Riding Partner

by Mary Winter

Equestrian Derek Whitten watched his dreams fall with the last jump at the Athens Olympics, losing both the gold medal and his lover in one fateful day. Now, two years later, financial troubles have forced him to consider selling his prize horse, and Derek turns to the one man he trusts. A simple business transaction, that's all, no matter how much he wants it to be more.It was Charles DeMorinson's mare that Derek rode in the Olympics, and though Charles never blamed Derek for his horse's performance, both his dream and his lover slipped through his grasp. He's spent the years since regretting not fighting harder for their relationship. Now Derek's back on his doorstep, in need of his help.Time and distance did little to cool their attraction to each other. And when Derek returns, Charles is ready to stake the claim he should have made in Athens. If he holds on too tightly he'll earn nothing but resentment, but Charles let Derek go once, and he won't make the same mistake again. He just has to convince him that they both need one thing — each other.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Westerns, Romance, Gay, Horses, Erotica

185 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2006

About the author

Mary commutes between her dream home near the Mark Twain national forest in Missouri and her current residence in Iowa. She lives with a menagerie of animals including an opinionated horse and a cat who was a dog in past life. When not writing spicy tales of erotic romance, she enjoys writing science fiction and fantasy, spending time with her horse, and enjoying the outdoors. Lucky for her, her partner (hero) shares these same passions, and usually both of them can be found in their respective dens writing.

And it’s not far from the truth. Mary began writing in high school after she discovered Silhouette Desire romance novels and realized that she wanted to be the one to write stories that carried readers away from their oh-so-boring lives. She has a deep appreciation and love of the natural, the spirtual, and the metaphysical, which has led to her running Jupiter Gardens and writing for new age and pagan magazines. She is attuned to Reiki II and reads tarot cards.

Right now her household includes six cats, ranging in age from less than six months (Tenzin, former feral kitten) to seventeen years (Tigger, diabetic kitty), her horse, two parrots, a finch flight, a geriatric parakeet flight, and her partner, the hero of her own personal romance story.

Her favorite television shows are Torchwood, Bones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Dr. Who (new), Battlestar Galactica (new), Babylon 5, Farscape, and Sex in the City. Her favorite movies are Spaceballs, The Cutting Edge, Serenity, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, the LoTR trilogy, and probably a few others she’s forgetting. Her musical tastes range from Enya, Clannad, David Arkenstone, David & Steve Gordon, Scott McDonald, and AfroCelt Sound System to Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, and others.

Reviews

[Jilrene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve wanted to read this one for a while, but have been worried I wouldn’t like it. This book is set in the horse jumping world where I might know if the author makes a mistake. The prologue, Athens at the 2004 Olympics, sets the stage. Derek and Charles are both riders. Derek rides Charles’ horse in the Olympics because Charles was injured and couldn’t ride her. That’s actually possible. The description of Derek’s ride is excellent. Derek’s moment of inattention affecting the way the horse responds – VERY accurate. I was surprised and pleased as the book continued. The story is told in alternating first person POV, so we get to know both MCs. The riding and farm details are well researched and made the story a fun read for me. The relationship between the main characters is mostly believable, if a little frustrating. Derek is insecure and wrapped up in his past relationship failures. Charles, on the other hand, is supposed to be the typical stiff upper lip Brit. He starts out that way, but he becomes super sharing about ¾ of the way through the story. I guess it’s possible, but seems too convenient. Oh, and these two guys were total horn dogs. While the sex scenes were well written (very smexy), there were a lot of them for this length story. Seriously, these two couldn’t look at each other without thinking about sex. Although, in this relationship, it was mutual, so no one was complaining. Maybe the fact that this story is about two men who were a couple before the story starts is why the relationship feels less complete. I’m giving 4 stars – the relationship wasn’t as well done as the riding parts. If I judged on just the riding, I would definitely say 5 stars. If there was something done with the men, making them a little more this could be an overall 5 star read.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The addition starts with the book cover….yeah…yeah…yeah don’t judge a book by its cover they say ….well we all do it and this one here it is the scratch to your itch or better yet the filling to your oreos! Speaking of filling…..wait, that’s for later. Within the first chapters you get the panoramic view of whom you’re dealing with!
By the time you’ve figured out who is who and how deep hate can run, you’re already hooked, and you may as well give up the fight and prepare yourself for an all-nighter!

Can’t say I didn’t warn you.

The chemistry is so intense from the start and the magnetic pull between these two one would think would have diminished over the years not so. Both men did /said things that couldn’t be taken back and sometimes to see a situation for what it really you have to take a step back, even walk away only to be brought full circle. But forgiveness or acceptance of forgiveness is just as hard as acknowledging the wrong done or admitting how something/someone hurt you. In order to move forward Derek had to learn to one let go of the past, two forgive himself first, three acknowledge the part he played in the breakup and four accept that Charles has always been there waiting for him regardless of what happen or what bring them back together love has no rim or reason it just is so can the two of them find happiness the second time around?

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Riding Partner by Mary Winter. Derek and Charles were great. I loved how the author described the show jumping events. I've been to a couple of show jumping events as a spectator, and the author did a spot-on job. I also love a book that is hot scene heavy, and this book didn't disappoint. The only thing that annoyed me in the book was the use of protection and how condoms were used for oral and penetrative sex. To me, it seemed like the author made a big deal of it during the first scene, but after that, it didn't seem to be such a big deal. Then, it was only used by one of the guys for oral. At the same time, the other was given oral sex bare, and then the condoms weren't used at all because they both knew they were clean, although there was no discussion of going to get tested or sharing the results. I would have enjoyed it more if it had just been more consistent. Otherwise, I loved the story and how it ends.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words, left unsaid. Derek, riding in the Olympics, could smell Gold. He was focused, in control and one with his horse, Jubi until the last jump. He moved his eye from focusing on the target, his horse felt it. No joy on the jump. He wond Silver. Derek and Charles, had a checkered relationship. Derek felt Charles let him down not choosing him to train his horse. Derek, picked up some heavy baggage from his perceived sleight from Charles. He's carried that baggage for a long time, clinging to it. His baggage colored his attitude and perceptions until he needed help. Their personal/professional relationship was all about challenges. Will they communicate? Will they work together to get on teh right path? Will they be up for the challenges? Will they grow into a relationship? Nice story. I received an ARC from Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

To move forward, you have to let go of the past. Derek is caught, like most people, not able to forget the memories and enjoy what he has in front of him. It takes an exceptional man like Charles with his infinite patience and love to make him see what is important.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the MCs and I liked the idea of the story but everything just kinda happened ..... no conflict, no communication, it all fell a bit flat.

[LilMisGrayBrisk · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars