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Midnight Magic: Be Careful What You Wish For!
Mattie is fourteen-year-old and obsessed with horses. Thrilled to discover a primitive painting of a beautiful black horse hidden in the attic of her grandmother's home, it is not long before Mattie realizes the image of the painted horse seems to be coming to life. This is no ordinary work of art-this is a painting with a fascinating history that Mattie is about to unearth. One moonlit night, Mattie leaves the safety of her grandmother's home and ventures deep into the surrounding forest where she meets a wild horse who bears an uncanny resemblance to the one in her painting. Mattie and her mystery horse form a bond that she instinctively knows she cannot reveal to anyone. The mysterious spirit who inhabits the painting seems to gain strength as Mattie's bond with the wild horse deepens. But Mattie is uneasy as she wonders-and fears-if the two are somehow connected. Mattie soon realizes she should have heeded her grandmother's warnings to be careful what she wishes for in life-for it is one thing to hope her painted horse is real and quite another to discover he might be.
242 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2011
88 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 4, 2012
Midnight Magic
by Nancy Di Fabbio
Paperback, 240 pages
Published: September 8, 2011
Publisher: iUniverse Publishing
ISBN-10: 1450291457
ISBN-13: 978-1450291453
Book Source: Author
5 Stars
Book Description: Fourteen-year-old Mattie is obsessed with horses. Thrilled to discover a primitive painting of a beautiful black horse hidden in the attic of her grandmother's home, it is not long before Mattie realizes the image of the painted horse seems to be coming to life. This is no ordinary work of art-this is a painting with a fascinating history that Mattie is about to unearth. One moonlit night, Mattie leaves the safety of her grandmother's home and ventures deep into the surrounding forest where she meets a wild horse who bears an uncanny resemblance to the one in her painting. Mattie and her mystery horse form a bond that she instinctively knows she cannot reveal to anyone. The mysterious spirit who inhabits the painting seems to gain strength as Mattie's bond with the wild horse deepens. But Mattie is uneasy as she wonders-and fears-if the two are somehow connected. Mattie soon realizes she should have heeded her grandmother's warnings to be careful what she wishes for in life-for it is one thing to hope her painted horse is real and quite another to discover he might be.
Mary's Review: Mattie is a young teenager with a low self-esteem. She allows others to push her around and refuses to fight back or stand up for herself. She is strong willed with a mind of her own and will do what she wants, when she wants. After being warned by her mother numerous times not to go on or in the water after dark, she does it anyway. She nearly drowns as a result and puts a friend in potential danger. Her mother decides to send her to live with her grandmother for the summer.
Her grandmother lives on a little farm where she puts Mattie to work. Mattie also gets a job at a nearby stable which overjoys Mattie as she has an obsession and love for horses.While living with her grandmother, Mattie makes a bedroom in the attic and discovers a mysterious, lifelike painting of a horse that her grandmother has bad feelings about, but gives it to Mattie anyway.
Mattie's discovery brings with it deceit, evil and mistrust. Because of Mattie's obsession she soon grows as she learns how the consequences of her actions impact on the lives of those around her; how trust has to be earned; that love is unconditional; about patience and tolerance for others, what true friendship really is, goals and succeeding. Mattie spends a summer learning to grow up
becoming a young woman and learning to be careful what she wished for.
This book is a wonderful blend of mystery/thriller that I recommend for ages 9 and above.
Content: No warnings, clean.
About the Author: Nancy Di Fabbio owns five horses who star in her children's column published regularly in two local newspapers. She is the author of Quest for the Dress, and her third book, Saddle Up-And Live Your Dream! is scheduled for release in 2012. Nancy lives in rural Connecticut with her family and her horses.
After closing her custom bridal business, Nancy began a new career as a writer. Her first book, Quest for the Dress: Finding Your Dream Gown Without Losing Your Sanity, Friends or Groom (April 2011), is an invaluable guide for every bride searching for her perfect gown.
Although she loves all of her horses, her Morgan, Trinity, holds a special place in her heart. Fascinated with this unique and amazing breed, Nancy has written her first novel, Midnight Magic - Be Careful What You Wish For!. This spooky thriller is appropriate for readers as young as 9, but the story is so intriguing, they might have to wrestle it away from their older siblings and parents.
Nancy also writes a children's column for a few local papers based on the exploits of her herd. Each episode of "Tales from the NEIGH-borhood" features interesting information about horses, a story, and a bit of advice from the horse that young readers can apply to their own lives.
Saddle Up! - And Live Your Dream is a comprehensive how-to for the budding equestrian which will soon be released. She is currently working on the book version of Tales from the NEIGH-borhood.
You can visit her website to sample a few of her tales and read her blogs.
Read it now for 3.99
You might also like:
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
Phantom Universe Blog Tour
Mom's Monday- Nancy Drew Books LinkWithin
by Nancy Di Fabbio
Paperback, 240 pages
Published: September 8, 2011
Publisher: iUniverse Publishing
ISBN-10: 1450291457
ISBN-13: 978-1450291453
Book Source: Author
5 Stars
Book Description: Fourteen-year-old Mattie is obsessed with horses. Thrilled to discover a primitive painting of a beautiful black horse hidden in the attic of her grandmother's home, it is not long before Mattie realizes the image of the painted horse seems to be coming to life. This is no ordinary work of art-this is a painting with a fascinating history that Mattie is about to unearth. One moonlit night, Mattie leaves the safety of her grandmother's home and ventures deep into the surrounding forest where she meets a wild horse who bears an uncanny resemblance to the one in her painting. Mattie and her mystery horse form a bond that she instinctively knows she cannot reveal to anyone. The mysterious spirit who inhabits the painting seems to gain strength as Mattie's bond with the wild horse deepens. But Mattie is uneasy as she wonders-and fears-if the two are somehow connected. Mattie soon realizes she should have heeded her grandmother's warnings to be careful what she wishes for in life-for it is one thing to hope her painted horse is real and quite another to discover he might be.
Mary's Review: Mattie is a young teenager with a low self-esteem. She allows others to push her around and refuses to fight back or stand up for herself. She is strong willed with a mind of her own and will do what she wants, when she wants. After being warned by her mother numerous times not to go on or in the water after dark, she does it anyway. She nearly drowns as a result and puts a friend in potential danger. Her mother decides to send her to live with her grandmother for the summer.
Her grandmother lives on a little farm where she puts Mattie to work. Mattie also gets a job at a nearby stable which overjoys Mattie as she has an obsession and love for horses.While living with her grandmother, Mattie makes a bedroom in the attic and discovers a mysterious, lifelike painting of a horse that her grandmother has bad feelings about, but gives it to Mattie anyway.
Mattie's discovery brings with it deceit, evil and mistrust. Because of Mattie's obsession she soon grows as she learns how the consequences of her actions impact on the lives of those around her; how trust has to be earned; that love is unconditional; about patience and tolerance for others, what true friendship really is, goals and succeeding. Mattie spends a summer learning to grow up
becoming a young woman and learning to be careful what she wished for.
This book is a wonderful blend of mystery/thriller that I recommend for ages 9 and above.
Content: No warnings, clean.
About the Author: Nancy Di Fabbio owns five horses who star in her children's column published regularly in two local newspapers. She is the author of Quest for the Dress, and her third book, Saddle Up-And Live Your Dream! is scheduled for release in 2012. Nancy lives in rural Connecticut with her family and her horses.
After closing her custom bridal business, Nancy began a new career as a writer. Her first book, Quest for the Dress: Finding Your Dream Gown Without Losing Your Sanity, Friends or Groom (April 2011), is an invaluable guide for every bride searching for her perfect gown.
Although she loves all of her horses, her Morgan, Trinity, holds a special place in her heart. Fascinated with this unique and amazing breed, Nancy has written her first novel, Midnight Magic - Be Careful What You Wish For!. This spooky thriller is appropriate for readers as young as 9, but the story is so intriguing, they might have to wrestle it away from their older siblings and parents.
Nancy also writes a children's column for a few local papers based on the exploits of her herd. Each episode of "Tales from the NEIGH-borhood" features interesting information about horses, a story, and a bit of advice from the horse that young readers can apply to their own lives.
Saddle Up! - And Live Your Dream is a comprehensive how-to for the budding equestrian which will soon be released. She is currently working on the book version of Tales from the NEIGH-borhood.
You can visit her website to sample a few of her tales and read her blogs.
Read it now for 3.99
You might also like:
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
Phantom Universe Blog Tour
Mom's Monday- Nancy Drew Books LinkWithin
April 20, 2012
I wish, I wish, I wish you were real and belonged to me. Please, please make my wish come true...
Mattie is horse crazy. Living in the small town of Gull's Nest, she passes her summer days dreaming of owning her own horse and envying the rich girls that flocked to the town with their own horses to spend their summers riding and relaxing. But when Mattie takes a trip to see her Granny T and discovers a painting of Figure, a black horse with intense eyes, things start to change. She learns several lessons, including 'Be careful what you wish for.'
Mattie's changes through the book are fairly typical of the fourteen-year-old girl that she is. Materialistic and judgmental, Mattie learns to work for what she wants and to not judge a book, or horse, by its cover. Even while she pines for Figure to leap off the canvas and be hers, she ignores that Posey is a wonderful, show-experienced horse that she has right in front of her.
The book itself was sectioned off into chapters, sometimes very short, that would be good for a younger reader but somewhat disjointing for an older reader. The chapters are also titled, though in a font that is hard to read, which gives a glimpse of what's to come.
Slightly reminiscent of "The Saddle Club," Midnight Magic is a tale of growing up, learning to appreciate what you have in front of you and working for what you want. Full of spooky moments and mystery, Midnight Magic sure to capture a young horse lover's attention and gallop away with it.
Mattie is horse crazy. Living in the small town of Gull's Nest, she passes her summer days dreaming of owning her own horse and envying the rich girls that flocked to the town with their own horses to spend their summers riding and relaxing. But when Mattie takes a trip to see her Granny T and discovers a painting of Figure, a black horse with intense eyes, things start to change. She learns several lessons, including 'Be careful what you wish for.'
Mattie's changes through the book are fairly typical of the fourteen-year-old girl that she is. Materialistic and judgmental, Mattie learns to work for what she wants and to not judge a book, or horse, by its cover. Even while she pines for Figure to leap off the canvas and be hers, she ignores that Posey is a wonderful, show-experienced horse that she has right in front of her.
The book itself was sectioned off into chapters, sometimes very short, that would be good for a younger reader but somewhat disjointing for an older reader. The chapters are also titled, though in a font that is hard to read, which gives a glimpse of what's to come.
Slightly reminiscent of "The Saddle Club," Midnight Magic is a tale of growing up, learning to appreciate what you have in front of you and working for what you want. Full of spooky moments and mystery, Midnight Magic sure to capture a young horse lover's attention and gallop away with it.
December 16, 2011
Reading this book was a refreshing change of pace for me, as well as bringing back memories of my teenage years. The author's love for horses are painted clearly in this book and I definitely could connect with Mattie. Her low self esteem is felt through out until she is able to find herself while working at Briarwood Stables.
I remember clear as day, the pain of low self esteem as a teenager as well the loneliness of being any only child. So I could definitely understand her obsession with horses, it was something to fill that void. What I loved is that you could see Mattie's progression from low self worth to a very confident young lady. Though with the painting, she becomes a bit withdrawn and almost addicted to having this certain horse.
I also loved the fact, there are lessons to be learned in this book, one being never judge a book by its cover. Mattie so obsessed with this one horse, that she didn't see the gem of a horse she had in front of her.
This book was so well descriptive that I could almost feel the painting as being so life like as well and the fact I kept wanting to shout out, stay away from it..
Overall, I can't say enough praise for this book. I strongly urge you to give this book a try. It's a fast read and believe me it will leave you with a smile on your face.
I remember clear as day, the pain of low self esteem as a teenager as well the loneliness of being any only child. So I could definitely understand her obsession with horses, it was something to fill that void. What I loved is that you could see Mattie's progression from low self worth to a very confident young lady. Though with the painting, she becomes a bit withdrawn and almost addicted to having this certain horse.
I also loved the fact, there are lessons to be learned in this book, one being never judge a book by its cover. Mattie so obsessed with this one horse, that she didn't see the gem of a horse she had in front of her.
This book was so well descriptive that I could almost feel the painting as being so life like as well and the fact I kept wanting to shout out, stay away from it..
Overall, I can't say enough praise for this book. I strongly urge you to give this book a try. It's a fast read and believe me it will leave you with a smile on your face.
October 25, 2011
I had been wanting to read an old fashioned horse story and then I was lucky enough to win this as a First Read...this is a horse story with a twist...Figure, the first ever Morgan horse is painted in to a portrait that captures his essence until he can steal a girl's soul and secure his own immortality. Spooky, great concept...the type of book that will really stay with you... truthfully, I was rooting for the horse! He didn't ask to be trapped inside the painting....this would have been one of my top faves as a twelve year old. If you have a young daughter and want to get her hooked on reading, this would be an excellent start.
July 21, 2013
I won this book on a Goodreads Firstreads Giveaway. This was an enjoyable book to read. It was written well - storyline was nice, writing style was good, dialogue was believable. My one complaint (which happens with most ARCs) is that it needs editing/proofreading before it gets mass published. Quite a few typos. Other than that, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy or young adult.
June 1, 2012
Very good story!!!
April 10, 2013
Really good book any one who enjoys a good late night spook should read this!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews