Chance Meeting

Miller/Sheppard #2

by Laura Moore

Growing up trapped by her father's wealth, awkward Ty Stannard found freedom on horseback. A talented equestrian, she yearned to ride as well as her idol, champion Steve Sheppard. Worshiping the handsome Kentuckian, she treasures the lucky medallion he gives her the day they chance to meet. But then a nasty fall changes everything, and Ty is forced to leave her dreams behind. Now a beautiful woman, determined to live life on her own terms, Ty learns that Steve stands on the brink of ruin. Moved by memories of his kindness to her, she offers him financial backing, but Steve perceives only a selfish socialite amusing herself at his expense. In a daring move, he challenges Ty to be not only a financial partner -- but a full-time farmhand as well, expecting she'll tire of the hardships of a working stable. To Steve's surprise, Ty takes up his challenge. As they rebuild Southwind, Steve's beloved stable, they find unexpected strength and comfort in each other -- and a passion neither can deny. But their fragile love will be tested by not only those who seek to destroy what they have built, but also the insecurities and doubts that shadow their own very vulnerable hearts.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Horses, Contemporary Romance, Westerns

423 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 2001

About the author

I was born in New York City and grew up there and in Western Massachusetts. I began writing while pursuing my master's degree. My first novel, Ride a Dark Horse, filled most of a spiral bound notebook. I soon realized I far preferred writing love stories to term papers!

I now live in Rhode Island with my husband, two children, and our black lab. Our cat Zevon keeps us all in line.

Reviews

[Splage · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat of a bust. Chance Meeting, the second book in the series was just an ok read which was a disappointment after loving For Your Eyes (book 3). If I was into horses or competitive horseback riding I might of enjoyed it more. There was so much detail and description about horses that it slowed it way down for me.

It had a very promising beginning. Ty, the heroine, is a billionaire heiress and 14 at the beginning of the story. Ty and her best friend Lizzie, who I thought was the star of this book even though she was a side kick, were in a competition when they see Ty's dream idol 24 year old Steve Sheppard, star of the riding world. They stalk him as any awkward 14 yr olds with major crushes would do. They catch him an embrace with a high society girl that is forcing herself on him so he ignores the snobby girl and shows Lizzie and Ty kindness by engaging in conversation. Ty is tongue tied, embarrassed and madly in love with Steve. She asks for an autograph and instead he gives her a lucky medallion that she makes into a necklace and wears always. Ty has a very cold father that doesn't know how to love her he just is interested in making money. She is basically raised by a rough, yet caring bodyguard, Sam- Lizzie's love interest in book 4 and he is 15 years older than her.

Flash forward 10 years and the rumors are flying. Steve has just shot his award winning horse because he was high on cocaine and he is about to lose his horse farm because of poor money management. Both rumors are false, but I will not disclose any spoilers. Ty comes to his rescue with her trust fund, he doesn't remember her, and he is skeptical of her reasons in offering help. She is still madly in love with him...why??? I never felt the sexual connection either.

Besides the in depth descriptions of the horses and the competitions, I didn't feel connected with the characters, everything was very predictable and the story was somewhat boring. I felt the author tried to make some conflicts bigger than they should be, for example the tension between Sam and Lizzie- they last saw each other when she was 14. That is a little gross if Sam at 30 was interested in her from then- it was never really explained. I do look forward to the 4th book which I assume will be about them. Also the big conflict with saving the farm and going up against Ty's father never really materialized into anything exciting. It had potential, but it just didn't live up to it.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved how she likes to connect characters in each book! Love her stories!!

[Lavada Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing story. The author definitely know her horses and the show scene. I found myself lost in this story from the first page to the last.

[Jill M. Conyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Adult perspective of the world show jumping. Believable characters and Engrossing plot. Laura Moore’s books are a treat. It is a real pleasure to be able to read an author’s earlier works and find them to be worthwhile reads

[Elizabeth Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is better than her other novel Night Swimming

[siriusedward · Rating 2 out of 5]

the H seems too shallow..n everything comes too easily fr him...if at all there ws a time to show his mettle..it ws at d hurdle n den he lost it..too weak..everything ws too easy fr him..dint have to work too much fr nythg..still a hypocrite..reverse snobbery...n a womaniser..n his thoughts about lizzie wen clearly tess ws his fan truly shows his character..dont know dat he deservd d h..she ws too gud fr him..

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent read. I love horses so any book that explores the relationship between humans and horses gets 3 stars automatically. The overall story was pretty good. I'm confused about Sam and Lizzie though. It seemed there would be some conclusion to their plotline but there never was. Maybe there's a sequel that covers their story that I just don't know about.

[Agnieszka · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm extremely disappointed unfortunately. this book could have been magnificent and ended up with a depth of a puddle and pages and pages and pages of horsmanship jargon which I skipped through and was left with a very superficial level novel. Gave 2* only because of what it could have been.

[Nefret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dieses Buch hatte von der Geschichte her die besten Voraussetzungen, dass ich es geliebt hätte. Wenn die Ty, die weibliche Hauptfigur, nicht so entsetzlich großmütig, gut und perfekt gewesen wäre.

[Kaetrin]

recommended by Brie.

[Madison Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this off a hospital shelf since I had finished reading my book and had nothing to do.

I don't really have much to say about this. I was expecting horse racing, but it was just events. That disappointed me a little but I loved the story.