RIDE A PAINTED PONY

Author: Kathleen Eagle ISBN: 0778323595 12/2006 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: MIRA

On a dark, lonely stretch of Midwest interstate, Nick Red Shield swerves his pickup and empty horse trailer to avoid a pair of terrified eyes. In the bushes he finds a woman—battered, bruised, and barely conscious—in desperate need of a lift. Lauren Davis grew up in the high stakes world of horse racing, a world that took her to fame as a jockey and into a relationship with a dangerous high roller. Life with Raymond Vargas has turned deadly, forcing her on the run, but she can’t abandon her son, and now she’ll to anything to get him back safe. While Nick’s instincts as a loner kick into high gear, Lauren’s vulnerability tugs at him in ways he shut down long ago. A man more comfortable with horses than people, unable to make peace with a past that’s left him scarred, Nick’s not sure about secretive Lauren. But he can’t just leave her. And he really doesn’t want her to go. In the safe haven of his South Dakota ranch, among the magnificent painted horses of western legend, a bond of trust, truth and passion becomes a lifeline for them both. But soon the danger that shadows Lauren’s life and her desperate attempt to save her son will force Nick to confront his own demons. Only then can he can fight to save Lauren from hers.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

RIDE A PAINTED PONY is the thrilling new release from author Kathleen Eagle. Eagle wrote a touching story of love and trust between a woman on the run and the man who saves her.

Nick Red Shield barely misses running into a dear on a dark and rainy night while driving his pickup. Much to his surprise, it wasn't a deer he almost hit, but a woman, who is battered, bruised and in desperate need of rescue. Against his better judgment, Nick takes her to the motel he's staying at just for the night.

Lauren Davis, who's calling herself "Joey", is on the run from a dangerous relationship. What she needs now is a safe refuge and time to figure out how to save her son. Much to her surprise, Nick Red Shield is going to be her savior, not only from the danger that she's in, but also from the emotional baggage that she carries.

Nick and Lauren form a tight bond that only gets stronger the longer they are together. Nick knows that Lauren is hiding secrets from him, but he has one or two that he's hiding from her, as well. Together they must learn to trust each other completely, or Lauren will be lost to him and lost to her son forever.

RIDE A PAINTED PONY is a well written and emotionally touching story. I loved the developing relationship between Lauren and Nick; even though they both have secrets, they still manage to find a simple truth together. The danger of her past relationship looms over them, and the ending was well worth the read.

I found Kathleen Eagle's RIDE A PAINTED PONY a satisfying contemporary romance and one that I recommend reading.

Julie Kornhausl