When Shane Carson receives a mustang with an unusual brand, he does not realize how the mare will affect his life. For the famed horseman, working on his farm with horses and enjoying his family life are the two most important activities he can pursue, and he works hard at both. After tragedy severs his connection to inner peace and outward productivity, Shane is restless and distracted.

The mysterious mare, nicknamed Sloppy, provides him with a new sense of purpose. However, in attempting to fulfill a promise, Shane becomes embroiled in a messy conflict between the Shoshone people and land-hungry developers masquerading as "good ol' boys." In order to remain true to his love for horses and his years'-old promise, he has to determine to see justice through to the end -- no matter what the future might hold.

SPIRIT HORSES is a wonderful book that reads like the best of gripping movies. A visually impressive and emotionally stirring work, the novel moves swiftly between plot elements, never becoming overburdened or trite. Even for those readers unfamiliar with horses, the details of family and farm life are engagingly rendered.