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Redemption #1
Horses and Heroin
Jockey School Is Not What It Seems.
A talented rider disappears without a trace.
His frantic sister poses as a student.
A private investigator’s plans for quiet recuperation are shattered.
Megan is determined to find her missing brother even though no one else at the illustrious California Jockey School seems to care. Her only ally is a recuperating PI who unfortunately is the owner’s best friend. Soon she is caught between a blossoming romance and a far-reaching conspiracy…where misplaced trust can be deadly.
A talented rider disappears without a trace.
His frantic sister poses as a student.
A private investigator’s plans for quiet recuperation are shattered.
Megan is determined to find her missing brother even though no one else at the illustrious California Jockey School seems to care. Her only ally is a recuperating PI who unfortunately is the owner’s best friend. Soon she is caught between a blossoming romance and a far-reaching conspiracy…where misplaced trust can be deadly.
305 pages, Paperback
First published November 15, 2012
247 people are currently reading
1163 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 73 reviews
February 2, 2013
This book was extremely refreshing to read. The author wrote about training to enter the equine racing industry. She also did so with knowledge. She didn’t take the route that so many authors take, skimming over the entire workings of the industry. Pettersen took the time to fill in the details with true facts. Pettersen also writes about a PI investigation in a realistic manner. People don’t run around in this book with guns blazing all the time. They investigate and act appropriately rather than having everything turn into a paramilitary operation. It is more realistic and doesn’t make the entire story seem like an action flick.
Pettersen is amazing at writing emotions into her novels. I was impressed as to the range of emotions portrayed by each character. It really helps the reader connect with the characters. I spent a great deal of time sitting on the edge of my seat, running around with the characters. I was nervous and scared for them. I wanted to help. I must say, however, that by the end of the novel my eyes were full with tears. For once, they were full with tears of joy. It was such a perfect ending to the story. I couldn’t ask for anything better.
The characters in this novel were also very personable. You could relate to most characters in the book. Those characters that you cannot relate to are the same ones that you would avoid if you ran into them in a public place. They had histories that led them to being the people they are today. Every action that anyone took was consistent with the person that they were meant to be. There were also some very strong bonds between certain characters. You wanted them to succeed.
As a whole, this was an amazing novel. It was also extremely well written. The author melded everything together in such a way that you were lost within its pages from the beginning to the very end. She also made the novel much more enjoyable by keeping her facts straight.
In compliance with FTC guidelines, please note that I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads program.
Pettersen is amazing at writing emotions into her novels. I was impressed as to the range of emotions portrayed by each character. It really helps the reader connect with the characters. I spent a great deal of time sitting on the edge of my seat, running around with the characters. I was nervous and scared for them. I wanted to help. I must say, however, that by the end of the novel my eyes were full with tears. For once, they were full with tears of joy. It was such a perfect ending to the story. I couldn’t ask for anything better.
The characters in this novel were also very personable. You could relate to most characters in the book. Those characters that you cannot relate to are the same ones that you would avoid if you ran into them in a public place. They had histories that led them to being the people they are today. Every action that anyone took was consistent with the person that they were meant to be. There were also some very strong bonds between certain characters. You wanted them to succeed.
As a whole, this was an amazing novel. It was also extremely well written. The author melded everything together in such a way that you were lost within its pages from the beginning to the very end. She also made the novel much more enjoyable by keeping her facts straight.
In compliance with FTC guidelines, please note that I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads program.
February 21, 2013
My first read of this author. A creative story with a new environment (for me). The character development was good. The passion was delayed respectably which provided a believable dynamic to the budding relationship. I felt the pace was a little slow at times, maybe a little too drawn out. Perhaps a little too much self reflection by the characters of thoughts, actions and possibilities.
For the better part of the story, the plot centered around the search for a missing man. It was a good story, engaging with a foreshadowing suggesting something sinister. But instead of staying on target, the story became more complex because of a secret kept and the subsequent reaction to the misunderstood implications of that secret. The lack of developed trust between the characters challenges their 2/4 week relationship and validates old fears of trust and association.
I just don’t think the story needed to use this classic Three’s Company style plot implosion. The search could have continued and the bad guys brought to justice without veering off course. In fact, I think this tactic denies the strength built into the established story. The successful PI isn’t able to recognize the association between his lover and the missing man? There were plenty of instances he should have sensed strange behavior when mention was made of the missing student. Instead of giving the PI the benefit of his supposed intelligence, he is led astray by doubt and endangers the life of his love. It’s just too contrived for me. I guess some people like this element in their stories, I can’t stand it.
I do think that the author made pretty impressive attempts to rectify the “mistake” with a less contrived approach to apologies, but overall the beauty of this story was overshadowed (for me) by the unnecessary misunderstanding. I can’t help it, I just hate that approach to plot.
For the better part of the story, the plot centered around the search for a missing man. It was a good story, engaging with a foreshadowing suggesting something sinister. But instead of staying on target, the story became more complex because of a secret kept and the subsequent reaction to the misunderstood implications of that secret. The lack of developed trust between the characters challenges their 2/4 week relationship and validates old fears of trust and association.
I just don’t think the story needed to use this classic Three’s Company style plot implosion. The search could have continued and the bad guys brought to justice without veering off course. In fact, I think this tactic denies the strength built into the established story. The successful PI isn’t able to recognize the association between his lover and the missing man? There were plenty of instances he should have sensed strange behavior when mention was made of the missing student. Instead of giving the PI the benefit of his supposed intelligence, he is led astray by doubt and endangers the life of his love. It’s just too contrived for me. I guess some people like this element in their stories, I can’t stand it.
I do think that the author made pretty impressive attempts to rectify the “mistake” with a less contrived approach to apologies, but overall the beauty of this story was overshadowed (for me) by the unnecessary misunderstanding. I can’t help it, I just hate that approach to plot.
December 24, 2012
Another great read from Bev Pettersen. This is the fifth book in the series and I could not put it down until I got to the end. I love reading series and have read all the books in this one, and what I really like is that you do not have to read the previous books before you read this one. I like how Bev uses the horse racing world in these stories that are full of romance and suspense that you can’t help but want to find out what will happen next.
Megan’s brother is missing, so she decides the best way to find out what has happened to him is to join the jockey school where he was a student, since the people there were the last ones to see him. No one knows who she is or why she’s there, but she is determined to find out what happened to him no matter what it takes.
Scott is the owner of a PI business who is in serious need of some time off to recuperate but doesn’t want to take it. When his longtime friend calls asking for his help to keep the school in business he agrees to take the time off to help out. He figures he’ll be bored out of his mind since he plans to teach one class and relax the rest of the time he is there.
As a relationship forms between Scott and Megan things are happening at the school that Scott doesn’t want to believe his friend is involved in, and Megan is finding that some of the answers she’s getting are not what she expected. When she decides she can ask Scott for help and tell him who she really is and what she knows so far, she finds herself being framed with something illegal and loses all hope in receiving Scott’s help. Will Scott be willing to help her before it’s too late or does he walk away from the one woman who is starting to mean something to him?
Megan’s brother is missing, so she decides the best way to find out what has happened to him is to join the jockey school where he was a student, since the people there were the last ones to see him. No one knows who she is or why she’s there, but she is determined to find out what happened to him no matter what it takes.
Scott is the owner of a PI business who is in serious need of some time off to recuperate but doesn’t want to take it. When his longtime friend calls asking for his help to keep the school in business he agrees to take the time off to help out. He figures he’ll be bored out of his mind since he plans to teach one class and relax the rest of the time he is there.
As a relationship forms between Scott and Megan things are happening at the school that Scott doesn’t want to believe his friend is involved in, and Megan is finding that some of the answers she’s getting are not what she expected. When she decides she can ask Scott for help and tell him who she really is and what she knows so far, she finds herself being framed with something illegal and loses all hope in receiving Scott’s help. Will Scott be willing to help her before it’s too late or does he walk away from the one woman who is starting to mean something to him?
November 26, 2013
Really a 2 star for me as a non-romance reader, but a 4 star as a romance so I'm trying to be fair. If you like the normal romance genre - girl meets guy, fall in love, silly mis-communications separate them, mis-communications repaired in the the knick of time and finally cue the curtain roll on an assumed happily ever after than here you go, it's all there. I got this for free and as a horse person I like to read just about anything equine. Bev Pettersen is clearly a horse person so at least I did not wince to much at the equine side of things. It is silly and completely implausible multiple places but no more than any romance book. Fairly quick, easy read. Plot holes are reasonable seeing as every romance ever seems to require them to get the mis-communication part right.
If you area horse person, and not a romance reader, steer clear. If you are a romance person and not a romance novel, looking for something that is not steamy then here you go. The equestrian part doesn't go over the average readers head so an easy, pleasurable read.
If you area horse person, and not a romance reader, steer clear. If you are a romance person and not a romance novel, looking for something that is not steamy then here you go. The equestrian part doesn't go over the average readers head so an easy, pleasurable read.
February 28, 2013
The book was okay. As someone who used to competitively horseback ride, I'm probably much harder on riding books than the average reader. Basically, the main character (Megan) felt incredibly flat to me. She's perfect and pretty and wonderful and animals love her. The main male character was every macho man you could ever want who magically was an amazing rider despite having not ridden for years... right.
Anyway, the redeeming feature of this book was the ending. I thought it was going to be all sunshine and rainbows, but the author was at least somewhat realistic with what had happened earlier in the story, which I appreciated.
Overall, not the worst book I've read, and an enjoyable way to spend a few hours as long as you don't get too hung up on people being their archetypes instead of real people.
Anyway, the redeeming feature of this book was the ending. I thought it was going to be all sunshine and rainbows, but the author was at least somewhat realistic with what had happened earlier in the story, which I appreciated.
Overall, not the worst book I've read, and an enjoyable way to spend a few hours as long as you don't get too hung up on people being their archetypes instead of real people.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2013
Well, this was the last of Bev Pettersen's books for me. I've read them all now, and the only thing I don't like about her books, is that there are no more.
Fantastic read. Started it at about 4pm and finished it about 5am. Had a few interruptions I had to deal with, but didn't let a little think like sleep get in the way of this great read.
Horses aren't really my thing, and I've never been on a racetrack, but I have really enjoyed learning all about them both through her books. Great characterizations and plot lines, too. Gotta admit, I saw all of the bad guys coming a mile away, but it didn't slow the ride for me.
I will enjoy reading all of her books again, and especially this one....and any new ones that may pop up on the horizon.
Great Read. Thanks Ms. Pettersen.
Fantastic read. Started it at about 4pm and finished it about 5am. Had a few interruptions I had to deal with, but didn't let a little think like sleep get in the way of this great read.
Horses aren't really my thing, and I've never been on a racetrack, but I have really enjoyed learning all about them both through her books. Great characterizations and plot lines, too. Gotta admit, I saw all of the bad guys coming a mile away, but it didn't slow the ride for me.
I will enjoy reading all of her books again, and especially this one....and any new ones that may pop up on the horizon.
Great Read. Thanks Ms. Pettersen.
January 30, 2013
This was my first book that I've read from Bev Pettersen and it won't be my last! This storyline had romance,mystery,suspense and interesting characters too. It was informative for me as I don't know much about horses but I definitely didn't feel left out of the loop-- many times I felt like I was working alongside the characters in the horse stalls! This was a fun read and an enjoyable escape- read for me! I recommend this book to others and I will be reading more of this author.
June 21, 2013
This book is mainly for the ladies. It is predictable, but enlivened with amiable characters and a robust setting.
December 26, 2018
Well at least I finished it but just barely. What started off with such promise finished with a sad whimper. It follows the typical guy meets girl they fall in lust/love then have a misunderstanding but come back together just in the nick of time. Not my cup of tea. At least the horsey details are fairly accurate
August 8, 2019
This was a fun read. The author obviously knows her stuff when it comes to horses, which is always a pleasure. (Badly written horses are one of my pet hates in a book.) And it was also very romantic.
I saw quite a few of the "twists" coming, but that didn't stop me enjoying it.
Will be reading more of this series.
I saw quite a few of the "twists" coming, but that didn't stop me enjoying it.
Will be reading more of this series.
October 18, 2020
Loved everything about this book! Great action, mystery, suspense, romance, and of course plenty of horses. It was so interesting to go behind the scenes of the Thoroughbred racing world and see what life is like at a jockey school.
November 21, 2020
Peace for his family
This is a very interesting story about a sister who doesn't want to believe that her brother was involved with drugs again after all they had been through and the cost of finding the truth.
This is a very interesting story about a sister who doesn't want to believe that her brother was involved with drugs again after all they had been through and the cost of finding the truth.
May 6, 2017
I loved this book!
February 23, 2018
Riding for Redemption
I loved every minute of this book.
Today I am ordering A Scandal Husband can't wait to get it downloaded !!!!!!!
I loved every minute of this book.
Today I am ordering A Scandal Husband can't wait to get it downloaded !!!!!!!
November 3, 2018
A good mystery with a nice touch of romance. People who are interested in horses and racing will probably enjoy it even more than I did.
February 27, 2019
Great read.
Her books have great plots ! I am trying to read them all. I highly recommend this author, buy her books ASAP!
Her books have great plots ! I am trying to read them all. I highly recommend this author, buy her books ASAP!
June 14, 2017
Great
She is trying to find her brother and signs up at the training school he was at. She uses her mother's maiden name so they don't realize she is the missing guy's sister. He is friends of the owner and a PI. What next is a lot of twist band turns.
She is trying to find her brother and signs up at the training school he was at. She uses her mother's maiden name so they don't realize she is the missing guy's sister. He is friends of the owner and a PI. What next is a lot of twist band turns.
June 25, 2013
What a fantastic book Horses & Heroin is! I absolutely adored Megan & Scott and thought that their love story played in perfectly with the mystery and intrigue in this book. It was refreshing to see Megan, who has zero investigative skills, put her life on hold and join a jockey school to try and find out what happened to her missing brother Joey. I wish she would have put more trust in Scott throughout the story since you can tell how much he adored her & wanted their relationship to develop. Speaking of Scott, I loved him & could definitely picture this guy in my mind while reading this story. HOWEVER, it seems to me that with all of his investigative accolades and experience, he really sucked at investigating Joey's disappearance. How many times could he be wary of Megan's words or actions yet not try & figure out who she is? Had Scott been a bit less dense, this story would've rated a 5 on my scale.
Even with that complaint, I really did think this was a very well written and well developed book with excellent character development, steamy sex and a cool, unique setting that captured my attention right away. I'll definitely pick up some of the other books in this series!
Even with that complaint, I really did think this was a very well written and well developed book with excellent character development, steamy sex and a cool, unique setting that captured my attention right away. I'll definitely pick up some of the other books in this series!
May 19, 2017
Riding for Redemption is a truly enjoyable horse story for the mature age reader. Scott Taylor runs a successful investigative business. He has a great team and is good at his job – things are going great. On his last task however, he got hurt as he was protecting an innocent young boy. And so Scott finds himself with an overprotective assistant who makes him take some time off. This just happens to coincide with a time where a friend needs his help at a school he runs for jockeys, exercise riders and stable hands.
Read more at http://equus-blog.com/riding-redempti...
Read more at http://equus-blog.com/riding-redempti...
April 25, 2013
Yet another free Kindle download.
* * * * *
This is turning out to be a pretty good mystery about a jockey school in the SW U.S., with a jockey student who disappears while delivering horses in Mexico. His sister surreptitiously investigates while she takes classes at the school as a cover. There is a hunky P.I., friend of the school owner, who shows up to take some time off while recovering from an injury received on his last case. Of course, he and the sister are going to have a RO-mance while they look for the brother. Still, it is entertaining enough to continue reading for now.
* * * * *
Well, I finished this in order to find out what happened, but there was way too much sex and RO-mance, a very disgusting aside to the story. I won't read any more of Bev Pettersen's books, even though she does have a knowledge of horses.
* * * * *
This is turning out to be a pretty good mystery about a jockey school in the SW U.S., with a jockey student who disappears while delivering horses in Mexico. His sister surreptitiously investigates while she takes classes at the school as a cover. There is a hunky P.I., friend of the school owner, who shows up to take some time off while recovering from an injury received on his last case. Of course, he and the sister are going to have a RO-mance while they look for the brother. Still, it is entertaining enough to continue reading for now.
* * * * *
Well, I finished this in order to find out what happened, but there was way too much sex and RO-mance, a very disgusting aside to the story. I won't read any more of Bev Pettersen's books, even though she does have a knowledge of horses.
June 20, 2013
This was a good story. The characters were very likable/unlikable depending on what the writer wanted. Megan is searching for her brother. She ends up making great friends, finding out shes going to be an aunt and falling in love. Their is a great mystery to follow and all the bad guys are not 100% clear till the end. Keeps ya guessing. I enjoyed the story very much and will buy more of this series.
My problems with the book. Scott is wishy washy character. He's susposed to be a big,bad, in control private investigator/ ex-cop. Yet he cow tows to his shady best friend, instantly believes Joey is guilty on hearsay, and doesn't trust his gut about Miguel.
I am strongly pro-life, so the fact Eve even considers an abortion and its mentioned several times almost had me stop reading the book. Spoiler she doesn't, if she did, i would not read another of this authors books.
My problems with the book. Scott is wishy washy character. He's susposed to be a big,bad, in control private investigator/ ex-cop. Yet he cow tows to his shady best friend, instantly believes Joey is guilty on hearsay, and doesn't trust his gut about Miguel.
I am strongly pro-life, so the fact Eve even considers an abortion and its mentioned several times almost had me stop reading the book. Spoiler she doesn't, if she did, i would not read another of this authors books.
July 7, 2013
This was a great mystery and suspense. The romance between Megan and Scott grows too fast and seemed forced, but I can forgive it because the rest was so well done. Megan’s brother has disappeared from a California jockey school with no trace. The school blames heroin and insists that he was a dealer and escaped when they became wise to him. Megan doesn’t believe the story, and enrolls at the school to get answers. With a different last name than her brother, no one knows she is his sister as she subtly snoops around for the truth. Scott is a private investigator on leave to recover from a gunshot wound. When he and Megan become involved, Megan has to decide who to trust, since Scott is best friends with the school’s director—whom she doesn’t trust at all. Great suspense, mystery, danger, friendships, and character growth.
September 16, 2014
Horses and Heroin is yet another engrossing read by Bev Pettersen. It was filled to the brim with an inner knowledge of the training found behind the mysterious world of horse racing. Most of us simply enjoy watching The Kentucky Derby once a year and never give a second thought to what just may be happening behind the scenes. After reading Bev's novels, you will never watch a horse race the same again!
This was a wonderful mesh between romance and suspense. Bev has a talent for this! In most romances novels I catch myself rolling my eyes at how soon the couples fall in loooooooooooooove. With Horses and Heroin it came so naturally and felt so right that I actually didn't give a thought to the time frame. This was a delight!
*Tiny Spoiler But Not Really*
My only disappointment was not learning the name of the #3 horse at the end. ;)
This was a wonderful mesh between romance and suspense. Bev has a talent for this! In most romances novels I catch myself rolling my eyes at how soon the couples fall in loooooooooooooove. With Horses and Heroin it came so naturally and felt so right that I actually didn't give a thought to the time frame. This was a delight!
*Tiny Spoiler But Not Really*
My only disappointment was not learning the name of the #3 horse at the end. ;)
March 7, 2013
HORSES AND HEROIN by Bev Pettersen is an exciting romantic suspense. A thrill ride of excitement. With horses,horse racing,passion,danger,throughbreds,conspiracy and a bidding romance,what's not to enjoy. Ms. Pettersen's plot is intriguing,her characters are engaging and passionate. You can tell she has extensive knowledge of horses,horse country,and the danger that lays within. A compelling story of intrigue,mystery,suspense,murder and addiction. Oh,of course romance. A wonderful read from start to finish. Horse fans,suspense fans and romance readers alike will enjoy "Horses and Heroin". Received for an honest review from the author.
RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: MILD
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction and More/My Book Addiction Reviews
RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: MILD
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction and More/My Book Addiction Reviews
February 10, 2014
This book is a little different then the others there's more mystery then romance and I actually liked that. As every other guy Bev writes about I fell in love with Scott, "he paused. Odd questions hut promising, very promising. Anticipation swept him at the memory of those elegant legs, encased in tight jeans, the cotton shirt that couldn't hide her curves. He'd always loved a ranch girl. Id she wanted a massage, Christ, yes, he did messages." The thing about Scott is he's always willing to put himself out there for Megan, "no headaches now, just a burning desire to know this woman. "Actually you're welcome to come for other things too," he said. "Food, sleep, sex." Isn't he just generous? I can't wait to see what other books Bev comes out with.
February 17, 2016
Well, based on the horrible title, I didn't have high expectations for this story. However, I liked this romance. It was a pretty quick read, although I figured out immediately who the villians in the story were. It has a lot of information about horses, which sometimes bogged down the story for me. Aside from that, I liked the characters and found the glimpse into horse racing interesting. Too bad it couldn't be re-titled, but this is definately a case of don't judge a book by it's... title.
April 26, 2013
I'm a huge Bev Petterson fan. When I first began this book, I didn't think I'd like it as much as her other books, but in the end I think it may be my favorite. I love the characters and the setting. Love the suspense of it.
I do like the 'feel' of the behind the scenes at the racetrack settings of her other books better, but the characters made up for missing that in this one.
Highly recommend it!
I do like the 'feel' of the behind the scenes at the racetrack settings of her other books better, but the characters made up for missing that in this one.
Highly recommend it!
August 29, 2016
Loved this book. It was great. Perfectly applicable title and cover, which was rather clever play on words and street slang. No idea why this book has been renamed and given a cover that does not apply.
The story hooked you from the first few pages. I read 80% of it before I had to sleep. Then finished it as soon as I woke up. Solid characters. Good plot progression. I'll be reading more of this author.
The story hooked you from the first few pages. I read 80% of it before I had to sleep. Then finished it as soon as I woke up. Solid characters. Good plot progression. I'll be reading more of this author.
March 1, 2013
I really liked this book. It has romance between man and woman also has people with a love of animals. I really formed a bond with Megan and felt bad for what she went through in the end. Nobody deserves to be falsely accused then tortured. Everything that she went through was for her brother. I liked that.
June 5, 2013
Like Thoroughbreds and Trailer Trash by the same author, I enjoyed this easy relaxing read. Too-gorgeous-to-be-true characters, romance, drama, crime, some hardship - but never too difficult to overcome - and horses are a winning combination apparently. Works for me, especially when life is complicated and I need to escape - if only between pages :-)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews