Anonymous
Posted November 2, 2012
Understand first that I am a life long horse person and a race-tracker... You need to have a real interest in knowing or learning about life on the "backstretch" to really "get" these books... It is obvious that Ms. Pettersen either did a lot of research or is herself familiar with life on the backstretch... The story is real and the characters embody the characteristics of horse people... The mystery in this one kept me captivated and I enjoyed this book thoroughly... It made me laugh and it made me cry and at times the hair on the back of my neck tingled... My only complaint is that the book ended too abruptly... I would love to know how the story really ends as opposed to guessing... Jessica deserves a happy ending...
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 29, 2012
Thanks. A lot!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Beeshon
Posted March 17, 2012
An enjoyable book set in the world of horse-racing
I did enjoy this book set in the world of horse-racing – I’m an animal lover and a sucker for any story with a four-legged creature. Although I don’t ride, I love horses, and this book did not disappoint.
Jessica Boone’s skiing career is seemingly over after a severe knee injury and her wily, controlling and ruthless grandfather – her guardian after the loss of both parents – is keen for her to join his company. She has more independent ideas, however. She bets her grandfather that if she can last an agreed period working in the stable that trains her Gramps’ colt, supporting herself financially, he will respect her wishes and agree to fund her plans to run a dog kennel and not insist on imposing his own intentions for her future. The stables are run by Mark Russell – a good-looking and, of course, irresistible, trainer of horses. He and Jessica are undeniably attracted to each other. His efforts to try and keep her at arm’s length are impeded by her attractiveness, her personality, her unexpected affinity with the horses, her willingness and capacity to learn.
There is a smart thread of suspense that runs through this romance which is neatly interwoven into the horsey setting – there’s a murder, an attempted murder, theft and a potential terrorist threat. Bev’s knowledge or research of the horse world is impressive and credible – the pace of the story ran along enjoyably with the nail-biting horse races.
However, I did think this book was struggling to decide what it wanted to be. There was a fair amount of explicit sex in this – I don’t have an aversion to that, but this wasn’t an erotic novel – it was a romantic/suspense story and perhaps the emphasis should have been on the mystery side of it rather than the afternoon bonkathons.
My only other niggle – and this is personal, other readers might be perfectly happy with it – I just didn’t like the slightly irritating absence of pronouns in the sentences, a style which peppered the novel and made for rather jerky reading, eg:
“Flexing his knuckles, he turned, reluctant to look. Stared down the walkway.
She glanced at the thick-chested man next to her. Could see his program spread against the rail.“
Aside from that, I was smitten by the characters – they were caring and likeable, and it was hard to not to have a soft spot for the horses – Bev managed to give them endearing personalities, and I’ll admit I had the odd lump in my throat.
A satisfying and entertaining read.
AVoraciousReadr
Posted February 17, 2012
Jessica Boone is the rich granddaughter of a tyrant in charge of a large corporation. Her competitive skiing career goes down the drain when she has an accident that wrecks her knee. Now, her grandfather is pressuring her to join the family business, but Jessica just wants out from under his thumb. A deal is struck. If Jessica can last 8 weeks at Belmont where he has two race horses without quitting or being fired then he will finance her dog daycare business. If she quits or is fired before the 8 weeks is up she has to work at Boone.
Mark Russell is a horse trainer with a good reputation for wins. With Boone’s two horses looking good enough to win in 8 weeks he’s left no option but to hire Jessica at her grandfather’s demand. Boone tells Mark she won’t last a week, but Jessica surprises them all.
This is a great story. The plot was decent, the writing good, the characters believable. My only problem was that Jessica and Mark were occasionally childish in their actions. There were times they acted as hormonal and moody as teenagers even though Mark was 31 and Jessica in her 20s. I was especially irritated with Mark since he was supposed to be a mature adult and an excellent horse trainer and businessman. I understand they both had emotional baggage they were carrying around, but it still irritated me.
I loved learning more about horse racing. I grew up on a farm and when my parents stopped raising beef cattle and started renting the farmland out they raised a few race horses. By that time I had grown and moved out, so I never really paid attention to the details of the horses and where they raced. Learning about what goes into racing a horse was very interesting to me even after all these years.
*The author provided a copy of this book to me for review. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.
sewolf0310
Posted December 2, 2011
This is not your regular poor little rich girl story, or your typical love story. This is the story of a girl born into a wealthy family who is determined to make it for herself. Jessica Boone was born into a rich family. Her father died too young and her mother went to work for her grandfather, who made her life miserable. Jessica grew up and discovered skiing, and was very good at it, until one accident. Forced to return to her grandfather¿s home, she was pressured to come work for him and his company. Knowing it was not what she wanted, she made a deal to work for someone else and prove she could do it, so she could open a dog kennel. Here she meets Mark and starts to work at his horse barn, at the bottom position, knowing nothing about the care of horses. Hard work, determination and a boss who falls in love with her, Jessica learns what she is capable of. A true love story on so many levels - the love of horses, friends and your true love. A must read for everyone.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Magination
Posted November 28, 2011
Color My Horse - Stuck with a conniving grandfather and a bum knee, Jessica Boone is tossed from the world of elite downhill skiing into the lowest echelon of thoroughbred racing. Working as a groom for Mark Russell, trainer for Jessica's grandfather's racehorses, Jessica shows grit, pluck, and compassion as she rises to her grandfather's challenge that she won't last a week. As a newbie caught up in the world of thoroughbred racing, she learns tricks of the trade, dodges a killer, befriends a homeless boy, and falls in love - with her equine charges and with a man who thrills her and urges her to pursue her own goals in life.
Bev Pettersen's Color My Horse features multi-faceted and likeable main characters, a plot with loads of twists and turns, and a wonderfully nuanced look into the world of thoroughbred racing that fascinated me and kept me reading to the end. Definitely a good read.
rhonda1111
Posted October 4, 2011
I was throughly into this story and fought to stay awake so I could keep reading, but after 1:30am lost the battle. But was able to finsh this morning. This is the second book by Bev I have read and hopefully won't be the last one.
Jessica was injured last year and with her knee still troubling her could no longer be on ski team. Her grandfather Boone wanted her to work in his company, but Jessica wanted to work outside . She was thinking she wanted to open a dog daycare center. Her grandfather made her a deal if she could work for the horse racing and live on just what money she made he would finance her dog day center.
Boone got her a job working under horse trainer Mark who was training Assets for him. Assets was a favored to win and if Mark did not hire Jessica then he would move his horse's too different trainer. Boone wanted Mark to give Jessica hard work and then fire her before the season was over
Jessica did not have a clue how to do the job. So he gave her one horse to groom Buddy. She learned by making a lot of mistakes but learned them and gained knowledge fast. Jessica used her conditioner on the horse and braided his tail and put purple ribbons in it. Soon another groom was putting ribbons his owners colors in her horse's tail too. Jessica worked hard but her phone was stolen,than her bike was almost stolen. Her money and room in barn was taken and ransacked. A little boy stoled her phone and tried to still bike. After awhile befriended him.
Lots to this story. drama of horse racing, murder mystery, Who
was the little boy why did he steal her stuff. It also was a love story for Jessica and horses and trainers
I was given this ebook in exchange for honest review.
tripleaxle
Posted October 2, 2011
Sometimes,every once in awhile,you read a book that completely captivates you.This was one of those books for me.I was sorry when I realized I had come to the end of a wonderful story.I will miss reading about the workers at Belmont as I was completely drawn into their world at the track .Quite simply,I couldn't put it down.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.MarieB87
Posted September 3, 2011
Color My Horse made me laugh, cry, and bite my nails. It's a romance, between a man and a woman, and a woman and a horse. I know already that I will re-read it many times. I thought the author's first novel was wonderful, but this one is my new favorite book. Any horse or animal lover would agree, because along with pulling you into the racing scene, Pettersen makes you fall in love with each individual animal. They have personalities and quirks of their own, not unlike the human characters, who practically come to life on the page (or screen). Unlike many racing books, the love for the horses isn't limited to the superstars, but instead most of the affection is heaped on an over-the-hill, but eager to please, gelding. As a reader, I felt like I had moved to the backside with Jessica and was cheering her on as she struggled to earn respect in a foreign world. The dedicated trainer and worthy hero, along with a splash of mystery, complete the story.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 26, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted February 26, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted December 7, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted May 2, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
