Flameheart and the Broken Oath: Book 16 (Painted Path Series)

What if the worst thing you did… was the only reason someone finally saw the truth in you?

Bronson’s world was marble floors, private chefs, and endless “yeses”—until a public meltdown in a fancy restaurant changes everything. Wild with entitlement and acting out, Bronson didn’t expect anyone to stop him. But when his father shows up, the party ends. Now Bronson is banished to a remote ranch, far from his mother, far from luxury—and far from escape.

Flameheart is no ordinary horse.
A proud Tennessee Walker with striking black-and-white coloring and high-stepping elegance, Flameheart doesn’t tolerate liars, cruelty, or excuses. Bronson, with his sharp tongue and sharper temper, is the last person this horse should bond with. But the ranch doesn’t offer second chances easily—and Flameheart may be Bronson’s only way forward.

At first, it’s war.
Bronson kicks, screams, lies, manipulates. He tries everything he can to outwit the quiet, watchful adults and the code of the canyon ranch. But the wilderness doesn’t bend, and neither does Flameheart. Out here, loyalty is earned. Honesty is required. And kindness is the only language that still matters.

The ranch is wild, raw, and full of challenge.
Here, kids shovel manure before breakfast, ride with real purpose, and learn what it means to be accountable—not just to others, but to themselves. Bronson can’t charm or cheat his way out. Every tantrum costs him trust. Every cruel word builds a wall. And every honest moment cracks something open.

But what happens when the horse you need… doesn’t trust you?
Flameheart won’t be broken by force. But he might respond to something else—if Bronson can find it. Not fake goodness. Not performative apologies. But something deeper: a reckoning with the truth of what he’s done, and a commitment to who he might become.

This isn’t just a story about redemption—it’s about the courage to face your worst self.
Bronson must confront the friend he betrayed, the lies he told, and the parts of him that learned to thrive on attention instead of affection. Flameheart becomes the mirror that shows what Bronson can no longer hide.

Written with fierce honesty and soul-deep tenderness, Flameheart and the Broken Oath is a journey into what loyalty really means—when no one is watching. What honesty demands—when the truth hurts. And what kindness costs—when you’ve already burned the bridges behind you.

Fans of grounded horse stories, raw emotional transformation, and nature-forged healing will find something unforgettable in these pages.
Perfect for readers who loved Earthsong and the Grounded Way or Thundercrest and the Just Flame, this next installment in the Painted Path series is a testament to how far a child can go when an animal sees their truth—and waits for them to meet it.

Because sometimes… the oath you broke was never about someone else.
Sometimes, it was the promise to become who you were meant to be.