Life with Lily by Margaret Morgan

Dee's mom and dad buy her a grey Welsh pony.  She's thrilled.  The pony needs some work.  She doesn't want to be brushed and she's a bit fat.  The first thing they discover is that she has barbed wire stuck in her neck.  The vet clears that up.

This book is self-published and I was allowed to read it for review (thank you).  It's been published and you can get a copy now.

This is written for young adults and it's a good read.  Dee loves her pony and her friends want to ride it, too.  She shares the pony with her friends.  Unfortunately her dad  has lost his job.  He's upset about that and it concerns her mom, too.

You learn about prejudice because her mother is black and everyone thinks she's a servant, not her mother.  Her mom stands up for herself.  She gets a job cooking meals for the schools in her district.  Everybody loves her food!

There's a lot of trauma in the adult relationships but the children get along fine.  The pony helps everyone with their worries, fears or needs.  She gives them eyelash kisses.

The story has some sad stuff but it has a lot more positive things and it ends well. 

Be prepared to answer some questions from your young one.  They may understand or they may not.

Life with Lily by Margaret Morgan

Dee gets a pony that is that is a bit shy and needs to be treated gently.  She can do that but she's a bit impatient.  It doesn't take her long to realize her pony is clever.  She tries to help anyone having a bad day.

The author allowed me to read her book for review (thank you).  It will be published July 27th.

They have a donkey that soon makes friends with Lily.  Dee enjoys riding her pony.  Life is going well until her dad loses his job.  He has big plans for starting his own business but with no money that seems to be out of reach.

He helps her with her horse.  She has a good girlfriend that's stronger than her.  That comes in handy when two boys bother the animals.  Soon, the issue is resolved and everyone is friends again.

Young readers will enjoy the tale of Lily, the pony.  Everything is not sweetness and light but it's like life actually is.  The family overcomes their problems, the pony is sweet, and Dee has some good ideas.  Together they survive.

Mrs. McKeiver's Secrets by Margaret Morgan

Mrs. McKeiver is a midwife.  She uses herbs for her doctoring, listens to the women's troubles and helps where she can.  She also helps the Parish Poor Relief.  Times are not good in England in 1799.

The Publishing Push team sent me a copy of this book to read for review (thank you).  Check with your local bookstore for a copy.

This is a very detailed look at life in England during the late 1700's.  The cross-slice Ms. Morgan shows you is authentic and not all pleasant.  With their land being taken away from them and the new landlords only bettering themselves, it's tough.  Women had no voice.  Men took what they wanted and walked away if someone got pregnant.  Mrs. McKeiver is in the middle trying to help the women and their new babies.

To add to the problems of life, Mrs. McKeiver has a son who has lost use of his body from the waist down.  She's having problems lifting him and worries about caring for him in the future.  The Reverend has a wife who is disabled.  He loves her tremendously but that doesn't make her well.

This author is very open about bodily processes.  If someone pisses themself, she tells you.  A newly wed wonders if she's too wanton because she desires her husband so much.  A man murders the baby a girl has because he doesn't want it.  She pulls no punches.

It was an engrossing, interesting look at life in this time period.  I would have kept reading because I wanted to know how things worked out, but I'll have to wait until the next book comes out.

If you're interested in history and politics of this time period you'll really enjoy reading this book.  I know I did.