Customer Reviews

Ride a Dark Horse

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Of course One expects a formulaic novel when you read a romance, but Ride a Dark Horse is a repeat of the same scenes over and over again. The woman and the man smooch then they fight, the woman rides the horse brilliantly, the woman and the man smooch and fight, then the woman rides the horse brilliantly, and so on and so on.

The author knows her stuff where horses are concerned, but the tedious, unoriginal romance between two wounded, but otherwise flawless characters is like reading through mud. I LOVE adult horse books. If you want a grown up version of those young adult books we know and love, read Riders by Jilly Cooper, or Trophies by Ainsley Sheridan.

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.

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!

"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.

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.

This is a great debut novel from someone who obviously knows her stuff regarding the hunter/jumper world and veterinary medicine. If she isn't a rider, then she's done some fantastic research.

Cassie and Caleb's romance blossoms slowly, which is a refreshing change. I dislike this trend I've seen developing over the past year or so in contemporary romance which gets the H&H in bed way to soon--before there's even a friendship between them in some cases. Thankfully, Ms. Moore didn't do this, making this a very pleasurable read.

I'd definitely recommend 'Dark Horse' to my friends.

Ride a dark horse is an amazing book about Cassie Miller, an equestrian who moves to Virginia from NEw york to work on 5 Oaks Farm. I have read this book from cover to cover so many times it doesn't have covers anymore! :) LOL But seriously, its a good book so read it!!!!

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.

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!

This book is for the romantic and the horny. It has a great story line with lots of info on horses and racing. The characters are lovable and relatable; strong characteristically and full of good wit. Fun and sexy with lots of intimate details of their sexual encounters. Feel-good book with lots of heart.