A Canter of the Heart

(The Equestrian and the Aviator)

Romance - Historical
315 Pages
Reviewed on 01/28/2014
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Danielle Pinzon for Readers' Favorite

A Canter of the Heart by E.E. West talks about 20-year-old Eleanor who, because of a virus contracted when she was two years old, is stuck in a wheelchair. While her disability would make several activities difficult, she's able to do most things other paraplegics can't, and her most enjoyed activity is horseback riding. She dreams of being able to ride a horse as successfully as any equestrian with legs can and she practices every day. One night with her friends Cheryl and Annie, she meets a young Naval Flight officer by the name of David and what follows is a magical weekend that Eleanor could not bring herself to dismiss as just a one time thing. What follows thereafter is a journey of love and discovery as she struggles to prove herself to everybody who told her she can't do things because she's stuck in a wheelchair, and ultimately live happily ever after.

E.E. West writes a sweet tale of a young girl still full of dreams and not once in the novel was her disability romanticized. It's very realistic in its depiction of how other people see those with disabilities. In contrast, Eleanor herself isn't written as a melodramatic protagonist with self-pity, but as a very lively character. Some of the slang and terms might be a bit difficult to understand for those who are not familiar with Australian jargon, but that only enhances the realism of the setting where this novel is written. It's an enjoyable read and very inspiring.