Tag Archives: horses and the equine

Giveaway – horse/man by Julia Merritt @GoddessFish

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horse/man by Julia Merritt

GENRE: Fiction – Literary

BLURB

What happens when your entire identity revolves around a way of life that is becoming obsolete?

In the 1920s, as Canada progresses through the Industrial Revolution, horses are still the rural engines of survival. As a child Adam lives this reality on his family’s farm in the Ottawa Valley, planning to take over one day and have a family of his own. When his parents die during the Great Depression, nineteen-year-old Adam is disinherited in favour of his brother and is forced to move to the city to find work. Without a formal education his choices are few, yet he finds a place to use his horsemanship skills in the dwindling forces of the Canadian cavalry based near Montreal. There he finds pride in being a mounted soldier, and friendship with his fellow dragoons. But the cavalry units are mechanized by the beginning of World War Two, and when Adam is sent to Europe, he must abandon his equine partners for trucks and tanks. In the catastrophic experience of war, he will lose everything once again.

Broken in body and spirit, he returns to Canada where he must confront the question of survival in a world that doesn’t seem to have a place for an injured soldier. Full of poetic reflections on what it means to work with horses, horse/man is a powerful story about a man searching for dignity and connection in the face of a rapidly shifting world.

EXCERPT

“Trot on, Jack! Git up, Pete! Git UP! Good.”

The driver called out orders and sounded gruff, even in praise. The reins slapped the broad chestnut backs lightly, then loosened. It was the end of May, and planting had finished. Today, they were going to town. Freed from their heavy collars and the deep wet soil, the horses danced down the dirt road, shaking their heads as they pushed through the harnesses. Their efforts were rewarded with an easy silence.

Seven-year-old Adam sat in the back of the wagon, his skinny legs anchoring the sacks and baskets his mother had given him for dry goods. He was small for his age but wiry and strong. His face was still childish, heart-shaped and snub-nosed, with sandy brown hair and eyes. His father, Ciaran, was alone on the front seat, driving the horses with his back to Adam. Adam was grateful for the rest.

The horses picked up speed, and Adam bounced from side to side on the planks. The percussion of the horses’ hooves and the squeak of the wagon on its struts was all he could hear. The wind from the wagon’s movement had a chill. He turned his head to face it, letting the tears from his watering eyes stream along his cheeks. He inhaled the sharpness of spring, undercut by the heaviness of soil and vegetation that was not quite yet alive. Travelling along, further details unfurled — the patches of mud in the potholes, the freshly tilled soil in the fields, the shades of green emerging from the ditches and the trees.

AUTHOR Bio and Links

ulia Merritt has been captivated by horses ever since she could see out of the car window. Then she grew up and became a public library CEO and certified animal bodyworker. She lives in Ontario, Canada, with her thoroughbred horses and smooth collie dogs. This is her first novel.

Connect with Julia Merritt

  • WEBSITE http://www.juliamerritt.ca/
  • FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/firehorseperformancebodywork
  • INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/j.a.merritt/
  • TIKTOK https://www.tiktok.com/@j.a.merritt
  • GOODREADS https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60353574-horse-man

Get your copy of horse/man              

  • AMAZON.COM https://amzn.to/3x1n8Wb
  • AMAZON.CA https://amazon.ca/dp/0228856566
  • INDIGO CHAPTERS https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/horse-man/9780228856542-item.html
  • BARNES & NOBLE https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/horse-man-julia-merritt/1140954662
  • BOOK DEPOSITORY https://www.bookdepository.com/horseman-Julia-Merritt/9780228856566
  • SMASHWORDS https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1129973
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@JadieJones1 excels in Moonlit Trilogy – All Three Reviews

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Jadie Jone’s debut novel, Moonlit, has a beautiful and fantastic cover. Gorgeous.

I can almost feel the power radiating from these amazing animals.

That alone made me want to read the book.

But…I have more.

MoonlitAdd me to Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The cover made me choose this book. It is so beautiful. I love the horses. Wildwood, the  horse farm in Shenandoah Valley, made me think of Bonanza. Does that date me?

I was amazed by everything in this book. I loved it. It took me places that I haven’t been before and didn’t see coming. It was riveting from beginning to end. I can hardly believe this is Jadie Jones’ debut novel.

This novel has everything and more that you would want in a paranormal story. It was very well written and the characters come alive on the pages. Watch out for the twists and turns and be careful of who you trust.

Even after being warned, Tanzy takes her nightly ride on Hopewell. When someone tells you don’t go in the woods, then don’t. It is not going to end well. I always laugh when I come across this example in the books I read. Don’t open the door. Don’t go down in the basement……….

I was crushed when I realized I wouldn’t find out what happened to Tanzy until the next book. I hope Jadie Jones is a fast writer because I can hardly wait to get my hands on Book II.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos  5 STARS

You can find my original review here, written June 6, 2013.

SYNOPSIS

Eighteen-year-old Tanzy Hightower knows horses, has grown up with them on Wildwood Farm. She also knows not to venture beyond the trees that line the pasture. Things happen out there that can’t be explained. Or undone. Worse, no one but she and the horses can see what lurks in the shadows of the woods.

When a moonlit ride turns into a terrifying chase, Tanzy is left to question everything, from the freak accident that killed her father to the very blood in her veins. Broken and confused, she turns to Lucas, a scarred, beautiful stranger, and to Vanessa, a charming new friend who has everything Tanzy doesn’t.

But why do they seem to know more about her than she knows herself?

Amazon * WiDo Publishing * Barnes & Noble

I read Moonlit for a tour, but I loved this book so much and I had to know what happens, so I broke down and bought Windswept and Wildwood. I rarely buy books any more. I either get them free, or borrow them from friends, family or the library.

Read on to see if the trilogy holds up to my 5 star rating for Moonlit.

white and black horses photo: Dashing... dashing.jpgWindswept (Moonlit, #2)Windwept, Moonlit II by Jadie Jones

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MY REVIEW

Windwept, Book II of the Moonlit trilogy, picks up where Moonlit left off.

We have action and intrigue from the beginning.

Tansy has changed, but she is still determined to save Lucas at all cost. Is he still alive? How far would you go to save soeone you love?

Tansy has been set up and is running for her life. She has been betrayed and is confused, not knowing who she can trust. Jaycee is still by her side. Can she be trusted? Is she meant to fulfill the prophecy?

Imagine, if you will, an Unseen world, existing side by side with ours, unknown by us. What if the veil was dropped and both worlds shown, allowing the evil to come through?

I know her road is a long and treacherous one and I am very excited to be traveling it with her. As I walk with Tansy, my questions are being answered. No decision will satisfy all her desires and I wonder if they will satisfy mine. Do I agree with her thoughts of what is to be done? Well, my question…which is the right one?

Love and sacrifice, friendship and betrayal. I have been anticipating this wonderful world created with fantastic characters and I was not disappointed.

5 Stars

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Wildwood (Moonlit, #3)Wildwood, Moonlit III by Jadie Jones

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MY REVIEW

Wildwood, Book III of the Moonlit trilogy picks up where Windswept left off.

I am excited to be back with familiar characters and saddened at the thought of their story coming to an end. I loved every step I took with them and will not spoil anything for your.

I have loved every gorgeous cover of the magnificent horses.

War makes strange bedfellows and that has been proven to be true here and heroism comes in some of the most surprising packages.

Twists and turns, love and sacrifice, hope and love kept me “turning the pages” of my Kindle. I knew some of what was coming, but was not able to figure out the exact ending.

I am so happy I broke down and purchased the books I needed to finish the trilogy. I would highly recommend the Moonlit trilogy!

5 Stars

 ABOUT JADIE JONES

Georgia native Jadie Jones first began working for a horse farm at twelve years old, her love of horses matched only by her love of books. She went on to acquire a B.A. in equine business management, and worked for competitive horse farms along the east coast. The need to write followed wherever she went.

She currently coaches a hunt seat equitation team that competes in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, and lives with her family in the foothills of north Georgia. When she’s not working on the next installment of the Moonlit series, she is either in the saddle or exploring the great outdoors with her daughter. Moonlit is her first book.

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Windswept (Moonlit, #2)