Fox River

by Emilie Richards

When her lover, Christopher, a gifted horse trainer, is convicted of murder, Julia Warwick is unexplainably seiged by sudden blindness and decides to marry a friend who offers her a safe haven, and as she acclimates herself to a world of darkness, Julia soon discovers dark secrets about her husband, her family, and her imprisoned lover. Original.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Novels, Harlequin, Historical Fiction, Womens Fiction

512 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

I'm the author of seventy-something novels, including romance, women's fiction and mystery. When We Were Sisters debuted in June 2016, a stand alone novel about two foster sisters traveling back into their past together. I loved writing it and love the cover my publisher chose.

I'm also excited about my recent series, Goddesses Anonymous, which started with One Mountain Away and was followed by Somewhere Between Luck and Trust. The third book in the series, A River Too Wide, came out in July 2014. The Color of Light debuted in August 2015. Will there be more? We'll see.

I'm also putting up my newly edited romance backlist and love re-reading and updating them a bit.

Last year my husband and I moved from Virginia, to Osprey, Florida, the state where both of us were raised, met, and married. In the summer we live in Chautauqua, New York. I'm a quilter, knitter, kayaker, and the mother of four children, whom I regard as my greatest creative endeavors. And now there are four wonderful grandchildren to spoil.

Visit me at my web site, emilierichards.com, and my blog, www.emilierichards.com/blog. You can also find me at Twitter and on my Facebook reader page.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at the world of fox hunting in Virginia USA. It includes injustice, murder, family secrets and dysfunction. Also spousal abuse. A mystery to solve, that I admit I didn't solve until revealed. 3.5 stars.

[Judith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Escape reading of the romantic variety. Not technically a romance novel because it's too long, but romance is at the center of it.

I am not a fan of romance-centered books, and this one offers a two-fer: the main character listens to her mother reading another book, which is included for our enjoyment, in the evenings. The inner book is shorter and reads very much like a romance novel except that the male character doesn't quite fit the mold. But on to the main story:

Julia Warwick is suddenly stricken blind after she falls from a horse. The condition is determined to be psychological, as there is no physical basis. Her impatient, controlling husband puts her in an institution, where she is supposed to work with a therapist who does not inspire trust.

Meanwhile, the man Julia was going to marry nine years before is released from prison, where he had been sent for the murder of Julia's best friend. While Julia found it hard to believe that he committed the murder, she did not make a good witness on the stand. Because a man on death row in Florida suddenly confessed to the murder Christian is set free. However, he knows that he will never truly be free if his neighbors still harbor suspicions about him. He therefore determines that he must discover what really happened.

Thus it is a romantic story and a mystery, sort of. Something of a detective story, although Christian goes about his detective work in a rather haphazard way. What does he find out? Does he rebuild his relationship with Julia? Do they ride off into the sunset? You'll have to read it to find out.

-------spoiler spoiler spoiler--------------

I had questions. Julia stumbled on the witness stand, was confused, perhaps browbeaten by the prosecutor. Yet she believed that Christian did not do the deed. However, instead of helping to free him, she gets married and tries to forget him! I really didn't grasp what that was about. All those years and she didn't visit, didn't help the man who was funding the lawyers in any way. Julia had a child, which is why she wanted to marry quickly. The child is Christian's. She believes that it would only hurt him more to know he had a child and he was in prison for life. Seriously - if she thought he was innocent why wasn't she trying harder to get him out? And she must have known others were. So why not let him know? Even if he were to spend his life in prison wouldn't he like knowing he had a child?

Threads of this story did not hang together for me. It isn't the type book I love anyway, of course. I am sure many others would not be bothered by it.

[Jessica Rackley · Rating 4 out of 5]

1 more chapter at 10 last night turned into finally putting the book down at 3. I really like this book more than I thought I would.

When I finished the book I felt content. All the major questions were answered. I agree with some that the book was a little soap operay, but that is to be excepted with a book like this. I am beginning to enjoy well written books within a book, like this had. I think I will figure which of my friends have pleasure horses and will take me out riding. This book really made me miss riding.

[Joann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book i read by Emilie Richards and I have to say this has been the best book i have read in a while! It was definitely a page turner.The end was a surprise..! Upset it ended so fast .. A well written novel..Will definitly pick up more books by this author.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book, good story, intriguing mystery. Liked it from the start, I'm from the culpeper/fauquier horse country area anyway, so this was a very enjoyable novel, knowing some of the places and landmarks mentioned. The hunt which has always been dear to me since my Dad used to farrier for the hunt horses when I was a kid, made the story feel even closer to home.
Great little mystery, a few heart pounding moments and strong characters. The one thing I didn't like, only in the beginning keep in mind, was the mothers side story she read along, at first it felt like it distracted from the story itself and then as it went along you could see the narratives weaving until it comes together in a way I had not even imagined.
Great storytelling, I recommend to anyone who loves a good mystery, the hunt, or just a nice story about two lost people find themselves and rescuing each other.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richards is not on my must-read authors list but she never disappoints. This was a very solid novel. While it's billed as a romance, I would venture to say it was more than that. A novel with strong romantic elements. Julia is struggling with hysterical blindness, a husband she never really loved, a mother that she never understood, and the man she always loved who was locked up for a murder he didn't commit. It takes place in Virginia, in the heart of fox hunting country. Fascinating and fast-moving, I am only sorry it took me so long to get around to it.

[Nicholas George · Rating 2 out of 5]

This type of novel is definitely not my usual genre, but sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised. The wordcraft here is well-done but the plot is strictly soap opera, and much too predictable. There are a couple of surprises toward the end, and the characters are surprisingly more dimensional than you'd expect, but really this is only recommended for those who like this kind of stuff.

[Heidi Leffler · Rating 2 out of 5]

boring

[Veronica Knudson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because it was one on my shelf that both my Mom and Mom II had read. I was pleasantly surprised that I really enjoyed it.
The book is actually a book within a book. The book opens with Julia recently diagnosed with hysterical blindness and her husband has had her admitted to a psych hospital. She tires of this and leaves, taking one of the staff to be her assistant and moves to her mother's (Maisy) home. Which is really Julia's since she inherited from her father when he died when she was young. The inner book is a book that Maisy has written and she begins reading it to Julia.
In the meantime, Christian, who was Julia's young love and the father of her child is released from prison where he has spent the last 9 years for a murder of Julia's best friend that he did not commit. Julia's husband is not happy about this.
Several plots and stories going on in the book, which is what made it a good book.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*
I actually started reading this book a while ago...and coould not get into reading it then...
When I picked up the book a second time...I had trouble putting it down.
I enjoyed the love story, but since I have only been on a horse once in my lifetime... The fox hunting and all that went with it...kind of lost me for a while.
I'm so glad I picked the book up for a second try, I enjoyed the story line and the characters.

[Gloria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Romance novel in fox hunting Virginia setting.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! The ending had my mind blown.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good story by Emilie Richards. Enjoyed the mystery too.

[Thérèse Magny]

J'aime beaucoup ce roman.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Polski tytuł: "Polowanie na lisa"

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a thoroughly enriching book that grabbed me from the start and didn't let go until I reached the last sentence. I was frightened for the heroines and the hero, and it stayed in my mind until I finished it. There is a story in a story. One is the unpublished novel written by Maisy, Fox River, that takes place at the beginning of the 20th century and is Louisa's story, and tells of her marriage to Ian. The modern-day story is about Maisy's daughter, Julia, her husband Bard, and Christian, Julia's former lover. There is murder. There is physical and emotional abuse. There are secrets and jealousies. I honestly didn't know what was to become of all of the characters involved. It all centers in the lush horse countryside of northwestern Virginia, where fox hunting is abound. Julie has hysterical blindness as a result of falling off of a horse and hitting her head. Nothing is physically wrong with her, but her blindness adds to the suspense of the story. Christian had been incarcerated for being convicted of murder. Nine years had passed since he was sentenced. Both stories have innocent, young children caught in the mix. I didn't want the book to end, and yet I couldn't wait to finish it to find out what happened. I put this gem of a book as one I won't forget, and it rates really high with me.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This takes place in Virginia's hunt country and revolves around Julia, a mother with one daughter who falls from a horse and becomes psychologically blind from the fall. Julia is an artist and has dark events in her past- her fiance was jailed for the murder of her best friend. She feels guilty about her hesitation during testimony that may have swayed the jury and to complicate matters she was pregnant with his child. In order to provide a good life for her daughter, she marries another man and is currently in an unhappy relationship. Things become more complicated when Christian is released when a man due to be executed confesses to the murder. Christian returns to the town, working for the man who supported him after his father's death in a fire and who was the father of his best friend who died in an auto accident while he was in prison. As Christian delves into finding out about the murder, he and Julia must reconcile their pasts, both with each other and with their families. Intermixed with the story is Julia's mother's novel which ends up being a key piece to the puzzle. This one was darker than some of the other of her novels I have read, but it was an interesting story and mystery.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fox River

Emilie Richards

Fiction

578 pages

copyright: 2001

isbn: 0-7783-2252-1

An artist's sudden blindness is diagnosed as psychological trauma-but what is it she doesn't want to see?

An innocent man is released after nine years in jail for a murder he didn't commit.

In a community of millionaires and the people who serve them, a drama of scandal, secrets and murder is about to be exposed. . .

Daughter of a legendary Virginia hunt master and aristocrat, Julia Warwick grew up in a world where Thoroughbreds and fox hunting are passions, not pastimes. Julia found her own passion in Christian Carver, a talented young horse trainer. But when a beautiful heiress is murdered and Christian is convicted of the crime, a pregnant, desperate Julia marries a friend who offers solace.

Now, though blindness darkens her world, it opens her eyes to hidden truths. About her husband, her family, her friends and the man she loved. And as the story starts to emerge, a forgotten memory begins to return, a mystery comes to light. . .and two lovers torn apart by forces they couldn't control face each other once and for all.

[Janet Mahlum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book to read because I needed something light and fluffy after the last book I had read. Not light and fluffy. The story itself is light and fluffy enough, some bad stuff, but manageable. But the story within the story is horrific. The story itself has all the elements of a "good" romance. Julie has fallen off her horse during a fox hunt and is psychologically blind. She takes her daughter, leaves her domineering husband, and goes to live with her mother, Maize and stepfather, Jake, to try and get better. Meanwhile her former lover is in prison for life for murdering her best friend, and the fourth member of their gang has been killed in an automobile accident. Maize flits from one project to another and her current project is writing a novel which she reads to Julie in the evening after daughter Callie is in bed. That story starts out sweetly enough but quickly degenerates into abuse and more abuse. I did enjoy the descriptions of fox hunting. I never realized there was so much involved. I thought it was just tally ho and off we go. Also, there was just enough of a mystery to keep my interest.

[Cj Millar · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this book and everything about it. it was honest, emotional, and believable. the only thing that bothered me is that i ride with a hunt (we've been featured in the Wall Street Journal) and years ago i once referred to the hounds as "dogs". i learned very quickly that you NEVER refer to hounds as dogs. dogs are pets, hounds are hunters! that irked me, but otherwise pretty much ever detail of hunting was impressively accurate, from the colors to the traditions, the breakfasts, and the balls. and i love all of the characters, flaws and all. and even though i started to suspect the killer, i was never ever sure until the end - which is unusual for me - and i love it! well written, articulate, and captivating, i just wish my hunt had a Christian Carver in it!

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emilie Richards is a family therapist and this novel shows her expertise. It is a very good book and teaches us about foxhunts, families and troubles in Virginia. The novel covers spousal abuse in a very interesting and thought provoking way.

FOX RIVER is a superb drama that works because the plight of Julia and the anguish of Christian seem so real. The story line is exciting and never slows down even when Julia's mother provides excerpts from the novel she is writing. In fact, those sidebars actually add depth and propel the plot forward. Emilie Richards shows why readers appreciate her works with this powerful tale that focuses on people in crisis. By: Harriet Klausner

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is no shortage of action and it all weaves together perfectly for a wonderful family saga full of life and death, lies and betrayal, love and revenge.

I adored this story. I think if you are interested in horses or fox hunting you might appreciate it more, but it is certainly not a necessity.

there's more on my blog http://stacybuckeye.wordpress.com/200...

[Marilyn Miles · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason I just could not get into this book. I put it aside several times to read library books since I own this one, and finally got back into and finished it. Maybe it was the small type in this paperback and all the pages, but it took a long time, and I just skimmed the pages written as Maisy's unpublished novel. It just wasn't my favorite Emilie Richards book. I still want to read all of the rest of her books!

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read about a young woman who suffers from blindness after being thrown from a horse--except that the doctors can find no physical reason for the blindness. Set in Virgina fox-hunting territory, this book leads us through the life of the protagonist and we watch her discover her past through a novel written by her mother. Definitely worth reading.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the story, but the parts about the Fox Hunting bored me. There were several parts that they were talking about things that only those who know anything about Fox hunting would understand. I would have rather seen less details about the hunting or more explanations about it.

[Charity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know that everyone would like this book as much as I did. It's just a fairly common romance novel, but I really enjoyed it.

[Bcgrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite Quote: "The lives of the four friends had been woven together as densely as the fibers of a blanket. Nothing could be picked loose or undone without eventual disintegration."

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

great

[Kitty Tomlinson]

Julia, blinded by a riding accident, reviews her life, the death of her best friend, another friend’s conviction for that death as she tries to come to terms with her life.

[Ljjones522]

This is a good book. I wasn't one that I would stay up all night reading, but it was a nice relaxing story. I is about relationships.