Laura Moore: Ride a Dark Horse

Pocket Star (Paperback), ISBN: 0-671-04292-0

A debut novel, Ride a Dark Horse jumps into the show ring and takes home a blue ribbon in the Grand Prix of reading excitement and pleasure. If you love romance, dedication, little kids (orphaned twins), show horses, family loyalty, bitchy ex-wives who love exerting their power and dear friends that gather in times of need, then look no farther. This book offers all that and more, including a truly great heroine and a hero equally great: Cassie Miller and Caleb Wells.

Prior to the accident that orphaned the twins, making her their guardian and eventually their adoptive mother, Cassie’s growing roll of equestrian honors marked her as a rider of note and excellent potential. But her unforeseen role as single parent meant Cassie couldn’t continue on that track. In order to support the twins, she takes a job as horse trainer. In the stable where she works, Cassie meets Orion (the titular dark horse, who seeks a lifelong rider/partner) and Caleb (the local veterinarian, who holds a major interest in Orion). Caleb develops a major interest in Cassie — one he fights and denies for all he’s worth. Caleb’s ex-wife sees things differently and intends to do everything in her considerable power to keep Caleb and Cassie apart… and to keep Cassie from riding Orion in the major shows.

A richly satisfying book that teaches much about horse shows, family interactions and the power of love, Ride a Dark Horse goes on my keeper shelf. I do not want to lose touch with its wonderful characters, both major and minor, since I cherish hopes for a book starring Cassie’s brother and his special someone. Cassie’s brother worked hard to provide a sound financial future for the twins and Cassie, and he deserves his own love story.

Patricia Lucas White

Patricia Lucas White’s latest historical novel, To Last a Lifetime, was an Eppie finalist for 2003. To Last a Lifetime and two of her fantasy romances, the Sapphire Award-winning A Wizard Scorned and The Godmother Sanction, can be ordered through Hard Shell Word Factory. Her recent contemporary, PS, I’ve Taken a Lover, is available from Lionhearted Books.