Post by tintin on Dec 28, 2012 17:12:51 GMT 1
The third of the Timber Ridge Riders series.
I read this at one go. To cap that my father read all three in one day while house sitting for me.
I was surprised (and a little worried) by the odd cover, but having read the other two books was not put off. The best Timber Ridge book yet, partly because we are really getting used to the place and the characters. Both pace and description are good, and the cumulative effect is that you see Timber Ridge really clearly in your minds eye and get really involved in what’s happening.
If the first book was a bit like a school story this is like an army story which is probably why, apart from the horses, we two old boys enjoyed it so much – a bit reminiscent of Kipling or better written Leo Kessler without the violence. Here we have two comrades who get into scrapes, look out for each other and chaff each other. Although disparate characters together they are an unstoppable team. They are devoted to their organisation and although they have difficulty keeping to the rules they always rise to the standards. Throw in the fact that there is a distant figure who is technically in charge, does n’t have a clue, but can still call the shots (Mrs Dean), also someone who is actually in charge, is sympathetic to our heroes, but must play by the rules (Holly’s mother) and last, but definitely not least, a villain who cares very little about the organisation’s prime purpose, but appears the blue eyed one and exploits her position with almost total lack of scruple and is engaged in a battle of wits with our heroes (Angela). Although Holly has outwardly a very light hearted “cheeky chappy” persona and Kate is the more serious and professional, she is often shrewder and keeps her pal out of trouble.
This time a film crew has arrived and the competition is on to secure the post of substitute rider for the stars. This gives great potential for all sorts of scrapes, including one of the best handlings of the "missing horse" scenario (difficult to pull off convincingly) I have read.
Again the great strengths of this author are things that are only just believable (including a film star who is perhaps more than a little enamoured with one of our heroines)being portrayed totally convincingly and the humour, once again there are laugh out loud moments. The scene is also subtly set up for the next story, which I am very much looking forward to seeing in paperback.
This series could run and run and I very much hope it does
I read this at one go. To cap that my father read all three in one day while house sitting for me.
I was surprised (and a little worried) by the odd cover, but having read the other two books was not put off. The best Timber Ridge book yet, partly because we are really getting used to the place and the characters. Both pace and description are good, and the cumulative effect is that you see Timber Ridge really clearly in your minds eye and get really involved in what’s happening.
If the first book was a bit like a school story this is like an army story which is probably why, apart from the horses, we two old boys enjoyed it so much – a bit reminiscent of Kipling or better written Leo Kessler without the violence. Here we have two comrades who get into scrapes, look out for each other and chaff each other. Although disparate characters together they are an unstoppable team. They are devoted to their organisation and although they have difficulty keeping to the rules they always rise to the standards. Throw in the fact that there is a distant figure who is technically in charge, does n’t have a clue, but can still call the shots (Mrs Dean), also someone who is actually in charge, is sympathetic to our heroes, but must play by the rules (Holly’s mother) and last, but definitely not least, a villain who cares very little about the organisation’s prime purpose, but appears the blue eyed one and exploits her position with almost total lack of scruple and is engaged in a battle of wits with our heroes (Angela). Although Holly has outwardly a very light hearted “cheeky chappy” persona and Kate is the more serious and professional, she is often shrewder and keeps her pal out of trouble.
This time a film crew has arrived and the competition is on to secure the post of substitute rider for the stars. This gives great potential for all sorts of scrapes, including one of the best handlings of the "missing horse" scenario (difficult to pull off convincingly) I have read.
Again the great strengths of this author are things that are only just believable (including a film star who is perhaps more than a little enamoured with one of our heroines)being portrayed totally convincingly and the humour, once again there are laugh out loud moments. The scene is also subtly set up for the next story, which I am very much looking forward to seeing in paperback.
This series could run and run and I very much hope it does