Customer Reviews

End of the Rope

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

End of the Rope returns to two characters that were included in Calhoun's earlier books, Triple Exposure and Wrong Turns. Reading the two previous books might add to this story some, but it isn't necessary.

Meg Klein is trying to turn her property into a profitable stable, but the economy is hard and people keep leaving their horses for her to take care of instead of paying the boarding fees she was hoping for. Her friend Nicky Hennessey tries to help when she is forced to move in with Meg. Nicky's long time partner is running for a judgeship and has decided that being identified as a lesbian will not win her votes. Nicky tries to forget her problems by focusing on her photography business and engaging in the kind of relationship that Meg has secretly imagined for many years. With financial ruin and an uncertain relationship facing them, Meg and Nicky may both be at the end of their ropes.

This book seems to drift. Scenes occur and don't add to the story. Secondary characters appear for no apparent reason and then disappear. The main characters sometimes come off as irritating. Meg seems fairly focused, but Nicky at times appears to be a lost soul. Her supposed lover of many years puts her out, so she turns immediately to Meg and then stalks her former lover and harbors the hope they might get back together. It's difficult to determine who is more aggravating, Nicky or Meg for putting up with her behavior. The part of the book that is interesting deals with the training and showing of horses. Calhoun obviously knows something about this environment.

End of the Rope is flat as a romance, but the story is fair. The reader might want to invest the money into a story that has more punch to it.

Jackie Calhoun's End of the Rope focuses on Meg, whose dream of owning her own horse stable is coming true. Meg takes in abandoned horses, a dog, and a kid who wants to learn to show horses. Meg is exhausted all the time because she works all day at a medical clinic and then goes home and takes care of the horses in her care.

Meg's photographer friend of many years, Nicky, is asked to move out of her own home when her partner of many years decides to campaign for a judgeship, but can't get elected as a lesbian. Devastated by the betrayal, Nicky leaves her home and moves in with Meg.

The two women consummate a long standing attraction. Their life settles into a routine, but many things go wrong at the stables putting a strain on Meg and Nicky's relationship. Added to the strain is Nicky's ex who expects Nicky to help with her campaign and Meg's thinking that Nicky is not exactly over her ex.

The stable setting is unique and Calhoun imparts knowledge about the care and showing of horses without lecturing her readers. If you are a horse person, you'll love this book. If you've never met a horse up close and personal, you'll learn a lot about them, and perhaps even gain a new respect for them and their riders.

There are several editorial missteps that take the reader out of the story. The story, though, is interesting enough to keep readers turning pages to the end.

Jackie Calhoun's latest book is a special read. Her characters seem like they could be yourself or one of your friends. The setting of her book is a horse stable owned by Meg Klein. I am not a "horse" person, but the description of her small farm, the barn, the horses, the goat and dogs that live in the barn let me see the attraction one could have of owning a place like this. I know nothing about horses, but after reading this book I felt like I owned one. I think any horse lover would love this book.

Calhoun's main characters, Meg Klein and Nicky Hennessey give the reader a rollercoaster ride dealing with their feelings toward one another. I loved the young girl named Allie. She had her faults, but her love of horses and her caring for Meg and Nicky brought me back to my childhood dreams.

This is one of Calhoun's finest books, a must read!

Meg Klein has a small property with a bit of land and a barn she is hoping to turn into stables. But she is struggling financially to make a go of it. Nicky Hennessey is also having financial problems with her photography business. Then Nicky's relationship with Beth is on the rocks. Meg and Nicky are long time friends and one time lovers. Nicky moves in with Meg and together they support each other.
A nice easy and enjoyable romantic read. Meg and Nicky appear in two previous books, Triple Exposure and Wrong Turns. This book is complete in it's self though.