Bev Pettersen

It is just before Christmas and Suzy is trying so hard to be good because she just knows that this year Santa is going to bring her a real live pony. She and her mother have moved to this small town in Montana after the death of Suzy’s father. Her mother, tries hard to keep her daughter’s belief in the magic of Christmas alive, knowing all the while it is a struggle to just provide the basics for her them. Hard pressed as she is, she has raised her daughter to have a good heart and when she makes some new friends, Mom finds out that Christmas miracles may sometimes happen in the real world.

Who hasn't wanted a pony for Christmas? Telling this story from the perspective of a 6 year old child is sheer genius. Children, in their innocence, are brutally honest in how they view the the world and yet are often completely oblivious to to the harsh realities of that world. Using Suzy’s voice, the author has done a fantastic job of putting a lot of exposition in this short read. Her child's ability to see good in all and to show kindness reverberates through the entire story.

While the outcome of the story is never in doubt, the people Suzy meets along the way make this a perfect Christmas read, and I am not ashamed to admit I shed a tear or two as a twist I did not expect showed itself. Carl’s history is compelling and even peripheral characters have a way of filling out the story.

Bev Pettersen has a impressive list of grown up books to her credit. This particular novella is perfect for readers ages 6-600… (more)

Really a 2 star for me as a non-romance reader, but a 4 star as a romance so I'm trying to be fair. If you like the normal romance genre - girl meets guy, fall in love, silly mis-communications separate them, mis-communications repaired in the the knick of time and finally cue the curtain roll on an assumed happily ever after than here you go, it's all there. I got this for free and as a horse person I like to read just about anything equine. Bev Pettersen is clearly a horse person so at least I did not wince to much at the equine side of things. It is silly and completely implausible multiple places but no more than any romance book. Fairly quick, easy read. Plot holes are reasonable seeing as every romance ever seems to require them to get the mis-communication part right.

If you area horse person, and not a romance reader, steer clear. If you are a romance person and not a romance novel, looking for something that is not steamy then here you go. The equestrian part doesn't go over the average readers head so an easy, pleasurable read.… (more)

A horse track mystery and steroid, horse-doping case puts Dino in the hotseat of responsibility.

I frequently have found that the 3rd book in a trilogy or a collection is usually the weakest. Dino comes from the previous selection in this collection where his character was a fun-loving yet professional horseman.

I am not sure what the author was going for here as I could not connect with any characters (so very cardboard cutouts) and I ended up skimming most of the pages without interest.… (more)