jjares reviewed on 12/8/2014 + 3413 more book reviews

This book really starts on a low note; Amanda Jeffrey is a widow with 3 small boys to rear on a struggling horse farm in Kentucky. While repairing the barn, Amandas father-in-law is injured; this leaves Amanda and 3 youngsters to tend to everything.

Riding through the area is Colin Donnelly and his son; Colin is an Irish drifter, looking for work in exchange for meals and a roof over their head at night. The Donnelly family was certainly interesting and had lots of secrets. Mr. Jeffrey is suspicious but Amanda realizes she must have help or the farm will fall down around them.

I thought Amanda was overly-compassionate; her father-in-law was wallowing in self-pity over the loss of his son and his physical injury. Langan portrayed him correctly (although I wanted to box the ears of Mr. Jeffrey); after a son died, fathers often controlled his sons house/farm, even though the sons wife was capable of managing things herself.

Mr. Jeffrey owed loyalty to his daughter-in-law for her sacrifices; but he sided with an odious neighbor against Amanda. I agree with other readers, it was obvious who was creating havoc.

I also had a problem with the race leaders; when the incident between the neighbor and the child on the horse happened, the leaders should have taken him aside immediately after the race and put him in jail. They had seen the atrocity and allowed the neighbor his freedom while deciding not to let him race the next year. This seemed as awfully light punishment for such a serious incident.

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