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The October Horses #1

The October Horses

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The last thing Bree Connor expected, after being diagnosed with a terminal illness, was a second chance at life. But, somehow, that's exactly what she got.When a fateful encounter at the hospital introduces her to the world of horses, Bree is determined to make them a part of her new life. Things quickly spiral out of control when she becomes the caretaker to a pair of misfit thoroughbreds who also need a second chance.Will her strength and willpower be enough to beat the overwhelming odds that are stacked against them all?

286 pages, Paperback

Published May 15, 2020

367 people are currently reading
252 people want to read

About the author

Genevieve Mckay

25 books82 followers
Genevieve Mckay is a freelance writer, short story author, and novelist living by the ocean. When she isn't busy creating new worlds she enjoys playing outside in the dirt and riding ponies.

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5 stars
342 (65%)
4 stars
137 (26%)
3 stars
36 (6%)
2 stars
3 (<1%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
725 reviews1 follower
January 25, 2021
Wonderful!

What a wonderful story about a beginner horseback rider fulfilling a request from a dying woman who was a wonderful person that retrained racehorses and riders to do dressage riding. The main character being s sweet young women who was dying from lung cancer but then went into a miraculous remission after meeting this woman. And that is when the adventure began! Thanks for this lovely book MS. McKay.
Profile Image for Susanfxtrt Engle.
82 reviews4 followers
December 14, 2020
Excellent gripping story

Well written and very easy to know the main character. The story line is unusual and I loved it greatly!
Profile Image for David Goldstein.
311 reviews3 followers
February 8, 2021
An excellent story, well-told. Ms McKay is a very talented writer. Loved the book, look forward to reading as much of her as I can.
1 review
Read
September 7, 2021

I enjoyed the book! A great horse book to read. I felt the same way about horses!
Profile Image for Shawnee.
564 reviews4 followers
December 3, 2020
This is the first book that I have read in a long time, that I absolutely loved from the start. I cannot wait to read more - please hurry and write the next book!
I love Dragon.
567 reviews5 followers
August 15, 2020
The October Horses

Brianna was a young woman who was in the hospital just waiting to die. Until, one night she had a dream about a magnificent black horse that comes to her and she was in the most beautiful place that she had never seen before. When she woke up and was told that she had stopped breathing for five minutes, but she had found a reason to live for, the horse. She also had a new room mate named Gretta, and her dreams became Breanna's. They were called October Horses, and somehow, she knew that they had to become hers. Awesome book for a horse lover.!!!!!👍Great 👍 Read!!
37 reviews
April 21, 2021
Wonderful

I love the book.. First time reading one of yours. We had a race horse off the track that we retrained as a barrel horse . Boy could she run. She lived with us for 30 years. Reading this book brought back so many good memories. Brushing horses was great therapy as well as cleaning stalls, working with horses is the best job around says Bree. I agree.
Yes indeed. Thank you for a well-written book. I will be reading the next books in the series. Everyone come read with us.
Profile Image for B. Soreil.
73 reviews1 follower
July 26, 2022
Kept Me Glued To My Kindle!!!

Well written, thoroughly enjoyable tale of a young cancer survivor and her meeting with an older couple in a palliative care home. After being clinically dead for 5 minutes, she awakens from an extraordinary "dream" that her older friend tells her is about the second chance she is to be given. Anyone that loves horses and stories with an interesting mix of generations and just a hint of supernaturalism, this one's for you! 😁
Profile Image for Donna Alderson .
48 reviews
June 14, 2020
October Horses

I hope that there will be more books in this story! There are lots of story lines that could be pursued and I hope it happens! This is a great story of what happens or could happen to retired racehorses.
52 reviews
June 22, 2020
Hope and horsey

Nice story of hope, 're building and the passion that comes with horses. As a horse lover I appreciated the obvious horse knowledge and detail. Surprised at typos\grammar errors but didn't detract from story.
Profile Image for Julie.
216 reviews3 followers
June 22, 2020
I absolutely loved this book

I loved the role that horses played in Bree discovering herself, what she wants and how to live again. Horses truly do have the ability to help people heal both mentally and physically.
107 reviews2 followers
August 12, 2020
Keep trying

This book is very well done. It makes a person believe that life does go on and sometimes we all need to work at it. For the horses (all animals really) and for ourselves. Just don't give up. One day at a time!! Thank you!!
Profile Image for Joanne.
54 reviews
May 17, 2020
Another great read by the author!
Profile Image for Sally S.
97 reviews1 follower
June 23, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed this one :)
944 reviews6 followers
October 23, 2020
Not sure if it was YA but it would have been pretty good as a YA and only fair as an adult book.
Profile Image for Becky.
1,642 reviews27 followers
January 21, 2022
Solid story about horse management with a tiny hint of magic and a nice enough people story wrapped around it. Would have enjoyed more depth
182 reviews
May 16, 2022
I started off liking the book, but half way through I started to get fed up with it, I did stick with it at the end. I know there is a couple more books, not sure I will read them or not.
Profile Image for Theresa.
1,554 reviews44 followers
June 29, 2023
This book waa so good and so unexpected.

Bree is laying in an end care facility. Only a teenager and slowly dying. Her roommate Greta is old and she too is dying.

One night Bree dreams of a horse and it sparks something in her. And Greta sees the change. Greta spends a lot of the time she has left encouraging Bree and trying to talk her husband Lorne into making sure Bree is included in her dream for October Horses.

Just after the dream Bree starts to feel better and her parents can barely hope that anything has changed but she slowly gets stronger and eventually is well enough that she has to leave palliative care.

That is when Lorne finds her and takes her to a place with a bunch of retired horses. Lorne helps Bree start on her dreams and form new dreams.

When I started this book I did not realize it was a series so the book does not have a satisfying ending. It has a till next time ending.

There is a lot going on, Bree has a sister that has been at odds with her their entire life, her parents are dealing with alnost losing their daughter and her turn around, Lorne is facing continuing a dream without Greta.

I can't forget how wonderful the horses were. I felt like Bear, Nipper, Ace and Dragon were actual characters in the story. I wanted to be there in that barn. Ace is probably the one that stole my heart the most but I'll bet Dragon has the bigger storyline in the later books.
2 reviews
February 19, 2022
Been There!

Been There, Done That. This book bought so many memories back. I laughed and cried. Knew someone who had horses wrote this. Horse are awesome animals. I have one horse now, had five in my life. They were at a farm where most of the horses come to finish their lives. Have seen horses, all types, here. My brother and his wife, my daughter take care of them. We all have had the experiences in your book. Not dying thing, but many surgeries. I had seven on my spine alone. I was back to the barn with n very short time, so we're the others. Just to be close to the horses. Well enjoyed your books. Read a few, will read the rest. Well done, good writing.
736 reviews4 followers
October 30, 2022
First book by this author

I really enjoyed this book. The people were portrayed as having foibles and their characters were developed well. The horses were a main part of the book. I thought the care facility was written with authenticity. Some of the situations were fictional (the dream, the rate of recovery of the heroine, the length of being a hermit by the barn manager, and some other things). But the story was interesting and I ignored these situations.

There were some words left out of sentences but I could figure out the meaning. I borrowed the book from kindle unlimited.
Profile Image for Janet Graham.
2,506 reviews11 followers
August 27, 2023
4 Stars
ReHabbing People and ReHabbing Race Horses
What a wonderful story this is! A young woman who is facing death in a palliative care facility meets an old couple who give her quite a reason to live. As in real life, retired racehorses have many years ahead of them for second careers. Instead of being sold to the meat market, some are rehabilitated and retrained to become trail horses, or cross-country horses, or dressage horses. It is a wonderful tale of second chances.
Profile Image for Ski Croghan.
609 reviews5 followers
February 27, 2022
A great start to the series!!!

A very interesting storyline. Girl gets a second chance at life. Told and knowing she is terminal Bree has given up on life. Until she goes into a spontaneous remission. Meeting another terminal patient in her Hospice Care Home, she develops an interest in horses and finds a new purpose in her life. Highly recommended for all ages.
3,592 reviews16 followers
June 29, 2022
A beautiful story!

I really loved this book! A great storyline though I almost put it away for another time before she made it out to met the horses, as it reminded me too much of my own health issues which took me away from horses. Loved the ending and can't wait to read the next one in the series!
Profile Image for mary clay.
3 reviews
April 27, 2023
amazing characters

I loved how the reality of sickness and recovery was brought to the forefront using horses and their ability to be healers and to be healed themselves! The characters each were unique and real and added so much to the plot of the story. I think this 70 year old butt might just take up riding!
1,082 reviews4 followers
December 9, 2022
A very good horse story

A second chance at life and a dream about horses. The characters in this book were so good. The relationships with each other were very informative. The horse information was very helpful and I enjoyed this book from start to finish.
64 reviews1 follower
January 26, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Being a horse person myself, I could just put myself into it. I enjoy watching Bree grow as a horse person. I’m not going to say any more than that. Don’t want to ruin it for others. It is worth reading and I can’t wait to read the others in the series.
194 reviews4 followers
June 5, 2020
Wonderful

A great read. A story of hope, camaraderie and new beginnings. Would love to see a follow up with the same characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews

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