Back Door Horse

by Heather Wallace

For Imogen Grey, a born and bred Jersey Girl, Vermont may as well be a different world. When she travels to her aunt's mountain home to help her recover from injury on her small farm, she comes face to face with an escape artist masquerading as a performance horse, a quiet but steady veterinarian she simply chooses not to be attracted to, and a rekindled passion she left behind in childhood. Suddenly, Imogen is questioning everything she thought she wanted. The Green Mountains are calling, but is she listening?

Genres: Romance, Horses, Contemporary Romance

264 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 8, 2023

About the author

Heather Wallace is the writer and photographer for the blog, The Timid Rider, which focuses on the struggling confidence of a returning adult equestrian. She is the award-winning author of non-fiction titles Confessions of a Timid Rider, which details her insights about being an anxiety-ridden but passionate equestrian and Girl Forward: A Tale of One Woman's Unlikely Adventure in Mongolia.

In her spare time, of which she has little, she spends her time with her three children, two dogs, and pony. You can follow her on social media @timidrider or at timidrider.com.

Reviews

[Linda Shantz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imogen is such a great balance of sass and vulnerability. Love a strong, independent female main character! More, please!

[Bekka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong Female Character, Cute Story, love this storyline need more of Gabe and Imogen (:

[Alli Fraser · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok I’m kinda bummed. do I think I could have written a better book? I don’t know because I am not an author. Instead I’m going to list the pros and cons ✔️

Mind you, I grew up competing horses in VT

Pros:
• horse lingo was all accurate
• meet cute, NJ girl lost in life FMC | vet MMC
• the idea that horses deserve to be listened to

Cons:
• it was very hard to keep up with whose POV it was
• depth of relationships felt limited
• very “I’ll take things that never happened for $500 Alex”

[Lorelei Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait for the next one!

Totally enjoyed this book. For a first published book Heather Wallace hit it out of the park! All the characters were interesting and realistic. The novella is also a must read after the book!

[Shelby Graft · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book! I have to admit I was nervous about it at first because of how much I love Heather’s non fiction books and so I was scared I wouldn’t like this one but boy she nailed it! The characters are perfect and the dialogue is spot on. I felt like I was experiencing it playing out. Cannot wait for the next one.

[Morgan Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back Door Horse was a super cute read about finding love (for multiple things!) in the most unexpected places. Imogene, a native Jersey girl, visits Vermont to help her aunt recover from an injury. Once there, she is immersed into the country lifestyle of caring for her aunts farm, small-town friends, horses, and of course a love interest!

Back Door Horse was a quick read. Many of the characters were wise + likable. I appreciated the chapter lengths and the heavy focus on treating animals properly.

Coming from a country background myself, I am personally just not a huge fan of “the girl who knows little to nothing about horses and then tames the horse” cliche/stereotype. Otherwise it was a cute read & held my attention. I admired the themes of standing up for what you believe in + follow your heart.

Thanks to the author for the audible copy of Back Door Horse in exchange for my honest review!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank Heather Wallace, author and Goodreads Frist Reads Giveaway for the eBook Kindle copy of Back Dor Horse ~ Gren Mountain Romance ~ Book 1 that I won in the Giveaway.

Imogen Grey is a great character that goes to Vermont to help her Aunt Jo when she breaks her foot on her Aunt's small farm in the Gren Mountains. Then she encounters a white bull moose that chargers her Charger about a mile from her Aunt's place.

Gabe the local vet and her Aunt's neighbor finds her and the fun begins. It includes vomiting on his boots, a trip to the hospital, learning the chores on the small farm, making friends and finding a place where she belongs. Add Fortune, a wandering horse that loves Imogen and a hyper dog named Cookie Monster or Cookie for short and this is a humorous and touching romance.

[Lia Lorimer · Rating 4 out of 5]

When an animal chooses its owner…
When Imogen offers to help her aunt Jo on her farm in Vermont for a few months, the last thing she expects is to fall in love…OR to re-discover her childhood love of horses. Fate has other plans, however!
Imogen is full of life but ‘lost’ as she struggles to find her path to a settled future. Despite her best efforts, she is attracted to her direct opposite: settled, steady and quiet local veterinarian, Gabe. When a horse from the neighbouring elite stables keeps appearing on Aunt Jo’s property, Imogen feels she must investigate the circumstances, leading her to a whole new adventure.
A cute romance in the beautiful autumnal setting of Vermont, well worth reading.
i received a free advance review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.

[A.M. Swink · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you want a breezy, fun, equestrian themed romance, this book ticks all the boxes. Following a New Jersey girl transplanted in mountainous small-town Vermont to lend her aunt a helping hand, the book reads like a perfect mix between a Hallmark film and the Heartland series. Imogen, Gabe, Bailey, Harper, Bianca, and Aunt Jo all leap off the page, though the true stars are Imogen’s dog Cookie and the horse that refuses to leave Imogen alone, Fortune. Fortune’s travails and his constant appearance at her back door really elevated this small-town romance to a compelling level. A very fun read!

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️ The horsey Hallmark read I didn’t know I needed!

As someone who primarily alternates between dense nonfiction, epic fantasy, and romantasy, this was the lightest, non-stressful, low-stakes book I’ve read in years. Though I had to roll my eyes at some of the cliches, I appreciated how the author was able to pull through her knowledge of horses to create a novel that was cute AND accurate.

For anyone that’s ever craved the predictability and happy ending typical of a Hallmark movie, this one’s for you!

[Mallory Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I liked the story line but the book seemed a little choppy and jumped around a little bit. Wasn't super clear at times when the POV changed. I also felt like there was some lacking regarding Gabe's background. Like there were times when it seemed as if PTSD was present in regards to his flashbacks but then never really addressed. I would definitely read the second book though.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book ! Horses, nice people, people trying to find their purpose and other which have already found it, all of it mixed with a nice romance. It's a really great, well written book !
I can't wait for the next one !
So, don't wait, grab a blanket, the book, a cup of tea, sit and start reading !!!

[Joyce Bloemker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exactly what I thought Heather Wallace’s debut fiction would be. Imogen is full of sass and spunk just like Wallace. Imogen is fun, funny, and lovable which makes Back Door Horse such a fun reading experience. Overall, this is a happy, fast-paced, easy, comfort read I can see myself turning to when I need a hug from a book.

[Jeanette Wachs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a comfortable book to read (listen via Audible). The characters were engaging and the story was so charming it just swept you along. Following Imogen through falling in love with the handsome vet next door to her renewed love of horses thanks to Fortune was so sweet! Will be looking for the next book of the series for sure!

[Gwynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! Very approachable, would be great for a variety of ages. It's the first book in a very long time that I started and couldn't easily put down and read it in 2 or 3 days which is about 3 months faster than I normally read books. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series!

[Ariana Feldberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Ms Wallace’s first fiction book. The characters were fun, and feisty, and the story had me wanting to know what adventures were next. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!

[Cindy Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story set in Vermont (a place I’ve never been to) with family, new friends, a return to horses, riding, and finding the way to where you have always wanted to be. New to me author, but a fun read!

[Roza Kriwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good, cute, the Imogen and Gabe dynamic is super sweet, Cookie reminds me of my dog, and Fortune and Imogen is what I want in life. I’ve met Heather Wallace and she’s really nice, my books are signed by her. I want to read her Confessions of a Timid Rider books also.

[Kimberly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lost me at "happy horse sneezes" because what the actual hell is that?
Anyway, I didn't finish it.
Also, horses sneeze for the same reason we do - irritation of the nasal passage. There ain't shit "happy" about it.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very enjoyable especially for a romance novel.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book
Loved the characters
Hoping Heather writes a second novel that follows the journey of her characters 😊

[Bridgette Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous read!

Loved the horses and sweet romance as well as the beautiful landscape and setting! Easy, pleasant read! Very enjoyable and cozy

[Sarah Hickner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet romance felt like going on vacation in Vermont.

[Malin Fredriksen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peefect horsey romance

This series is the perfect vacation read for equestrians. Loved it and recommend it to anyone who loves horses and romance

[Sonia J Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute read

A lovely story & set in my home state of Vermont. I enjoyed a quiet afternoon reading this heartwarming book.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet romantic visit to Vermont, with lots of rescue animals and wonderful horses. Friendship and love blossom
with the local vet, and a memorable horse called Fortune. Oh, and a scary white moose!

[Sandra M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

So boring. I lasted for 3 hours then finally gave up

[David Goldstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this Book 1 in the series. This was a unique storyline, with somewhat unique characters, which made for intriguing reading.

[Kerrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed diving into this small Vermont town with a diverse group of characters. This book gave me that cozy feeling of curling up under a warm blanket on a chilly day. Horses, flawed but relatable characters, and New England charm - what’s not to love (except that I want more)?