Henry Hunter, otherwise known as Harry, is a member of the New York Police Department. A chance meeting with an English woman who is riding her horse out where the young man is exercising, develops an instant attraction for Harry.

Although the woman named Tomasey shows little interest in Harry initially, Harry pursues Tomasey with a keen interest. The resulting romance is short lived as Tomasey finishes her stay in the United States and focuses on her equestrian pursuits which take her around the world. Tomasey writes to Harry and in the young policeman, a desire to take up riding builds. Bareback follows the equestrian pursuits of Harry, who finds himself suddenly purchasing a spirited thoroughbred and bursting into the equestrian world.

As Harry’s riding improves under tuition and his hours in the saddle increase as he works around the show circuit, he suddenly develops a desire to take on the most difficult of events – Badminton. The fact that it is in London where Tomasey will be competing gives it an added appeal.

The equestrian side of the story appears quite realistic, but Bareback although titled a romance, appears lacking in this area. The main female character I struggle to see as appealing for any male lead. She seems too self involved. Harry’s infatuation with her appears a little over the top and although good impetus for him to take up riding, it seems the competition side of the story has more appeal than the romance.

Author: Tim Truelan
http://www.authortimtruelan.co.uk/
Fiction – teen or adult
In My Library? As an ebook copy, indeed!
Want it? Get it now at Amazon.

Book 1 in the Timber Ridge Riders series by Maggie Dana introduces the reader to 14 year old Kate McGregor. Kate is answering an advert regarding a potential job being an aid and companion to a wheelchair bound girl, Holly. The one thing Kate didn’t bank on with the job however, was it’s proximity to horses.

Holly’s mother can’t pay a lot for the position and has offered Kate some riding lessons on top of the small sum. No longer wanting to have anything to do with horses after a horrible accident resulting in the death of a horse Kate used to compete on, the young teen finds the idea of taking Holly to the stables on a regular basis a little more than daunting.

Holly and Kate hit it off however and Kate finds herself agreeing to take the other teen down to the stables where she is keen to start therapeutic riding.  As she comes to unexpectedly frequent the stables, Kate finds herself drawn to Holly’s talented big black horse.

As another rider experiences a fall and needs help quickly, Kate realises she must ride Magic to get help.  But if she does so, Holly will know that her fear of horses is a lie. Putting this aside, Kate doesn’t realise that her capabilities as a rider that she’s kept well hidden, could mean an awful lot to the Timber Ridge Riders.

A hurried ride brings back the exhilaration of horses for the teen, but it also leads her down a path she has been avoiding – with good reason.

Keeping Secrets is a great introduction to this series.  Holly and Kate are likeable teens who hit it off immediately and their rival Angela Dean is a character you’ll love to hate.  An enjoyable read.

Author: Maggie Dana
http://www.maggiedana.com/
Fiction – teen
In My Library? As an ebook copy, it is!
Want it? Get it now at Amazon.

“There is no secret so close as that between a rider and his horse.” – R S Surtees