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The Calhoun Chronicles #2
The Horsemaster's Daughter
A horse breeder on the brink of financial ruin, widower Hunter Calhoun journeys into the hills of West Virginia to find a mysterious horse gentler who can save his prized stallion, a vicious and unridable beast, and finds an enchanting young woman who brings her healing spirit to Hunter and his shattered family. Original.
408 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
172 people are currently reading
1414 people want to read
About the author
Susan Wiggs
169 books7,422 followersSusan Wiggs's life is all about family, friends...and fiction. She lives at the water's edge on an island in Puget Sound, and she commutes to her writers' group in a 17-foot motorboat. She serves as author liaison for Field's End, a literary community on Bainbridge Island, Washington, bringing inspiration and instruction from the world's top authors to her seaside community. (See www.fieldsend.org) She's been featured in the national media, including NPR's "Talk of the Nation," and is a popular speaker locally and nationally.
According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterizes her books as "real and true and unforgettable." She is the recipient of three RITA (sm) awards and four starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for her books. The Winter Lodge and Passing Through Paradise have appeared on PW’s annual "Best Of" lists. Several of her books have been listed as top Booksense picks and optioned as feature films. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have made national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists.
The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book. Readers can learn more on the web at www.susanwiggs.com and on her lively blog at www.susanwiggs.wordpress.com.
According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterizes her books as "real and true and unforgettable." She is the recipient of three RITA (sm) awards and four starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for her books. The Winter Lodge and Passing Through Paradise have appeared on PW’s annual "Best Of" lists. Several of her books have been listed as top Booksense picks and optioned as feature films. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have made national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists.
The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book. Readers can learn more on the web at www.susanwiggs.com and on her lively blog at www.susanwiggs.wordpress.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
May 21, 2016
3.5 stars
July 3, 2022
I loved the book. Easy to follow. I fell in love with Eliza for the way she treated and trained horses and the way she took care of children. To me she was the perfect woman. No pretense, open and honest and loving.
July 13, 2018
I was slightly disappointed ...
December 6, 2008
For some reason, this book really pulled at me. I was almost at the end before I had to leave for work but didn't get to finish it and due to the point where I stopped, I was depressed all day. I couldn't stop thinking about the book, and I actually hurt for the characters. It was weird how much it affected me, really. Not sure why. Anyway, it was really good.
January 9, 2009
Picked this up at half-price books while turning in others. I thought it had the makings for a good story: horses and romance. Sounded great. That was before the 2 person rule went into effect. The writer clearly violates the rule, and the story is just not that good, and neither is the writing. Or else I'm simply getting bored with just these 2 people (alone on an island yet), so we don't even have a variety of locations. Another problem with 2 character stories, writers don't engage in dialog as much as in thinking, so now your stuck in one person's head. For hundreds of pages. I'm bored.
Thankfully the last 3rd of the book moves onto the mainland and has a lot more people in it. The story picked up and the rest of the book was enjoyable.
Thankfully the last 3rd of the book moves onto the mainland and has a lot more people in it. The story picked up and the rest of the book was enjoyable.
August 7, 2018
Meh. If I could describe this book, it would be just one word: boring, boring and again boring. I was really dissapointed and I skipped some pages.
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August 23, 2019I loved Susan Wiggs' historicals back in the day, so I picked this up at the UBS despite its antebellum Virginia setting. I should have stuck with my first instinct.
The hero is supposedly a good guy who freed all the people enslaved by his family(not one of those Southerners?) However, some of the descriptions of black characters still don't hit the right note. The description of a mixed-race child of the hero's cousin and an enslaved laundress as a reminder of "the sweetness of first love" (p. 23) is downright cringeworthy. The hero's internal monologue upon meeting the heroine is pretty off-putting as well. I was out by page 75.
The hero is supposedly a good guy who freed all the people enslaved by his family(not one of those Southerners?) However, some of the descriptions of black characters still don't hit the right note. The description of a mixed-race child of the hero's cousin and an enslaved laundress as a reminder of "the sweetness of first love" (p. 23) is downright cringeworthy. The hero's internal monologue upon meeting the heroine is pretty off-putting as well. I was out by page 75.
June 25, 2018
I'm sorry to say I didn't like this book. I was so bored while reading it and both of the main characters annoyed me to no end. I couldn't connect with either of them. And on top of that, there was absolutely no love or attarction between them that I could see. Their love declarations came out of absolutely nowhere, I still don't understand why they supposedly love eachother. The book was a disappointement and if you're looking for a good historical romance to read I'd skip this one if I was you.
June 10, 2023
A beautiful book . This one grabbed my attention as well as my heart.
Eliza inherited her Fathers gift of gentling horses.
Hunter, needs help and his privileged life isn’t going to help.
He needs someone to tame his horse and when he lays eyes on Eliza, he Is swept away.
A great and dear friend sent me this book and I’m so glad she did. Truly a remarkable novel.
Eliza inherited her Fathers gift of gentling horses.
Hunter, needs help and his privileged life isn’t going to help.
He needs someone to tame his horse and when he lays eyes on Eliza, he Is swept away.
A great and dear friend sent me this book and I’m so glad she did. Truly a remarkable novel.
February 24, 2009
I appreciate that Susan Wiggs paints such a complete picture in her stories, that it's not necessary to have read The Charm School in order to follow along with the events of The Horsemaster's Daughter. Unfortunately, the flip side of that thoroughness is the extra 20 pages in The Horsemaster's Daughter feels more like an extra 200. The sense of timing seems a bit off as well- the author would describe the transpiring events in a way that made me think they took place over days or weeks, only to realize a page later it was all supposed to have taken place on the same day (and vice versa).
Susan Wiggs writes strong, independent heroines, who are most importantly believable, even as they refuse to conform to the class structures of their era. Her heroes, sadly, do not get quite the same amount of attention. The Charm School is the stronger title, with both hero and heroine growing and maturing in reaction to each other. Hunter, the hero in The Horsemaster's Daughter, is presented with huge obstacles to overcome, and after meeting him in passing in TCS, I found him intriguing, and wanted to root for him and his inevitable HEA. However, he takes huge steps backwards literally and figuratively every time he supposedly adapts and grows beyond the mental constraints he has place upon himself, and it gets tiresome after awhile. His final act of self-awareness and sobriety happens far too quickly to be believable, but since Eliza already loved him, flaws and whiskey and children and all, the HEA is thankfully preserved.
Susan Wiggs writes strong, independent heroines, who are most importantly believable, even as they refuse to conform to the class structures of their era. Her heroes, sadly, do not get quite the same amount of attention. The Charm School is the stronger title, with both hero and heroine growing and maturing in reaction to each other. Hunter, the hero in The Horsemaster's Daughter, is presented with huge obstacles to overcome, and after meeting him in passing in TCS, I found him intriguing, and wanted to root for him and his inevitable HEA. However, he takes huge steps backwards literally and figuratively every time he supposedly adapts and grows beyond the mental constraints he has place upon himself, and it gets tiresome after awhile. His final act of self-awareness and sobriety happens far too quickly to be believable, but since Eliza already loved him, flaws and whiskey and children and all, the HEA is thankfully preserved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2011
I've enjoyed books by Susan Wiggs before (some have even made it onto my keeper shelf), but this one was one that I didn't even finish.
I liked Eliza, the heroine, immensely. Her ability to heal horses and connect with nature was a delight to read. Though she'd lived an extremely sheltered life, she never came across as stupid or immature. She was unique in a very intriguing way. It was easy to see why the hero would fall in love with her.
This wasn't the case with Hunter, the hero. He was quick to leap to conclusions, quick to get put out. At times, he came across as downright petulant. I also found him to be extremely self-centered. He lost his first wife by pretty much not giving a darn about her, and he didn't give a darn about his kids who were left motherless. And they might as well have been fatherless for all the time he spent with them. And he drank. A lot. All the time. I'd even go so far as to say he was an alcoholic, though not a violent one. Maybe this was dealt with later in the book, but I never got that far.
I couldn't really see why Eliza should fall in love with Hunter. I kind of felt that she was only attracted to him because he was the first man to spend lots of time with her since her father's death. As she'd lived pretty much isolated for her whole life, I felt like she only fell for Hunter because he happened to be around, not because of anything real.
Still, the romance was developing at a nice pace when the author suddenly had them start having sex. I felt cheated by this, as it was way too early in the book. They hardly knew each other, which made me feel kind of dirty. I couldn't muster up any desire to finish the book after that. I didn't like Hunter, and not liking the hero (or the heroine) is the kiss of death for a romance novel.
I liked Eliza, the heroine, immensely. Her ability to heal horses and connect with nature was a delight to read. Though she'd lived an extremely sheltered life, she never came across as stupid or immature. She was unique in a very intriguing way. It was easy to see why the hero would fall in love with her.
This wasn't the case with Hunter, the hero. He was quick to leap to conclusions, quick to get put out. At times, he came across as downright petulant. I also found him to be extremely self-centered. He lost his first wife by pretty much not giving a darn about her, and he didn't give a darn about his kids who were left motherless. And they might as well have been fatherless for all the time he spent with them. And he drank. A lot. All the time. I'd even go so far as to say he was an alcoholic, though not a violent one. Maybe this was dealt with later in the book, but I never got that far.
I couldn't really see why Eliza should fall in love with Hunter. I kind of felt that she was only attracted to him because he was the first man to spend lots of time with her since her father's death. As she'd lived pretty much isolated for her whole life, I felt like she only fell for Hunter because he happened to be around, not because of anything real.
Still, the romance was developing at a nice pace when the author suddenly had them start having sex. I felt cheated by this, as it was way too early in the book. They hardly knew each other, which made me feel kind of dirty. I couldn't muster up any desire to finish the book after that. I didn't like Hunter, and not liking the hero (or the heroine) is the kiss of death for a romance novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2014
This book was okay. That's about it. Overall it was predictable, with aggravating characters, and absolutely no climax. The book floated along until it was over and the conflict between the main characters was resolved like it was nothing and then completely forgotten about. The female lead in the book was interesting and I feel like the story could have been good, but the lack of conflict in the end and the caveman of a male lead were too much. The I liked the first one in the series when i read it years ago, but this one really let me down.
August 20, 2016
3 stars
I picked this up mainly for the horse elements, which were well written. I could not stand Hunter - what a selfish, immature ass. He has, for all but two chapters, the emotional depth of a pebble. He did not hesitate to scorn Eliza's upbringing, often calling her ignorant, and certainly not suitable material for a wife, because, you know, he's WAY TOO good for her. I did like Eliza - she refused to let the poor treatment of Hunter's society friends get to her, and instead gave back with equal, scathing measure.
I picked this up mainly for the horse elements, which were well written. I could not stand Hunter - what a selfish, immature ass. He has, for all but two chapters, the emotional depth of a pebble. He did not hesitate to scorn Eliza's upbringing, often calling her ignorant, and certainly not suitable material for a wife, because, you know, he's WAY TOO good for her. I did like Eliza - she refused to let the poor treatment of Hunter's society friends get to her, and instead gave back with equal, scathing measure.
July 21, 2019
The juxtaposition of Eliza winning the horse's affection and trust against she and Hunter winning each other's affection and trust was a sweet first half of the book. But the better part was her winning the children's trust, and watching Hunter struggle with what Eliza actually means to him in the second half. I loved all the horse talk and information; it's clear to see Wiggs does exquisite work into her subjects. I was oddly disappointed, though not surprised, with some of the mysteries of the book: Eliza's parentage, the letters, etc and I didn't feel Blue's silence was adequately explained.
May 29, 2018
So I have this huge pile of books that I am trying to get through and I just pick the one on top and read. I could have skipped this one entirely. The story was okay, the characters interesting. BUT there was no reason for some of the excess descriptions, lets get to the point. MOST DISAPPOINTING was the ending, so Eliza goes to California. It seems like it would take a long time, right? and she is pregnant. Very little time is spent on her life in California when Hunter and the kids appear on the coast on his 1/2 brothers boat.
How? The Panama canal was not built yet, they would all have had to go all the way around the cape. REEEEAAALLLLLYYYY - SO very disappointed. Details matter.
How? The Panama canal was not built yet, they would all have had to go all the way around the cape. REEEEAAALLLLLYYYY - SO very disappointed. Details matter.
June 23, 2022
Sometimes I just need a cheesy romance to offset all the WWII novels.
October 23, 2022
I'm a sucker for this stuff...
September 16, 2022
While this is not my typical read, I enjoyed Hunter and Eliza’s story, and I look forward to reading more from Susan Wiggs!
I love how Eliza had a sense of a magical touch and helped each member of the story. It was really sweet to watch her form a bond with Hunter’s children, Blue and Belinda, and watch Hunter change after getting to know her.
Overall, if you’re into historical romance, I recommend this!
I love how Eliza had a sense of a magical touch and helped each member of the story. It was really sweet to watch her form a bond with Hunter’s children, Blue and Belinda, and watch Hunter change after getting to know her.
Overall, if you’re into historical romance, I recommend this!
Read
November 21, 2019Hunter Calhoun took his horse to Flyte Island to get help with a horse he bought and had transported from Ireland. The horse had smashed the hand of his trainer and killed a mare he was trying to mate with Finnegan. Noah, the jockey son of his cousin, suggested the journey.
Hunter Calhoun had married and fallen in love with his wife. After his father died, Hunter learned that his father was deeply in debt but still freed the slaves of his home, Albion. His wife left him after he gave up his lifestyle to pursue raising horses on their family plantation home. She went back home with their two children, Blue and Belinda. His wife had died two years previous and the kids now lived with him. His wife's parents were threatening to take the children from him.
Hunter arrived on the island to find that the housemaster had died and his daughter, Eliza Flyte, lived there alone. She convinced him not to kill the horse and to let her train him. Her ideas worked and they began working together to tame the horse. Eliza fell in love with Hunter. Hunter told her that he had taken advantage of her and would do nothing but hurt her. Being raised alone, loving him felt like a natural progression of their relationship to her.
Hunter drank nearly every night and Eliza wanted him to stop but knew that something was causing him pain. He didn't quit. He told Eliza that they were making love and he tried to keep away from her but he couldn't. They were alone on the island, except for her animals and the horse.
One day a visitor came to the island. It was a runaway slave. Hunter caused Eliza to see that her father had been murdered by slave catchers and tried to convince her to leave the island. Hunter was preparing to leave and had packed her belongings the day before her home was attacked. Eliza hadn't known all her father was involved in and didn't want to acknowledge that her father had been murdered for helping slaves escape to the North. She wanted to believe that he was killed for his work with the horses he trained. She felt safe that way because she felt that if no one knew she trained horses the same way, she was safe. Hunter made her see the truth and that was made fact when her home was set on fire and she was forced to leave. The slave hunters had brought their dogs to the island to capture and kill her for helping the slaves and she had only helped one.
She was a bit worried about helping that first one but knew in her heart it was the right thing to do. She was surprised when she found out that Noah had followed her to make sure the slave got away and made it to the ship that was to take him away. The ship belonged to Hunter's brother. She knew then that she didn't have to worry about him turning her in for helping the slave. This gave Eliza another reason to love Hunter.
Hunter prepared to leave the island after some slave hunters arrived on the island. He packed up Eliza's belongings and put them on his boat. He tried to get Eliza to leave with him but she went back to the empty house. She was woken up later when her house was set afire. She ran out to keep from getting caught and it was Hunter who caught her and took her aboard the ship and she was forced to go home with him to Albion.
She was introduced to Hunter's children. Theodore (Blue) hadn't spoken a word since his mother's death. She had chosen to leave Hunger after he freed his slaves and gave up his life as a planter to raise horses. She took the children and moved back home. She never could accept that her life as a planter was forever gone. She spent most of her time in her room writing. She used ink and wax a lot. She was melting the wax when she dropped the fire that melted it. It caught her dress on fire and she couldn't get it off. She burned herself to death and Blue was there to see it. Before she died, she told Blue to hide her lap desk which she used to do her writing. Blue hid it under his bed. He never told anyone that he had it. He kept the secret hidden and never spoke to tell anyone about it.
Eliza was introduced to his family and friends as the children's companion. She continued to work with Finn and now Noah. She met Noah's father. She was told that Noah's father had loved his mother and that she was a slave who died in childbirth. Noah was raised as family but not by his father. He was small and became a jockey for Hunter.
Eliza saw Hunter continue to drink and hide from his feelings of having loved and lost his wife. He didn't want to remember but Eliza encouraged him to talk about her with his children. It was difficult and impossible at times. Eliza had the kids make a toy boat and they put some of her things on it and sent it out to sea as a farewell to their mother. Hunger didn't want to participate but he ended up including his wedding band.
Eliza unpacked some of her things and she had a box that contained some things she and her father had collected from ships that had sunk near their island. She showed the children her secret treasure. Blue decided at that point to show Eliza his secret and brought out the lap desk that had belonged to his mother. Eliza took the box and put it into the room that had once belonged to their mother. She felt it would remain undisturbed there. Blue started talking after the burden of keeping the secret was relieved.
Hunter and Noah then prepared for their annual yearling auction. There was a race on the property and Finn won with Noah as his jockey. Hunter was pursuing the idea of finding a wife and mother for his children. He told Eliza to guard her heart and that he couldn't marry her. She tried but was not doing a good job of hiding the fact that she had fallen in love with him.
The auction was a success and Hunter realized that he had fallen in love with Eliza. He asked her to marry him and she agreed at first. There were others that lingered on the property that she heard gossiping about her and her upbringing. There was a man there that came from England and knew her father. He told Eliza that her mother had been a slave and was not accepted in England. Eliza knew that she would never been accepted by Hunter's peers either. She went to him and told him that she couldn't marry him. She had been invited to go to California by one of the horsemen who attended the auction. She told the kids good-bye telling them she would remember them forever.
Hunter didn't touch a drop of alcohol from the time Eliza left. He read to the kids every night. All his dreams were coming true and his ranch was a success. Noah was around and Charles, his father, came by often. Their relationship was strengthened by the success of the ranch.
Hunter found the lap desk before Eliza left and found out that his wife, Lacey, had been writing to Charles. They found a way around around his deception and they became closer than ever. Problem was, it didn't seem to mean anything to Hunter anymore. He missed Eliza.
Eliza was working on the ranch in California and discovered she was pregnant. She thought about Hunter every morning when she woke up and before she went to bed. She kept herself so busy during the day so she wouldn't think about him all the time. She was surprised one day when Hunter showed up after traveling on his brother's ship. He had brought the kids with him.
Hunter got a surprise when he found out that Eliza was pregnant. He asked her to marry him again and told her that he and the children were going to move to California and start a life there where she would be accepted. The kids were thrilled to have Eliza back in their lives.
Hunter Calhoun had married and fallen in love with his wife. After his father died, Hunter learned that his father was deeply in debt but still freed the slaves of his home, Albion. His wife left him after he gave up his lifestyle to pursue raising horses on their family plantation home. She went back home with their two children, Blue and Belinda. His wife had died two years previous and the kids now lived with him. His wife's parents were threatening to take the children from him.
Hunter arrived on the island to find that the housemaster had died and his daughter, Eliza Flyte, lived there alone. She convinced him not to kill the horse and to let her train him. Her ideas worked and they began working together to tame the horse. Eliza fell in love with Hunter. Hunter told her that he had taken advantage of her and would do nothing but hurt her. Being raised alone, loving him felt like a natural progression of their relationship to her.
Hunter drank nearly every night and Eliza wanted him to stop but knew that something was causing him pain. He didn't quit. He told Eliza that they were making love and he tried to keep away from her but he couldn't. They were alone on the island, except for her animals and the horse.
One day a visitor came to the island. It was a runaway slave. Hunter caused Eliza to see that her father had been murdered by slave catchers and tried to convince her to leave the island. Hunter was preparing to leave and had packed her belongings the day before her home was attacked. Eliza hadn't known all her father was involved in and didn't want to acknowledge that her father had been murdered for helping slaves escape to the North. She wanted to believe that he was killed for his work with the horses he trained. She felt safe that way because she felt that if no one knew she trained horses the same way, she was safe. Hunter made her see the truth and that was made fact when her home was set on fire and she was forced to leave. The slave hunters had brought their dogs to the island to capture and kill her for helping the slaves and she had only helped one.
She was a bit worried about helping that first one but knew in her heart it was the right thing to do. She was surprised when she found out that Noah had followed her to make sure the slave got away and made it to the ship that was to take him away. The ship belonged to Hunter's brother. She knew then that she didn't have to worry about him turning her in for helping the slave. This gave Eliza another reason to love Hunter.
Hunter prepared to leave the island after some slave hunters arrived on the island. He packed up Eliza's belongings and put them on his boat. He tried to get Eliza to leave with him but she went back to the empty house. She was woken up later when her house was set afire. She ran out to keep from getting caught and it was Hunter who caught her and took her aboard the ship and she was forced to go home with him to Albion.
She was introduced to Hunter's children. Theodore (Blue) hadn't spoken a word since his mother's death. She had chosen to leave Hunger after he freed his slaves and gave up his life as a planter to raise horses. She took the children and moved back home. She never could accept that her life as a planter was forever gone. She spent most of her time in her room writing. She used ink and wax a lot. She was melting the wax when she dropped the fire that melted it. It caught her dress on fire and she couldn't get it off. She burned herself to death and Blue was there to see it. Before she died, she told Blue to hide her lap desk which she used to do her writing. Blue hid it under his bed. He never told anyone that he had it. He kept the secret hidden and never spoke to tell anyone about it.
Eliza was introduced to his family and friends as the children's companion. She continued to work with Finn and now Noah. She met Noah's father. She was told that Noah's father had loved his mother and that she was a slave who died in childbirth. Noah was raised as family but not by his father. He was small and became a jockey for Hunter.
Eliza saw Hunter continue to drink and hide from his feelings of having loved and lost his wife. He didn't want to remember but Eliza encouraged him to talk about her with his children. It was difficult and impossible at times. Eliza had the kids make a toy boat and they put some of her things on it and sent it out to sea as a farewell to their mother. Hunger didn't want to participate but he ended up including his wedding band.
Eliza unpacked some of her things and she had a box that contained some things she and her father had collected from ships that had sunk near their island. She showed the children her secret treasure. Blue decided at that point to show Eliza his secret and brought out the lap desk that had belonged to his mother. Eliza took the box and put it into the room that had once belonged to their mother. She felt it would remain undisturbed there. Blue started talking after the burden of keeping the secret was relieved.
Hunter and Noah then prepared for their annual yearling auction. There was a race on the property and Finn won with Noah as his jockey. Hunter was pursuing the idea of finding a wife and mother for his children. He told Eliza to guard her heart and that he couldn't marry her. She tried but was not doing a good job of hiding the fact that she had fallen in love with him.
The auction was a success and Hunter realized that he had fallen in love with Eliza. He asked her to marry him and she agreed at first. There were others that lingered on the property that she heard gossiping about her and her upbringing. There was a man there that came from England and knew her father. He told Eliza that her mother had been a slave and was not accepted in England. Eliza knew that she would never been accepted by Hunter's peers either. She went to him and told him that she couldn't marry him. She had been invited to go to California by one of the horsemen who attended the auction. She told the kids good-bye telling them she would remember them forever.
Hunter didn't touch a drop of alcohol from the time Eliza left. He read to the kids every night. All his dreams were coming true and his ranch was a success. Noah was around and Charles, his father, came by often. Their relationship was strengthened by the success of the ranch.
Hunter found the lap desk before Eliza left and found out that his wife, Lacey, had been writing to Charles. They found a way around around his deception and they became closer than ever. Problem was, it didn't seem to mean anything to Hunter anymore. He missed Eliza.
Eliza was working on the ranch in California and discovered she was pregnant. She thought about Hunter every morning when she woke up and before she went to bed. She kept herself so busy during the day so she wouldn't think about him all the time. She was surprised one day when Hunter showed up after traveling on his brother's ship. He had brought the kids with him.
Hunter got a surprise when he found out that Eliza was pregnant. He asked her to marry him again and told her that he and the children were going to move to California and start a life there where she would be accepted. The kids were thrilled to have Eliza back in their lives.
November 9, 2015
This book had such potential, but then the author filled it up with stereotypical tripe about Virginia and the South.
I started to dislike the heroine (Eliza) pretty much from the beginning. She says something to Hunter (the hero) like, "You're from Virginia. You actually expect me to believe you're against slavery?" As if EVERY Virginian owned a slave. That really irritated me because the fact of the matter is that most Southerners did NOT own slaves. The heroine also goes on several prissy rants about how she's a vegetarian, which also grated my nerves.
The book was so melodramatic and seemed to drag on forever (nearly 400 pages). Once Hunter & Eliza get back to his farm, we are introduced to other Virginians, most of whom (the women, especially) speak with that Fiddle-dee-dee type nonsense. As a native Virginian, I can honestly say that I have NEVER encountered anybody who spoke like that. There is one "Yankee" in the book, and the author never lets us forget it because she's actually called "the Yankee". People say, "Where's that Yankee wife of yours?" or "Here comes Isabelle, the Yankee."
Eliza comments that the Yankee is the only intelligent person she's met since coming to the mainland of Virginia. Does the author think Virginians are just a bunch of inbred dimwits? That was pretty much the icing on the cake for me. I can't deal with ignorant nonsense like this. On the back cover of the book, it says the author lives in Washington State. I'm willing to bet she's never set foot in Virginia, otherwise she wouldn't have portrayed us like that.
Even without the stereotyping, the book would still he horrendous because of the characters' unlikability. The last 1/4 of the book is just Eliza saying, "I can't stay. I have to go" and Hunter saying, "You have to stay. We'll make it work."
I started to dislike the heroine (Eliza) pretty much from the beginning. She says something to Hunter (the hero) like, "You're from Virginia. You actually expect me to believe you're against slavery?" As if EVERY Virginian owned a slave. That really irritated me because the fact of the matter is that most Southerners did NOT own slaves. The heroine also goes on several prissy rants about how she's a vegetarian, which also grated my nerves.
The book was so melodramatic and seemed to drag on forever (nearly 400 pages). Once Hunter & Eliza get back to his farm, we are introduced to other Virginians, most of whom (the women, especially) speak with that Fiddle-dee-dee type nonsense. As a native Virginian, I can honestly say that I have NEVER encountered anybody who spoke like that. There is one "Yankee" in the book, and the author never lets us forget it because she's actually called "the Yankee". People say, "Where's that Yankee wife of yours?" or "Here comes Isabelle, the Yankee."
Eliza comments that the Yankee is the only intelligent person she's met since coming to the mainland of Virginia. Does the author think Virginians are just a bunch of inbred dimwits? That was pretty much the icing on the cake for me. I can't deal with ignorant nonsense like this. On the back cover of the book, it says the author lives in Washington State. I'm willing to bet she's never set foot in Virginia, otherwise she wouldn't have portrayed us like that.
Even without the stereotyping, the book would still he horrendous because of the characters' unlikability. The last 1/4 of the book is just Eliza saying, "I can't stay. I have to go" and Hunter saying, "You have to stay. We'll make it work."
February 1, 2013
My reading choices have always varied in genre. It’s truly important for me to alternate from fiction to mystery/thriller to romance novel because I enjoy diving into a different world with each genre.
Lately the so-called established romance writers seem to disappoint me a little: same here with the Horsemaster’s Daughter by Susan Wiggs. It was cute and heartwarming at times, but mostly predictable. I waited for something to truly captivate me, but it never happened. As for the lead characters, Eliza Flyte and Hunter Calhoun, well, they were unsurprising, although Eliza's down-to-earth nature was refreshing, and she had more maturity and depth to her than Hunter. He was the classic stubborn and handsome Virginian landowner, who needed to come to his senses and of course, this happened thanks to Eliza. However I did enjoy the presence of Bettina and Blue, Hunter's children, and I liked how the four of them interacted and grew towards each other to - finally in the end - form an unconventional but nontheless solid & loving family, away from their roots, in Cielito, California.
Lately the so-called established romance writers seem to disappoint me a little: same here with the Horsemaster’s Daughter by Susan Wiggs. It was cute and heartwarming at times, but mostly predictable. I waited for something to truly captivate me, but it never happened. As for the lead characters, Eliza Flyte and Hunter Calhoun, well, they were unsurprising, although Eliza's down-to-earth nature was refreshing, and she had more maturity and depth to her than Hunter. He was the classic stubborn and handsome Virginian landowner, who needed to come to his senses and of course, this happened thanks to Eliza. However I did enjoy the presence of Bettina and Blue, Hunter's children, and I liked how the four of them interacted and grew towards each other to - finally in the end - form an unconventional but nontheless solid & loving family, away from their roots, in Cielito, California.
October 30, 2021
Historical romance set in Virginia in the 1850’s. 3.5 stars rounded up.
The first part of the story takes place on an island just off the coast. I enjoyed the chapters on the island and getting to know the female main character. She was almost a magical fey woman mixed with a “Mary Poppins” mixed with a horse whisperer.
I wasn’t impressed with the male main character. He was a miserable, drunken, self involved opportunist. His changes came too little too late for me to appreciate the happy ending.
Most of the story is slow to moderately paced with only a few bits of excitement around a lot of sad introspection.
Some violence. Sex. Mild language. Themes of alcoholism and slavery.
The first part of the story takes place on an island just off the coast. I enjoyed the chapters on the island and getting to know the female main character. She was almost a magical fey woman mixed with a “Mary Poppins” mixed with a horse whisperer.
I wasn’t impressed with the male main character. He was a miserable, drunken, self involved opportunist. His changes came too little too late for me to appreciate the happy ending.
Most of the story is slow to moderately paced with only a few bits of excitement around a lot of sad introspection.
Some violence. Sex. Mild language. Themes of alcoholism and slavery.
October 4, 2011
Usually I hate the fact that the lead male has children, this was done wonderfully! My heart was with those children along their journey to recovery.
May 24, 2013
I opened this book and fell in love. I knew I would. Susan Wiggs is a master at her craft! Using complex human nature in her characters to draw out true emotion in her readers. Thank you for, once again, drawing me into your world and gifting my quest for distraction into heartfelt reality. I loved this book!
April 27, 2021
Definitely not as good as the first in this series. I couldn't get over what an emotionally abusive, drunk, asshole the hero was for almost the entire book. The only reason she even fell in love with him was physical attraction + never meeting any other man before.
Rating: Just Okay
Rating: Just Okay
June 4, 2014
I just really wasn't a fan :( This book had so much potential, but I finished it only out of idle curiosity, not genuine interest in the characters.
September 5, 2018
While this is supposed to be a series, I couldn't tell that I missed anything skipping book 1. (I saw reviews that indicated it would be a topic I don't like.)
But the premise of this book is one of my favorites - not just an underdog or outcast, but one with special talents. The one very minor criticism I might make is that Eliza is way too good to be true. Her wisdom in part 2 is especially unrealistic given her background.
How could anyone not fall in love with Eliza? Of course the answer is that bigotry might prevent it as the repeated symbol of her not wearing shoes was just one example. But look past that and here is a generous, loving and very wise woman.
Hunter had some positives, but his drinking really turned me off. (I question the consistency of the portrayal of his drinking. There are strong indicators that he is an alcoholic and such a man could not function as well as he did.) But other than the drinking, in fact despite his drinking, he is an honest man who treats others well. But the loss of his wife has wounded him and he is not quite sure how to love his family.
This book is set near the height of the American slave conflict. The history I have read says over and over again that this was an ugly time over the slave issue. Slave owning in Virginia at this time was practically a religion and violence was common. According to society, people of color were not fit to have anything to do with white people.
The story is a good one. It keeps bringing in little surprises from early on until the end. Not that some obvious things aren't predictable, but there was plenty that I didn't see coming.
Mature themes. There is killing, including lynching and burning out a living person. There is sex, but it is very mildly explicit, although it is not solely metaphorical.
PS added after reading book 1. I commented in book 1 of something I found remarkable about this author, and it is even more notable here.
But the premise of this book is one of my favorites - not just an underdog or outcast, but one with special talents. The one very minor criticism I might make is that Eliza is way too good to be true. Her wisdom in part 2 is especially unrealistic given her background.
How could anyone not fall in love with Eliza? Of course the answer is that bigotry might prevent it as the repeated symbol of her not wearing shoes was just one example. But look past that and here is a generous, loving and very wise woman.
Hunter had some positives, but his drinking really turned me off. (I question the consistency of the portrayal of his drinking. There are strong indicators that he is an alcoholic and such a man could not function as well as he did.) But other than the drinking, in fact despite his drinking, he is an honest man who treats others well. But the loss of his wife has wounded him and he is not quite sure how to love his family.
This book is set near the height of the American slave conflict. The history I have read says over and over again that this was an ugly time over the slave issue. Slave owning in Virginia at this time was practically a religion and violence was common. According to society, people of color were not fit to have anything to do with white people.
The story is a good one. It keeps bringing in little surprises from early on until the end. Not that some obvious things aren't predictable, but there was plenty that I didn't see coming.
Mature themes. There is killing, including lynching and burning out a living person. There is sex, but it is very mildly explicit, although it is not solely metaphorical.
PS added after reading book 1. I commented in book 1 of something I found remarkable about this author, and it is even more notable here.
August 13, 2021
Questo libro (come del resto sembra accadere spesso) fa parte di una saga chiamata Calhoun Chronicles che vede protagonista la famiglia Calhoun. Ogni libro può essere letto senza per forza averli letti tutti.
Quello che collega questo romanzo a quello precedente è che Hunter (protagonista di questo libro) è fratello di Ryan (il protagonista del precedente) ma anche se fa brevi apparizioni nel romanzo non ha grande importanza per lo svolgersi della vicenda.
Il romanzo è ambientato per gran parte in Virginia salvo le ultime pagine in cui l'azione si svolge in California. Medesima situazione per gli anni.
Hunter è proprietario di una piantagione di tabacco piena di debiti, una moglie morta in modo orribile, due figli (uno dei quali non parla da due anni) con cui non ha un grande rapporto, si ubriaca quando non vuole ricordare e come se non bastasse per salvare la sua tenuta ha pensato di diventare un'allevatore di cavalli e per questo motivo ha acquistato un cavallo irlandese che dopo vari tentativi non riesce assolutamente a domare. Quando pensa che ormai sia tutto inutile decide di uccidere il cavallo ma quando scopre che su un isola vive un'uomo capace di fare miracoli cambia idea.
Elisa, invece, è una ragazza cresciuta su un isola con la sola compagnia del padre e degli animali questo fino a quanto il padre non muore apparentemente perché credevano praticasse la negromanzia per addestrare i cavalli. Con la sola compagnia degli animali vive una vita lontana dalla civiltà e le uniche cose che sa le ha apprese attraverso libri. E' così persa nel suo mondo che non ha la più pallida idea di cosa sia vivere in società e le sue regole: una selvaggia anche se dolce e molto ingenua.
Il romanzo è diviso in cinque parti ognuna della quali è introdotta da una frase tratta dal libro La Tempesta di Shakespeare e che riassume un po' quello che sarà il contenuto.
Uno stile elegante e scorrevole anche in quello che concerne le scene più hot. Se pensate ad un romanzo con un tocco di paranormale questo non è proprio il caso anzi in questo caso potremmo dire che Eliza è "la donna che sussurrava ai cavalli".
Potrei definirla una storia dolce, commovente e avventurosa e difficile da riassumere in poche righe perché densa di avvenimenti e situazioni. Un buon intreccio e tutto sommato anche coinvolgente anche se continuo a preferire un altro tipo di romance.
Quello che collega questo romanzo a quello precedente è che Hunter (protagonista di questo libro) è fratello di Ryan (il protagonista del precedente) ma anche se fa brevi apparizioni nel romanzo non ha grande importanza per lo svolgersi della vicenda.
Il romanzo è ambientato per gran parte in Virginia salvo le ultime pagine in cui l'azione si svolge in California. Medesima situazione per gli anni.
Hunter è proprietario di una piantagione di tabacco piena di debiti, una moglie morta in modo orribile, due figli (uno dei quali non parla da due anni) con cui non ha un grande rapporto, si ubriaca quando non vuole ricordare e come se non bastasse per salvare la sua tenuta ha pensato di diventare un'allevatore di cavalli e per questo motivo ha acquistato un cavallo irlandese che dopo vari tentativi non riesce assolutamente a domare. Quando pensa che ormai sia tutto inutile decide di uccidere il cavallo ma quando scopre che su un isola vive un'uomo capace di fare miracoli cambia idea.
Elisa, invece, è una ragazza cresciuta su un isola con la sola compagnia del padre e degli animali questo fino a quanto il padre non muore apparentemente perché credevano praticasse la negromanzia per addestrare i cavalli. Con la sola compagnia degli animali vive una vita lontana dalla civiltà e le uniche cose che sa le ha apprese attraverso libri. E' così persa nel suo mondo che non ha la più pallida idea di cosa sia vivere in società e le sue regole: una selvaggia anche se dolce e molto ingenua.
Il romanzo è diviso in cinque parti ognuna della quali è introdotta da una frase tratta dal libro La Tempesta di Shakespeare e che riassume un po' quello che sarà il contenuto.
Uno stile elegante e scorrevole anche in quello che concerne le scene più hot. Se pensate ad un romanzo con un tocco di paranormale questo non è proprio il caso anzi in questo caso potremmo dire che Eliza è "la donna che sussurrava ai cavalli".
Potrei definirla una storia dolce, commovente e avventurosa e difficile da riassumere in poche righe perché densa di avvenimenti e situazioni. Un buon intreccio e tutto sommato anche coinvolgente anche se continuo a preferire un altro tipo di romance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2018
The Horsemaster's Daughter Wiggs_ Susan
Book starts out with Hunter and he raised horses. The latest is very brutal and he knows he needs some help to tame this one.
With help from a boy they get the contained horse on a small barge and take him to where they hope the horsemaster lives. He'd be the one to tame him.
He arrives and only finds a woman-his daughter. Her father is gone.
Like learning about the wild horses and how they show up to be close to her.
He watches as the next day Hunter sees the horse catching her but she wants a chance with the horse.
She had been taught by the expert, her father and she knew she had to take her time with the horse.
Love the relationship they discover on the roof.
They see into each other's soul and she sees he needs a new wife and he sees she is simple but connected to the horses-has no idea about the outside world.
Love how Alysha trains the stallion-Finn. Hunter tends to the other animals and knows his kids are in good hands with his inlaws.
Slaves wonder to the island and she knows what she needs to do-follow in her father's footsteps so they can continue their journey.
He meets a man he thought he'd never see again, she is amazed at everything she's learning about her father's life.
She finds love and wants to explore him.
Love mysteries, treasures, different locations and all the adventure of making it all work.
Alysha realizes how damaged his family is once she lives among them. She is so perspective. She finds out why his son won't talk and she is able to bring his grief forward, releasing him from his pain. After the job of training Finn her work at the estate is done.
Sexual scenes. She is able to learn more about her father and mother. Hunter also learns of his wifes last days and her private secret past.
He keeps his promise and sets her free to go to CA, her father's real dream.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Book starts out with Hunter and he raised horses. The latest is very brutal and he knows he needs some help to tame this one.
With help from a boy they get the contained horse on a small barge and take him to where they hope the horsemaster lives. He'd be the one to tame him.
He arrives and only finds a woman-his daughter. Her father is gone.
Like learning about the wild horses and how they show up to be close to her.
He watches as the next day Hunter sees the horse catching her but she wants a chance with the horse.
She had been taught by the expert, her father and she knew she had to take her time with the horse.
Love the relationship they discover on the roof.
They see into each other's soul and she sees he needs a new wife and he sees she is simple but connected to the horses-has no idea about the outside world.
Love how Alysha trains the stallion-Finn. Hunter tends to the other animals and knows his kids are in good hands with his inlaws.
Slaves wonder to the island and she knows what she needs to do-follow in her father's footsteps so they can continue their journey.
He meets a man he thought he'd never see again, she is amazed at everything she's learning about her father's life.
She finds love and wants to explore him.
Love mysteries, treasures, different locations and all the adventure of making it all work.
Alysha realizes how damaged his family is once she lives among them. She is so perspective. She finds out why his son won't talk and she is able to bring his grief forward, releasing him from his pain. After the job of training Finn her work at the estate is done.
Sexual scenes. She is able to learn more about her father and mother. Hunter also learns of his wifes last days and her private secret past.
He keeps his promise and sets her free to go to CA, her father's real dream.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
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