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Racetrack Romance #2
Fillies and Females
A dedicated nurse is horrified when she’s forced to team up with a Texas race trainer whose main pleasures are fast women and faster horses.
Yet sabotage and murder thrust the pair into an uneasy alliance until they are willing to risk it all for love.
591 KB
Yet sabotage and murder thrust the pair into an uneasy alliance until they are willing to risk it all for love.
591 KB
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2011
196 people are currently reading
1042 people want to read
About the author
Bev Pettersen
40 books248 followersUSA TODAY Bestselling Author Bev Pettersen is a three-time nominee in the National Readers Choice Award as well as the winner of other international awards including the Reader Views Reviewer’s Choice Award, Aspen Gold Reader’s Choice Award, Write Touch Readers’ Award, Kirkus Recommended Read, and a HOLT Medallion Award of Merit. She competed on the Alberta Thoroughbred race circuit and is an Equestrian Canada certified coach.
Bev lives in Nova Scotia with her family—humans and four-legged—and when she's not writing novels, she's riding. If you’d like to know when her next book will be available or just want to say hi, please visit her at www.BevPettersen.com
Bev lives in Nova Scotia with her family—humans and four-legged—and when she's not writing novels, she's riding. If you’d like to know when her next book will be available or just want to say hi, please visit her at www.BevPettersen.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
May 22, 2012
I love this author and will certainly read more from her, but this was not the romance suspense balance I enjoy. This story is much more focused on the mystery of race horses suddenly not qualifying for major races, and less on the romance between Dino, the horse trainer, and Becky, a dedicated nurse to a billionaire horse owner.
The mystery was also predictible, and I felt it portrayed Becky as a bit clueless when so much happens in front of her yet she never puts the pieces together nor informs Dino until things are too late. It was a stretch to believe she was put in the position of being Martha's eyes and ears at the track, but I liked her chemistry with Dino so I could easily just go with it.
I did enjoy this as a romance, just wish there were more. If you are interested in the sport of horse racing, I think you'll enjoy this one quite bit. There is a lot of information about racing, which I also found interesting.
The mystery was also predictible, and I felt it portrayed Becky as a bit clueless when so much happens in front of her yet she never puts the pieces together nor informs Dino until things are too late. It was a stretch to believe she was put in the position of being Martha's eyes and ears at the track, but I liked her chemistry with Dino so I could easily just go with it.
I did enjoy this as a romance, just wish there were more. If you are interested in the sport of horse racing, I think you'll enjoy this one quite bit. There is a lot of information about racing, which I also found interesting.
January 1, 2012
As I read the last paragraph of this book, I wanted to cry. A tear actually formed in the corner of my eye. It wasn’t a sad ending, nor was it an ending in which everything was neatly tied in a bow…not quite. But I was sad because I thought this was the last of the Bev Pettersen horse books. After all, I hadn’t heard of any other books in the series and a visit to her website only showed me three books: Jockeys and Jewels, Color My Horse, and Fillies and Females. But then I turned the last Kindle page and gasp!!!! Happy dance!!! There’s to be an additional novel called Thoroughbreds and Trailer Trash. When is it coming out? I don’t know, but I’ll be watching closely.
Fillies and Females is about Becky, an extremely shy and self-conscious woman who hides behind her hair and rarely speaks up. Not my kind of heroine, right? Wrong. There’s a very good reason why Becky is the way she is and with the right amount of coddling and some hot sex with the right man, a sexy trainer named Dino, she blossoms. She transforms from a woman hiding behind her hair to a woman who focuses on people’s foreheads so she can at least pretend to look them in the eye to a woman who DOES look them in the eye.
To read full review, please follow this link:
http://litasylum.com/?p=1211
Fillies and Females is about Becky, an extremely shy and self-conscious woman who hides behind her hair and rarely speaks up. Not my kind of heroine, right? Wrong. There’s a very good reason why Becky is the way she is and with the right amount of coddling and some hot sex with the right man, a sexy trainer named Dino, she blossoms. She transforms from a woman hiding behind her hair to a woman who focuses on people’s foreheads so she can at least pretend to look them in the eye to a woman who DOES look them in the eye.
To read full review, please follow this link:
http://litasylum.com/?p=1211
July 20, 2016
http://www.romancenoveljunkies.com for readers
BRIEF SUMMARY
In this story we get to read about horse trainer, Dino from the book Color My Horse. Dino is a ladies man and will never get tangled up in a relationship after his bitter divorce. His life belongs to horses and one night stands. Becky is a nurse hired to take care of Martha, a horse owner with a failing health. When Martha asks Becky to be her eyes and ears at the stables, Becky discovers a love for horses and love for a certain hot trainer.
THOUGHTS
I love this series as the author’s talent shines through each story being told. Dino is sexy and Becky is shy and not confident and learns to let go of past fears and rejection. Becky and Martha's relationship becomes more than Becky just being her nurse. Martha becomes the family Becky has not experience being in foster care as a child. It's fun to see Becky shed her shyness and makes Dino drool over her, my absolute favorite scene was the stall scene!! The story also holds another plot with a manipulative nephew and Slim's sad story. A great series and great job to Bev Patterson on what I think is an excellent series.
Storyline: GOOD
Enjoyment: GREAT
Intimacy Level: SWEET
*Reviewed by Davia for RNJ.
Romance Novel Junkies
BRIEF SUMMARY
In this story we get to read about horse trainer, Dino from the book Color My Horse. Dino is a ladies man and will never get tangled up in a relationship after his bitter divorce. His life belongs to horses and one night stands. Becky is a nurse hired to take care of Martha, a horse owner with a failing health. When Martha asks Becky to be her eyes and ears at the stables, Becky discovers a love for horses and love for a certain hot trainer.
THOUGHTS
I love this series as the author’s talent shines through each story being told. Dino is sexy and Becky is shy and not confident and learns to let go of past fears and rejection. Becky and Martha's relationship becomes more than Becky just being her nurse. Martha becomes the family Becky has not experience being in foster care as a child. It's fun to see Becky shed her shyness and makes Dino drool over her, my absolute favorite scene was the stall scene!! The story also holds another plot with a manipulative nephew and Slim's sad story. A great series and great job to Bev Patterson on what I think is an excellent series.
Storyline: GOOD
Enjoyment: GREAT
Intimacy Level: SWEET
*Reviewed by Davia for RNJ.
Romance Novel Junkies
May 13, 2014
'He'd never noticed before but Becky looked a lot like his ex-wife.'
OUCH. I couldn't take it seriously after that. And they went on to have sex in a horse stall, WITH the horse in there with them. (even more 'ouch' !!)
However, I read Thoroughbreds and Trailer Trash by the same author and enjoyed that immensely. The trouble with Fillies is that I didn't ever get to care about any of the characters, certainly not Dino or Becky.
OUCH. I couldn't take it seriously after that. And they went on to have sex in a horse stall, WITH the horse in there with them. (even more 'ouch' !!)
However, I read Thoroughbreds and Trailer Trash by the same author and enjoyed that immensely. The trouble with Fillies is that I didn't ever get to care about any of the characters, certainly not Dino or Becky.
February 23, 2012
Another fabulous book by Bev Pettersen filled with wonderful horses, colorful jockeys and a hero and heroine I loved from page one.
March 4, 2012
http://www.romancenoveljunkies.com for readers
*Reviewed by Davia for RNJ.
BRIEF SUMMARY
In this story we get to read about horse trainer, Dino from the book Color My Horse. Dino is a ladies man and will never get tangled up in a relationship after his bitter divorce. His life belongs to horses and one night stands. Becky is a nurse hired to take care of Martha, a horse owner with a failing health. When Martha asks Becky to be her eyes and ears at the stables, Becky discovers a love for horses and love for a certain hot trainer.
THOUGHTS
I love this series as the author’s talent shines through each story being told. Dino is sexy and Becky is shy and not confident and learns to let go of past fears and rejection. Becky and Martha's relationship becomes more than Becky just being her nurse. Martha becomes the family Becky has not experience being in foster care as a child. It's fun to see Becky shed her shyness and makes Dino drool over her, my absolute favorite scene was the stall scene!! The story also holds another plot with a manipulative nephew and Slim's sad story. A great series and great job to Bev Patterson on what I think is an excellent series.
Storyline: GOOD
Enjoyment: GREAT
Intimacy Level: SWEET
Romance Novel Junkies
*Reviewed by Davia for RNJ.
BRIEF SUMMARY
In this story we get to read about horse trainer, Dino from the book Color My Horse. Dino is a ladies man and will never get tangled up in a relationship after his bitter divorce. His life belongs to horses and one night stands. Becky is a nurse hired to take care of Martha, a horse owner with a failing health. When Martha asks Becky to be her eyes and ears at the stables, Becky discovers a love for horses and love for a certain hot trainer.
THOUGHTS
I love this series as the author’s talent shines through each story being told. Dino is sexy and Becky is shy and not confident and learns to let go of past fears and rejection. Becky and Martha's relationship becomes more than Becky just being her nurse. Martha becomes the family Becky has not experience being in foster care as a child. It's fun to see Becky shed her shyness and makes Dino drool over her, my absolute favorite scene was the stall scene!! The story also holds another plot with a manipulative nephew and Slim's sad story. A great series and great job to Bev Patterson on what I think is an excellent series.
Storyline: GOOD
Enjoyment: GREAT
Intimacy Level: SWEET
Romance Novel Junkies
December 6, 2011
I have enjoyed all of Bev's books that I have read so far. They all have to do with horses and horse racing. Their is a mystery to solve too. Some of it I guessed but not all of it.
Becky has worked for three years as a nurse to Martha. The last little while since her husband has died Martha's health as gone down fast. Martha has leaned more on Becky. In fact she is using Becky as her eyes and ears about her horses and how they are doing.
Becky is shy especially around guys. She was a foster child and got to go to horse camp one summer and loves horses. Becky is getting more confident the more she has to go and interact with others. Plus Martha keeps conning her into different changes, like clothes ,haircut and makeup.
Dino is a ladies man since his divorce, and never plans on getting married again. He is also Martha's horse trainer. Dino has slept with 6 of Martha's nurses in the year he has been working for her.
The story keeps your attention and draws you into horse racing business, I really liked Becky.
I will read more of Bev's work. I was given this ebook in exchange for honest review.
Becky has worked for three years as a nurse to Martha. The last little while since her husband has died Martha's health as gone down fast. Martha has leaned more on Becky. In fact she is using Becky as her eyes and ears about her horses and how they are doing.
Becky is shy especially around guys. She was a foster child and got to go to horse camp one summer and loves horses. Becky is getting more confident the more she has to go and interact with others. Plus Martha keeps conning her into different changes, like clothes ,haircut and makeup.
Dino is a ladies man since his divorce, and never plans on getting married again. He is also Martha's horse trainer. Dino has slept with 6 of Martha's nurses in the year he has been working for her.
The story keeps your attention and draws you into horse racing business, I really liked Becky.
I will read more of Bev's work. I was given this ebook in exchange for honest review.
January 27, 2012
Meek and mild Becky Foster craves love and security and carves out her own home as companion-nurse to an aging Texas matriarch with more opinions than horses. Bruised from years of neglectful foster care, Becky is intimidated and awed by handsome, swaggering men, and no one leaves her more tongue-tied than the charismatic horse trainer she oversees.
Dino Anders charms every horse and woman in sight, and has a reputation for turning green fillies into winners. Yet even as Becky sheds her mousey layers, sinister elements creep into the stable, and Dino and Becky must join forces to save the horses, their employer, their lives.
Hard to put down, wantd to keep reading to what would happen next
Dino Anders charms every horse and woman in sight, and has a reputation for turning green fillies into winners. Yet even as Becky sheds her mousey layers, sinister elements creep into the stable, and Dino and Becky must join forces to save the horses, their employer, their lives.
Hard to put down, wantd to keep reading to what would happen next
May 22, 2012
This is my first book by Bev Petterson. I recieved a free e-book copy
from the author after entering a goodreads contest. I was very excited
about a new horse book, specially one on a more adult level.
It was a solid romance with Becky and Dino both being flawed. I have
to say the horse stuff is always my favorite part and Bev Petterson
actually knows horses. I have read so many books where I'd just roll
my eyes over how the author wrote about horses and it was clear they'd
never been around them, not Bev Petterson.
The suspense kept the romance plot from being boring and kept the pages turning for me.
Thanks for a very enjoyable romance filled with horses. :)
December 7, 2011
I just love this series of books by this author. She gives you the horse lingo and you also can learn something about horse racing from it. The characters in this book are very good. I like Dino the best but who wouldn't? I look forward to more books to come. I have a hard time putting it down once it is started. Thanks for a good book.
August 2, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. It's easy reading with a blend of romance and mystery. I think what I enjoyed the most was how the characters really grew and changed throughout the book.
July 12, 2018
Typical of Bev Petersen's novels.
June 10, 2018
So good
If you love horses you'll love this book. Not only is the author an excellent writer but she puts all emotions in the right place. I could not put this book down. Of course I had a love affair with Dino haaa. It is hard to move on as I feel I am leaving the greatest neighborhood.
If you love horses you'll love this book. Not only is the author an excellent writer but she puts all emotions in the right place. I could not put this book down. Of course I had a love affair with Dino haaa. It is hard to move on as I feel I am leaving the greatest neighborhood.
February 10, 2019
Heart warming page turner
http://ramblingsfromthereader.blogspo...
I actually gave it 3.5 stars, you can read more about it in my blog post, but it's a nice story, I like that the suspense and mystery were the main focus, the romance aspect was good, it didn't overpower the story.
http://ramblingsfromthereader.blogspo...
I actually gave it 3.5 stars, you can read more about it in my blog post, but it's a nice story, I like that the suspense and mystery were the main focus, the romance aspect was good, it didn't overpower the story.
Read
May 18, 20254 stars
Really like the characters, setting and plot in your books but I could do without the gratuitous sex. Sex belongs in the private part of life not the pages of a book. The great authors like Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer never include sex scenes in their fabulous books. I usually just skip yours. Not being a prude i just prefer private love making to "sex".
Really like the characters, setting and plot in your books but I could do without the gratuitous sex. Sex belongs in the private part of life not the pages of a book. The great authors like Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer never include sex scenes in their fabulous books. I usually just skip yours. Not being a prude i just prefer private love making to "sex".
June 8, 2020
Great book about horses
Good author who knows something about horses and writes about them and a spicy romance between the two main characters. You should read all three in the series as they are all interrelated.
Good author who knows something about horses and writes about them and a spicy romance between the two main characters. You should read all three in the series as they are all interrelated.
July 5, 2020
Race to the finish
Bev does it again with this amazing race story. Dino, a big time trainer meets Becky a timid and shy nurse, buy when Becky is asked help supervise the races and training sessions, can she break Dino?
Bev does it again with this amazing race story. Dino, a big time trainer meets Becky a timid and shy nurse, buy when Becky is asked help supervise the races and training sessions, can she break Dino?
August 4, 2017
Good book
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
March 27, 2022
Really great story
I really enjoyed this book! The characters were very real and warm. The plot was intriguing. it was a fun read.
I really enjoyed this book! The characters were very real and warm. The plot was intriguing. it was a fun read.
April 1, 2024
Great thriller
Riveting! Great who dunit! Learned more about horses and the horse racing industry than I could imagine. Loved the romance the author threw in. Great read!
Riveting! Great who dunit! Learned more about horses and the horse racing industry than I could imagine. Loved the romance the author threw in. Great read!
June 8, 2015
Dino and Becky were each on their own an interesting character. I just don't think I liked the rushed ending. It was too short and didn't completely sell their HEA for me. Bev Pettersen knows how to flesh out her characters and make them likable. I liked the book, it had a touch of realism and I loved the whole world of horse racing she opened me up to. I think I rated the story a three mainly because of the horse racing. I liked learning about the different relationships between the horses and the owners, trainers, and jockeys.
The romance aspect of the book was good but for having the fact that Dino was basically a manwhore, sleeping with anyone he took a liking too, over and over again was annoying. Don't expect me to fall for a hot guy who acts, talks, and thinks like a man whore to suddenly give up all his rules and beliefs about never marrying and loving only one woman to declare his love in two pages. I read romance because I enjoy the HEA. So yeah, I would have forgiven his big talk about it only being great sex and "not" love, but I wanted to see some growth from him. Some evidence that deep down he knew he was just bull sh*tting himself into thinking Becky wasn't the one for him. Another chapter at the end letting us see how they worked out their differences and got along as a couple would have made this a 4-5 star book.
Also the suspense part of this book just wasn't there. You know from the beginning who is behind the sabotage and there was no justice done. Everyone gets off too easily (accept maybe Slim) and Dino ends up taking the fall. Which seems straight up wrong to me. Wish that whole debacle would have been resolved differently. *For example - why couldn't super mega rich Martha have taken over Jilly's care (there by making right the deal her deceased husband had with Slim) and let Dino appeal his suspension and clear his name? Instead it all came down to Dino being expandable and taking the fall to preserve the name of horse stable. Unfair and frustrating!
Like I mentioned before I really enjoyed the horse world scenario and I already downloaded a couple other Bev Petersen books on my Kindle. So overall I liked the book enough to read a few more by this author.
The romance aspect of the book was good but for having the fact that Dino was basically a manwhore, sleeping with anyone he took a liking too, over and over again was annoying. Don't expect me to fall for a hot guy who acts, talks, and thinks like a man whore to suddenly give up all his rules and beliefs about never marrying and loving only one woman to declare his love in two pages. I read romance because I enjoy the HEA. So yeah, I would have forgiven his big talk about it only being great sex and "not" love, but I wanted to see some growth from him. Some evidence that deep down he knew he was just bull sh*tting himself into thinking Becky wasn't the one for him. Another chapter at the end letting us see how they worked out their differences and got along as a couple would have made this a 4-5 star book.
Also the suspense part of this book just wasn't there. You know from the beginning who is behind the sabotage and there was no justice done. Everyone gets off too easily (accept maybe Slim) and Dino ends up taking the fall. Which seems straight up wrong to me. Wish that whole debacle would have been resolved differently. *For example - why couldn't super mega rich Martha have taken over Jilly's care (there by making right the deal her deceased husband had with Slim) and let Dino appeal his suspension and clear his name? Instead it all came down to Dino being expandable and taking the fall to preserve the name of horse stable. Unfair and frustrating!
Like I mentioned before I really enjoyed the horse world scenario and I already downloaded a couple other Bev Petersen books on my Kindle. So overall I liked the book enough to read a few more by this author.
August 13, 2012
First Reads
The author graciously provided a PDF copy for my review
The perfect compliment to Color My Horse. Dino was a favorite character, so I’m glad to see him in this story. Only a few pages in, I had the giggles. I absolutely loved the witty remarks that Betty—oops, I mean Becky had about Dano—oops, I mean Dino—LOL. I’ve also decided that I want Lyric. I easily imagined this beautiful gray mare with a spunky attitude. She would be a lovely horse to own and ride.
I giggled every time Dino had an inner monologue. It was so cute how he justified his actions to himself. I couldn’t help but chuckle out loud at his thought process. This just made me like him even more. I truly rooted for his success with horses and of course with Becky.
Pettersen’s pace is great. She had the perfect amount of buildup, and I’m not just referring to the sexual tension. She’s a natural storyteller with a knack for details. However, in my opinion you can’t go wrong with a romance novel that features rugged cowboys and amazing horses.
Pettersen threw in some twists and turns, and it took the novel up another notch. This may be my favorite of the Racetrack Romance series. Another amazing book.
The author graciously provided a PDF copy for my review
The perfect compliment to Color My Horse. Dino was a favorite character, so I’m glad to see him in this story. Only a few pages in, I had the giggles. I absolutely loved the witty remarks that Betty—oops, I mean Becky had about Dano—oops, I mean Dino—LOL. I’ve also decided that I want Lyric. I easily imagined this beautiful gray mare with a spunky attitude. She would be a lovely horse to own and ride.
I giggled every time Dino had an inner monologue. It was so cute how he justified his actions to himself. I couldn’t help but chuckle out loud at his thought process. This just made me like him even more. I truly rooted for his success with horses and of course with Becky.
Pettersen’s pace is great. She had the perfect amount of buildup, and I’m not just referring to the sexual tension. She’s a natural storyteller with a knack for details. However, in my opinion you can’t go wrong with a romance novel that features rugged cowboys and amazing horses.
Pettersen threw in some twists and turns, and it took the novel up another notch. This may be my favorite of the Racetrack Romance series. Another amazing book.
February 12, 2014
Dino is different from Bev's other men he's how do you say a ladies man? "He followed her gaze, quickly released her hand and leaned back. "I like women," he said. "Doesn't make me a pig." He didn't seem annoyed or even fazed; if anything, he looked confused." Sometimes though they way he talks he kinda did sound like a pig, "hey, honey." He rose gently pulled her to him. "It's okay. Don't get all shy on me again. Sex is just sex. It's not a big deal if we do. It's not a big deal if we don't. Nothing's different." It's obvious that Becky is different from other women he's had naughtiness with, but it just doesn't phase Dino until after they do the deed and she acts weird, "fascinating," he drawled, watching her face. She hadn't really looked at him yet, had given no hint they'd just shared a very special night. Maybe she didn't realize how good it had been. He was positive he'd made her come three of four times. In fact, he was getting hard just remembering her throaty whimpers." It's apparent that the more these two spend time together the more jealous Dino gets of other men sniffing around his woman, "stall thing!" His voice rose along with the truck's speed. "Well, we're definitely not finished. And just so you know, this elusiveness works both ways." He scowled at her for a long moment and the truck clipped along the highway. "You can't be running around the track, going crazy, trying new things with other men."......."You want to try something new, you come to me." I'm ready to see what comes next for Bev and her men.
August 11, 2016
I went into Fillies and Females expecting a romance set in and revolving around horses and racing. It's not exactly what I found.
I'll say, Ms. Pettersen does an expert job with the horse details. The racing, care and detail put into everything about the horses in the book was excellent. I am a horse lover, so I enjoyed most all the explanations. Unfortunately, it threw the balance of the book of because of it.
I was hoping for a romance. While there was one, it seemed to take a back seat to the daily grind of the ranch. The mystery aspect of the story wasn't in question, as the bad guy was fairly obvious, if not those who assisted him, and I didn't like that he was ultimately done away with off the page - after waiting to get him, we never got to find out what happened to him other than, "I had my...moment with him." I wanted to see what happened.
I'd originally gave this book 2 stars, mostly because the ending was so abrupt and there were many unanswered questions in my mind, but because of the unquestioned mastery of the horse aspect, I bumped it up.
The book didn't feel too long, I just felt the romance portion suffered in comparison to other aspects of the story. Given a little more of a wrap up, the score would have been higher. I liked the characters and the setting very much.
I'll say, Ms. Pettersen does an expert job with the horse details. The racing, care and detail put into everything about the horses in the book was excellent. I am a horse lover, so I enjoyed most all the explanations. Unfortunately, it threw the balance of the book of because of it.
I was hoping for a romance. While there was one, it seemed to take a back seat to the daily grind of the ranch. The mystery aspect of the story wasn't in question, as the bad guy was fairly obvious, if not those who assisted him, and I didn't like that he was ultimately done away with off the page - after waiting to get him, we never got to find out what happened to him other than, "I had my...moment with him." I wanted to see what happened.
I'd originally gave this book 2 stars, mostly because the ending was so abrupt and there were many unanswered questions in my mind, but because of the unquestioned mastery of the horse aspect, I bumped it up.
The book didn't feel too long, I just felt the romance portion suffered in comparison to other aspects of the story. Given a little more of a wrap up, the score would have been higher. I liked the characters and the setting very much.
January 31, 2015
This is the first book I've read by this author. I enjoyed it but didn't love it. Based on other reviews of Fillies and Females I am not alone. I will try reading another one of Bev Pettersen's books because this isn't one of her best. This story is mostly focused on the mystery of race horses suddenly not qualifying for major races, and less on the romance between Dino, the horse trainer, and Becky, a dedicated nurse to a billionaire horse owner.
However, even the suspense was also predictable. I got frustrated less than 1/3 of the way through the book when Becky never informed Dino of some of the odd things she'd witnessed until it was too late. There is a fine line between being clueless and TSTL. I really liked Martha, the woman Becky was caring for, and enjoyed her match-making meddling. I liked her chemistry between Becky and Dino and with no one in her family Martha could turn to I found it believable that Becky became her eyes and ears at the racetrack.
I enjoy reading this book to learn more about the world of horse racing than anything else. It is a much better romance than a mystery. The suspense element was frustrating. At least the characters were well developed.
However, even the suspense was also predictable. I got frustrated less than 1/3 of the way through the book when Becky never informed Dino of some of the odd things she'd witnessed until it was too late. There is a fine line between being clueless and TSTL. I really liked Martha, the woman Becky was caring for, and enjoyed her match-making meddling. I liked her chemistry between Becky and Dino and with no one in her family Martha could turn to I found it believable that Becky became her eyes and ears at the racetrack.
I enjoy reading this book to learn more about the world of horse racing than anything else. It is a much better romance than a mystery. The suspense element was frustrating. At least the characters were well developed.
September 13, 2014
I enjoyed this book a great deal. So far I have loved all of Bev Pettersen's books and this one didn't disappoint. Other than the obvious setting with horses, the best aspect of this story was the suspense.
If it wasn't for a couple of bothersome tidbits, I would have gladly made this a 5 Star Rating. At one point our heroine, Becky, discovers two horses on the walker that appeared completely worn out. She checked the controls and saw that the timer was set to 200 minutes instead of 20. It bugged me quite a bit that she not only never mentioned this to anyone, but she turned it back on after removing the one horse. My other issue is with how obvious it was that the bad guy was -----------. I wanted to smack a few characters around for not immediately suspecting this person. (Echo was also referred to as "he" at one point even tho she is a filly. lol)
Considering these two issues, I still enjoyed the story and the characters. I loved the friendship between Becky and her employer. Now for Stephanie's story!
If it wasn't for a couple of bothersome tidbits, I would have gladly made this a 5 Star Rating. At one point our heroine, Becky, discovers two horses on the walker that appeared completely worn out. She checked the controls and saw that the timer was set to 200 minutes instead of 20. It bugged me quite a bit that she not only never mentioned this to anyone, but she turned it back on after removing the one horse. My other issue is with how obvious it was that the bad guy was -----------. I wanted to smack a few characters around for not immediately suspecting this person. (Echo was also referred to as "he" at one point even tho she is a filly. lol)
Considering these two issues, I still enjoyed the story and the characters. I loved the friendship between Becky and her employer. Now for Stephanie's story!
April 27, 2012
A good mystery romance that gives the reader an inside look at the horse racing business from the aspect of the owner and the trainers. Conrad Stables has lost its owner and his wife is determined to continue his dream of developing a line of racers that will put his name near the top of the racing world. She is near an invalid herself and needs constant nursing. One of her nurses, recovering from a bad relationship and interested only in taking care of her patient, becomes the target of her wanting to pull her out of her shell.
In the process the nurse falls for the trainer, who has relationship problems of his own, and who has every woman at the track chasing after him. Even though he has horses that should win races there are problems and someone is creating problems with the horses and it seems that his luck is running out.
A good read and fun to try to figure out who is creating the problems for Conrad Stables.
In the process the nurse falls for the trainer, who has relationship problems of his own, and who has every woman at the track chasing after him. Even though he has horses that should win races there are problems and someone is creating problems with the horses and it seems that his luck is running out.
A good read and fun to try to figure out who is creating the problems for Conrad Stables.
March 16, 2012
Becky is a live in nurse to wealthy Martha. Dino is the horse trainer to Martha's racing stalions. Martha's health has had a heart attack and is not supposed to be in stressful situtations, but the world of horse racing is very stressfull. Martha asks Becky to be her representative and take over the day to day problems associated with running a successful racing barn. Dino is not too happy about the new situation and both he and Becky need to learn how to get along to not only win but make the enterprise profitable for all parties involved.
I really enjoyed reading as the relationship between Becky and Dino grew and each of them learned that maybe what they really wanted was something unexpected. The characters were well devloped and very likeable. The little bit of mystery surrounding the stables problems kept the story moving and fun to read.
I really enjoyed reading as the relationship between Becky and Dino grew and each of them learned that maybe what they really wanted was something unexpected. The characters were well devloped and very likeable. The little bit of mystery surrounding the stables problems kept the story moving and fun to read.
February 23, 2013
Once again I got reading one of Bev's books and couldn't put it down. It kept me on the edge of my seat needing to read more to find out what the truth was. As always it's a really well written book, which for the most part is very realistic, but she made an error, which so many people do that drives me crazy food posioning in the worst cases the on set is 12 hours after consumtion of the bad food, most cases take 24 hours before the person has a reaction to it. All left overs have a shelf life anywhere from 7 to 14 days if properly stored. Maybe this was an over site or she didn't care to check the facts, but to me I just can't let an error like this slide, with Becky being a Nurse she could have said it had to be something Cody had eatten the day before. I will say Martha had me rolling and laughing, why can't I have a lady like her in my life.
February 6, 2014
Well, let's see. I got this book free on Amazon. I normally just download what's in the email that's free and just take a chance. Well, I hit pay dirt with this book. I figured it was a typical "romance" novel and what I read was SO much more! A lot of it made me blush...but the story as a whole was very good. I loved Martha's spunk, Becky's vulnerability, and even Lyric grabbed my heart. There were times I teared up as if I could see Beckyin her pensive moments. The build up of pending "drama" made me put the book down a couple of times until my heart stopped racing. Overall, it was a good book.
I struggled with giving it a 4 at the end because I felt the end was anticlimactic. I felt let down at the end...I expected something else? Maybe it's coming in the sequel? In the art of wanting more...definitely five stars.
I struggled with giving it a 4 at the end because I felt the end was anticlimactic. I felt let down at the end...I expected something else? Maybe it's coming in the sequel? In the art of wanting more...definitely five stars.
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