Thursday, March 21, 2013

Maple Dale Revisited by Mary Ann Myers


Equine author, Mary Ann Myers, updated her first Maple Dale book with Maple Dale Revisited. But this is not so much a horse story as it is an adventure with young Mindy and her older sister, Bethann, and friends who try to save a small herd of hungry deer during a long winter storm.

Scenes are detailed and characters are likable. The horse stable setting is realistic and in the end conflicts (both human and nature) are resolved. The possibility of a ghost adds to the suspense.

A fun adventure for young readers!


Sunday, March 17, 2013

Grows That Way by Susan Ketchen


Grows That Way by Susan Ketchen started off slow with the main character, Sylvia, talking in first person present tense, and describing a lucid dream about a neighborhood boy and her horse. Then she describes background about her and her family. Kind of boring.

Then, Chapter 5 gets VERY interesting! Her chance sighting of a strange beast while on a lone trail ride and the results, are exciting, hilarious and the book becomes a thriller page-turner!

I think the author should have started with the encounter, then give the back story and development.

The ending is educational, funny and insightful to a teen's life.

I highly recommend the book!

Note: I received a review copy from the author. This is the 3rd in the series.
Visit http://www.susanketchen.ca/





Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Dead Money by Steve O'Brien






Dead Money by Steve O'Brien is another murder mystery set on the racetrack. The same characters from his previous novel, Bullet Work, are included in this one, such as Dan Morgan, a lawyer and the Thoroughbred owner of the undefeated filly, Aly Dancer.

Dan is offered big bucks for Aly and thinks it's a crazy idea. But it's when his trainer's body is found and presumed as a suicide that Dan realizes there are illegal matters surrounding his horse and trainer. His buddy, a betting genius, helps him understand what scam is afoot.

The whole betting scheme was complicated and hard to understand, but the rest of the action, especially the race scenes, were excellent. I was disappointed with the last page involving the man who sets up the scam. But I guess it leaves room open for the next book.