Ride a Dark Horse

Rating:
Summary: Good potential but doesn't deliver
Review: "Ride a Dark Horse" is my first encounter with Laura Moore, and I'll admit I only bought it because of the horsey content. The plotline definitely sounded intriguing -- up-and-coming show jumping rider Cassie Miller is trying to break back into the business after a 5-year absence; veterinarian/horse-owner Caleb Wells wants to turn his horse into a show jumping star but can't find the right rider; and Caleb's ex-wife holds the reins (literally and figuratively) of the horse at the center of this story.

Unfortunately, the book doesn't deliver on many of the plot's promises. By trying to cater to a wider audience Ms. Moore tones down the level of equestrian detail so much so that it's no longer evident this book is written by a horsewoman. In addition, Caleb's "vindictive" ex-wife really comes off as nothing more than a cheap trash-talker and really never drives the plot at all. This could have provided a lot of drama but never really does. On the plus side, the romance between Caleb and Cassie, while slow to start (due to another plot contrivance having to do with her being dumped by a previous fiance), was worth the wait.

Rating:
Summary: Good potential but doesn't deliver
Review: "Ride a Dark Horse" is my first encounter with Laura Moore, and I'll admit I only bought it because of the horsey content. The plotline definitely sounded intriguing -- up-and-coming show jumping rider Cassie Miller is trying to break back into the business after a 5-year absence; veterinarian/horse-owner Caleb Wells wants to turn his horse into a show jumping star but can't find the right rider; and Caleb's ex-wife holds the reins (literally and figuratively) of the horse at the center of this story.

Unfortunately, the book doesn't deliver on many of the plot's promises. By trying to cater to a wider audience Ms. Moore tones down the level of equestrian detail so much so that it's no longer evident this book is written by a horsewoman. In addition, Caleb's "vindictive" ex-wife really comes off as nothing more than a cheap trash-talker and really never drives the plot at all. This could have provided a lot of drama but never really does. On the plus side, the romance between Caleb and Cassie, while slow to start (due to another plot contrivance having to do with her being dumped by a previous fiance), was worth the wait.

Rating:
Summary: Hard to believe this is a first book!!
Review: An extremely well written book, in a class with Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown and Linda Howard. I immediately checked for a list of other books she had written and was astounded to find this was her first book. I will definitely be looking for more of her books in the bookstores!

Rating:
Summary: Stunningly accurate
Review: Having ridden hunter/jumpers all my life, I bought this book skeptically. Most authors that try to write about the circuit end up annoying me with their lack of research. Laura Moore knows her horses and life on the show circuit very well. There were no jarring details out of place in this book. As a veterinary student, I can also say she knows her medicine. An excellent first book, this subject matter was perfect for me.

Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable for a first novel!
Review: I know nothing about horses, but was fascinated to read about the horse shows. It certainly seemed to me that Ms. Moore knows her way around animals. Wonderful love story and very special celebration at the end of their unique love. I think Ms. Moore left us wondering if Cassie's brother, Alex, would ever find love and happiness. Hope to see a story about him soon.

Rating:
Summary: Good horse details and believable story
Review: I liked the characters in this book quite a bit, and the love story between the protagonists is developed in a fairly believable way. The author does have the characters work together and get to know each other before they actually give in to the passion that they feel for each other. The equestrian details are also accurate.

As with most romances, so of the conflicts that the characters have to work through to live happily every after seem quite contrived. I wish that wasn't so here, because this is an enjoyable story. I wish that the strong characters had the sense not to get caught up in the personal conflicts that frustrate them here.

Rating:
Summary: Good horse details and believable story
Review: I liked the characters in this book quite a bit, and the love story between the protagonists is developed in a fairly believable way. The author does have the characters work together and get to know each other before they actually give in to the passion that they feel for each other. The equestrian details are also accurate.

As with most romances, so of the conflicts that the characters have to work through to live happily every after seem quite contrived. I wish that wasn't so here, because this is an enjoyable story. I wish that the strong characters had the sense not to get caught up in the personal conflicts that frustrate them here.

Rating:
Summary: A great romance for horse lovers........
Review: I loved this book! I couldn't put it down. I kept looking and looking for a good romance/fiction book that had to deal with horses and riding, especially English riding, since that's what I love to do. This book took care of them all, and I recommend it to any other horse lovers/riders who are looking for a good book.

Rating:
Summary: Ride A Dark Horse
Review: I loved this book. The characters were very developed which I enjoyed and their lives were fully intregrated into the romance format. Their love affair took its' time to develop and was very satisfying.

Laura Moore is a wonderfully descriptive writer who obviously knew her subject matter of show jumping very well and it was very exciting to watch rider and horse as well as the rest of the cast of characters develop over the course of the spring and summer.

The other aspect of the book that I throughly enjoyed was the use of parralel story lines. It was really a pleasure to read. I would read another novel by this writer in a minute!

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining if simplistic rommanc
Review: In Five Oaks horse farm in Virginia, owner Hank Sawyer needs a rider for Orion. Hank and his partner, veterinarian Caleb Wells, believe Orion is a winner for the right rider. However, the special horse dumps everyone who tries to jump fences and obstacles. Besides finding a rider, both are concerned with the fact that Caleb's nasty ex-wife owns Orion, following a judge's decision at the divorce hearing. Caleb makes monthly payments to Pamela in order to buy back his horse.

Cassie Miller arrives with her adopted five-year-old children, Jamie and Sophie, whose parents (Cassie's brother and wife) died in a car accident. Cassie is trying out for the job of trainer-rider at Five Oaks. Cassie gave up a shot at the elite in equestrian riding to raise her niece and nephew. She handles Orion perfectly. As Cassie and Caleb ride the circuit, they fall in love, but he has been burned once and she has two little children whom desperately need her love and care.

RIDE A DARK HORSE is an entertaining simplistic love story centering on and insider's look at horse show racing. The story line is fun as Caleb and Cassie struggle with their growing love for one another as well as Pamela's intrusion into any budding relationship. The characters are well drawn though a bit stereotyped as Cassie seems perfect and Pamela appears as her total opposite. Laura Moore has written an enjoyable romantic cozy (with a tiny dash of profanity) that will please readers who relish an uncomplicated tale.

Harriet Klausner