Hearts Over Fences: An Equestrian Romance [Paperback]

Toni Leland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 28, 2004

Romance is the last thing on equestrienne Bethany Webb's mind as she gazes across the lush green fields of Highover Gate, her prestigious world-class training facility - the dream of a lifetime. Before the day is over, Beth's future is snatched right out from under her in one wet, terrifying instant.
Ambitious and handsome Brett Hall's only objective is to unseat the national champion in Three Day Eventing. As Hall steadily gains on his goal, a chink in his armor allows his heart to peek out - a weakness that seriously undermines his focus.

Hearts Over Fences glows against the backdrop of Olympic-level equestrian sport - a world filled with drama and excitement - and a large measure of ambition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

11/2/09 Cleveland Examiner. A favorite pastime of mine is to snuggle into a large, comfy chair with a good book and forget about
reality for an hour...or four. Recently I immersed myself in the novel Hearts Over Fences by Toni
Leland and I must say I enjoyed it. I'm always a little skeptical when a book is described as a
romance, because many of the more recent romance novels I've read seem to be lacking an
important component called a plot. However, in Hearts Over Fences Leland has created a
believable world in which two people, who both have their own separate lives, problems, and goals,
find each other and struggle to make their lives fit together.
I think one of the most commendable parts of this novel is the way Leland uses her characters to
make her readers question their own lifestyles and personal goals. Leland's main characters both
have their own tragedies to overcome; and yet they persevere not only to rise above their own
hardship, but also to reflect on whether personal gain is really more important than compassion and
helping others. Her characters go through many ups and downs in order to reflect, come to an
understanding on what is truly important in life, and reach out to others.
Hearts Over Fences has depth, love, ambition, real life struggles, and, best of all, horses. This is
not the simple, one layer romance that really only involves love and sex, but a novel that reaches
farther to bring out serious emotions. A well written novel should be so believable that readers
cannot help but to be swept along on the same emotional roller coaster as the main characters.
Leland's Hearts Over Fences had me crying along with the main character in the second chapter!
I think Leland's novel is unique and well written with a wealth of equestrian knowledge that makes it
all the more believable. It is wonderful to read a novel by an author who also has a passion for
horses and truly understands the best parts of having a horse. --Ashley Rodenmeyer, Cleveland Examiner

About the Author

Toni Leland's career with horses-both professionally and personally-has spanned over fifty years. Her personal love affair with these creatures has been an ongoing affliction since she was a young girl, and, in the early eighties, she owned and showed some of the horses described in her books.

Product Details

• Paperback: 249 pages
• Publisher: Equine Graphics Pub; 1st edition (October 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1887932682
• ISBN-13: 978-1887932684
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #677,108 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've been writing for over 20 years. I write both fiction and non-fiction, and freelance for several magazines, a gardening website, and one newspaper. I am a professional editor and photographer. In my spare time, I love gardening, cooking (and eating!), reading, travel, horses, and cats.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An equestrian romance by an equestrian, April 27, 2005

By 

Jami Davenport (Olympia, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hearts Over Fences: An Equestrian Romance (Paperback)

Author Toni Leland obviously knows horses. In "Hearts over Fences" she transports the reader to the Kentucky bluegrass area and the world of International equestrian competitions.

Bethany Webb struggles with her injury caused by a riding accident. At the same time, she fights her increasing attraction to her physical therapist, Brett Hall. Brett is an international level eventer with an eye a national championship.

These two ambitious people come together, clash, and fall in love. They learn that life is more than blue ribbons and expensive horses. Life is about being with the person who completes you.

This is a great, fast-paced read, which horse lovers and non-horse lovers will enjoy.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Intellectual Approach to Love, November 30, 2004

By 

Robert Bennett (Woodbridge, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hearts Over Fences: An Equestrian Romance (Paperback)

"Hearts Over Fences" is a mature romance that portays characters who are actually complex enough to make believable the entanglements in which they find themselves. The book manages to escape the "fairy tale" scenario so common to the genre. Instead, it actually deals with real people working out real problems. The sophistication of the novel makes it appealing to both female and male readers alike, including many readers who would not normally open the cover of a novel that could be dsignated, "romance." This is partly due to the integrity of the characters, and partly due to the depth of the knowledge that is put forward by the writer. Toni Leland proves herself to be very well informed to all things about horses, as well as the inside workings of the equestrian community.

From the opening sentence through the last closing comment, "Hearts Over Fences" is a captivating read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fairly predictable romance novel, March 14, 2011

By 

nedly - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hearts Over Fences (Kindle Edition)

If you have read any Mills and Boons romance novels then you will find the style of this book very familiar. It is an easily readable but by no means compulsive novel. There are just enough horses in the story to keep the horse mad reader interested but this is by no means a book primarily about horses. Think of the horses as the back drop for a typical romance - girl meets boy, the usual long list of reasons for them not to be together and ultimately love overcomes all. An enjoyable read with out having any lasting effects.