A lot happens just in the prologue of this book, where our two main characters face horrendous events that set the tone for the whole story.
Talented horseman Miguel loses a leg, rich heiress Patricia loses her grandfather and her sanity (once again).
Two years later in Chapter One the story really gets going.
Douglas throws so much at his characters it sometimes feels like Too Much, but there are reasons for all of the goings-on. Greedy fat cats want to keep controlling Patricia's life even after she dares to try and stand up for herself; Miguel faces the age-old dilemma of a son who feels he will never be what his father expects him to be, especially with only one leg. So what will happen when these two get together?
This was a very fast re-read for me (insomnia helped) and very enjoyable too. Douglas portrayed the philosophy of classic Portuguese horsemanship splendidly, and every bit of the story felt alive. Even though sometimes I wondered when Patricia would break under the weight of all Douglas put her through! People are not always what they seem to be in her world, there is no one really that she can believe in, not even herself.
Dramatic, fast-paced, with some lovely bits, some startling ones, and beautiful horses, this is a book to hang onto.