SilverThistle

Small town romance with horses.  That's what I thought I was getting.  I didn't get that.

 

It's book one of The Whisper Horse series so I expected a Whisper Horse to  be pretty prominent in the story.  Again, wrong.

There is a horse, and Claire does actually whisper to it two or three times but blink and you might miss it. 

 

The cover is a bit misleading, actually.  It looks like a cosy romance but it actually covers some dark territory.  Spousal abuse, suicide, divorce...animal mistreatment, it's got a lot going on.  All the elements together have the potential for a good read but it just didn't 'do it' for me.  The sex scenes seem a bit heavy too. Not in general, just in context of the story. 

 

The first chapter left me with a bit of a lump in my throat for the poor horse (Wilow) but Willow the Whisper Horse just seems to be in there as a vehicle for Claire to meet (and fall into insta-lust) with Dr Tim the local vet and luckily he insta-lusts right back at her. 

 

The side stories are what kept it interesting for me but even those were mostly glossed over, once mentioned.  Claire's sister Holly is having marriage trouble and her story took up a big chunk of plot but her side story wasn't explored as much as it could have been.  Paul, Claire's guy pal from her youth just pops in every few chapters to make it seem like there might be a triangle thing going on but his part in the proceedings were pretty weak.  Sharon, the stable owner of the 'Whisper Horse' gets even less page time.  It all just seems like they're in there as a conveyance for Claire and Dr Tim to meet up, get together, have sex, fall out a bit, make up, have sex....

 

I probably won't bother with the rest of the series.

 

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I'm leaving my reading progress updates below to remind myself what I thought of it all....

 

 

26 Oct - p154 of 349

I'm not sure.  I'm still liking the story, it's just... Well, it's insta-lovelust for a start.  Tim's nice, he's just a bit too intense. ..And Claire is way too much "Oh my! He's wonderful! He's so tall and big. What a guy! *gush* *gush*..."but my life here is only temporary - I'm headed back to New York as soon as I can."

 

Sex made an appearance too.  Not prono by any stretch of the imagination (which I'm glad of) but it's still early days...

 

 

25 Oct - p129 of 349

 

 No porno sex yet but Big Hunky Country Vet looks like he might be a likely candidate. Possible love triangle ...which I don't mind as long as it's not just for the sake of it.

 

23 Oct - p30 of 349

 

Great start!  One chapter in and I've already got a lump in my throat for the poor horse!

 

Also, I hear there's porno sex in this one - not sure I believe that though... It's a Montlake romance.  With horses.  In West Virginia.

 

Note: I received a free copy of this title from the publisher.