I recently downloaded the children’s book Gentle George on Kindle to read. Gentle George is an early chapter story for kids. This horse book for young readers has a look at the history of pit ponies that worked in coal mines.

Gentle George is one of the ponies that helps workers at Grubb’s Coal Mine in the English town Yorkshire. Young readers learn about the hard work of the miners in Yorkshire. Even more surprising is the information that the ponies used in the mines – pit ponies – work in the mines, not getting to see sunlight or eat grass.

When a storm results in creeks overflowing and the water running directly into the mine, things do not sound good. And even as John works to get all of the children out of the flooding mine first, it appears that time is short. The influx of water has resulted in parts of the mine collapsing. The workers cannot make their way out through the long trek down the mine. They must get out through the lift that can only take up six workers at a time. Can they get out in time?

Gentle George is an adventure for young readers. It explores a race against time and how the biggest and most gentle pit pony comes to save the day. This story for younger readers has illustrations to go along with the adventure and I am sure will engage young horse fans.  An added bonus is the historical element of pit ponies.

Author: Ken MacKenzie and Chris Stead
Fiction – children’s
In My Library? As an eBook.

“You can’t become a decent horseman until you fall off and get up again, a good number of times. There’s life in a nutshell.” – Bear Grylls

Recently I was given a copy of Blood in the Bluegrass by Virginia Slachman to read and review. A while ago, Virginia was kind enough to be profiled and answer some questions for Equus Education. Now I am thankful to be able to provide a review of this racing mystery that she has written.

Harper Hill has returned from her city living, to the family stud farm. Her sister Piper is dead.  Harper suspects foul play even though the death was ruled as an accident. The question is though: who? As Harper investigates possibilities, she finds a lot is happening under the surface of her family farm. How was she unaware of so many things when she was so close to her sister? They shared everything, didn’t they?

As Harper further tries to unravel the truth of her sister’s death, all of the relationships she held dear come into question. Her ability to read people is also an issue of doubt. How is she to make sense of all this?

Blood in the Bluegrass is an engaging racing mystery. The topic of drugging horses and pushing them beyond their physical capabilities is explored well. Throw in the ties of two families that have grown up together, unexplained deaths and a drug ring as well, and there is plenty to learn about in this novel.

Slachman writes about a topic she is obviously passionate about and the novel builds at a good pace. Blood in the Bluegrass is an enjoyable read and the mystery builds well. This novel is bound to engage mystery and horse fans alike.

Author: Virginia Slachman
Fiction – racing mystery
In My Library? As an eBook.

A Love Divided is book one of the Mary’s Ladies series. I don’t think I’ve read any of Belle’s books before. But I got a sneak peak at this book perhaps a year or two ago. The excerpt in question was a scene where the local warden is mesmerised by someone riding their horse. As the high end dressage movements are carried out, Michael approaches the person. He is keen to learn how to ride like that.

And so from reading this previously, I was keen to read the whole book. So naturally when it came up free on Kindle recently, I was keen to download a copy to read and review!

A Love Divided by Belle McInnes

When the Scottish warden, Michael discovers that the rider is a beautiful young woman – and not a young lad as presumed – he is further keen to have that riding lesson. And so starts an encounter between two very different people that builds at a time when the Scottish and English do not accept or trust each other.

A Love Divided provides a lot of history of Mary Queen of Scots and the English reivers who will steal cattle and horses. The politics of running and protecting a country are explored well. Throw in a forbidden romance between a Scottish man and an English young woman and the story is an enjoyable historical romance. The horse focus on dressage and the way this is explored in different scenes just added to the appeal. An entertaining read with a lovely horse aspect.

Author: Belle McInnes
Fiction – historical romance
In My Library? As an eBook.

“When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes.” – William Shakespeare

Freedom, book one in the Freedom Series was recently available for free download on Amazon. I’m quite a fan of Angela’s supernatural horse books for younger readers. So it should come as no surprise that I was eager to download this one to read.

Young Jani is greatly disappointed by her parent’s decision to relocate. She will be starting a new school and leaving behind the school and friends that she knows. Her best friend who she rides with and the riding stables she adores will also be left behind. The only silver lining is that her beautiful paint mare Keeta is coming with them and will be able to have her own pasture and barn.

Jani’s mum is excited about the move and their new property. She is eager to show her daughter the house but Jani is more interesting in seeing where her horse will be living.

The pasture looks great whilst the barn is old and dark. Jani is happy with the news that her parents plan to build a new one – it will only be temporary. And yet, as Jani prepares for her mare’s arrival, there is something off about the barn. She finds herself scared by a dark shadowy mass inside.

With the arrival of her father and Keeta, Jani pushes the unpleasant experience away, telling herself she imagined it. But then when her beautiful mare starts hanging around the barn instead of out in the beautiful grassy pasture, Jani knows something is up.

Although the young girl is still saddened at moving away from her best friend Maria, she finds a new friend in local girl Penny. Penny too is horse mad, even though she doesn’t have a horse of her own. In time the two discover an incredible story behind the barn and a horse that used to be kept there. Freedom is an interesting paranormal story that explores working with horses rather than capturing and beating them into submission. An enjoyable read.

Author: Angela Dorsey
Fiction – children – middle grade
In My Library? As an eBook.

I love the cover of this one that I recently downloaded on Amazon. The story has proven to be enjoyable, too. Though I must admit – it took me a little bit to get my head around all the characters! Discovering the Doctor follows the lives of the Masterton family and the Tyler family.

Phillipa – Pip – isn’t a fan of people in general, men specifically. After an attack in her late teens, Pip finds it hard to be in groups of people. She finds tall, strong men especially intimidating, which is the slightest bit difficult considering who her sister Phoebe is married to.

Phoebe fell for Joel and the two were married, resulting in one of the beautiful red headed women of the Tyler household moving into the Masterton home. Throw in a younger sister who became their maid and the Masterton men find themselves surrounded by the beautiful women.

Discovering the Doctor by Calle J Brooks

Matthew Masterton is the town vet; he’s not immune to the Tyler women’s charms. Pip and her love of horses as drawn him in completely. Matt just doesn’t know how to break through the barrier that Pip has erected – or why she even has one in the first place. He just knows that the petite red head has stirred up feelings in him that won’t go away.

With a hot shot movie director trying to film his latest movie in town – and his eyes on Pip for the lead – Matt finds that his plans to woo the young women suddenly have competition. Add in the man who attacked her and ascertained her negative feelings for men being back on the scene and Matt has his work cut out for him. How can he convince this beautiful, timid woman that the doctor is worth discovering?

Discovering the Doctor has a small horse focus and is an enjoyable read.

Author: Calle J. Brooks
Fiction – romance
In My Library? It is as an ebook.