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The Hidden Falls #1
Painted Ponies
Her face forever changed by a tragic fire, Anne Moreland returns to her hometown of Hidden Falls, hoping to resume her old life. But nothing is the same. Her brother is gone; his nemesis is back in town; and the man who meets her train is a stranger, a handsome stranger who carves the most incredible carousel horses. He's a man who loves beauty and adventure--absolutely the wrong man for a scarred woman who is building a new life for herself in Hidden Falls. No matter how wonderful he is, it would be foolish to dream of a future with Rob. Rob Ludlow will never settle down, at least not until he's resolved the mystery from his past. And when he does settle down, no matter how much he might wish otherwise, it will not be with a woman like Anne. She deserves far better than an itinerant craftsman. She deserves a man who can give her all the luxuries she had before the fire. Yet it hurts him deeply to see her being courted by the wealthiest man in town. Anne and Rob reconcile themselves to the fact that they will only be friends, nothing more. But sometimes Fate has other ideas and love blossoms in the most unexpected places.
- GenresRomance
215 pages, Hardcover
First published August 31, 2006
6 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Harte
23 books4 followers"Isn't it wonderful when dreams come true? I've been very fortunate, because many of my dreams have done just that.
Two of my earliest dreams wound up being inter-related. The first was to become a published author, and the second was to live in Europe. As it turned out, living in France as a college student and then in Germany while my husband was stationed there with the Army provided me with the background for my first historical romance. How's that for what people in the business world would call synergy? I prefer to call it serendipity -- or perhaps Fate.
Fate, chance, luck -- call it what you may -- has played an important role in my life. How else would you explain the fact that one Ides of March when I was still reeling from a major personal disappointment, I wandered into one of the high school classrooms after school and met a man who could make me laugh, the same man who's been my husband for over thirty years? Is it any wonder I believe in happy endings?
No doubt about it, I've been lucky. I had parents who nurtured my love of reading, a sister who shared my dreams and always believed I could make them come true, a husband who's also my best friend and who hasn't lost his sense of humor, even when dinner is late because I have "just one more scene" to write, and loyal readers whose letters make all the hard work of writing books seem worthwhile.
Don't let me mislead you. There have been obstacles along the way, and not all my dreams have come true … yet. But I believe that the power of dreams is that they help us through the tough times and give us a reason to celebrate when they come true.
So, my friends, dream on!" - Amanda Harte
Two of my earliest dreams wound up being inter-related. The first was to become a published author, and the second was to live in Europe. As it turned out, living in France as a college student and then in Germany while my husband was stationed there with the Army provided me with the background for my first historical romance. How's that for what people in the business world would call synergy? I prefer to call it serendipity -- or perhaps Fate.
Fate, chance, luck -- call it what you may -- has played an important role in my life. How else would you explain the fact that one Ides of March when I was still reeling from a major personal disappointment, I wandered into one of the high school classrooms after school and met a man who could make me laugh, the same man who's been my husband for over thirty years? Is it any wonder I believe in happy endings?
No doubt about it, I've been lucky. I had parents who nurtured my love of reading, a sister who shared my dreams and always believed I could make them come true, a husband who's also my best friend and who hasn't lost his sense of humor, even when dinner is late because I have "just one more scene" to write, and loyal readers whose letters make all the hard work of writing books seem worthwhile.
Don't let me mislead you. There have been obstacles along the way, and not all my dreams have come true … yet. But I believe that the power of dreams is that they help us through the tough times and give us a reason to celebrate when they come true.
So, my friends, dream on!" - Amanda Harte
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 20, 2015
Painted Ponies is such a sweet, beautiful story with very few reviews.I aim to rectify that:)
It is the story of young woman (an identical twin) whose life is drastically changed by a house fire that leaves her mother and father dead and herself badly scarred. She goes away for a year getting medical treatment and returns to her home town, expecting her brother to meet her at the train station. Instead, her brother's employee meets them; Rob, a man with his own troubled past, a man who has been commissioned by her brother to create a carved wooden carousel for his sister as a welcome homecoming...
I just love the whole "look beyond the surface" kind of love story where people are attracted to the person itself, with or without the fancy packaging. In Rob's eyes, Anne is beautiful inside and out and never is there a word or look of pity in his gaze. Of course, there's the tension which you need in a story, the misunderstandings and doubts that make you wonder if love will really triumph in the end, yet knowing that it must. It HAS to!
Such a lovely story.
Painted Ponies is the first in a series of books but is stand alone with no cliffhanger endings. I believe that the other books in the series focus on other townsfolk in Hidden Falls.
CONTENT:
SEX: None
VIOLENCE: None
PROFANITY: None
MY RATING: G
It is the story of young woman (an identical twin) whose life is drastically changed by a house fire that leaves her mother and father dead and herself badly scarred. She goes away for a year getting medical treatment and returns to her home town, expecting her brother to meet her at the train station. Instead, her brother's employee meets them; Rob, a man with his own troubled past, a man who has been commissioned by her brother to create a carved wooden carousel for his sister as a welcome homecoming...
I just love the whole "look beyond the surface" kind of love story where people are attracted to the person itself, with or without the fancy packaging. In Rob's eyes, Anne is beautiful inside and out and never is there a word or look of pity in his gaze. Of course, there's the tension which you need in a story, the misunderstandings and doubts that make you wonder if love will really triumph in the end, yet knowing that it must. It HAS to!
Such a lovely story.
Painted Ponies is the first in a series of books but is stand alone with no cliffhanger endings. I believe that the other books in the series focus on other townsfolk in Hidden Falls.
CONTENT:
SEX: None
VIOLENCE: None
PROFANITY: None
MY RATING: G
February 2, 2017
I felt bad for Anne when she got her face badly scarred in a fire. I didn't like that she had to go home to nothing and meet new people. I like that Rob took care of her almost immediately. I really enjoyed that she liked the carousel made for her. I think that God had a plan to put the two together. I loved this book and can't wait to read more.
December 15, 2013
How could anyone not love Anne? She's beautiful inside and out. Yet her pretty face is marred with scars. While Anne's scars are mainly external, Rob's are buried deep inside…
This story left me truly caring for the characters, they each had their own unique personality. Rob carves elegant carousals, but in his spare time sends off dozens of letters. While Anne's dreams seem to come down around her ears, leaving her feeling as if she has failed. Again.
I absolutely Loved it! And I can't wait to read the rest of this series. There is nothing within this book that anyone could object to. It's just a pure, sweet, and positively charming romance set in the early 20th century. (Before world war1).
I know that I will be recommending this to friends! I felt the emotion. I could even see the electric lights of the carousal dancing in the moonlight… And the gaity of Anne in her element…
This story left me truly caring for the characters, they each had their own unique personality. Rob carves elegant carousals, but in his spare time sends off dozens of letters. While Anne's dreams seem to come down around her ears, leaving her feeling as if she has failed. Again.
I absolutely Loved it! And I can't wait to read the rest of this series. There is nothing within this book that anyone could object to. It's just a pure, sweet, and positively charming romance set in the early 20th century. (Before world war1).
I know that I will be recommending this to friends! I felt the emotion. I could even see the electric lights of the carousal dancing in the moonlight… And the gaity of Anne in her element…
October 23, 2017
Don’t let societies expectation stop what you need
An interesting romance where no one says what they feel. Because of a fire that killed her parents and severely burned her, she believes she is unlovable because of her scars. This leads to choices that were unthinkable when her parents were alive. He is a carver of merry-go-round animals. He cannot think of a future until he locates his sister. They were separated when his parents died. Each holds back from expressing their feelings, because of their thoughts about the losses.
The ending was a little predictable, but the characters were defined well, the scene setting was excellent and the flow was good. Worth reading.
An interesting romance where no one says what they feel. Because of a fire that killed her parents and severely burned her, she believes she is unlovable because of her scars. This leads to choices that were unthinkable when her parents were alive. He is a carver of merry-go-round animals. He cannot think of a future until he locates his sister. They were separated when his parents died. Each holds back from expressing their feelings, because of their thoughts about the losses.
The ending was a little predictable, but the characters were defined well, the scene setting was excellent and the flow was good. Worth reading.
November 24, 2017
It was a nice Romance with a mystery and complications. I like the setting and the family dynamics.
July 15, 2011
This was the first selection in my Random Library Pick (RLP) exercise. There's really not much need to further describe the Random Library Pick, as I go to the library and randomly pick a book.
ANYWAY.
I've been wanting to try something like this ever since I'd heard (from someone, maybe author Jennifer Donnelly?) that people should try reading something that they'd never think to read. We all have our beloved genres and styles, but it's good to inject something new and unexpected into your reading habits.
This book was certainly unexpected. A little history, a little romance, a few...carousel horses?
Seriously, though, the story wasn't too shabby. I thought the author did a nice job writing an innocuous (in a good way) historical romance while incorporating one of her own passions (she describes her lifelong fascination with carousels in the Author's Note of the book).
The Random Library Pick definitely did its job by projecting something different onto my reading radar. I will definitely try the RLP again.
ANYWAY.
I've been wanting to try something like this ever since I'd heard (from someone, maybe author Jennifer Donnelly?) that people should try reading something that they'd never think to read. We all have our beloved genres and styles, but it's good to inject something new and unexpected into your reading habits.
This book was certainly unexpected. A little history, a little romance, a few...carousel horses?
Seriously, though, the story wasn't too shabby. I thought the author did a nice job writing an innocuous (in a good way) historical romance while incorporating one of her own passions (she describes her lifelong fascination with carousels in the Author's Note of the book).
The Random Library Pick definitely did its job by projecting something different onto my reading radar. I will definitely try the RLP again.
January 29, 2016
Pretty good except when Anne and Rob were written often rehashing similar emotions/thoughts. And there was weird hint that a suitor of Anne's set the last fire, but then nothing is explained on if it's arson or an accident
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews