Leaping Hearts (Mass Market Paperback)

by Jessica Bird (Author) "A.J. Sutherland was captivated by the stallion from the moment she saw him..." (more)
Key Phrases: barn boots, barn jacket, show clothes, Sutherland Stables, Philippe Marceau, Margaret Mead (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Former champion rider Devlin McCloud owns outstanding stables, but they all sit empty, a bitter reminder of the horrible accident that left his beloved horse dead and his leg permanently crippled. A. J. Sutherland, daughter of one of the area's wealthiest men, has just spent all of her money to purchase Sabbath, a horse with attitude, but her family refuses to let her board the temperamental animal in their state-of-the-art facility. Despite his better judgment, the reclusive Devlin takes in both the horse and his attractive young owner. As Devlin fights his growing attraction to A. J., a talented but obstinate show rider, he begins to work through some of the tremendous guilt he carries from the death of his horse. Readers who loved National Velvet as children and are fans of Nora Roberts' classic horse books, Irish Thoroughbred (1981), Irish Rose (1988), Irish Rebel (2000), and Irish Hearts (2000), will savor every well-written page of Bird's impressive debut novel. Shelley Mosley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description
Her dreams are within reach—
All she has to do is learn to hold on . . .

A beautiful young woman with a defiant spirit, A. J. Sutherland spends a small fortune on a horse with a wild reputation, and is forced to sacrifice her position at her family’s stables to keep him. She plans to ride the magnificent stallion in the biggest event of the show jumping season—and she knows she can win. But without the backing of Sutherland Stables, A. J. must rely on a stranger to help her: a man who makes her heart pound, her head spin . . . and who just happens to be a legend in equestrian circles.

When Devlin McCloud’s career was cut short by a tragic accident, he never expected to get back in the ring. But when A. J. asks him to be her trainer, he finds he cannot resist the chance—or his stunning new employer. And what begins as a business arrangement soon becomes something deeper, as Devlin and A. J. learn that even in a sport full of hazards, sometimes the most dangerous thing to risk is one’s heart. . . .

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Ivy Books (July 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804119880
• ISBN-13: 978-0804119887
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #689,574 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome read, July 30, 2002

By	Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

Sabbath was the name of the magnificent stallion that no one could seem to tame. A.J. Sutherland decided she would be the one to do it! She spent a small fortune to purchase him only to find out her family's stables refused to back her up! A.J. was forced to choose between her family and the horse she knew could be a champion. For various reasons, A.J. chose Sabbath. Since the horse was not welcome at the Sutherland Stables, A.J. and Sabbath left.

Devlin McCloud was a former champion equestrian. Due to a horrible accident a year ago, he was unable to compete. A.J. managed to convince Devlin to help train Sabbath fro the Qualifier, only two months away. It was to be business only; however, A.J. and Sabbath began knocking down the wall Devlin had built around his heart.

***** This is one truly awesome story! The author has a few sub-plots to keep the readers on the edge of their seats, while managing to give each of the two main characters their own set of problems AND a shaky romance! Well done, Jessica Bird! Highly recommended reading here! *****

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars warm contemporary romance, August 12, 2002

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

At a Virginia horse auction, A.J. Sutherland buys four-year-old thoroughbred Sabbath for thirty thousand dollars though the steed has a nasty reputation and her stepbrother, the family finance expert Peter Conrad, objected. Following her instincts, A.J. pays with her own personal money. When she returns to Sutherland Stables, Peter informs her that he sold the horse. An upset A.J. blithely says he cannot sell what the stable does not own and leaves with her horse though she has no place for Sabbath to stay.

A desperate A.J. travels to the nearby home of Devlin McCloud to beg the once golden boy of horse jumping to allow her steed to stay in his stable. Devlin still uses a cane from the injury he suffered last year that led to the euthanasia killing of his beloved horse Mercy. He wants nothing to do with A.J. or Sabbath, but would never allow an animal to suffer because of human stupidity. Soon he finds himself training horse and woman. As A.J. and Devlin fall in love, both fear commitment with a human.

Though readers will wonder how the father of A.J. could allow the cruelty of not stabling Sabbath for at least a night, fans will appreciate this warm contemporary romance. The story line is exciting as Devlin and A.J. leap from love even though the dangerous matchmaking skills of the key third character Sabbath pushes them together. LEAPING HEARTS combines a good horse jumping competition with a strong romance into a fine debut by newcomer Jessica Bird.

Harriet Klausner

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Boring., June 16, 2004

By A Customer

Let me give you the story, beautiful rich brate disowned by family, buys a BLACK stallion, runs to handsome cripple exchampion, they fall instantly in "love" and the horse loves the girl. Please this has been done a thousand times. Give it a rest. I wasted my time with this book.