No Horse Wanted by Shannon Kennedy

RATED 4.5 STARS








The only thing that Robin Gibson wants for her sixteenth birthday is a 1968 Presidential Blue Mustang. Following their family tradition, what her parents promise her is a horse of her own, one with four legs, not four wheels. Mom competes in endurance riding, Dad does calf roping, her older brother games and her older sister loves three-day eventing, but Robin proudly says that she doesn't do horses. She'll teach her controlling family a lesson by bringing home the worst horse she can find, a starved, abused two-year-old named Twaziem.

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Robin Gibson belongs to a family of horse lovers, but the only horse she’s interested in is a 1968 Mustang in Presidential blue.  She is hoping to buck the family tradition of getting a horse on your 16^th birthday and getting the car instead.

Things don’t work out as Robin planned and her parents insist she get a horse so she picks out a pitifully undernourished and neglected horse that looks to be on his last legs.  She plans to rehabilitate Twaziem and sell him later for money towards her car.
           

Robin is a typical teen in most respects.  She is a little mouthy, a little homework shy, a little unsure about boys and a little diva-ish.  She is a good hearted soul though who loves to care for animals and find the strays homes.

I liked that Robin had chores to do at home and varied interests including cross country running.  She made friends with girls she didn’t think she’d like because of her caring heart.

Her brother, Jack, was a typical teasing older sibling and her parents were supportive without being overindulgent.  Her older sister made a brief appearance but she was mostly away at college.

Robin’s friend, Vicki, was a girl stuck in an all too familiar situation.  Her parents divorced, mom is overloaded with her job schedule and she expects Vicki to pick up the slack. I liked the way Robin stood up for her friend so she could continue her cheerleading.

Robin also ended up being friends with Olivia, another cross country teammate who started out as an adversary and with Danielle, a girl she got to know at the stables where they both trained.

Any girl who has a secret or not so secret desire to own a horse will enjoy this story.  It is a great combination of teenage life and practical information about owning a horse. I think even preteens as young as 12 would enjoy this story very much.

Even if you aren’t a horse fan, I recommend this book for the compelling story of this group of friends.
  Note:  There are some mild curse words in the story.

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Daughter of Time by Sarah Woodbury

 

 

 

RATED 4.5 STARS

 

 

 

Meg’s abusive husband is dead, leaving the young woman with a 21/2 year old daughter to raise and living at home with her mother and sister.  When she takes her little girl, Anna, for ice cream one evening, Meg’s entire world is turned on its ear.

She loses control of her car and when she wakens, she has been saved by a man on a horse wearing a chain mail shirt.

How Meg adjusts to life in the 13^th century and how she falls in love with the Prince of Wales, Llwelyn ap Gruffydd is the subject of this time travel novel.
Meg is a modern woman thrown back into a very different time from her own yet she makes remarkable adjustments and accepts her fate.  She cares deeply for her little girl and keeps her by her side as much as possible.  When she decides to “marry” the Prince, her life becomes one of concern for her husband and strategic planning to keep the kingdom together.
Llwelyn is a very open minded 13^th century man. He is skeptical of Meg’s story of being from another time but he can’t deny the strong attraction he has for her and his growing love for the little girl, Anna.
All Princes and Kings are surrounded by a circle of men, some who are loyal and some who are false and Llwelyn is no exception.  Trying to figure out which men were going to betray him made for an intriguing part to the story. ,
The romance was straight forward and there was not a lot of sex making this story acceptable for young teens as well as adults.
My one criticism would be that there should have been a glossary of pronunciations for the cast of characters. The pronunciation guide that the author gives us is not very helpful.
All in all, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more in the series.

 

Sarah Woodbury bio:

With two historian parents, Sarah couldn’t help but develop an interest in the past. She went on to get more than enough education herself (in anthropology) and began writing fiction when the stories in her head overflowed and demanded she let them out.  While her ancestry is Welsh, she only visited Wales for the first time while in college.  She has been in love with the country, language, and people ever since. She even convinced her husband to give all four of their children Welsh names.  She makes her home in Oregon.

 

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Elf Hunter

Review of Elf Hunter by C. S. Marks  Rating 5 STARS

 

This is the tale of Gorgon Elfhunter, a monstrous, mysterious creature who has sworn to destroy all the Elves of Alterra—until none remain. It is the story of Wood-elven heroine Gaelen Taldin, who has sworn to rid her world of the Elfhunter even as she is hunted by him. The conflict between them creates a tangled web that blurs the line between Light and Darkness, love and obsession, free will and fate. Filled with moments both tender and terrifying, thrilling yet thought-provoking, it is a timeless epic fantasy suitable for readers of all ages. Join the Company of Elves, dwarves, mortal men, and delightfully intelligent horses. Come to Alterra—the “World that Is”.

I could not put this book down. It was exciting and frightening and engrossing.

When we first meet the elves, Gaelen and Nelwyn, they have come upon a horrific scene which diverts them from their original duty.

Through a harrowing event, they meet another elf, Galador and his companion, a mortal man named Rogond.  The attraction of Galador to Nelwyn is immediate and she feels the same.  Gaelen helps to cure Rogond of his illness and he is bonded to her.

A scourge is threatening the Elf Kingdoms and these four set out to put a stop to the terrible Elf killer.

Gorgon, the Elf Hunter, is a frightening beast of a creation.  He has no feelings and no regard for any life save his own.  He hates Elves and has made a pact with the Shadowmancer to destroy all the Elves in existence.  He is not content with just killing his victims.  He tortures them until they can stand no more.  This is one of the most evil and black-hearted villains I have ever read.

While travelling to warn all the Elf Kingdoms of the menace, the four comrades become one Company and add to their midst, Fima, the Dwarf Loremaster who is a fast friend of Rogan.  The Company and their allies set out to trap and kill the Elf Hunter.

I thought the characters in the book were well written and interesting.  I liked the combination of Elves, mortal men and Dwarves.

The author describes things so well, you are completely immersed in the story and feel like you are in the woods or mountains or places of respite right along with the Company.

The descriptions of the Elf Hunter’s cruelty to his victims were hard to read as they were quite graphic so I would not recommend this book for a young reader.  Young adults over the age of fourteen would relate to the characters and enjoy the adventures they have.

The Elf Hunter was an excellent book.  I’m looking forward to another book in the series.

 

Review of Waiting for Dusk by Nancy Pennick

 

 

 Waiting for Dusk by Nancy Pennick      Rating: 5 STARS

 

Read a book. Fall asleep. Meet a boy. Is it real or just a dream? Katie's everyday life suddenly turns exciting when she travels back in time and meets the boy of her dreams. Thinking of nothing else, willing to leave the real world behind, she's determined to find out if it's all a dream or not. Returning again and again, Katie almost has her answers until one day her precious book goes missing.

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One of my favorite author's premiere book is the book I chose for my new blog.  Nancy has put a new slant on the romance of two young people.  Enjoy!

Show lesWaiting for Dusk is a lovely romance about a boy and girl.  They have one problem though.  Katie thinks that Andrew may just be a dream.  Oh, he is a wonderful dream and she has lost her heart to him but should she stay in a dream world or live her life as a modern teenager among family and friends?

I loved Katie as a heroine.  She is inquisitive and perceptive yet she suffers from the same confusion most teenagers suffer.  She is torn between loving Drew and having a relationship with her long-time friend, Tyson.  She also feels like her parents are keeping something from her.  She thinks she may have travelled back in time but was it only a dream?

Her friends, Lindsey and Jordyn try to be understanding and helpful.  I liked the way they are friends in the true sense. 

Tyson is an obsessed teenage boy who, after years of friendship with Katie, decides she is the love of his life and he won’t take no for an answer.  I found him a little frightening and I worried for Katie’s safety.

Drew is a perfect love interest.  He is handsome, kind, genuine and his love for Kate is apparent and given unconditionally.

The setting of the Grand Canyon was unique and well described.  I also enjoyed the touches of Swedish language.  I liked that the reader was exposed to a language not readily found in most books.

Although this book is considered a young adult novel, I think readers of all ages will appreciate the story and love the characters.

I know there is a sequel to this book and I look forward to it with great anticipation.

You should pick up a copy of Waiting for Dusk and catch up before the sequel is released.  It is available at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=waiting%20for%20dusk and http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/waiting-for-dusk-nancy-pennick/1114286882?ean=9781612355238in paperback or as an eBook.