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Hoofbeats
After a run of bad luck, gifted horse trainer Cole Frasier thinks he s lost his touch. When he s offered three times his normal rate to gentle a stallion, he needs the money badly enough he jumps at the opportunity, even if his boss is of questionable morality.
Once he meets Midnight Blood, he knows there s something special about the horse, but he doesn t know how special until he begins sharing dreams with the magnificent steed.
Derek Dancing Hawk is a horse shifter trapped in his horse form due to guilt over losing the wild herd he was guarding. When he meets Cole, as Midnight Blood, he wants to find a way to be human again. During a fight between Cole and the ranch foreman, he manages to shift and save Cole, but his transformation from horse to human is captured on camera. This not only gives Cole s boss blackmail material, but also creates the need to warn the horse shifter council of the threat to their anonymity. The existence of shifters is a closely guarded secret, one they will go to great lengths to keep. "
Once he meets Midnight Blood, he knows there s something special about the horse, but he doesn t know how special until he begins sharing dreams with the magnificent steed.
Derek Dancing Hawk is a horse shifter trapped in his horse form due to guilt over losing the wild herd he was guarding. When he meets Cole, as Midnight Blood, he wants to find a way to be human again. During a fight between Cole and the ranch foreman, he manages to shift and save Cole, but his transformation from horse to human is captured on camera. This not only gives Cole s boss blackmail material, but also creates the need to warn the horse shifter council of the threat to their anonymity. The existence of shifters is a closely guarded secret, one they will go to great lengths to keep. "
200 pages, Paperback
First published February 12, 2016
About the author
A.J. Marcus
133 books34 followersA.J. Marcus grew up in Texas. He’s always had a fascination with cowboys, comic books and the great outdoors. He started writing in high school and at times spent more time writing than he did reading, and he’s a voracious reader. Maybe it was growing up in Texas, but his love of rugged men showed up even before he realized what was going on. He likes his men manly, hard, tough and caring, men with hearts, and other parts, as big as Texas.
A.J. currently lives near Colorado Springs, Colorado with his loving partner and several horses. The men here are still men.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/AJ-Marc...
A.J. currently lives near Colorado Springs, Colorado with his loving partner and several horses. The men here are still men.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/AJ-Marc...
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 18, 2016
Cole Frasier is a "Horse Whisperer" whos reputation is flawless till tragedy strikes. Now he is down on his luck. He hopes to redeem himself when a job to tame a hose called Midnight Blood comes his way. The owner is dubious, but Cole can't pass the chance to prove to himself that he's still capable.
I had a blast with this book. My first foray into horse shifting stories, but I hope not the last. I loved the imagery, and the relationship between the two men, but the humor with the horse side sealed the deal. I just know my horse had some of the same thoughts. This left me wanting more.
I had a blast with this book. My first foray into horse shifting stories, but I hope not the last. I loved the imagery, and the relationship between the two men, but the humor with the horse side sealed the deal. I just know my horse had some of the same thoughts. This left me wanting more.
February 10, 2016
I actually gave this 3.5 stars.
Hoofbeats was a delightful read. It had just the right balance of sweetness, humor, and tension that kept me turning the pages. The enchanting twists were just wonderful to read.
Cole is trying to get his mojo back after a horse under his care had to be put down. He takes an assignment in Colorado to work with a flighty stallion. Midnight Blood - aka Derek is a Guardian horse shifter, who lost his herd several years earlier, and can’t find his way to shift back to human. He doesn’t want to shift back, until he meets Cole.
And this is what I liked about the story – I liked Derek’s and Cole’s relationship dance. I really enjoyed Derek’s point of view as a horse, his equine humor shone through and I liked being able to read his thoughts. The dream connection was different and interesting – it confused me at first – I thought I had missed some pages – but once I figured out what was going on it was an interesting way to get around the whole horse can’t talk business. Nicely done. I also really appreciated once Derek and Cole figured out there found out they were connected and soul mates, the authors avoided the use of the term "mate". A very overused term in the shifter books and I didn't see it used here, and if it was, it was not noticeable. ((Golf clap!))
I have just a handful of quirks with the overall story. My first one is Mr. Lopez. Very nicely done as a slimy antagonist, but something felt rushed toward the end of the book where he was hands off prior, and then, all hands on. There was also one comment from Cole about not wanting to take the job because he didn’t trust Mr. Lopez, but in the beginning of the story, he was taking the job because he desperately needed the money and needed to get his mojo back. Seemed contradictory.
I struggled a bit with the story was Grandma Jean. For an elder, she came across too much like a giddy teenager, the female bestie or an over eager sister. She just didn’t quite fit “Grandma Jean”. Auntie might have been better?
And, lastly I thought the appearance of the Enforcers – shifters who watch the competition circuit and I'll assume elsewhere - came somewhat abruptly. Cole, Derek, and Elizabeth (bad guys wife) were on their fifth field competition when the Enforcers showed up. I would have liked to have seen at least one earlier competition with a forewarning before the big “Your in trouble!” scene. I also had some issues with the Enforcers just automatically assuming the worst.
I admit, I had a couple of flashbacks to my Black Stallion books while reading this. And that was a looong time ago.
Overall: A very enjoyable horse shifter book that pulls from SW Native American culture. A wonderful balance of humor, sweetness, hotness and tension to make this a page turner.
Review cross posted at Gay Book Reviews
Copy of book provided by the authors for a fair and honest review. Thank you!
Hoofbeats was a delightful read. It had just the right balance of sweetness, humor, and tension that kept me turning the pages. The enchanting twists were just wonderful to read.
Cole is trying to get his mojo back after a horse under his care had to be put down. He takes an assignment in Colorado to work with a flighty stallion. Midnight Blood - aka Derek is a Guardian horse shifter, who lost his herd several years earlier, and can’t find his way to shift back to human. He doesn’t want to shift back, until he meets Cole.
And this is what I liked about the story – I liked Derek’s and Cole’s relationship dance. I really enjoyed Derek’s point of view as a horse, his equine humor shone through and I liked being able to read his thoughts. The dream connection was different and interesting – it confused me at first – I thought I had missed some pages – but once I figured out what was going on it was an interesting way to get around the whole horse can’t talk business. Nicely done. I also really appreciated once Derek and Cole figured out there found out they were connected and soul mates, the authors avoided the use of the term "mate". A very overused term in the shifter books and I didn't see it used here, and if it was, it was not noticeable. ((Golf clap!))
I have just a handful of quirks with the overall story. My first one is Mr. Lopez. Very nicely done as a slimy antagonist, but something felt rushed toward the end of the book where he was hands off prior, and then, all hands on. There was also one comment from Cole about not wanting to take the job because he didn’t trust Mr. Lopez, but in the beginning of the story, he was taking the job because he desperately needed the money and needed to get his mojo back. Seemed contradictory.
I struggled a bit with the story was Grandma Jean. For an elder, she came across too much like a giddy teenager, the female bestie or an over eager sister. She just didn’t quite fit “Grandma Jean”. Auntie might have been better?
And, lastly I thought the appearance of the Enforcers – shifters who watch the competition circuit and I'll assume elsewhere - came somewhat abruptly. Cole, Derek, and Elizabeth (bad guys wife) were on their fifth field competition when the Enforcers showed up. I would have liked to have seen at least one earlier competition with a forewarning before the big “Your in trouble!” scene. I also had some issues with the Enforcers just automatically assuming the worst.
I admit, I had a couple of flashbacks to my Black Stallion books while reading this. And that was a looong time ago.
Overall: A very enjoyable horse shifter book that pulls from SW Native American culture. A wonderful balance of humor, sweetness, hotness and tension to make this a page turner.
Review cross posted at Gay Book Reviews
Copy of book provided by the authors for a fair and honest review. Thank you!
April 23, 2016
2.5 Hears
Hoofbeats was a very unique experience for me. Horse shifter Derek Dancing Hawk was unique. I liked him as a character but I felt he was disconnected and naive about the community he belonged to. I didn’t quite understand how the community worked. There was talk of training as a boy, to become a guardian to wild horses, about how close he was with his grandmother, but there still seemed to be a disconnect between the family members, like once you were trained up, you were on your own, unless there was trouble, and then suddenly you were staring at shifter enforcers who would kill you because you did something wrong. It didn’t really gel with me. Some work on the world building was needed for me to understand the why’s of it all.
Read the rest of my review by clicking the button.
Hoofbeats was a very unique experience for me. Horse shifter Derek Dancing Hawk was unique. I liked him as a character but I felt he was disconnected and naive about the community he belonged to. I didn’t quite understand how the community worked. There was talk of training as a boy, to become a guardian to wild horses, about how close he was with his grandmother, but there still seemed to be a disconnect between the family members, like once you were trained up, you were on your own, unless there was trouble, and then suddenly you were staring at shifter enforcers who would kill you because you did something wrong. It didn’t really gel with me. Some work on the world building was needed for me to understand the why’s of it all.
Read the rest of my review by clicking the button.
February 22, 2016
The blurb for this book sounded like it would be right up my alley, I like a good shifter book, especially with something other than the typical wolf shifter. I thought I’d give it a try, but unfortunately it fell way flat for me.
The plot started off interesting, Derek Dancing Hawk is a horse shifter, a guardian of his herd, who lost his herd and is trapped in his horse shape. He’s been sold to a man, to be used as a competition horse for the man’s wife. Derek is pretty pissed off at the world, and happy to just go hide out in the pasture and ignore everyone. He knows he’s being watched, so he can’t shift back even if he could. Along comes a new trainer to see what can be done for him.
Cole Frasier is a very skilled horse trainer, normally anyway, but something went badly wrong and he lost his touch. He’s been offered lots of money to train a fiery horse, Midnight Blood. He shows up at the ranch and realizes pretty quickly he’s in a bad place. But he’s stuck. He feels an instant kinship and connection with Midnight Blood, and senses something different about the horse. He begins to bond with the horse, and bring him in to the barn. He also begins to have some strange dreams involving a horse that talks to him.
Eventually it all comes out that Midnight Blood is a horse shifter, Mr. Lopez is a psychopathic drug dealer, and out to cheat on some sort of horse shows using Derek, who he knows is a shifter. There is this whole attempt at using some Native American myths, plus a shifter counsel with enforcers, but none of it worked for me.
It was all just very weird, and not very well done. Every character in this book is just over the top. There was no subtlety, no originality, no mystery. The characters were all predictable and stereotypical. I didn’t like anyone, including Derek and Cole. The writing was off, the dialog was cheesy, and the characters were too over done for me. Parts were way too long, then other things were skipped right over.
I hate to write reviews like this, I wouldn’t have finished this book, and wouldn’t have rated it if I wasn’t doing it for the blog, but I have too….
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
The plot started off interesting, Derek Dancing Hawk is a horse shifter, a guardian of his herd, who lost his herd and is trapped in his horse shape. He’s been sold to a man, to be used as a competition horse for the man’s wife. Derek is pretty pissed off at the world, and happy to just go hide out in the pasture and ignore everyone. He knows he’s being watched, so he can’t shift back even if he could. Along comes a new trainer to see what can be done for him.
Cole Frasier is a very skilled horse trainer, normally anyway, but something went badly wrong and he lost his touch. He’s been offered lots of money to train a fiery horse, Midnight Blood. He shows up at the ranch and realizes pretty quickly he’s in a bad place. But he’s stuck. He feels an instant kinship and connection with Midnight Blood, and senses something different about the horse. He begins to bond with the horse, and bring him in to the barn. He also begins to have some strange dreams involving a horse that talks to him.
Eventually it all comes out that Midnight Blood is a horse shifter, Mr. Lopez is a psychopathic drug dealer, and out to cheat on some sort of horse shows using Derek, who he knows is a shifter. There is this whole attempt at using some Native American myths, plus a shifter counsel with enforcers, but none of it worked for me.
It was all just very weird, and not very well done. Every character in this book is just over the top. There was no subtlety, no originality, no mystery. The characters were all predictable and stereotypical. I didn’t like anyone, including Derek and Cole. The writing was off, the dialog was cheesy, and the characters were too over done for me. Parts were way too long, then other things were skipped right over.
I hate to write reviews like this, I wouldn’t have finished this book, and wouldn’t have rated it if I wasn’t doing it for the blog, but I have too….
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
February 25, 2016
A romance between a trainer and his horse. I've never read a book like this. Quite a unique concept and story.
This was a good and different story. It kept you on the edge of your seat because you never knew what was going to happen around the next corner.
I'm glad that the romance part of the story happened early on and, of course, lasted throughout the book. I've read many a story where the romance happened half way or even three quarters through the book. So I appreciate this.
The only part I didn't like, which is just a few and their minor, is I didn't like the concept of them being prisoners for so long. Also, I wish they would have gotten freed a little sooner than at the end.
The story is about how does Cole and Derek get freed from Mr. Lopez's clutches. I'm glad that the story answers that question in a good and thorough way. We are also introduced to The Circle which is hinted at within the story. We also get a hint at who is Mrs. Lopez, really. The author, though, lets you draw your own conclusions.
I do recommend this story. Especially if you are a horse lover you will absolutely love it. I'm not really a horse lover, but I'm a shifter story lover. The story, as I mentioned in the beginning, is unique and different in its own way. I love that and I loved the mystery and how the author ties everything together and brings about a nice happy ending with good conclusions.
I received this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review from Inked Rainbow Reads.
This was a good and different story. It kept you on the edge of your seat because you never knew what was going to happen around the next corner.
I'm glad that the romance part of the story happened early on and, of course, lasted throughout the book. I've read many a story where the romance happened half way or even three quarters through the book. So I appreciate this.
The only part I didn't like, which is just a few and their minor, is I didn't like the concept of them being prisoners for so long. Also, I wish they would have gotten freed a little sooner than at the end.
The story is about how does Cole and Derek get freed from Mr. Lopez's clutches. I'm glad that the story answers that question in a good and thorough way. We are also introduced to The Circle which is hinted at within the story. We also get a hint at who is Mrs. Lopez, really. The author, though, lets you draw your own conclusions.
I do recommend this story. Especially if you are a horse lover you will absolutely love it. I'm not really a horse lover, but I'm a shifter story lover. The story, as I mentioned in the beginning, is unique and different in its own way. I love that and I loved the mystery and how the author ties everything together and brings about a nice happy ending with good conclusions.
I received this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review from Inked Rainbow Reads.
February 21, 2016
****Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance®****
I love horses, so when I saw Hoofbeats come up, complete with a sexy horse shifter, I had to grab it! I am so glad I did. It had great pacing, interesting backstories, likable main characters and suitably villainous bad guys.
I loved Derek as a horse as well as a man; there was enough animal in his thoughts to make it interesting and show him as more than either of his parts. I also loved Cole and his care and love of horses. It made for a strong relationship between the two.
The villainy part of the story was a little melodramatic at times, but it was entertaining. The world of the made up horse show was unique and I would have liked to see such pageantry in real life. Despite some murder, sabotage, blackmail and mayhem, in the end we get our Happily-Ever-After.
If you are a lover of horses and are looking for a different kind of shifter book, this may just be what you want!
I love horses, so when I saw Hoofbeats come up, complete with a sexy horse shifter, I had to grab it! I am so glad I did. It had great pacing, interesting backstories, likable main characters and suitably villainous bad guys.
I loved Derek as a horse as well as a man; there was enough animal in his thoughts to make it interesting and show him as more than either of his parts. I also loved Cole and his care and love of horses. It made for a strong relationship between the two.
The villainy part of the story was a little melodramatic at times, but it was entertaining. The world of the made up horse show was unique and I would have liked to see such pageantry in real life. Despite some murder, sabotage, blackmail and mayhem, in the end we get our Happily-Ever-After.
If you are a lover of horses and are looking for a different kind of shifter book, this may just be what you want!
February 26, 2016
I really enjoyed the premise behind this new shifter story. Like many good shifter stories, the authors draw on Native American legends for inspirations and here the attention to detail is brilliant.
Cole and Derek are an interesting pairing. I loved the idea of the horse whisperer and the horse shifter together. With Derek stuck in horse form for the first part of the book, I found the dream and fantasies a little bit uncomfortable but the men together are very sweet.
But while I loved the ideas, I struggled with the execution of this story. Without spoiling the story, I found the villain too obvious, the conflict artificially constructed and I felt there was far too much OTT drama for me to fully believe in the story.
But the authors end this with the possibility and potential for more stories to follow. With such good world-building, I look forward to sequels with more nuanced plots and more subtle character development in the future.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
February 10, 2016
3.5 Stars
Review Posted
Gay Book Reviews
*Review Galley provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Jaime from Alpha Book Club
and Gay Book Reviews
Review Posted
Gay Book Reviews
*Review Galley provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Jaime from Alpha Book Club
and Gay Book Reviews
August 31, 2017
Above all else, this is a wonderful love story between two men. One happens to be a horse shifter stuck in horse form. The other is a horse whisperer/trainer. The pacing was solid, the bad guys effective, and the characters well developed. I also loved the "secret" character (no spoilers!), as said character is a favorite of mine in Native lore.
February 25, 2016
A ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords Review. This review can also be found here.
3.5 Stars
Cole Frasier, a famous horse trainer, has had a troubled year, so when he is offered work at triple his asking price. He jumps at it. But the horse he is working with is much more than just a horse.
Derek Dancing Hawk is stuck in his horse form, but something about Cole makes him want to shift. While the bond between the two men strengthens, the shift is brought on when Cole ends up in a fight. But shifting might have just made things worse for both Derek and Cole.
While their boss uses the secret to force the two of them in a money-making gimmick, the Enforcers who ensure that the secret is kept are not going to take Derek prancing about as a horse lightly. What fate awaits these two as they find themselves between the proverbial rock and a hard place…?
The beginning of this story is bogged down with too many descriptions, most of them unnecessary which makes getting in sync with the book a little harder. As such the first chapter tries too hard to get everyone on the same page. But the moment we get to the second chapter things get infinitely better and the story becomes quite interesting.
As such what captured my imagination was Derek as Midnight Blood, there was something about his mannerisms as a horse that were true to both aspects of his being, as a horse and as a human. I commend the authors on getting Derek spot on. Because as a horse he is really able to get across the fact that he is a horse-shifter and a human being. All in all what works is that Derek really gets you on his side from the beginning, with his attitude and his personality.
While Cole who has his own issues, finds a challenge in Midnight Blood. But it soon becomes quite clear that Midnight is not just his outside facade of a horse but a remarkable being on the inside. As such Cole comes across as a well-mannered guy who stands up for his beliefs.
What I loved about the book was how the story weaves in and out of Derek and Cole’s relationship. How circumstances bring them closer. Also all the little moments they share together are adorable. More than anything seeing them together is the best part of this book and how the story brings about new aspects in their interactions with each other.
The story hits kind of a slow patch around the half way mark which seems to drag on forever. In fact this is where story fails to make a mark, the story builds up to a point where circumstances need to be resolved to ensure a future to Derek and Cole’s relationship and personally I don’t think things got handled so well. What should have been quick, decisive and a major relief becomes prolonged with too many unnecessary situations during which Derek and Cole who are the strength of this book hardly spend any time talking and things drag for a quite a long time and ultimately don’t bring a lot of relief.
As such a lot of things go unexplained in this book. A major chunk of side characters in this book are the villains. We have the head honcho Mr. Lopez who is a perfect example of a scumbag, Joe who has more brawns than brains and assorted body-guards who are just pains in the ass. And then there is Elizabeth whose character seemed quite unhinged from the very start and seems to be dealt with in the worst way possible and I never understood Cole’s sympathy towards her. While the side characters on the side of good are not much better, there is Mike who would have been a cute addition except he has no role in the story and is just unwanted baggage in the book. I didn’t quite understand Jean she just didn’t give off grandmotherly vibes. The side characters best depicted were the various enforcers Sebastian, Gabriel and Avorial they get the job down without tagging on when not required.
What the story needed was a tighter plot, fewer side characters and a bit more background on the retained side characters. But what convinces me this book is worth a shot is Cole and Derek, I mean seeing them together living their life is charming, seeing them tackle challenges and just enjoying life in each other’s company was worth reading the book.
The cover is by L. C. Chase. I loved the horses on the cover but the men on the cover didn’t quite match my idea of Cole and Derek.
3.5 Stars
Cole Frasier, a famous horse trainer, has had a troubled year, so when he is offered work at triple his asking price. He jumps at it. But the horse he is working with is much more than just a horse.
Derek Dancing Hawk is stuck in his horse form, but something about Cole makes him want to shift. While the bond between the two men strengthens, the shift is brought on when Cole ends up in a fight. But shifting might have just made things worse for both Derek and Cole.
While their boss uses the secret to force the two of them in a money-making gimmick, the Enforcers who ensure that the secret is kept are not going to take Derek prancing about as a horse lightly. What fate awaits these two as they find themselves between the proverbial rock and a hard place…?
The beginning of this story is bogged down with too many descriptions, most of them unnecessary which makes getting in sync with the book a little harder. As such the first chapter tries too hard to get everyone on the same page. But the moment we get to the second chapter things get infinitely better and the story becomes quite interesting.
As such what captured my imagination was Derek as Midnight Blood, there was something about his mannerisms as a horse that were true to both aspects of his being, as a horse and as a human. I commend the authors on getting Derek spot on. Because as a horse he is really able to get across the fact that he is a horse-shifter and a human being. All in all what works is that Derek really gets you on his side from the beginning, with his attitude and his personality.
While Cole who has his own issues, finds a challenge in Midnight Blood. But it soon becomes quite clear that Midnight is not just his outside facade of a horse but a remarkable being on the inside. As such Cole comes across as a well-mannered guy who stands up for his beliefs.
What I loved about the book was how the story weaves in and out of Derek and Cole’s relationship. How circumstances bring them closer. Also all the little moments they share together are adorable. More than anything seeing them together is the best part of this book and how the story brings about new aspects in their interactions with each other.
The story hits kind of a slow patch around the half way mark which seems to drag on forever. In fact this is where story fails to make a mark, the story builds up to a point where circumstances need to be resolved to ensure a future to Derek and Cole’s relationship and personally I don’t think things got handled so well. What should have been quick, decisive and a major relief becomes prolonged with too many unnecessary situations during which Derek and Cole who are the strength of this book hardly spend any time talking and things drag for a quite a long time and ultimately don’t bring a lot of relief.
As such a lot of things go unexplained in this book. A major chunk of side characters in this book are the villains. We have the head honcho Mr. Lopez who is a perfect example of a scumbag, Joe who has more brawns than brains and assorted body-guards who are just pains in the ass. And then there is Elizabeth whose character seemed quite unhinged from the very start and seems to be dealt with in the worst way possible and I never understood Cole’s sympathy towards her. While the side characters on the side of good are not much better, there is Mike who would have been a cute addition except he has no role in the story and is just unwanted baggage in the book. I didn’t quite understand Jean she just didn’t give off grandmotherly vibes. The side characters best depicted were the various enforcers Sebastian, Gabriel and Avorial they get the job down without tagging on when not required.
What the story needed was a tighter plot, fewer side characters and a bit more background on the retained side characters. But what convinces me this book is worth a shot is Cole and Derek, I mean seeing them together living their life is charming, seeing them tackle challenges and just enjoying life in each other’s company was worth reading the book.
The cover is by L. C. Chase. I loved the horses on the cover but the men on the cover didn’t quite match my idea of Cole and Derek.
February 19, 2016
I really enjoy reading shifter stories . . . So with that little disclaimer out of the way, let's get onto the review. Hoofbeats is a slightly different shifter novel -- it has a very well developed plot and a deep story line that made it very enjoyable reading.
Cole is kind of like a horse whisperer. He is called upon to help calm a five year old stallion named Midnight aka Derek. There is a connection between Cole and Derek that is revealed in dream sequences in the book -- Derek is a horse shifter who has been stuck in horse form for nearly five years because of overwhelming grief that Derek feels concerning certain failures when he was the protector of his family herd.
As the two get to know each other, Derek feels that Cole has been badly injured in an accident: that is the impetus to have him shift back to human form. As he is shifting, the owner of Midnight aka Derek, a man named Lopez, catches the change on video and he intends to blackmail both Derek (the horse) and Cole (as a trainer) to create a super horse for some strange dressage competitions. (If the video is made public, the threat is that the government will want to capture Derek and cut him up to see how a shifter works.). However, there is also a group of shifters known as Enforcers who go around killing shifters who become too ensconced in the human world. So, it's a catch 22 unless Derek and Cole can convince the Enforcers to free them from Lopez' clutches.
The story goes on and ends up with a happy for now ending with a real possibility for a sequel.
The pages really flew by as I was reading this book, and at the end of the book, I really wanted to read more. There is just the right balance of plot, intrigue, romance, dialogue, and surprises to make this a really enjoyable book to read. I certainly hope that there is a sequel soon. But, for now, this story gets five stars from me.
Cole is kind of like a horse whisperer. He is called upon to help calm a five year old stallion named Midnight aka Derek. There is a connection between Cole and Derek that is revealed in dream sequences in the book -- Derek is a horse shifter who has been stuck in horse form for nearly five years because of overwhelming grief that Derek feels concerning certain failures when he was the protector of his family herd.
As the two get to know each other, Derek feels that Cole has been badly injured in an accident: that is the impetus to have him shift back to human form. As he is shifting, the owner of Midnight aka Derek, a man named Lopez, catches the change on video and he intends to blackmail both Derek (the horse) and Cole (as a trainer) to create a super horse for some strange dressage competitions. (If the video is made public, the threat is that the government will want to capture Derek and cut him up to see how a shifter works.). However, there is also a group of shifters known as Enforcers who go around killing shifters who become too ensconced in the human world. So, it's a catch 22 unless Derek and Cole can convince the Enforcers to free them from Lopez' clutches.
The story goes on and ends up with a happy for now ending with a real possibility for a sequel.
The pages really flew by as I was reading this book, and at the end of the book, I really wanted to read more. There is just the right balance of plot, intrigue, romance, dialogue, and surprises to make this a really enjoyable book to read. I certainly hope that there is a sequel soon. But, for now, this story gets five stars from me.
April 24, 2016
Independent reviewer for Divine Magazine, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Trapped in his horse form for five years as Midnight Blood, Derek reacts to this new human. To his voice, his touch, his very soul. Cole knows there is something very special about his new charge and its not until Cole is attacked that Derek shows his human form and is able to break free of losing his herd. But the transformation from beats to man leads to more complications, much deadly ones that neither Derek nor Cole could foresee.
Horse shifters are not something I've come across before, and I thoroughly enjoyed this one! Add in the Native American history/legends, and the male/male aspect and ding ding ding! We have a winner, for me anyway!
I loved the distinction between Derek and Midnight Blood, the way they think, move, characteristics.
I loved that we never got the full picture about Elizabeth and what she is. Loved all the cast of supporting characters too.
What I didn't like was Lopez and how that all went down. I just think it could have been much much worse, and the story didn't fully exploit that.
I'd like to read more about Derek and Cole, further along in their story. I think they have more to say. I'm left wondering about other people in this book, Elizabeth, especially, but there are lots of quirky people here, and I'd really like more!
I've not read anything by these two authors, either separately or together and I would like to read more. I liked the way they write, and how they come across.
4 solid stars
**same worded review will appear on Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and Kobo**
Trapped in his horse form for five years as Midnight Blood, Derek reacts to this new human. To his voice, his touch, his very soul. Cole knows there is something very special about his new charge and its not until Cole is attacked that Derek shows his human form and is able to break free of losing his herd. But the transformation from beats to man leads to more complications, much deadly ones that neither Derek nor Cole could foresee.
Horse shifters are not something I've come across before, and I thoroughly enjoyed this one! Add in the Native American history/legends, and the male/male aspect and ding ding ding! We have a winner, for me anyway!
I loved the distinction between Derek and Midnight Blood, the way they think, move, characteristics.
I loved that we never got the full picture about Elizabeth and what she is. Loved all the cast of supporting characters too.
What I didn't like was Lopez and how that all went down. I just think it could have been much much worse, and the story didn't fully exploit that.
I'd like to read more about Derek and Cole, further along in their story. I think they have more to say. I'm left wondering about other people in this book, Elizabeth, especially, but there are lots of quirky people here, and I'd really like more!
I've not read anything by these two authors, either separately or together and I would like to read more. I liked the way they write, and how they come across.
4 solid stars
**same worded review will appear on Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and Kobo**
February 12, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
1.5 stars
The premise and the beginning of this book did capture my attention initially. Derek is stuck in his horse form and he is great at avoiding his owners, as he had good reason to be distrustful of humans. His sadness comes through as he blames himself for not being able to save his herd. Cole carries a similar sadness since losing a horse has shaken his confidence. You could say this is a slow burn romance since for the first third of the book Derek is a horse, but there are dreams where anything is possible.
There were several side characters that were caricatures. There was the scary boss ranch owner that everyone was afraid of; there was the drunk, belligerent, jealous right hand man; there was the earnest younger guy that does all of the work; and there was the beautiful, duplicitous, and mysterious ranch wife. When the drunk foreman attacks Cole it flips the switch on Derek’s shifting ability as he needs to protect Cole. This was a pivotal point of the book and the actual shift was mostly glossed over as all of a sudden Derek had hands. The owner than blackmails them to keep their secret or he will turn Derek over to the government. What happens next is that they want money so they coerce Derek to enter a dressage competition. But Derek doesn’t know the steps and his wild horse form doesn’t move that way so Cole teaches him how to dance. This was precisely the moment where the plot was lost to me.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
1.5 stars
The premise and the beginning of this book did capture my attention initially. Derek is stuck in his horse form and he is great at avoiding his owners, as he had good reason to be distrustful of humans. His sadness comes through as he blames himself for not being able to save his herd. Cole carries a similar sadness since losing a horse has shaken his confidence. You could say this is a slow burn romance since for the first third of the book Derek is a horse, but there are dreams where anything is possible.
There were several side characters that were caricatures. There was the scary boss ranch owner that everyone was afraid of; there was the drunk, belligerent, jealous right hand man; there was the earnest younger guy that does all of the work; and there was the beautiful, duplicitous, and mysterious ranch wife. When the drunk foreman attacks Cole it flips the switch on Derek’s shifting ability as he needs to protect Cole. This was a pivotal point of the book and the actual shift was mostly glossed over as all of a sudden Derek had hands. The owner than blackmails them to keep their secret or he will turn Derek over to the government. What happens next is that they want money so they coerce Derek to enter a dressage competition. But Derek doesn’t know the steps and his wild horse form doesn’t move that way so Cole teaches him how to dance. This was precisely the moment where the plot was lost to me.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
February 22, 2016
Hoofbeats by A.J. Marcus, Nicole Godfrey
3.5 stars
M/M shifter, romance
I was given this book for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
Cole is a rough, sweet, gifted horse whisperer. I really enjoyed his character. He was sweet, but tough, kind but harsh when he needed to be. I do wish that we knew more about his past - other than a terrible event, we don't really know much about him. I do like how he was so protective of Derek - curious about him in a way that nobody else was.
The antagonist in this book was great. You knew that hating him was OK. Lopez made for a great bad guy - you knew he was crooked, mean, crazy and he was easy to hate. Then you had Joe. He was just mean. I enjoyed hating him too.
Then you have Derek and his whole shifter identity. I liked that he was 2 different characters - they were distinct and yet, the same. His view of the world, of Cole was beautiful. I also really enjoyed his grandma. And, while I was impressed with his ability to "show", I liked him as Derek more. The man was compassionate, soulful and loving.
Unfortunately, for me, this book was kind of truncated. I didn't really like the flow - it was somewhat strange. Despite the loving the characters, the story itself was somewhat lacking. However, if you like a quick shifter read without a lot of development and some strange character interjection, then this would be an easy read.
3.5 stars
M/M shifter, romance
I was given this book for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
Cole is a rough, sweet, gifted horse whisperer. I really enjoyed his character. He was sweet, but tough, kind but harsh when he needed to be. I do wish that we knew more about his past - other than a terrible event, we don't really know much about him. I do like how he was so protective of Derek - curious about him in a way that nobody else was.
The antagonist in this book was great. You knew that hating him was OK. Lopez made for a great bad guy - you knew he was crooked, mean, crazy and he was easy to hate. Then you had Joe. He was just mean. I enjoyed hating him too.
Then you have Derek and his whole shifter identity. I liked that he was 2 different characters - they were distinct and yet, the same. His view of the world, of Cole was beautiful. I also really enjoyed his grandma. And, while I was impressed with his ability to "show", I liked him as Derek more. The man was compassionate, soulful and loving.
Unfortunately, for me, this book was kind of truncated. I didn't really like the flow - it was somewhat strange. Despite the loving the characters, the story itself was somewhat lacking. However, if you like a quick shifter read without a lot of development and some strange character interjection, then this would be an easy read.
February 24, 2016
Derek loses his herd to a group of hunters and his guilt forces him into his horse-form permanently for the last several years. He ends up owned by an evil jerk named Oscar and being trained by the magical trainer, Cole.
Cole is trying to get his mojo back after losing one of his training horses to a devastating injury. He takes a risky job for a lot of money knowing that something isn’t right.
Derek and Cole connect right from the start and it’s clear that they’re meant to be when they begin dreaming each other’s dreams. But the evil Oscar won’t let them be and ends up blackmailing them to do his bidding.
Fortunately there are more powers that be out there in Derek and Cole’s corner and life ends up taking some interesting twists …
**
This is a fairly unique shifter book, as far as I’m concerned. Most of the book Derek is a horse, but in his dreams he’s a man and he and Cole can build their relationship.
I got pretty frustrated by the evil Oscar… and wished the story moved a bit quicker in the middle… but I loved the twists and turns the story took and thought the world-building was fascinating and refreshing.
This looks like it might become a series and I look forward to reading more from this world.
Cole is trying to get his mojo back after losing one of his training horses to a devastating injury. He takes a risky job for a lot of money knowing that something isn’t right.
Derek and Cole connect right from the start and it’s clear that they’re meant to be when they begin dreaming each other’s dreams. But the evil Oscar won’t let them be and ends up blackmailing them to do his bidding.
Fortunately there are more powers that be out there in Derek and Cole’s corner and life ends up taking some interesting twists …
**
This is a fairly unique shifter book, as far as I’m concerned. Most of the book Derek is a horse, but in his dreams he’s a man and he and Cole can build their relationship.
I got pretty frustrated by the evil Oscar… and wished the story moved a bit quicker in the middle… but I loved the twists and turns the story took and thought the world-building was fascinating and refreshing.
This looks like it might become a series and I look forward to reading more from this world.
June 27, 2016
Hoof Beats by authors A.J. Marcus and Nicole Godfrey is a new take on the shifter romance tale. I liked how we get to really get inside the heads of the characters before there is any sex involved. I also liked Derek a lot. He has many layers we explore in this book. Plus he is a horse shifter, and I love horses!
Cole he has come to the Ranch to tame a wild horse. A rare horse with exceptional bloodline. Cole has always had a way with horses but though he lost it as of late. Then he meets Derek. The connection he has to him in his horse form is amazing. Cole is not sure what is up, but he knows Derek is more than just a horse when he meets him. I liked that Cole was able to reach Derek the man too even in horse form.
Derek has been in horse form for a long time now. He has forgotten almost how to change back. He has a lot of guilt and pain and in order to turn human again he has to let that go. I liked how he loves his horse form. I like the freedom it gives him. Derek is a very deep character and it shows in this book.
Over all this is great book! I want more. I would love to see this pair do more together in the future after reading this one I would be in line to read anything by them.
Five Shooting Stars
February 12, 2016
I haven’t actually had the chance to read many horse shifter books so I was quite eager to read this one. Derek is a horse shifter locked in his horse form due to serious guilt he harbors. Cole, who also has his own guilt he’s desperate to overcome, is hired by a real piece of work to get Midnight Blood (Derek) to cooperate so his wife can ride him, and he can win competitions.
There was mysterious undertone throughout this story. I was unclear about some of the magic that was going on but I also get the feeling you’re not supposed to completely get it. It’s magic after all. There’s colorful characters throughout the tale and it was always interesting, with each turning page, to see what surprises were lurking.
This was an exciting and lovely story. Finding your soul mate is not easy task. Keeping that love in the face of great danger and the unknown is the hardest fight you’ll ever have.
This is an enjoyable read.
There was mysterious undertone throughout this story. I was unclear about some of the magic that was going on but I also get the feeling you’re not supposed to completely get it. It’s magic after all. There’s colorful characters throughout the tale and it was always interesting, with each turning page, to see what surprises were lurking.
This was an exciting and lovely story. Finding your soul mate is not easy task. Keeping that love in the face of great danger and the unknown is the hardest fight you’ll ever have.
This is an enjoyable read.
February 22, 2016
2.5 rounded up. I can't say I outright disliked this book but isn't one that I will reread again. The characters where interesting and I did like the concept of guardian shifters and horse whispers. But the biggest thing that just didn't sit right with me was plausibility. That Lopez actually has enough power to keep these two against their will not too mention his wife. For me it just doesn't make sense . On top of that the enforcers who seem like total idiots that can't tell the two of them are being forced against their will. Beyond Derek and Cole all the secondary characters are standard trope of characters. The evil boss, the drunk foreman, the sweet hardworking kid...
February 15, 2016
3.5 stars. This was pretty good.
April 3, 2016
What an amazing book! It was splendid to read a story where the romance was not centered around a basic male-female relationship. The mystery and paranormal elements really added to this page-turner.
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