Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Westland is the second novel in the Essie's Roses series by Michelle Muriel. Set in the years after the Civil War, the novel continues the story of Evie and Essie Mae. The two girls, now women, come back to their plantation, to Miss Katie and to the place they call home. While the plantation is now unproductive, it is still a place where they feel the safest. However, that safety is threatened once again when James receives threatening letters targeting Essie and Westland. Although James is ready to do whatever it takes to keep everyone safe, fate has other plans. Before they know it, someone very dangerous from the past is back, knocking on their door, and it looks like their peaceful family will be tested. With the rebels destroying everything and everyone in sight, Essie, Evie, and everyone at the plantation will have to stick together to survive.

Author Michelle Muriel has done a fantastic job of describing the fear and uncertainty Essie, Evie, and the rest of the people at Westland felt when their security was threatened. Emotions are running high from the very beginning and you can feel the tension between Evie and Essie. Even though Essie is a freed slave, the shadowy past of being a slave still has an impact on her. She is independent, smart, and can definitely make decisions for herself, but she still doubts herself from time to time. Evie, on the other hand, is just unsure of her abilities. While she does grow a lot and becomes a well-rounded character toward the end, she has a learning curve that feels very human and relatable. The actual plot of the story is fantastic. It has just the right amount of twists, action, and suspense to keep the story flowing seamlessly. What more can a reader ask for?