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Cowboys and romance are an age-old partnership. "Ride into Romance" tells the story of a woman's two loves, horses and the man she finally chooses.
Drawing on a background as an avid horse lover and a thoroughbred racehorse owner, I wrote Ride into Romance with a backdrop of equine sports. It is set at the same fictitious racetrack as an earlier novel, "Race into Murder."
In "Ride into Romance," Maggie grew up around rodeo horses, as did her best friend, Johnny. But when she becomes involved with David, a thoroughbred horse owner, she is captivated by the high-strung racehorses and the excitement surrounding David's association with them. David and Johnny are as different as two breeds of horses. One is dependable and easygoing, while the other is unpredictable and headstrong. Maggie is a combination of both. She's stubborn when she sets her mind, loyal to those she cares about, and determined to live life her way.
Although there are a few instances of the darker side of both racing and romance, my intent was to write a story that is uplifting and ultimately makes the reader smile.
Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite
Ride into Romance by Karen Black is a sweet romance revolving around horses. Maggie is a successful and up-and-coming rider on the rodeo and quarter-horse racing circuit. She has a special way with horses like few others and can seem to coax the best from even the most challenging and seemingly uncooperative equine. Unhappy in her relationship and yearning to follow her heart and try her hand at riding thoroughbred horses in the broader racing industry, she decides to head to California to break into the thoroughbred racing world. Her best friend from childhood, a rodeo cowboy named Johnny, was now based in California, and Maggie knew being close to Johnny was a real bonus to any potential move. As Maggie begins her new life as a thoroughbred jockey, she soon discovers that horse racing is a multi-billion dollar industry and that there is a sinister underbelly even in the sport of kings. Will Maggie and Johnny finally realize their feelings for each other go beyond mere friendship, or will Maggie’s ex get in the way of their budding romance?
As a reader, I’m a sucker for a good romance, especially one with intrigue and conflict, and this story has those prerequisites. Ride in Romance also has the bonus of being based around the equine world, making it an even more fascinating read. Author Karen Black has created two romantic leads, Maggie and Johnny. Maggie is a strong, independent woman determined to make it in an industry dominated by powerful, wealthy, and sometimes ruthless men. Johnny is the archetypal, fun-loving, bucking-horse rodeo champion. I particularly enjoyed the tense sexual tension between the couple as they attempted to transition from dear, deep friendship to full-blown romantic love. This romance is the anchor to the narrative, and it was beautifully crafted and written. This short, satisfying story can be read in an afternoon and will leave readers with a sense of satisfaction and feel-good emotions. I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet romance as a diversion from the more complex realities of life that I so often read. I can highly recommend it.
