This a story about Millie Reynolds. Her father rides in rodeos and is gone a lot but when he is home he beats his wife who depends on drugs to survive. Millie has a sad life. Her grandparents do not like her. She doesn't have many friends. She spends time in sitting in a tall tree by their home. When her father is home she hides under the house. One time when he comes home he beats his wife so bad she has to go to the hospital. She is committed to the mental hospital where she dies.Millie goes to the rodeo to watch her father. He rides a bull and completes the ride but as he is getting off his hand gets caught in the rope and he is stomped and gouged by the bull. When the bull finally get stopped her father is dead. The owner of the rodeo pays for both funerals. Millie makes friends with Bump and her life is much better.I felt so sorry for her and the sad life she led, but it got better at the end. I was so glad to find this book. I have spent the past few weeks, trying to read one book after another, without success. I would try for several days to get "into" a book, but after many pages and still no "spark", would finally realize that it was not the book for me, put it down, and try another. This one, however, made the cut. I got into the story very quickly, and as a result, finished the book in about three days. It was very good. I especially liked the love story part of it. It was a toss-up for a while there, and I wasn't sure who I wanted to root for when it came to her choice of whether to run off with River (the gypsy), or stay with Bump (the cowboy). I was very pleased with the ending, sad though it was for the boy who wasn't the one she chose. There is a paragraph at the end that touched my heart. It was about her realizing how much "he" loves her. How he believes in her and sees the best in her and is determined for her to see the best, too. "There's nothing in the world like having someone love you for who you really are. Looking at your heavy baggage and leaning down to whisper in your ear, "You're perfect."" I was touched because that is exactly how my dear husband sees me. I wish I could see myself through his eyes, just once. So, I was really able to understand how Millie felt. It was an awesome ending, and I am anticipating reading Millie's continuing story.
What do You think about Into The Free (2012)?
It's hard to believe this is Cantrell's first novel. The writing is smooth and the story and characters engaging. This Depression era story begins with Millie as an almost 10-year old girl who sees her mother abused by her father repeatedly, something that should not happen much less be witnessed by a child. Sloth is her neighbor and her strongest ally. When he dies, and she meets the Gypsies, or Travelers, her life takes a new turn. Six years pass and as a 16-year old she meets her first love. Tragedy strikes twice in one week and then she is injured. With her recovery come more changes in her life. This is a not-to-be-missed book. I've already found there is a sequel and will read that as soon as I get my hands on it.
—AviPrasad
I heard the author speak at a conference over the weekend and decided I wanted to read her book. I'm glad I did...couldn't put it down. Millie's story is heartbreakingly beautiful...what Ann Voskamp would call "ugly-beautiful." If you're looking for a happy, feel-good, everybody-lives-happily-ever-after Christian novel...well, then don't read this. But if you want a story that makes you think deeply about the meaning of forgiveness, I can recommend it. Looking forward to starting the sequel.
—claude
This book was very good. Heartbreaking and joyous
—JazzfilledRomance
