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One Chance
Set in the high-adrenaline world of competitive show-jumping, this is a tale of love against the odds from a bright new writing talent.
Being a showjumper is all Matt has ever dreamed of. But the glamour of the main ring is a far cry from the hard graft of the stableyard, where Matt must work his way up from the very, very bottom, and sacrifice almost everything to pursue his dreams. But once you're in the ring, it's all worth it. Matt has never known a thrill like it -- until he meets Liz.
Liz is a girl who has it all. She's rich, beautiful and owns the best horse in the country. She and Matt come from different worlds, but in the tight-knit showjumping community, they find themselves thrown closer together. But Liz isn't all that she appears to be.
Being a showjumper is all Matt has ever dreamed of. But the glamour of the main ring is a far cry from the hard graft of the stableyard, where Matt must work his way up from the very, very bottom, and sacrifice almost everything to pursue his dreams. But once you're in the ring, it's all worth it. Matt has never known a thrill like it -- until he meets Liz.
Liz is a girl who has it all. She's rich, beautiful and owns the best horse in the country. She and Matt come from different worlds, but in the tight-knit showjumping community, they find themselves thrown closer together. But Liz isn't all that she appears to be.
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 6, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 7, 2014
One Chance, Emily Gillmor Murphy
Review from jeannie zelos book reviews
I love anything set within the horse world, been horse mad since a kid – I didn't know why my parents wouldn't let me keep one in the garden of our council house....my friend and I used to scour the local for sale ads in the paper “ this ones only £10 mum, it says At Stud £10” and mum never did put me right...ah the naivety of youth! I finally had my own for the last 20 years, though sadly becoming an amuptee three years after getting him put paid to the jumping side. So this book with the showjumping background appealed. I was expecting more of a romantic theme, though to be fair its classed as womens fiction and not romance ,so that was presumption on my part.
The horse side was excellent, I felt as if I was there with the grooms and jumpers, could smell the horses, leather and straw....The author has a background in this field ( hah!!) and it shows, having been there myself in local shows I felt really at home. I loved all that part, but had a problem with the characters. Matthew was great, I loved him but TBH I felt Liz didn't deserve him...Edward I liked at first til some of his jerk ways came out, but I couldn't really feel sorry for Liz too much when she was his target as she'd consciously put herself there after the first flush of romance wore off, she wanted the advantages his name would bring. I know she had a tough background with her parents, but Nick had it far worse, and even Matthew had a lot to overcome. Liz was very much a user of people I felt, and that's what really stopped me liking her.
I did like the way the story wrapped up, wish Liz had been a bit warmer, loved Matthew and was pleased for him, and would have liked a longer ending – its tucked into about 4-5% of the whole novel...
Stars: Four, a fun read.
ARC supplied via Netgalley
Review from jeannie zelos book reviews
I love anything set within the horse world, been horse mad since a kid – I didn't know why my parents wouldn't let me keep one in the garden of our council house....my friend and I used to scour the local for sale ads in the paper “ this ones only £10 mum, it says At Stud £10” and mum never did put me right...ah the naivety of youth! I finally had my own for the last 20 years, though sadly becoming an amuptee three years after getting him put paid to the jumping side. So this book with the showjumping background appealed. I was expecting more of a romantic theme, though to be fair its classed as womens fiction and not romance ,so that was presumption on my part.
The horse side was excellent, I felt as if I was there with the grooms and jumpers, could smell the horses, leather and straw....The author has a background in this field ( hah!!) and it shows, having been there myself in local shows I felt really at home. I loved all that part, but had a problem with the characters. Matthew was great, I loved him but TBH I felt Liz didn't deserve him...Edward I liked at first til some of his jerk ways came out, but I couldn't really feel sorry for Liz too much when she was his target as she'd consciously put herself there after the first flush of romance wore off, she wanted the advantages his name would bring. I know she had a tough background with her parents, but Nick had it far worse, and even Matthew had a lot to overcome. Liz was very much a user of people I felt, and that's what really stopped me liking her.
I did like the way the story wrapped up, wish Liz had been a bit warmer, loved Matthew and was pleased for him, and would have liked a longer ending – its tucked into about 4-5% of the whole novel...
Stars: Four, a fun read.
ARC supplied via Netgalley
October 5, 2015
I received this novel from NetGalley.
I loved this novel! Yes it reminds me of a similar novel, but it holds its own and provides a wonderful story of courage, friendship and love.
This novel is so well written, you fly through it, without even realising you have read nearly its entirety in one sitting. The characters are engaging, likeable and relateable. They grow with the plot, giving the feelng that they are people you could know in your own day to day life.
This novel has a little something for everyone, but is definitely one of my favourites for the year!
I loved this novel! Yes it reminds me of a similar novel, but it holds its own and provides a wonderful story of courage, friendship and love.
This novel is so well written, you fly through it, without even realising you have read nearly its entirety in one sitting. The characters are engaging, likeable and relateable. They grow with the plot, giving the feelng that they are people you could know in your own day to day life.
This novel has a little something for everyone, but is definitely one of my favourites for the year!
September 30, 2015
Enjoyed this book thoroughly. Gave me a good understand what is showjumping and the excitement yet difficulty in it. Enjoyed how you think you fall in love though your heart may not be there. Glad to read the happy ending.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews