Lauren Kindell just can't catch a break. Her world and the weather are wearing her down like ice in a glass of warm water, shaken, not stirred.When her husband is unexpectedly killed during a lineman's accident, she is saddled with over-whelming grief and the sole responsibility of raising their twin boys. This lands her dreams of becoming a premier horse trainer in jeopardy. But she refuses to fail as she stubbornly rides out the long cold days and lonely nights, feeling them penetrate as deeply as her saddle sores and callouses. As the winter warms into spring, she befriends Erik, who has a knack for showing up when chaos erupts, only to find herself entangled between his calculated attention and her barn contractor's raw chemistry. When a deadly presence threatens her life, it ropes all three of them together, making the sparks fly. Will she give rein to her new found independence, or will her heart thaw and let one of them in? Lauren must learn how to survive and thrive in a male dominated profession that is as gritty as the dirt under her nails, because as summer rolls around, she must decide what matters most ... when her life is between the reins of the two men who want her and the man who wants her dead.
This is an excellent debut novel. It was very nicely paced, I never found myself putting it aside or rushing through it. The characters are well thought out and complemented each other wonderfully. The authors background knowledge as well as experience with horses and training them is clearly evident throughout the entire story, the detail described in some of the scenes is so vivid it is hard to not form a mental picture of what the main character is doing with the horse. I loved the use of metaphors throughout the story, you get a real feel for the wit of the characters! I had very few major issues with this book, over all I really enjoyed it. It's a great read for anyone who loves horses and the western lifestyle or someone simply looking for a nice, down to early story.
I feel in love with this book. The author terminology was spot on. I enjoyed all the ups and d owns in the story, keeping me glue to my kindle. Can't wait to read her next book.