers to their rightful place as Sonora’s found family. I was especially fond of the act’s blustery namesake, the showman known as Doc Carver, who becomes Sonora’s father figure seemingly against his wishes. He’s a complex character filled with equal parts of self-interest and tough love, a curmudgeon you can’t help but appreciate thanks to Walsh’s deft storytelling.
And speaking of love, Sonora features a satisfying will they/won’t they romance with the show’s heir apparent and business manager, Al Carver. Sonora’s baggage about relationships throws endless obstacles in front of smitten Al, but much like his intended, nothing can stop his dogged determination once his eyes are on a prize.
As a passionate supporter of animal rights I’ll admit that I was initially concerned about the welfare of the diving horses, and that worry was echoed in a side plot featuring an SPCA rep with questionable motives looking to close the show. Walsh effectively addresses any reader concerns about the horses’ safety with details about how meticulously the Carvers and Sonora cared for their stable, as well as the deliberation required to find the right sorts of horses for the job. Much like the truism ‘you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink,’ Walsh demonstrates that you can’t make them leap off a high dive board either. Every jump was a collaboration between horse and rider, with no coercion necessary.
As with the rest of her backlist, Walsh’s Sonora hits plenty of reader sweet spots; a main character who refused to let the conventions of her era derail her dreams, a slow burn love story with a beautiful payoff, and captivating storytelling that might bring a tear to the eye in a few moving chapters.
Prepare to be inspired by this fearless young woman who leapt into a lifetime of adventures on the back of a horse. Walsh’s Sonora is a triumph!
About Jenni L Walsh:
Jenni L. Walsh is a USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books. Her passion lies in transporting readers to another world, be it in historical or contemporary settings. She is a proud member of the Tall Poppy writers, a graduate of Villanova University, and lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with her husband, daughter, son, and various pets.
For adults, Jenni has written historical novels Becoming Bonnie, Side by Side, A Betting Woman, The Call of the Wrens, Unsinkable, Ace, Marvel, Spy, Sonora, and the forthcoming Death Was Not on the Guest List. She also writes books for children, including the nonfiction She Dared series and novels Hettie and the London Blitz, I Am Defiance, By the Light of Fireflies, Over and Out, Operation: Happy, The Bug Bandits, and the forthcomingOutlook Unclear. To learn more about Jenni and her books, please visit jennilwalsh.com or @jennilwalsh on social media.
