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Racetrack Romance #3
Jockeys and Jewels
The first rule of an undercover Never fall in love with the suspect! By a USA Today Bestselling author and three-times National Readers Choice NomineeHardened cop Kurt has no intention of returning to undercover work. But when his former partner is murdered, he rushes to the backwater racetrack where his friend was last seen alive. He intends to make someone pay, even if the killer turns out to be a talented rider with a smoking hot body and a disarming smile.Julie West is a rookie jockey, fighting to climb the rider ranks. She jumps at the chance to work for a new trainer, never suspecting she's already a person of interest--and it's not because of her riding skills.Kurt never expected his Trojan horse to flourish under Julie's deft touch or for his own cynical heart to soften. But when his investigation tightens around the truth, will he be able to protect the woman he's falling for?
219 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2011
443 people are currently reading
733 people want to read
About the author
Bev Pettersen
43 books249 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 107 reviews
September 29, 2011
Kurt MacKinnon is a horse trainer who handed over his resignation to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police eleven months back, refusing to let the lies and deception that ruled his life in undercover work drain him out any longer. But Kurt gets pulled back to do one more undercover job, to bring to justice the man/woman responsible for the murder of one of his trusted colleagues. Kurt’s knowledge about horses and his profession makes him the ultimate choice for the undercover mission that involves infiltrating a horse race track to find out the person responsible and to find the reason behind the murder.
23 year old Julie West is an apprentice jockey who dreams of becoming a jockey as revered and experienced as her mother had been. A suspect in Kurt’s investigation, Julie is not what Kurt expects her to be and from the first moment, it becomes hard for Kurt to be objective where Julie is concerned as her refreshing honesty about everything pulls him in far deeper than anyone else has in a long, long time.
Julie tries hard to keep things professional between herself and Kurt but finds herself unable to do so as Kurt’s charm and underlying kindhearted nature that peeks through makes him more and more irresistible. So finds Julie breaking the rules which had governed her adult life about mixing business with pleasure, all the while not knowing Kurt’s true agenda when it comes to her and the rest of her colleagues at the race track.
Blended with details about horses, racing and the life of a novice jockey who wants to make it big, together with the detecting and undercover work of a determined undercover agent, Jockeys and Jewels is a novel that proved to be an entertaining read. Because I am not someone who has much familiarity with horses since I live in a country where the only time we encounter a horse is when its on TV, I found myself fascinated with certain aspects of the horse racing world. Though I felt that there was a bit too much on the horse racing aspect at times, for someone who loves horses, racing and the world of jockeys with a bit of romance and suspense tossed right in, Jockeys and Jewels would be a gem of a read.
Kurt’s character comes off as the brooding hot variety and he has a hard time keeping his feelings in check when it comes to Julie. Kurt does prove in the end that he has no intention of letting Julie go because for the first time in his life, Kurt finds someone worthy of letting into his heart, body and soul as his mate for as long as he lives. Julie at first is skittish as a newborn colt when it comes to succumbing to the attraction that fires up between herself and Kurt from the very first moment. But as little by little Kurt charms his way into her emotions and heart, Julie learns to let go, though she doesn’t have a clue as to the real reason behind Kurt’s appearance at the race track.
Bev Pettersen has got that innate talent of telling a good story which I know would only continue to improve with each publication.
Rating=3.75/5
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
23 year old Julie West is an apprentice jockey who dreams of becoming a jockey as revered and experienced as her mother had been. A suspect in Kurt’s investigation, Julie is not what Kurt expects her to be and from the first moment, it becomes hard for Kurt to be objective where Julie is concerned as her refreshing honesty about everything pulls him in far deeper than anyone else has in a long, long time.
Julie tries hard to keep things professional between herself and Kurt but finds herself unable to do so as Kurt’s charm and underlying kindhearted nature that peeks through makes him more and more irresistible. So finds Julie breaking the rules which had governed her adult life about mixing business with pleasure, all the while not knowing Kurt’s true agenda when it comes to her and the rest of her colleagues at the race track.
Blended with details about horses, racing and the life of a novice jockey who wants to make it big, together with the detecting and undercover work of a determined undercover agent, Jockeys and Jewels is a novel that proved to be an entertaining read. Because I am not someone who has much familiarity with horses since I live in a country where the only time we encounter a horse is when its on TV, I found myself fascinated with certain aspects of the horse racing world. Though I felt that there was a bit too much on the horse racing aspect at times, for someone who loves horses, racing and the world of jockeys with a bit of romance and suspense tossed right in, Jockeys and Jewels would be a gem of a read.
Kurt’s character comes off as the brooding hot variety and he has a hard time keeping his feelings in check when it comes to Julie. Kurt does prove in the end that he has no intention of letting Julie go because for the first time in his life, Kurt finds someone worthy of letting into his heart, body and soul as his mate for as long as he lives. Julie at first is skittish as a newborn colt when it comes to succumbing to the attraction that fires up between herself and Kurt from the very first moment. But as little by little Kurt charms his way into her emotions and heart, Julie learns to let go, though she doesn’t have a clue as to the real reason behind Kurt’s appearance at the race track.
Bev Pettersen has got that innate talent of telling a good story which I know would only continue to improve with each publication.
Rating=3.75/5
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
December 27, 2017
SUMMARY: Ex-cop Kurt MacKinnon resents leaving his training stable to dive back into undercover work. He's seen enough sordidness to last a lifetime. But when his former partner is murdered, Kurt ships his third-string Thoroughbreds to the backwater track where his partner was last seen alive. He intends to make someone pay, even if the killer turns out to be a talented rider with a smoking hot body and a disarming smile.
Julie West is chasing a big win, struggling to boost her reputation and propel her into the elite jockey ranks. There's no time for love, but she'd have to be blind and maybe dead not to notice the magnetic new trainer in town. With her talent for handling problem horses, she agrees to work for MacKinnon, never suspecting she's already a person of interest--and it's not because of her riding skills.
Kurt never expected his contrary colt to flourish under Julie's feminine touch nor for his own cynical heart to soften. But when his investigation tightens around the truth, his deceit thrusts them squarely into the killing field.
REVIEW: I rarely find a book I rate at a 1 or a 2. This one could have been a 4. The plot line was complex and involved, the characters were interesting and the mystery definitely kept your attention. Unfortunately combining these positive aspects with several very graphic sex scenes and too much obscene language turned this book from a possibly very good mystery read into a book that many people would probably discontinue after the first few chapters. There are other books in this series; and I no longer have any desire to read them. I feel the author has real potential as a romance mystery writer if she would eliminate the unnecessary foul language and graphic sex.
Julie West is chasing a big win, struggling to boost her reputation and propel her into the elite jockey ranks. There's no time for love, but she'd have to be blind and maybe dead not to notice the magnetic new trainer in town. With her talent for handling problem horses, she agrees to work for MacKinnon, never suspecting she's already a person of interest--and it's not because of her riding skills.
Kurt never expected his contrary colt to flourish under Julie's feminine touch nor for his own cynical heart to soften. But when his investigation tightens around the truth, his deceit thrusts them squarely into the killing field.
REVIEW: I rarely find a book I rate at a 1 or a 2. This one could have been a 4. The plot line was complex and involved, the characters were interesting and the mystery definitely kept your attention. Unfortunately combining these positive aspects with several very graphic sex scenes and too much obscene language turned this book from a possibly very good mystery read into a book that many people would probably discontinue after the first few chapters. There are other books in this series; and I no longer have any desire to read them. I feel the author has real potential as a romance mystery writer if she would eliminate the unnecessary foul language and graphic sex.
October 18, 2011
I received this e-book in the Library Thing member giveaway in exchange for review.
From the back of the book: Racehorse trainer, Kurt MacKinnon, resents being yanked into undercover police work. But when his ex-partner is murdered, Kurt is determined to find the killer and moves his third-string Thoroughbreds to the backwater track where his partner was last seen alive.
Julie West, struggling apprentice jockey, pins her dreams of an elusive win on the new trainer in town, never suspecting she’s a person of interest—and not because of her riding ability.
Kurt didn’t expect his contrary colt to flourish under Julie’s feminine touch nor for his own rusty heart to soften. However, his deceit sucks them both into the cross-hairs of a killer, and suddenly much more than their love is in danger.
Loved this book, I am a horse nut so this was a great read for me. Kept me entertained all the way thru! I laughed thru parts of it and cried some too. Kurt was very real and made me really think about what it meant to work undercover and have to maintain a certain personality. Only thing is the title gives away the mystery, which was quite a spoiler.
From the back of the book: Racehorse trainer, Kurt MacKinnon, resents being yanked into undercover police work. But when his ex-partner is murdered, Kurt is determined to find the killer and moves his third-string Thoroughbreds to the backwater track where his partner was last seen alive.
Julie West, struggling apprentice jockey, pins her dreams of an elusive win on the new trainer in town, never suspecting she’s a person of interest—and not because of her riding ability.
Kurt didn’t expect his contrary colt to flourish under Julie’s feminine touch nor for his own rusty heart to soften. However, his deceit sucks them both into the cross-hairs of a killer, and suddenly much more than their love is in danger.
Loved this book, I am a horse nut so this was a great read for me. Kept me entertained all the way thru! I laughed thru parts of it and cried some too. Kurt was very real and made me really think about what it meant to work undercover and have to maintain a certain personality. Only thing is the title gives away the mystery, which was quite a spoiler.
May 27, 2016
It's a romance crime romp. And as that not bad. There was a lot of race track talk but not a lot of horse realism or anything other than cookie cutter horse stereo types, which annoyed me because the author has actual horse knowledge and background. The only interesting horse character was Cisco. I'd stick with Francis for race track crime unless one has a hankering for formulaic sex scenes.
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September 27, 2021Acquired Kindle edition when offered free on Amazon.
DNF at 32% because I just couldn't sustain any interest whatsoever. He's got the hots for her, she's only interested in the horses, and the murder investigation is kind of like optional. It's not a bad book, but it's just not for me. I gave it my best shot.
DNF at 32% because I just couldn't sustain any interest whatsoever. He's got the hots for her, she's only interested in the horses, and the murder investigation is kind of like optional. It's not a bad book, but it's just not for me. I gave it my best shot.
May 23, 2018
A Rare combination
Horse racing and murder mystery. Makes a good combination and since it's rare to find, it was exciting. The story was somewhat drawn out at times. Overall good though.
Horse racing and murder mystery. Makes a good combination and since it's rare to find, it was exciting. The story was somewhat drawn out at times. Overall good though.
January 14, 2014
Review from Backchatting Books
Kurt MacKinnon was a great cop but he has moved on to be a very successful horse trainer. When his ex-partner Connor dies while investigating something dodgy in the horse industry, Kurt tries to find out what went wrong. His knowledge of horse racing ought to give him an inside edge. A little more subtlety with the title would have been fantastic as it spoilt the story.
Kurt was a bit of an oddity as a hero. He was supposed to be a confident, successful trainer but it often came across as arrogant or immature and his investigation as fairly transparent. He provoked the main suspect time and time again and then got his feelings hurt when the person retaliated. It seemed as if he used Julie’s innocence to his advantage in their relationship and professionally so I found it hard to relate to him at all.
Julie might have been an adult but she was written as a naive teenager. She is trying to make a name for herself as a rider and so is willing to ride mistreated animals and tolerate abuse from trainers. She clearly has talent but has to fight against gender discrimination to get decent mounts. Her youth is shown when she drinks to excess the night before a big race (a big no-no) and her desperation when she chooses to ride while injured.
A lot of thought was put into representing the horse racing world and to be honest, it wasn’t pretty. Pettersen dealt with the serious issue of animal abuse but I found it upsetting that none of the characters reported the abuser to authorities or really tried to stop it. Kurt freed one horse which ought to have been a heart-warming moment but ultimately gave the criminal the funds to purchase another horse and do the same thing again. For someone who was an ex-cop, surely he would have been aware of animal cruelty laws? Likewise, the race officials turned a blind eye.
While I appreciated the world-building, I thought Kurt was just a bit too much of a bully and Julie just a bit too fragile for a relationship between the two to come across as sweet.
Kurt MacKinnon was a great cop but he has moved on to be a very successful horse trainer. When his ex-partner Connor dies while investigating something dodgy in the horse industry, Kurt tries to find out what went wrong. His knowledge of horse racing ought to give him an inside edge. A little more subtlety with the title would have been fantastic as it spoilt the story.
Kurt was a bit of an oddity as a hero. He was supposed to be a confident, successful trainer but it often came across as arrogant or immature and his investigation as fairly transparent. He provoked the main suspect time and time again and then got his feelings hurt when the person retaliated. It seemed as if he used Julie’s innocence to his advantage in their relationship and professionally so I found it hard to relate to him at all.
Julie might have been an adult but she was written as a naive teenager. She is trying to make a name for herself as a rider and so is willing to ride mistreated animals and tolerate abuse from trainers. She clearly has talent but has to fight against gender discrimination to get decent mounts. Her youth is shown when she drinks to excess the night before a big race (a big no-no) and her desperation when she chooses to ride while injured.
A lot of thought was put into representing the horse racing world and to be honest, it wasn’t pretty. Pettersen dealt with the serious issue of animal abuse but I found it upsetting that none of the characters reported the abuser to authorities or really tried to stop it. Kurt freed one horse which ought to have been a heart-warming moment but ultimately gave the criminal the funds to purchase another horse and do the same thing again. For someone who was an ex-cop, surely he would have been aware of animal cruelty laws? Likewise, the race officials turned a blind eye.
While I appreciated the world-building, I thought Kurt was just a bit too much of a bully and Julie just a bit too fragile for a relationship between the two to come across as sweet.
April 22, 2012
Unfortunately the title of the book gives away any of the mystery behind the plot itself, leaving "how does it happen" as the only question to be answered regarding the crime that is being done, but surprisingly, that big give away didn't detract from the enjoyment of reading.
I highly recommend this book for lovers of racing and for casual fans. I also expect that newcomers who are curious about the track might enjoy the insight as to what happens behind the scenes. Reading this book renewed my respect for those who do what they do before and after the races, even though I already had a large respect for them and their responsibilities.
The main character, an undercover cop, was the only one who seemed to throw me now and again. Understanding that he's covering for what his job really is doesn't really excuse his clumsiness with his female jockey. At times I thought maybe he had split his personality because for a while he refused to spend time with her outside of work, then suddenly he was messing around and not very good at it either. Beyond the clumsy nature of the relationship, which was almost refreshing because not all relationships are actually perfect, the book was a wonderful summer read, a perfect combination of romance and racing.
Note: Though this book was a free gift from the author, the content of my review was in no way influenced by the gifting. The book speaks for itself and my review would have been worded just this way even if I'd gone out and bought it. I also give bonus points for Text To Speech enabling on Kindle format.... but that also wasn't a factor in the above review.
I highly recommend this book for lovers of racing and for casual fans. I also expect that newcomers who are curious about the track might enjoy the insight as to what happens behind the scenes. Reading this book renewed my respect for those who do what they do before and after the races, even though I already had a large respect for them and their responsibilities.
The main character, an undercover cop, was the only one who seemed to throw me now and again. Understanding that he's covering for what his job really is doesn't really excuse his clumsiness with his female jockey. At times I thought maybe he had split his personality because for a while he refused to spend time with her outside of work, then suddenly he was messing around and not very good at it either. Beyond the clumsy nature of the relationship, which was almost refreshing because not all relationships are actually perfect, the book was a wonderful summer read, a perfect combination of romance and racing.
Note: Though this book was a free gift from the author, the content of my review was in no way influenced by the gifting. The book speaks for itself and my review would have been worded just this way even if I'd gone out and bought it. I also give bonus points for Text To Speech enabling on Kindle format.... but that also wasn't a factor in the above review.
August 9, 2011
I was very entertained by this one. It isn't too romancy nor is too "thriller like." It's a perfect balance of both.
The mystery: I had a basic idea of what was going on, but I didn't have the finer details figured out from the get go so that's a plus.
The heroine: Awesome chick. She's a young woman trying to be a jockey. She isn't portrayed as super perfect or super tough though. She has weaknesses as well as strengths. She rides a race even after suffering great injuries, but she also drinks too much in a moment of weakness. She's "real."
The hero: He's the only reason this book gets a four instead of a five. I didn't always like him much. He's undercover and I realize that, but I didn't think he treated Julie all that great sometimes. (His thing with Tiffany really ticked me off.) He also seems really indecisive about what he wants. He tells Julie he wants a temporary thing, but then he gets upset over her possibly seeing other guys. Really though, this is typical male behavior so Ms. Pettersen did a great job.
The horse stuff: SUPERB.
The mystery: I had a basic idea of what was going on, but I didn't have the finer details figured out from the get go so that's a plus.
The heroine: Awesome chick. She's a young woman trying to be a jockey. She isn't portrayed as super perfect or super tough though. She has weaknesses as well as strengths. She rides a race even after suffering great injuries, but she also drinks too much in a moment of weakness. She's "real."
The hero: He's the only reason this book gets a four instead of a five. I didn't always like him much. He's undercover and I realize that, but I didn't think he treated Julie all that great sometimes. (His thing with Tiffany really ticked me off.) He also seems really indecisive about what he wants. He tells Julie he wants a temporary thing, but then he gets upset over her possibly seeing other guys. Really though, this is typical male behavior so Ms. Pettersen did a great job.
The horse stuff: SUPERB.
June 22, 2012
First Reads
The author graciously provided a PDF copy for my review
Another wonderful novel by Pettersen! Like her other novels, this is a fantastic combination for romance and horse lovers alike.
This was such an exciting read. The lead character Kurt added a thrill of adventure with his cop/cowboy attitude. He exuded masculinity, and certainly created a tingling sensation in the pit of your stomach.
I really enjoyed the bantering between Julie and Kurt, and the sexual tension was intense.
I'm a huge fan of Pettersen's Racetrack Romance series, and I highly recommend reading it.
She is certainly a talented author
The author graciously provided a PDF copy for my review
Another wonderful novel by Pettersen! Like her other novels, this is a fantastic combination for romance and horse lovers alike.
This was such an exciting read. The lead character Kurt added a thrill of adventure with his cop/cowboy attitude. He exuded masculinity, and certainly created a tingling sensation in the pit of your stomach.
I really enjoyed the bantering between Julie and Kurt, and the sexual tension was intense.
I'm a huge fan of Pettersen's Racetrack Romance series, and I highly recommend reading it.
She is certainly a talented author
October 10, 2020
Love on the track
I missed the reference “romantic mystery” when purchasing this book, and at times, felt that the passion and emotional conflict between Kurt and Julie detracted from the murder mystery. However, there was a nice ending after the relationship was repaired - again!
I am not clear on the border crossing rules for USA/Canada, but felt that the smuggling of diamonds if rubber pads between horses hooves and their shoes seemed a little over the top. Surely moving something as small as a consignment of diamonds would be far easier, simply hidden in luggage, or under a car seat - so I did wonder why the plot had to be so complex.
I liked the various characters in the story, and continued to enjoy the book to its conclusion.
I have read man6 horse racing mysteries, and will continue todo so.
Thanks for your writing skills.
I missed the reference “romantic mystery” when purchasing this book, and at times, felt that the passion and emotional conflict between Kurt and Julie detracted from the murder mystery. However, there was a nice ending after the relationship was repaired - again!
I am not clear on the border crossing rules for USA/Canada, but felt that the smuggling of diamonds if rubber pads between horses hooves and their shoes seemed a little over the top. Surely moving something as small as a consignment of diamonds would be far easier, simply hidden in luggage, or under a car seat - so I did wonder why the plot had to be so complex.
I liked the various characters in the story, and continued to enjoy the book to its conclusion.
I have read man6 horse racing mysteries, and will continue todo so.
Thanks for your writing skills.
June 29, 2019
Interesting story
Interesting characters and storyline, full of mystery, danger, and action. Julie is a very stubborn and determined jockey apprentice trying to prove herself in the racing world. Kurt is undercover looking for the murderer of a fellow cop and friend. Julie and Kurt felt an attraction from the start but wanted to keep their distance for different reasons however, the more they were together, the deeper their connection became.
I felt the story dragged a bit at times and it needs some editing, but other than that, it was an entertaining book.
Interesting characters and storyline, full of mystery, danger, and action. Julie is a very stubborn and determined jockey apprentice trying to prove herself in the racing world. Kurt is undercover looking for the murderer of a fellow cop and friend. Julie and Kurt felt an attraction from the start but wanted to keep their distance for different reasons however, the more they were together, the deeper their connection became.
I felt the story dragged a bit at times and it needs some editing, but other than that, it was an entertaining book.
August 1, 2019
Great little romance novel involving horses!
I really enjoyed this first in the series novel. Definitely a good beach read or winter read. Specific horse terminology makes this relevant to those of us with horses. She knows what she's talking about. Not too racy but use your imagination and creativity and you'll figure out what's going on. I have already started her second in the series, which continues with characters in the first novel so you don't have to learn a whole new host of characters. Cannot wait to see how it turns out and start the third one!
I really enjoyed this first in the series novel. Definitely a good beach read or winter read. Specific horse terminology makes this relevant to those of us with horses. She knows what she's talking about. Not too racy but use your imagination and creativity and you'll figure out what's going on. I have already started her second in the series, which continues with characters in the first novel so you don't have to learn a whole new host of characters. Cannot wait to see how it turns out and start the third one!
October 21, 2017
A Polished Gem
I love Bev Pettersen's books. The suspense in this book keeps you reading. There is humor, romance, and a great story line. If you aren't a horse racing fan you might become one, and if you read one of Bev's books, you will definitely become a fan.
I love Bev Pettersen's books. The suspense in this book keeps you reading. There is humor, romance, and a great story line. If you aren't a horse racing fan you might become one, and if you read one of Bev's books, you will definitely become a fan.
June 24, 2019
Great story, but.
I really liked this fast paced well written story of murder, intrigue and hidden secrets. Character development and scene descriptions are good. But there is swearing, blasphemy and open bedroom pages which detract from the overall story.
I really liked this fast paced well written story of murder, intrigue and hidden secrets. Character development and scene descriptions are good. But there is swearing, blasphemy and open bedroom pages which detract from the overall story.
June 29, 2019
If you like horses and horse racing, this book is for you. Way too much detail about the horsing world for me and the mystery and search for a cop killer takes precedence over any romantic story in this book. All in all, pretty dull unless you want an education in horse racing.
July 4, 2019
NOT your general, mushy "romance"... (those are not my style).. this was a REALLY great story, mystery woven throughout. Kept me interested from start to finish, and I'll be checking out more by this author. Plus a great amount of knowledge / info about horses and racing. Highly recommended.
August 12, 2019
I really struggled with this book. First, part of the answer to the crime is in the title, a bit of a give away there straight away. Too much racing and not enough mystery for me, I won’t be reading anymore books by this author.
September 23, 2019
Good book
But WAaaaay too much horse info. Maybe this couldn't be written without it, but this story could have been AT LEAST 100 pages less. And the guy was an ass, I'm hate when the gargoyles are forgiven so easily. Lol maybe I'm just blood thirsty
But WAaaaay too much horse info. Maybe this couldn't be written without it, but this story could have been AT LEAST 100 pages less. And the guy was an ass, I'm hate when the gargoyles are forgiven so easily. Lol maybe I'm just blood thirsty
July 11, 2023
Great mystery
Not only was this a mystery that kept you on the edge of your seat but also a cool love story. It also gave you a great education into how much goes into horse racing. I found it quite interesting!
Not only was this a mystery that kept you on the edge of your seat but also a cool love story. It also gave you a great education into how much goes into horse racing. I found it quite interesting!
June 24, 2019
Good read.
This book was a very good read. Entertaining and informing as to the work involved in training horses. Well written.
This book was a very good read. Entertaining and informing as to the work involved in training horses. Well written.
July 8, 2019
Great book
I really enjoyed this book. Horses, romance & mystery makes a great combination, and this book was a real page turner. It kept my interest till the end!
I really enjoyed this book. Horses, romance & mystery makes a great combination, and this book was a real page turner. It kept my interest till the end!
July 29, 2019
Pretty good read
I learned a lot about horse racing.
Good story, good characters human and horses!
I liked the dog as well
I learned a lot about horse racing.
Good story, good characters human and horses!
I liked the dog as well
Read
December 16, 2020Really enjoyed this story. Looking forward to the next book by Bev Pettersen.
June 23, 2021
Horseshoes luck
Theft, death, violence. Lies, lust, love. Horse race circuit, a new experience for me. What can I say? I love it.
Theft, death, violence. Lies, lust, love. Horse race circuit, a new experience for me. What can I say? I love it.
August 18, 2021
Horses and romance
Very good read. Fast action and a fast read. Good Characters and well thought out plot. If you like horse racing you will love this book.
Very good read. Fast action and a fast read. Good Characters and well thought out plot. If you like horse racing you will love this book.
November 1, 2022
The sex gets tiresome...can't continue reading this. Please develop the plot and tone down the sex, boring
July 28, 2019
I liked it, but the "whodunnit" aspect was far more enjoyable to me than was the love story.
February 6, 2022
This book had such potential in the plot, but got side tracked with language , booze , and sex, I don’t think an FBI agent could act do poorly. Pass on this book!!
June 15, 2016
This crime and romance story is for those dedicated to horses and the racing scene in particular; some non-horsey readers may find it an absorbing portrayal of a behind the scenes world they never knew, while others may find it too specific for them. A detective on extended leave from the RCMP is asked to take the upcoming racehorses he trains to a Canadian track and check out the killing of a policeman, undercover. He engages the young female apprentice jockey who was one of the last people to have spoken with the deceased, in the hope that she can give him information. There is a particularly repulsive owner/trainer who is the main suspect, and no other suspect.
There are a few things wrong with the scenario which is why I can't give it more stars. One is that the older trainer making a personal advance to a young female jockey is just morally wrong. He is in a position of power and abuses it. The girl is not a suspect and he is quickly sure that she is not the killer. But he puts her in a position where she thinks she will not get riding work and race rides unless she has sex with the trainer. The man may make reassuring noises about personal matters being separate, but that is what she would expect to hear from a creep.
Another issue is that having sex with a witness in order to get information from her means the police case would be thrown out of court. They are only supposed to use legitimate means to gain information and having sex with a witness, lying or not, is enough to invalidate any data gained. He should have waited to start a personal relationship with a witness until the case was closed. The experienced cop would know this, unless they do things very differently in Canada. Flirt, maybe, flatter, fine. Sex, romance, no.
And thirdly, the trainer has bought betting slips for the horse handler and the jockey. I don't know if this is legal in the racing system of Canada or America, but I strongly suspect jockeys are not allowed to bet there any more than they are in Ireland and UK. There is potentially far too much incentive for a jockey to throw a race or a few jockeys to rig a race. If jockeys benefiting from bets is allowed, some character should be commenting about how weird it is.
Whether an upcoming jockey would go out the night before a big race and drink many shots - called shooters here - seems unlikely to me, but I can't say it wouldn't occur. Jockeys count calories and know they have light bodyweight, making a high alcohol level unwise.
This mystery is quite lengthy, set almost all at the track, but there is a nice change of scene to a ranch and mountain. The horse details are good. I've enjoyed another book by this author more, Studs And Stilettoes, behind the scenes as a film about a horse is being made.
There are a few things wrong with the scenario which is why I can't give it more stars. One is that the older trainer making a personal advance to a young female jockey is just morally wrong. He is in a position of power and abuses it. The girl is not a suspect and he is quickly sure that she is not the killer. But he puts her in a position where she thinks she will not get riding work and race rides unless she has sex with the trainer. The man may make reassuring noises about personal matters being separate, but that is what she would expect to hear from a creep.
Another issue is that having sex with a witness in order to get information from her means the police case would be thrown out of court. They are only supposed to use legitimate means to gain information and having sex with a witness, lying or not, is enough to invalidate any data gained. He should have waited to start a personal relationship with a witness until the case was closed. The experienced cop would know this, unless they do things very differently in Canada. Flirt, maybe, flatter, fine. Sex, romance, no.
And thirdly, the trainer has bought betting slips for the horse handler and the jockey. I don't know if this is legal in the racing system of Canada or America, but I strongly suspect jockeys are not allowed to bet there any more than they are in Ireland and UK. There is potentially far too much incentive for a jockey to throw a race or a few jockeys to rig a race. If jockeys benefiting from bets is allowed, some character should be commenting about how weird it is.
Whether an upcoming jockey would go out the night before a big race and drink many shots - called shooters here - seems unlikely to me, but I can't say it wouldn't occur. Jockeys count calories and know they have light bodyweight, making a high alcohol level unwise.
This mystery is quite lengthy, set almost all at the track, but there is a nice change of scene to a ranch and mountain. The horse details are good. I've enjoyed another book by this author more, Studs And Stilettoes, behind the scenes as a film about a horse is being made.
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