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Catch a Falling Star
Grace Darling has landed the starring role in a television serial for which she had to learn to ride. Now filming has started she is overwhelmed by the hard work and long hours, the jealousy of her screen sister, and the surreal world of making films. Not to mention the fact that her co-star is a horse and, when he is injured, his substitute makes her blood run cold...'Funny and sad in turn, this book is the usual Akrill mix of the hysterical and the emotional, by a writer who really knows her subject and can create a character with a stroke of a pen.'Riding Magazine.
112 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 14, 2015
6 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Akrill
23 books22 followersCaroline Akrill has been a riding school proprietor, an equestrian journalist, a publisher and a hotelier.
She lives in Suffolk. You can talk to Caroline on Facebook.
She lives in Suffolk. You can talk to Caroline on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 12, 2016
It's been a sad week in the world, and so I'm turning to comfort reading. For me, that often means kids or young adult pony books.
Caroline Akrill's Silver Bridle series is comprised of three short novellas. You really do need to read the books in order.
One review to cover all three books here, but I've individually rated them.
These happy books include most of the Akrill fallbacks: a heroine who is somewhat insecure about her place in the world and who is working hard to achieve a dream; a premises owned by endearing siblings with terrible housekeeping habits who are various shades of bonkers; horses who are seldom given names but described as "the roan horse with white stockings"; a light and chatty style of writing that is superbly readable; a love interest that simmers in the background while the heroine does her thing. The heroines in Akrill's books are also prone to sticking their noses in where it's not really wanted, and are also really good at cleaning house as they decide they can't live in the mess any longer.
Grace is a wanna-be actress who lands a lead role in a TV series. One problem: she'd said she could ride, but hasn't ever sat a horse. So after nearly injuring a valuable stunt horse, she's sent off by the TV studios to Moat Farm to learn, where she encounters the wacky brother and sister, interferes in their love lives and learns to ride.
The third novella is about the actual filming of the TV series (although it appears to morph into a movie at some point).
Pluses: Light, entertaining, downright funny, great cast of supporting characters, particularly Ziggy the agent who works from a Soho cafe and Emma Hall who really can sing. Given that this was written in the 80s, bonus points for a brief mention of gay characters in a positive light and the heroine's positive reaction to what she believes is two men kissing.
Minuses: Obviously predictable, but none the less entertaining. It is obviously somewhat dated, but not too badly. However the third book gets marked down 2 stars for a reference near the end that sits very badly. It wasn't acceptable in the 80s, although it was something that was sometimes said back then. It's definitely not acceptable now and given the recent publishing as ebooks, IMHO it could have been removed. Also, .
Book 1: 4 stars
Book 2: 4 stars
Book 3: 2 stars
Overall: 3. something, marked up to 4
Caroline Akrill's Silver Bridle series is comprised of three short novellas. You really do need to read the books in order.
One review to cover all three books here, but I've individually rated them.
These happy books include most of the Akrill fallbacks: a heroine who is somewhat insecure about her place in the world and who is working hard to achieve a dream; a premises owned by endearing siblings with terrible housekeeping habits who are various shades of bonkers; horses who are seldom given names but described as "the roan horse with white stockings"; a light and chatty style of writing that is superbly readable; a love interest that simmers in the background while the heroine does her thing. The heroines in Akrill's books are also prone to sticking their noses in where it's not really wanted, and are also really good at cleaning house as they decide they can't live in the mess any longer.
Grace is a wanna-be actress who lands a lead role in a TV series. One problem: she'd said she could ride, but hasn't ever sat a horse. So after nearly injuring a valuable stunt horse, she's sent off by the TV studios to Moat Farm to learn, where she encounters the wacky brother and sister, interferes in their love lives and learns to ride.
The third novella is about the actual filming of the TV series (although it appears to morph into a movie at some point).
Pluses: Light, entertaining, downright funny, great cast of supporting characters, particularly Ziggy the agent who works from a Soho cafe and Emma Hall who really can sing. Given that this was written in the 80s, bonus points for a brief mention of gay characters in a positive light and the heroine's positive reaction to what she believes is two men kissing.
Minuses: Obviously predictable, but none the less entertaining. It is obviously somewhat dated, but not too badly. However the third book gets marked down 2 stars for a reference near the end that sits very badly. It wasn't acceptable in the 80s, although it was something that was sometimes said back then. It's definitely not acceptable now and given the recent publishing as ebooks, IMHO it could have been removed. Also, .
Book 1: 4 stars
Book 2: 4 stars
Book 3: 2 stars
Overall: 3. something, marked up to 4
February 24, 2022
3 for 3! Three very fine reads from a very talented author. I read prodigiously, and so coming across a gifted writer, and throw in equine, and I'm a very happy and satisfied old man. Loved reading this trilogy, and will seek out more from Ms Akrill. Thanks so much.
October 16, 2025
There has to be another book!
Ohh my gosh! I can't believe the way the book ended. There has got to be another book!!! Please just one more!
Ohh my gosh! I can't believe the way the book ended. There has got to be another book!!! Please just one more!
June 4, 2016
Loved the setting
Enjoyed a very different setting for a horse story. Characters were enjoyable and fun.., dialogue was fresh and different. Scored a hit with me.
Enjoyed a very different setting for a horse story. Characters were enjoyable and fun.., dialogue was fresh and different. Scored a hit with me.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews