Pride's Last Race

Thoroughbred #10
By Joanna Campbell
Rating: ☆☆☆.5

Race to the finish...

Wonder's Pride has just had the best year of his life! First he ran to a stunning victory in the Breeders' Cup race. Then he was named Horse of the Year. Pride's trainers, Samantha McLean and Ashleigh Griffen can't wait for the start of another spectacular year.

But on the verge of his five-year-old season Pride develops a deadly illness. Pride will never race again - he may even die! Everyone else says there's no hope for Pride, but Samantha refuses to give up on him. Can her determination save the famous horse?

This blurb ends with a rhetorical question. Its a Thoroughbred novel, of course Samantha can save Pride. It is also slightly inaccurate. He wasn't named Horse of the Year until after his illness, it was only Ashleigh and Samantha who were confident he had gotten it. And I honestly thought that for something as prestigious as Horse of the Year there would be more of a ceremony for it, but correct me if I'm wrong...

Since when was Samantha a trainer? Her official title is groom, but she is also Pride's one and only exercise rider. Why isn't her title bumped up to exercise rider? Wouldn't that give her more claim over Pride, but then I guess she wouldn't get to be in the walking ring before each of his races to give him encouraging words. 

My honest opinion of this blurb is that it ruins the surprise of the rest of the book. Half way through I kept wondering when Pride was going to fall ill in time to make a spectacular recovery and win another race against Lord Ainsley. They could have focused the blurb on something earlier on in the book such as the rumour of Pride being retired:

Shortly after another fantastic win against Lord Ainsley in the Jockey Gold Cup Classic Samantha is disturbed to read a rumour of Brad and Lavinia retiring Pride. Distraught Samantha contacts Pride's co-owner Ashleigh and learns there may be more truth than lies as Mr. Townsend finds merit in this plan. Can Samantha and Ashleigh convince Mr. Townsend to keep Pride racing - as he so desperately wants to - before its too late?

Possibly not as dramatic considering he'd only be retired, not dead, but its not giving away as much of the storyline as the actual blurb. Where is the surprise in it? Especially since we all know Pride only loses every millionth race. I just feel sorry for Lord Ainsley. He should have just stayed in his own country so he could actually win a race once and a while. 

This cover is ok. Ashleigh - I'm assuming its her even if the hair is light brown/blonde - looks beautiful in it. Samantha does not. She looks older than Ash, but definitely more attractive an Medusa hair Sammy in Samantha's Pride. I wish they would put a question mark after the title. At least that would still pose the question of whether or not its Pride's last race, instead of just coming out and telling us. I'm convinced the title would be better at Lord Ainsley & Pride's Last Standoff, and in italics at the bottom But we all know Pride always wins... 

This book is a mixture of Lord Ainsley vs Pride, Brad & Lavinia vs Ashleigh & Samantha, illnesses, injuries & death, and the debate of what to do with the rest of Pride's life. 

Pride is getting old! He's just finished his last races on peak and Clay wants to retire him. Ash & Sammy are of course horrified! Nothing could be worse than frolicking in a paddock all day and having the best choice of broodmares to join him. What an evil idea that could only have resulted from Brad and Lavinia. THEY ALWAYS STOP AT THE BEST SCENES BETWEEN LAVINIA & ASH. I really want Sammy to go with Ash into the mansion after Princess gets injured and witness why Lavinia thinks Ash was going to hit her. 

So... after Pride keeps winning race after race and everyone is convinced they live on top of the world Clay wants to retire Pride, Princess gets injured and Wonder losses a foal. I half wish Wonder's foal was born alive with her deformities so the Thoroughbred characters would be forced to make an insanely hard decision to put the foal down instead of just waiting for the horse to make the decision for them A.K.A instantly get better.

Sierra is slowly pushed aside in this book. He runs a fantastic race against a higher level, but whilst in training for the next one Tor misjudges the jump and Sierra is hurt. That gives Samantha and Tor plenty of time to work with the Pony Commandos and Pride. 

I don't really understand the Pony Commandos. I get that its a way for Sammy to get along with Beth, but couldn't they have just done that at the wheelchair sporting events? 

Clay is made to realise that it would be stupid to retire Pride (even if he is entirely right on this subject) - again too quick a turn around - but they all agree on his decision (hint Lavinia's & Brad's not that Ash or Sammy would EVER admit it) when Pride gets colic and nearly dies. 

I think his whole recovery is utter crap. I cringed with embarrassment as Tor proclaimed that it was Sammy's love that saved Pride. That somehow he understood that he'd been given a death sentence if he didn't eat by the morning. HORSES DON'T UNDERSTAND HUMAN WORDS. He could only understand the upset vibe they were giving off, which wouldn't have been able to tell him exactly the time and how he was going to die, and it sounded like he was too sick to even pick up on anything.

His "miracle" cure would have sounded better if the vet had just said he has no explanation and then Sammy privately thought in her own self loving judgement that it was because of her that he got better. The only person to have pulled off the love thing is J.K. Rowling as she explains why Harry survived the night his parents were killed. And then it only just works because Dumbledor says it.

The ending of this book needed much improvement and a solider ending. Maybe Samantha desperately searched the internet for a cure and found some new therapy the vet is sceptical about. That would have been more believable.

Most Wonderful Thing On Writing I've Found Yet

If you are wanting to write more consistently or just more each day read this blog post now!

http://thisblogisaploy.blogspot.com.au/2011/06/how-i-went-from-writing-2000-words-day.html

Genius! Genius! Genius! I've even printed out The Triangle of Writing Metrics. Today I used this theory for the first time. If you haven't read the above post here is the run down:

The triangle is based on three different things. Knowledge - quickly jotting down what you are going to write before you write it. Time - recording how many words you do each session, what time, distractions, etc to find a way to maximise your writing. Enthusiasm - if its boring to write its boring to read.

Compared to Rachel I have hardly written anything today, but I hope with this triangle it will help me or at least if I look at my time recordings and realise no Jo you cannot watch an episode of Friends whilst writing it will help me minus my distractions.

I'll let you guys know how it goes!

Samantha's Pride

Thoroughbred #7
By Joanna Campbell
Rating: ☆☆1/2

Will Pride's winning streak ruin him?

Wonder's Pride, the three-year-old colt of champion mare Wonder, is the newest star in the Thoroughbred racing and the favourite for the biggest race of them all - the Kentucky Derby. But when Pride wins the Derby, it looks as if victory could be the worst thing that ever happened to him!

Pride's owner, Clay Townsend, wants to race Pride in the strenuous three-race Triple Crown. But Pride's jockey  Ashleigh Griffin, and Ashleigh's friend Samantha McLean, who have watched Pride grow up, both believe that Wonder's Pride will suffer permanent injuries if he races too much. Can Samantha and Ashleigh stop Mr. Townsend before he races one of the greatest horses of all time-to death?

I hate the blurb. I hate it, I really do. First of all I don't under stand the need to write "the three-year-old colt of champion mare Wonder". Hello! We are not being introduced to Pride for the first time. We've just spent the last book with him hence the title "Wonder's Yearling". The worst part of it would have to be "But when Pride wins the Derby, it looks as if victory could be the worst thing that ever happened to him!" If you hadn't noticed Pride was fine coming out of the Derby. It was the Preakness that really took it out of him. Everything was really ok after the Derby except for Sammy being pushed out of the way by the Townsends, even if they had more right to be there as Pride's co-owners.

Hint CO-OWNERS. The next sentence "Pride's owner, Clay Townsend". ASHLEIGH GRIFFIN OWNS HALF OF HIM TOO!!!! Everyone seems to have forgotten this fact including Ash herself until finally a lawyer points this out. Ash must be pretty thick to forget that she own 50% of the colt. "Oh but I toe danced around it because I didn't want him or Wonder or Princess taken away from me" Ashleigh calls meekly at me *sighs* As much as we all know the Townsends are horrible people who mistreat horses they probably want to have at least one of the horses they co-own on their farm.

They then go on to undermine Ash by neglecting to mention that she is an owner instead of just her jockey and only call Sammy Ashleigh's friend. I think she has more rank as his groom. Otherwise she sounds like Lavinia only being Brad's girlfriend.

Now on to the cover... It wasn't too horrible. Much better than the cover for Hi-Jinx! Melanie's eyes are priceless in that! Ash looks quite pretty sitting on top of Pride, and he looks like a nice horse a part from the fact that the signature colour of chestnut that follows Wonder's stock around like a bad smell isn't portrayed in this one. Maybe the artists got tired of chestnuts? Sammy looks horrible. Her hair reminds me of Medusa's snakes and it is missing that beautiful red auburn colour they talk about.


The book itself was ok. Don't be put off by the two and a half stars. It wasn't terribly written, but it was boring. Probably because I wasn't feeling in the mood for a Thoroughbred book. I felt myself dreading reading it based on how many I've read recently.

This one didn't get my heart racing even if here was many races in it. Probably because Pride kept winning every damn one. It was predictable. It was only when they hit the Belmont and Pride lost by a head bob that I was surprised. I honestly expected him to win. Especially with the dramatic draw up to the photo finish and all of Sammy's intakes of breath as she waits to see whether her (funny how Sammy thinks she owns him, but they regret to remember that Ash is a co-owner) horse has won the Triple Crown. And he loses! Only by a head bob of course (he is one of Wonder's horses after all...), but its enough for Brad to feel like he's lost the whole universe.

In this book I think it is justified that Brad is made out to be a dick. Because he surely acts like one throughout most of it. I love Ash's backbone to begin with after the Preakness considering Pride only lost by a head bob. However Ashleigh's backbone breaks soon and that's when all the losing races happen.

Of course if you've read the rest of these books you can guess that eventually they get Pride back. I was disappointed with the massive argument at the end. Clay seems to give in too easily after coming over in a such a rage. He doesn't even look abashed about his anger. He is took quick to nip Brad on the ear and disappear.

I'm definitely looking forward to reading Wither by Lauren DeStefano. It looks awesome!

Kissing Coffins

Vampire Kisses #2
By Ellen Schreiber
Rating: ☆☆☆☆

Not far from Dullsville, someone's lurking in the dark. . . .

After meeting the handsome and shadowy Alexander Sterling, goth-girl Raven's dark world has a bright, new glow. But as in her favorite movie, "Kissing Coffins," Raven knows that love always has its complications, especially when Alexander has a big secret to guard.

When Alexander suddenly disappears, Raven leaves Dullsville to begin a dangerous search to find him. Can she stay safe, no matter who--or what--she encounters on the way?

It got better! Yes! Kissing Coffins just scraped itself a four star rating. I'm happy to say that in the process of losing Alexander in the first book Raven has grown up. A lot. I like this Raven much better than the whiny bitch that wouldn't get a job to pay off her dad's racket she lost even though she is sixteen.

This book should have been combined with the first. You could see the character grow throughout the book, and it doesn't feel as "Twilighty" with the first all about discovering the male lead and the second about finding him. But at least Raven went out and looked for Alexander! Instead of moping around and accepting that her boyfriend has left her Raven actually went out there and looked for him.

I love the cover. I like being able to picture Raven as a good looking goth (I had the worst images in my head from the first book and all of her tight black SPANDEX dresses). I again did not like the back of the book. The blurb was hideous. When Alexander suddenly disappears. Please... He disappeared in the first book, get with the program. It would be better writing: Goth-girl Raven refuses to sit around moping over the loss of her boyfriend Alexander, especially when he has a big secret to guard. However as Raven journey's to the nearby Hipsterville can she keep safe no matter who - or what - she encounters on the way? Much better! That conveys to readers the Raven is DIFFERENT! And people like different with so many stereotypical vampire books around. 

The book ends with another fucking cliff hanger. No, just no. I only just remembered what it was then because I was thinking hm...what else shall I write. That is not the impression we want. If the writing is good enough and the plot is good enough it should finish on a conclusion that satisfies the reader, but still leaves them thirsty for another book if the author happens to write another. Like I said before. It would have made more sense to combine this book and the first into two books and then ended it with Raven and Alexander back together at home all happy. Leaving the carnival crap with Luna to the start of the next book.

Two more things to note: I wish Raven and Trevor would get together. I am so happy that Raven is actively thinking about NOT wanting to become a vampire. Respect back for you girl! You are actually thinking about your life and whether that's what you want.  

Unbridled Fury

Thoroughbred #62
Created by Joanna Campbell
By Karle Dickerson
Rating: ☆☆☆

Melanie's new horse is named Hi Jinx, and he sure lives up to his name.

 

Now that Image is injured, Melanie needs to find another horse to race. She hasn't found one she feels really connected to just yet. But all that's about to change.

While visiting Image at Townsend Acres, Melanie meets a gorgeous brown Thoroughbred named Hi Jinx - he looks just like his ancestor, the famous racehorse Seabiscuit! Melanie feels an instant bond with this powerful animal. She and Jazz have been talking about owning a horse together, so why not this one?

But before they even get back to Whitebrook, Hi Jinx starts acting up - big-time! Will Melanie be able to get him to behave before it's too late?

 

Melanie has picked another crazy horse! And this time instead of being spoilt he's just plain mean! It's in his bloodlines!

I really don't know what to tell you guys. I read this book in a day. Literally. It held my attention, but there was no heart pounding racing in it. I do love the whole rescuing the crazy horse and making it better, but throughout the whole book I've been thinking hit it! HIT IT! HIT IT! Honestly... I apologise for the violence, and they do say that throughout the whole book that the reason Hi Jinx is such an ass is because of the violence in his past. Maybe he is a Blackbelle horse who you can't force him to do anything. That being said if he is being naughty a quick smack will sort him out.

 

This book in a nutshell: Melanie buys a crazy horse because Image is out of action. Jinx bites everything in sight, everyone hates him including Jazz except for Mel. Jazz doubts Mel's awesomeness, which pisses her off. Kevin becomes all knight in shining armour to help Mel and I wonder for the millionth time why Mel is with Jazz apart from the fact that he funds her crazy buying crazy horses fetish. If I were the writer I would start Kevin to move up on Mel and then Jazz fights back. Drama galore! Haha

 

Anyhoo! That was a short review with not much body to it, but I read the book in a day and don't feel much emotion towards it... It was good, but not fantastic material.

 

 

The Beginning

Vampire Kisses #1
By Ellen Schreiber
Rating: ☆☆1/2

Reading this book I was baffled that Vampire Kisses was often synopsis with best seller. On Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire_Kisses_(series), I found little to say that the book was actually a best seller. If you read the section called "reception" you will find a fairly positive collection of reviews from mulitple people, but nothing to give evidence that it is a best selling series. However in the Manga Adaption section I found the sentence "The series was one of the 2009 New York Times bestselling manga for the week of September 26.^[15]", And yes it comes with a reference too! I did some more research and found out it was actually no. 10 in the best seller list for October 16th 2011, two years after Wikipedia says. Proving once again that Wiki lives up to its reputation, which makes me want to create an account and sign in just to correct that fact. I searched the weeks before and after October 16th and there was no more account of the Vampire Kisses manga, which brings me to the conclusion that it seemed like a fantastic idea, but after they read the first volume decided against it.

I am not surprised that the book wasn't popular. It was ok, even entertaining in some parts, but by no way anything special or spectacular. Raven constantly annoyed me as a character. In the first 50 pages I gained respect for her because she actually stood up for herself against the school bully. I lost that respect when she broke down in hystics because she had to get a job to pay her dad back for losing his $200 racket. RAVEN YOU ARE SIXTEEN FOR GOD'S SAKE! I would understand this kind of behaviour in a 12 year old maybe up to a 14 year old depending on their lifestyle, but not a 16 year old. It seems like its supposed to add conflict to her relationship with Trevor,but what is so bad about having a part time job?!

The next issue I have with Raven is how she contradicts herself. All this big talk about loving the dark and not being able to wait to meet vampires is a joke. OK sure, be a night owl, but don't claim to have wanted to meet a vampire for your whole life (16 years...) and then hide in the other room photocopying your hand because their butler looks scary. Seriously. And then afterwards she goes on to say a stupid sentence that her terror wouldn't let her leave the room and then in a few more words say "I loved it." No, just no.

I also have issues with her relationship with Alexander. In their first date they are lying on top of each other and Raven is practically waiting for him to bite her so he can forever be her "Gothic Dream Mate". Raven you are sixteen. You've never dated anyone else before and you are so sure this is what you want? I guess this is also true for Bella in Twilight. However it feels different as Bella is protrayed as much more mature than Raven. She has been in the grown up world taking care of her mum and doing all those grown up things like the washing and cooking and shopping. Not to say that a person's readiness to be committed forever to one person is judged through housewifery. The idea of a sixteen year old being sure she's found her soul mate works better in Twilight despite Bella's youth and small dating experience as she comes across as an older character. Wheras Raven comes across as a whiny twelve year old who would say I love you to any boy who has the slightest similarities to her.

My guess is that Schreiber wanted to create a vampire book situable for middle grade readers ranging from 11-13, but to make the deep relationship between Raven and Alexander believeable she had to pick an older character. Because really what 12 year olds know who their soul mate is, let alone have the capicity to make a life changing decision like becoming a vampire.

From my writer's perspective it is slow to start off with. There is a few chapters dedicated to Raven's childhood only to show us just how goth she really is. I would have cut this. It isn't a very exciting way to start the story off. I would have summarised it briefly and included it after something exciting happened to hook the reader in (the party and leaving Trevor naked). The rest of the book is well paced. It was entertaining, however at the climax of the book where we were supposed to be close to tears and feeling Raven's pain I couldn't help but feel joyous that Raven was finally being punished for her attitude.

Now for the back. "This is where everything begins"... -_- well obviously considering the title of the book The Beginning. That just annoys me. How thick do you think we readers are? Then the review by Morbid Outlook Magazine "Raven is exactly the kind of girl a Goth can look up to". I am in two minds about this. On the one hand I appreciate how strong Raven is as a person. She doesn't let others bug her and holds her own. On the other hand I would not want to encourage someone to break and enter, call their little brother names, sneak out of home and have a general lack of responsibility.

I will read the second book soon, mostly because its one of the next books in my shelves, but I am the kind of person who generally can't stop reading a series until I've finished it. The exception being The Lighthouse Land by Adrian McKinty. Possibly I'll pick it up again one day, but since I gave my copy to a caravan park I doubt I'll buy it again.

I am seriously hoping the Vampire Kisses series picks up as the books go along. Especially considering there is nine in the series even if they are only 200 ish pages.

Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes, but it depends on their age. I'm planning on buying a copy for my soon to be 14 year old sister for her birthday in another attempt to make a book worm out of her. I will be telling my 14 year old cousin about it (hint: they are both younger than 15). She really loved My Love Lies Bleeding by Alyxsandra Harvey. I would place The Beginning in the same catergory. They both seem to me vampire novels born or became widely know because of the post Twilight vampire hype. Slightly entertaining, but there are definitely better books to spend your time on.

Hoofprints In The Snow

Created by Joanna Campbell
Written by Karle Dickerson
Thoroughbred 56
Rating: ☆☆☆1/2

A mystery horse is leading Lyssa astray - and into danger!

Lyssa Hynde know the Wyoming winters are cold, lonely, and dangerous. But she wouldn't give them up for anything. There's nothing she likes better than to gallop her three-day event horse, Blue, through knee-high fresh powder.

One day when she's out for her morning ride, Lyssa follows a trail of mysterious hoofprints that takes her high into the moutains. Climbing a snowdrift, she and Blue set off an avalanche that builds force as it heads straight for her ranch.

Will Lyssa make it home in time to warn her family and save the other animals? Will she find the mystery horse that led her astray in the first place?

The cover is very Western! I like it. It's a nice change from the usual racing ones and the back ground is beautiful! I found myself internally groaning as I started to read this one and realised it would not have one speck of racing in it at all. However I still fell under the magical Thoroughbred spell I receive whenever I open one of these books.

It was ok. That's my main emotion for this book (I can tell this isn't going to be a long review). It wasn't fantastic, but it wasn't horrible.

The exciting page turning parts of the book were exciting, but they weren't oh-my-god-I-can't-put-this-down pages. It was again predictable as most of the Thoroughbreds are.

I really liked Lyssa as soon as I heard her stand up for herself. Which doesn't really make sense! All of the Thoroughbred girls have attitude. There was just something different about Lyssa. She joked, she teased, but of course shock horror she doesn't like going to school dances! How did she even get invited anyways as she is home schooled? Or Tony the horse thief? And just like all the other Thoroughbred girls she instantly feels dislike when one of their friends decide horses aren't the apple of their eye anymore. PEOPLE CAN HAVE OTHER INTERESTS... Despite all of that she feels different, maybe because she's never been into racing?

If you are looking amusing, hilarious and awesome Thoroughbred reviews check out these guys :) http://whitebrookfarm.blogspot.com.au/2008/01/introducing-master-list.html?q=master+list