THROWN – Colette Auclair
Pocket Star EBooks
e-ISBN: 978-1-4767-4580-0
December 2013
Contemporary Romance

Present Day Aspen Creek, Colorado

Amanda Vogel has her heart set on an Olympic gold medal in jumping. She and her horse Edelweiss were making a name for themselves in the horse showing world and making a living teaching and coaching other riders. Then her nerves were shattered when she witnessed the death of a good friend in a horrendous jumping accident. Now she suffers panic attacks when faced with a competition. Amanda was forced to sell Edelweiss and move to Colorado to spend the summer teaching the two daughters of a famous action movie star to ride. The first thing she does there is trade in the two showy horses Grady Brunswick bought his daughters for two mild horses suitable for beginners. This did not endear her to the bratty girls who called the new mounts ugly. Amanda has a battle on her hands with them and with the inappropriate way her body reacts to the hunky widower.

Amanda's firm but fair treatment of the girls—oddly named Solstice and Wind—brings them around, and she and Grady settle some differences in this unorthodox household. Perhaps she can put him out of her mind with the handsome and kind farrier who shoes the horses. Amanda makes a good friend in Harris, Grady's long-time friend and chef, who is very likable and safe…he's gay. Things are about to get more complicated when Grady's unloving, manipulative mother arrives along with the beautiful co-star of Grady's last picture.

The characters are well done with distinct personalities. Grady is a complicated man; Amanda suffers aftereffects from watching her friend die. It's obvious they both carry baggage that hinders their happiness. (Don't get the impression this book is all angst, though. It's lively and fun as well as deep. You'll love Harris; he adds a lot of the fun.) The evolution of Amanda and Grady's relationship—as seen from both points of view—will grab and keep readers' interest as does the interaction of everyone in this fine debut novel. Another plus is the look into the world of horses and shows that the author knows well. I recommend THROWN as an excellent read and hope e-readerless readers will soon see a print edition.

Jane Bowers