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Post by haffyfan on Jul 27, 2021 20:15:09 GMT 1
Also a heads up, Gillian Baxter has released another bracken book.
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Post by darkhorse on Jul 31, 2021 15:22:57 GMT 1
Thank you for letting me join in late Claire!
My books are:
Sue Elaine Draws a Horse (Horsey Celeb) Small Gains & Greater Gains (Historical) Three Jays Go to Rome (Horsy Celeb) Come to Grief (Recommended)
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Post by Claire on Jul 31, 2021 16:15:47 GMT 1
Hi all, updated the lists and added yours Darkhorse.
Thanks for the Heads Up about the new Bracken book Haffy.
Finished The Unwilling Adventurers for a smiley. It's a re-read so I knew I would enjoy it. Although it is a holiday adventure type story, the plot is more original to the norm, in that the kids must complete a number of tasks set by their father in order to avoid fates worse than death (boarding school, no horses, dreary carerrs, etc) and prove that they can overcome their selfish, bickering ways. On reflection, on this re-read, I did think that the father was a bit harsh on the kids, as their bad behaviour must have been mainly due to his neglect of them. I did also smile at the complete disregard for 'health and safety', with kids being sent off in a boat when they didn't know how to sail it (and one kid couldn't even swim) and their father advising them to hitch lifts! Also the old British mania for fresh air and cold dips, getting the kids to swim every day even if it was cold and raining! I do recommend the book to anyone who needs cheering up. It has some very funny moments and the squabbling kids are fun. The only downside is that there is very minimal horse content. But as a 'holiday adventure' read, it is up there with the best.
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Post by darkhorse on Aug 5, 2021 17:01:21 GMT 1
Started on Small Gains. Enjoying it so far.
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Post by susanb on Aug 9, 2021 2:19:49 GMT 1
Can I get a smiley, please, for Green Slippers by Saint-Marcoux? Started slow, but it grew on me 😊
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Post by darkhorse on Aug 11, 2021 16:57:54 GMT 1
Smiley please for Small Gains. I really enjoyed it, although I get where you were coming from Claire when you said it was a bit of a melodrama. It could quite easily be made into a bodice ripper TV series!
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Post by susanb on Aug 14, 2021 15:21:03 GMT 1
Hi Claire! Could I (finally) add my 10th book? Windsong Summer by Patricia Cecil Hass, a non pony book by a pony book author (Swampfire)
Thanks!
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 14, 2021 20:37:58 GMT 1
I've just read Jills Ponies, Black Boy and Rapide by Jemma Sparks, and now I've realised it wasn't even on my list 😂
I didn't like the Two Jill books I read, character development in fan fiction is so subjective I guess and they didn't do it for me, but this one was better. Not the best thing I've set read but okay.
Better check my list to see what's actually on it now!
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Post by Claire on Aug 16, 2021 16:18:48 GMT 1
Lol Haffy, easily done. I'm not madly keen on fanfic. Although it's tempting to continue the life of your favourite characters, I do think a writer should use their imagination in creating their own world rather than using someone's elses.
Will add your 10th book now Susan. I may have to change my list and substitute another book for Dark Champion. Although I was certain I put aside the books for the challenge when I moved from UK to Spain, I have still somehow managed to lose it!
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Post by Claire on Aug 17, 2021 16:55:48 GMT 1
Finished The Grownup and awarded it a smiley. Actually a longish short story and not the novella I thought itwas when I bought it. Turns out half of itwas an excerpt from another book of hers! On the surface this is a haunted house story, but it has some great twists. Not a read for a child or even some adults as some of the content is quite sordid, especially the start. But if you can make it past that, it's a good read.
Now a few pages into Pegasus.
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 18, 2021 22:25:17 GMT 1
Please can I have a smiley for Hoofbeats.
This is the second in the grassroots series, they are adult equestrian books with a mystery element. The equine parts are really well done and I really like the characters.
I don't usually read mysteries or murder books so couldn't say whether this part is well done but as long as you are not offended by some bad language or adult content (mainly inferred) I would recommend trying them. This one was better than the first I thought, but it was also very good and would be best read first as it's assumed you have in terms of existing character backgrounds. If you have KU, they are free to borrow.
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Post by susanb on Aug 19, 2021 14:04:51 GMT 1
Smiley, please for Windsong Summer 😊
Started on my last book, enjoying it so far!
Hoofbeats sounds fun, Haffy, I’ve got it bookmarked on my Amazon list now.
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Post by Claire on Aug 26, 2021 17:23:09 GMT 1
Hi all apologies for absence. Yet more technical problems! Will be in touch again asap.
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Post by susanb on Aug 27, 2021 14:59:33 GMT 1
Hope you're out of your technical difficulties soon, Claire! So hard when something you expect to work doesn't Languishing on my last book....it's not bad, just not grabbing me at the moment. May do a detour through a mystery and go back to it later.
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 27, 2021 20:54:01 GMT 1
Can i have a smiley for Rivalry in Riding Boots (just!). I think someone read one too many Jilly Coopers maybe, it's a tad too far fetched for me, not terribly written or anything just not altogether believable. Not 100% sure if Author is American trying to be British as Soda slipped through the net at one point, I would call it a can of pop (or coke or whatever the contents were but perhaps someone will tell me some parts of Uk also call it soda?), would also question if they were really a horsey person, as parts came across as just too unhorsey if you know what i mean (researched rather than experienced).
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Post by Claire on Aug 28, 2021 14:01:20 GMT 1
I have moved onto a Spanish sim card which I am not sure allows me to use the mobile phone internet on my laptop, which is what I have been doing (no broadband here), on added to that I spilt water on my phone and it was off for a couple of days drying out! I am awaiting to hear back from my spanish sim provider.
And on top of all that I have somehow acquired a stray cat which has had 4 kittens - on the roof of all places! So stressed out with trying to look after that lot!
Haven't had much time to read through it all but I am enjoying the Pegasus book, which I found better than expected. It will definitely get a smiley when I eventually get back to finishing it off.
Haffy - I've certainly never heard anyone in the UK call 'pop' soda, but perhaps it is an editing thing - enabling for the USA market?
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Post by susanb on Aug 28, 2021 16:22:59 GMT 1
Yikes, I hadn’t thought of how difficult it would be to transfer tech to another country 😳.
Re the cats….same the world over….they have some sort of Geiger counter mechanism by which they detect kind-hearted people 😉
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Post by Claire on Aug 31, 2021 12:36:56 GMT 1
Lol Susan, I can't escape cats where-ever I go! I'm sure if I took a trip to the moon there would be a stray cat there waiting! Anyhow good news with the Spanish sim, I have got it sorted out so I can have the internet on all my devices - so normal (ish) servive should be resumed!
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Post by susanb on Sept 1, 2021 14:49:14 GMT 1
Yea! Glad you got it sorted out!
If you have your kindle set up as well, and haven’t found Dark Champion, Sawdust in His Shoes might be a good “author not read before “ substitute 😉
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Post by Claire on Sept 5, 2021 22:40:42 GMT 1
Thanks Susan. I may give that a try.
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Post by darkhorse on Sept 9, 2021 11:40:20 GMT 1
Hi Claire please can I have a smiley for Greater Gains which was good, although I preferred the first book. However a neutral for Three Jays in Rome. I agree with other readers that it was quite slow and not enough about horses or the Olympics themselves. I am hoping to finish off before the end date!
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Post by Claire on Sept 11, 2021 15:45:08 GMT 1
Hi all, how is everyone getting on? As usual the finish date can be extended a few days if needs be. I have found Dark Champion so will be able to do the challenge without a change after all! Just got to read it now! Kittens taking up a lot of my time at the moment. They are eating (and pooping) all the time!
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Post by garej on Sept 11, 2021 18:07:29 GMT 1
I am slowly working through Dark Champion. I am about halfway through.
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Post by susanb on Sept 12, 2021 1:54:31 GMT 1
I’m a bit less than halfway through my last book, more time would definitely be appreciated!
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Post by garej on Sept 13, 2021 22:47:15 GMT 1
Finally finished DARK CHAMPION and would award it a SMILEY. At times I thought it was an neutral but there's an unusual twist in the tale near the end (was totally unexpected) which picked it up at the end. I won't say what it is because Claire is reading it too. Anyway I enjoyed the majority of it.
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Post by Claire on Sept 15, 2021 19:22:06 GMT 1
Hi all, will extend to the end of September. I need it too as still have 2 books to finish. Too much time playing with kittens to read!
I'm now looking forward to the twist at the end of Dark Champion, Garej! And well done on finishing the challenge - have you picked a star book yet?
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Post by garej on Sept 20, 2021 2:21:25 GMT 1
I have read 2 more books since my last post. Admittedly they were rather short but they were The Pony Test and The Pony Picnic both by CPT. Both were an NEUTRAL for being a tad predictable but I am not the target audience since they were written for much younger readers than most of Christine's books. It's entirely up to you Claire if you want to add it to my list. I have written a more thorough review in my PT blog.
My star read is Dark Champion.
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Post by susanb on Sept 22, 2021 0:35:12 GMT 1
Can I get a neutral for Hearts of Fire? Horsey bits were good, but too much time dedicated to the Brat Farrar wannabe plot
Star read The Unwillingly Adventurers ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Post by Claire on Sept 28, 2021 18:29:28 GMT 1
Hi all, thanks for the star read recommendations and well done to those of you who have completed the challenge. Have updated smilies but as im travelling and using my tablet I can't add trophies or rosettes yet.
Ive finished Dark Champion and would award it a weakish smiley. Nothing outstanding but did like the characters of the kids and their interaction. I pretty much saw the twist at the end. I did think the kids were a bit hard hearted towards their old pony getting sold.
Now to try and finish my last book in the next couple of days!
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Post by tintin on Oct 1, 2021 14:50:55 GMT 1
Hello Claire, I'm back on track now so can I have a big smiley for:-
"Caroline Canters Home"
Please?
Lovely, funny and quite true to life
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