Rating: 
Summary: Started off good...
Review: I got this book, Kentucky Rich, along with its sequel, Kentucky Heat, a few days ago and just finished the first book. It took awhile to get through and I ended up skimming a lot of it.The book starts off interesting, with a prologue about Nealy Coleman coming back to the home she was driven off of 30 years earlier to "dance" on her dying father's grave and to make him pay for mistreating her. The novel then goes to "part 1," which goes back 30 years to talk about how 17 year old Nealy and her 2 year old daughter ran away from home (at the urgings of her two brothers, Pyne and Rhy) and ended up at Blue Diamond Farms, where the owners, Maud and Jess, take them in. It follows Nealy's growing up and eventually taking over the farm. Part 2 is 30 years later, and starts with the prologue and Nealy's reunion with her brothers and dying father. This is where the book really starts to fall on its face. The plot here gets mind numbingly boring, even confusing at times when the author brings back dozens of characters from two of her other trilogies (which I have not read, so I am not familiar with them). Nealy as a herione is rather unlikeable. She's immature, even at the end as a 50-something year old woman. She's often cold and heartless. I couldn't garner any sympathy for her and her actions often made me say "What the heck??" The romance in this book is practically unmentioned. Nealy meets the hero in the first part of the book, barely interacts with him during the entire "part 1" and the two are married at the end. Part 2 opens with basically "Oh yeah, Hunt died and actually his and Nealy's relationship wasn't really love, he was having affairs and didn't deserve her." Uhh... what??! It's also obvious that Fern Michaels knows practically nothing about horses. Being a horsewoman myself, I laughed out loud at some of the ridiculous scenes in this book. Some other reviewers have mentioned them as well - one of my favorite idiotic scenes is when Nealy wants the stallion to witness the birth of his colt and have the three of them (stallion, mare and colt) become a "family." Sorry, but horses are not people. While I believe they feel affection, they don't form "families" in the way that people do. Also, the author seemed to have a lot of trouble putting the plot together. It jumped around so much it was jarring to read. One example is when Nealy meets a guy that some of her friends are trying to set her up with. He starts off by telling her that a woman's place is in the kitchen and not on a horse (which of course makes her mad). Eventually he apologizes and they make up. Cut, next chapter begins. It's several months later and Nealy hates his guts because they were supposed to have a date and he stood her up. What the heck?? She also makes a big deal out of certain events.. like a hundred pages leading up to a big race - a race so important because it was her promise to the dying Maud that the horse win - then spends one short paragraph on the race itself. Overall, I wasn't very impressed with this book. The main character is unsympathetic, poorly written and unlikeable. There is practically no romance in the book - and what romance IS there is completely unrealistic. Research is important, and its obvious the author either didn't do her research on horses and racing, or just decided to disregard the facts. So I give it 2 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Good
Review: I had read the Texas Series by Fern Michaels many years ago. I have to say that that series was better written. However, the Kentucky series is still entertaining. Some other reviews I read regarding the way the author portrays inaccuracies in thoroughbred breeding and racing are explained by the author at the beginning of the book. She did that to write the story the way she wanted to write it.
Rating: 
Summary: Bland
Review: I haven't read any of her books before so it might have counted against it but I didn't really enjoy this book. The plot is quite cliched and I thought way too much of the plot was carried off in conversations. Overall, there wasn't much fluency and the writing wasn't that good. I thought it was a bit unbelievable from being able to adopt Nealy and Emmie right down to winning the races. I guess that's what you calll fiction. Anyway, I have read better books. I can safely say it was a waste.
Rating: 
Summary: KENTUCKY RICH - WONDERFUL
Review: I thought this was really good! I was interested in it from page one. Can hardly wait till the next one comes out. Would love to read more about Neely and her horses. I've liked The Texas series but especially liked The Vegas series as it was all about a woman and her family who do so well in the world. I especially like Fern Michaels books about women who conquer and make a name for themselves. Keep it up Fern and think you will be around for a long time!
Rating:
Summary: Great summer read!!
Review: I was so thrilled to discover that the Colemans' and Thornton's from the Texas and Vegas Series had been continued in Kentucky Rich. I was hooked from the first page. It's a great way to escape everyday life and fantasize a little. When the book ended, I felt like I'd lost a friend. However, I look forward to renewing old friendships in the next book. Thank you for such a great read.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Read
Review: I'm a native Kentuckian and have been around horse farms and horses all my life. This book was so right on it made me homesick for Kentucky. I read the other reviews and they made me laugh. It is THEM or know nothing of horse breeding. I related to everything. I laughed, cried and rejoiced with Nealy as she traveled through the pages of this book. I was on the seat of the chair reading this during the horse races. My heart pounded almost out of my chest. This book was exceptional, every bit as good if not better than the other two series with the same family. Well done, Ms Michaels
Rating:
Summary: Must read!!
Review: If I wanted to read a book on the ins and outs and rules and regulations for horse breeding and horse racing, then I would have purchased such a book. What I wanted to read was an entertaining novel, and that's exactly what Kentucky Rich is. The author's wonderful writing allows the reader to experience many emotions. I laughed, I cried, and I even cheered during the big Derby race. It was a great book and I'm eagerly awaiting the next 2 books in the series. Thank you, Ms. Michaels, for continuing the Coleman's and the Thornton's from the Texas and Vegas Series.
Rating:
Summary: Very far fetched plot: beware racing enthusiasts
Review: If you have even the most basic knowledge of racing, you would know that many events that take place are highly implausible. First, Nealy allows only three mares a year to be bred to a prize thoroughbred; with stallions being booked to over 40 mares per year in the thoroughbred world (some are even sent overseas and double their book of mares) and the vast competition to become leading sire, Nealy's farm would go quickly out of business and her stallion on the road to obscurity fast. She allows the sire of her prize colt to accompany his son to the post of the Derby--pandemonium would break loose if anyone tried this. Also Nealy triples her role as owner, trainer, and jockey which is not allowed in any rule book I've seen.(she even comes back after a 20 year retirement at age 48 to ride in the Belmont (without batting an eyelash!!). She instills that "family feeling" by allowing her stallion to watch his colt being foaled!!-really bizarre. The character of Nealy is clearly delineated but the men in her life seem more like cutouts. If you are a fan or know something of the sport, you will be astonished at this book. If you know nothing, you are getting all the wrong information. If the author had researched her topic more carefully, Kentucky Rich would be a better book.
Rating: 
Summary: Horses, Slot Machines, and Airplanes
Review: Kentucky Rich has a lot of similarities with the Vegas and Texas books. Ms. Michaels certainly doesn't gamble with a new formula in this book. Fortunately, the plot is complemented with the background of horses and horse racing. The included preview of the next book alludes to the same plot there as in the other books as well. A strong main character who chooses men who are greatly flawed, and who they find out too late that they don't love them anyway. Very strong female friendships that include a friend who does truly love her husband. Children who somehow manage to alienate themselves from their mothers. However, the book is a good read, and you get to reacquaint yourself with the characters from the previous books.
Rating:
Summary: Michaels begins a new trilogy...
Review: Nealy Coleman Diamond has returned home to SunStar after having fled 30 years ago with her illegitimate daughter. Her father, Josh Coleman, was abusive and dictatorial, driving Nealy away. She's back now because he's on his deathbed, and she wants to literally dance on his grave. While she's back, she's going to rub the success she's found in Kentucky with breeding and racing horses-even winning The Triple Crown-into the noses of those who'd snubbed her before, most especially the guy who'd gotten her pregnant, ultimately leading to her leaving. What Nealy doesn't plan on is having to face legal snafu's caused by her father's lack of a will, and her bumbling brothers. And the long line of folks who seem to be lining up at the door waiting to get paid, and to pay their last respects... Fern Michaels has long been known for her family sagas, and those who are familiar with her Texas and Vegas trilogy's will be thrilled with the Kentucky series. While Ms. Michaels pulls us through a whole range of emotions, the characters weren't as real life as I thought they could be, and I have to admit that I was disappointed in the romance in the book, what little there was of it. However, it was a good solid story, and gives a terrific insight into the life of horse racing, the thrills and chills to be experienced. Being a Kentuckian myself, I have to say she did a wonderful job on the descriptions of the state and the horse country. For those who love sagas, you'll enjoy this book. But if you're looking for a true romance, this isn't it.
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