I have read and loved the Aspen Eyes Triology by this author, so was rapt to find another of her books for free download on Amazon recently.  The novel was Dead Heat by Amy Elizabeth.  I have had this book highly recommended to me.  And it didn’t disappoint!

Dead Heat by Amy Elizabeth is a unique tale of two male and female pairs – one is based in the US and the other in Thailand.  There is a horsey aspect found with the US pair, Melanie and Evan as the close friends work to navigate life and the loneliness that has found them at thirty years of age.  The pair have been friends for more than a decade and share an incredible loss.

They also share a love of horses and Melanie is rapt that Evan has a mare that is winning at Group 1 level against colts.  She couldn’t be more proud of her friend.  He’s hard working, successful and a genuinely nice person.  The fact that he is incredibly good looking and rich doesn’t hurt either, but that wasn’t what drew her to him in the first place.

Evan has to decide if he will race his mare against his father’s prize colt in the last race of his father’s career before he retires, or if he’ll play it safe and put her in an all fillies race.  Melanie is keen to see the outcome of Evan’s choice – and the race.

Over in Thailand, Australian Colin Carlyle is living the good life.  He takes people out on his boat for dives and snorkelling and enjoys the beautiful area that he lives in.  He’s grasped the language and is content to flit from woman to woman as he runs the business with his brother Brett.  Things suddenly change when a woman washes up on his boat and he fears her drowned.

This isn’t the case and he saves her life, resuscitating her and taking her home to a warm, dry place.  As he works to find out about this woman that unexpectedly turned up on his boat, he makes an amazing discovery – she has no idea who she is.

Dead Heat seems to follow two incredibly different lots of lives and stories.  And yet in time, the reader finds that they are inexplicably linked.  This story is an incredible tale of resilience, lost love, second chances, horses and also romance.  Amy Elizabeth describes real life events and weaves them into her story.  This is done so well that you truly feel for the characters.  Although the horse element isn’t as strong as some of her other books, it is definitely there.  The story is realistic and also a truly enjoyable read.  Highly recommended.

Author: Amy Elizabeth
Fiction – adult
In My Library? As an ebook, definitely!
Want it? Get it now at Amazon.

I was recently contacted about reading and reviewing Sweetbriars: Leaving the City by Hollie Anne Marsh.  Who can refuse a horse book, really?  The first in the series, Sweetbriars: Leaving the City is an exploration of a horsey family moving to their dream property in the country.  Here they will be able to keep their horses and hopefully turn the facility into a livery and riding school.

Twelve year old Cate Sullivan is the main character in this story.  Although she is excited about the family’s move, she is devastated to leave behind her close circle of friends.  She has grown up with these girls and cannot imagine feeling comfortable without her best friend Beth – or her instructor friend Bridget!  Still, Cate knows the move is good for the family and she is excited that her instructor mother will be able to set up the new property Sweetbriars for clients and offer riding lessons.

Cate and her older brother Alex are keen riders and very knowledgeable.  That isn’t surprising, considering the fact that their mother is an accomplished rider and instructor.  Alex is a keen show jumper whilst Cate enjoys success with showing her beautiful palomino mare, Odette.  The two are excited to discover incredible facilities at Sweetbriars and can only hope that the house is good enough for their parents to want the whole farm!

It isn’t too long before the family has bought the property and is preparing for the move.  As the Sullivan family go through the process of moving, setting up the farm, meeting the locals and adjusting to country life, the reader gets to explore this through Cate’s eyes.

Sweetbriars: Leaving the City is highly horse focused and has a lot of educational information.  The way it is provided is woven easily throughout the story and the reader gets to learn about many facets of horses.  There is showing, dressage, show jumping, horse care, nutrition and much more.  It’s an entertaining read whilst also highly educational.  As an added bonus, there is also a glossary of terms at the end of the book.

Twelve year old Cate battles through disappointments as well as loneliness.  She has left her close friends and feels estranged at a new school.  Even Pony Club is different and she isn’t sure one of the instructor’s likes her at all.  And then her best friend Beth becomes distant.  Suddenly it seems to Cate that the move to Sweetbriars wasn’t a good thing at all.

Cate is determined not to complain when the rest of her family seems to be settling in well.  In fact, they are loving their new life, so she presses on.  In time the pre-teen develops new friends and learns things aren’t always as they appear.  She even discovers a new discipline that she hadn’t anticipated enjoying.  Sweetbriars: Leaving the City is a great introduction to this series.  It moves at a good pace, is sure to enthral horse fans, whilst also teaching them a few things.

Author – Hollie Anne Marsh
Fiction – middle grade / teen
In my library – as an eBook it is.