Black stallion and the stranger
346317
Also published as The Black Stallion and the Girl (Paperback)
This book could be read alone but complements the series well.
Alec Ramsay is still racing his Arabian stallion The Black to earn prizemoney while he gets a breeding stable established. He is advised by his surrogate father Henry Dailey, an elderly horse trainer. In need of extra help, Alec hires a girl called Pam Athene with fine blonde hair who really has a way with horses. Even the temperamental Black gets on with her.
A fair bit of the book is spent with Alec mooching about getting to know Pam and walking into her room when she is not present. There is a reason for this. But back to the story. Alec is injured and cannot ride the Black in a race and the issue then is whether Pam - who is willing to try - can stay on the Black and if so, would make a fair enough jockey to help the Black do what he does best. Alec has definite feelings for her and doesn't want to risk her life.
The personal story behind this book is that Farley had a daughter called Pam who died young. This book was his way of immortalising her - the hint comes with the Greek goddess surname, as 'those whom the gods love die young' in ancient Greece. So when Alec stares around Pam's belongings and posters, we can see the author doing just that, and when Pam steps up to mount the Black, we can see Farley telling us that one cannot wrap young people in cotton wool. Knowing this I find it a sad story but for a subtly romantic horsey adventure it is a fine read.
1958858
I love the story about the unloved horse. I happen to love horses, from minis to gentle giants :)
1220654
I really enjoyed reading about the connection of horse and man. We can learn so much from our horses and the relationship they allow us to have with them. The story ending was good but the information that followed seemed rushed and difficult to connect.  Overall it is a great book and I have recommended it to my friends who have horses.
682412
Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley
This is a fun read with mystery, humor, one slightly spooky but very protective ghost and a bit of romance too. I'd recommend it for light reading. This is no deep thinking, life altering book but if you want a book to read just for relaxation this is a good one.
2019124
Having read the book, "Black Beauty" seemed to lose a lot of charm and warmth when told on the audio version.
Still the same, great horse with incredible feelings and sensitivity, -- still the same first  person narrative, -- but somehow  I felt I was losing the tremendous input  that pictures can provide.
Always the children's classic, always a  great story, Black Beauty on tape was not my favorite forum for this  timeless story. If I had the choice, I would definitely read the book and  show the pictures to children for their fullest enjoyment and appreciation  of a wonderful, black horse...Black Beauty.
245025
If you love horse stories you will love this one. It is about love, greed and loss. You will absolutely hate the bad guys and what they do to the spirit horses because of greed. The good guys you will love. I know this was a work of fiction but it is all very believable. You will have a hard time putting this one down, at least I did. The end was sad and happy at the same time.
2505265
This is an amazing story about the trials of owning and selling horses within a fiction story. Lara, the heroine of the story, is shocked to be given a horse, Skylark, for Valentine's Day. Her best friend, Ryan, is the one to buy him for her - a replacement for the pony she rehomed when she grew too tall. Read to find out what happens when she discovers her pony in bad circumstances, and learn about Ant - the artist who causes an accident and arguments...
2847677
I enjoyed these video many times.  Black the stallion was very clever horse.  Great to watch when you want your brain to "don't think".
4719744
The most interesting characters in this novel are a pony and a spurned lover, the other characters are okay but the mystery surrounding the aforementioned are much more interesting.

Sybilla is a horse midwife and for some reason only the Church knows, assisting horses during birth is evil and she is banned from practicing her services.  Somehow Sybilla manages to get the funds to buy a pregnant mare and she assists in the birthing of a special colt that is bigger than normal with special markings.  When the sheriff and Lord Hamon discover what she is about they are determined to find her and take away her colt.  She plans on using this animal to start a horse farm.  This, by the way, was hardly plausible as she has no money or parents and she cannot practice her skill.

Sybilla is saved from certain death by Sir Guy, a landed knight bent solely on avenging his sister and nephew's deaths.  He is convinced Lord Hamon killed his sister.  Guy and Lord Hamon have a history, Sir Guy had an affair with Lord Hamon's wife, Lady Morna, and her husband is the possessive sort.  Lady Morna is a seer and has predicted that a horse marked like Sybilla's colt will lead Sir Guy to evidence of the murder.  To protect Sybilla, Guy claims the colt and states that Sybilla is his servant.  This is difficult for her as she is a freewoman, however, Sybilla is aware of the danger surrounding her and her colt and she takes a subservient role with Guy except when it comes to horses.

To ensure Sybilla and the colt's safety, the two must make their way to Sir Guy's liege lord but there are some bumps along the way, namely the little colt which develops some strange afflictions (I never knew how the colt would behave.)  Lord Hamon is not about to leave them alone either.

What I found intriguing in this novel was Sybilla's horse skills more than her romance with Guy, who seemed morose, he just could not let go of his sister's death.  He is stubborn and at times unfair, I felt like he really did steal Sybilla's colt.  His self banishment from his own home was a form of punishment and not only does it affect him but Sybilla also. Now she must travel as a servant instead of being a freewoman in Guy's home. His former lover Lady Morna was mysterious and complex, more so than Sybilla.  She has a part to play in Guy's life but so does Sybilla.  I give this almost 4 stars.  The horse midwife idea was novel and at times Sybilla was engaging, especially with the horses but Guy was so gloomy that I had a hard time getting beyond his self punishment.
664578
Thsi was a GREAT read! I had a hard time putting it down.

I had never heard of the writer before but I could tell in the writing that he was an experienced horse person. After I finished reading, I looked Alan Evans up and discovered that he is actually a horse trainer. I really enjoyed the book and looking forward to reading more books by him in the future.
1715592
A great entry into Dark Horses Conan legacy, truly a tale fitting of such an epic character. Great character interactions between Conan and his new rival named Nestor along with his treacherous romantic interest. Overall a Fantastic finish to Busieks run on Conan and still fantastic art by Cary Nord whose become my favorite artist of modern comics. The story includes a large portion of the climax written by Hellboys Mike Mignola as well as some of HP lovecraft flavor to pay homage to the great pulp writer friendship of Robert e Howard and HP Lovecraft. *****
2796199
This book is reminiscent of The Horse Whisperer, but with some very different twists.  I learned a lot about this particular Native American Tribe's history with the Mustangs and loved the well developed characters.  I read it a while ago, now, but it continues to enter my thoughts.  It is a story I will not forget.
3001220
I didn't purchase this from amazon since it's free on allromanceebooks.
This book will only make sense if you've read the Dark Horse series, it's great to catch up with the characters and see how they're coping with little RJ.
Lovely book I just can't get enough of these guys, it's made me want to read the series again.
2772829
I love this book! It had me interested from the very start and always wondering at the outcomeof each characters. The girl in the story and her horses are magnificent!
2146888
I mean, think about this. The son of the black stallion - Satan - is so terrible at the beginning of the book that Henry doesn't want him around Alec. Henry sees something in the colt's stony gaze that makes him think that this horse is a demon, worse than his sire. Alec doesn't believe him, thinking that 'oh, this is my horse, he'll fall in love with me like the Black did'. The thing is, it doesn't work that way. And even after the horse is saved by Alec, he shouldn't all of a sudden act like he trusts the boy. If anything, in my experience with horses, the animal would be much more skittish than ever with someone connected to that event. Henry in particular, yes, but Alec too since he was around. Anywho, read the book. It's good beside that.
2470408
Rosalind and Nathaniel become acquainted when he returns to his father's home and meets his father's secretary.

Sir William is a horseman who trains horses.  Even though Sir William is confined to a wheeled chair, he is in charge of every aspect of the training and conditioning in the stables.  Nathaniel has worked for his father traveling the country and generally doing whatever needs to be done.  The relationship between father and son is not a good one.  Sir William treats Nathaniel as if he does not deserve respect.  That treatment makes Nathaniel believe he does not deserve respect.

Rosalind has come to work for Sir William because she believes that he holds information and secrets which will help her true employer.  For 13 years she has been going from job to job to gather information.  It has all been for a woman who makes Rosalind believe that she owes her life to Aunt Annie.

The first of the book gets off to a slow start but before too long we are moving along, figuratively and literally.  There is a slow trip from Sir William's estate to Epson, and an important horse race.  The traveling party is made up of Rosalind, Nathaniel, grooms and out riders, a carriage filled with equipment and many horses.  Two of the horses will compete in the race and hopefully bring glory to the Chandlers.

Rosalind at first seems difficult to admire.  But, as the reader becomes more familiar with her sense of duty and obligation it is easy to see she is a good woman.

Nathaniel is a terrific man.  He has a strong sense of duty and even though he makes jokes, he is well aware of what his responsibilities are to everyone around him.  He has led a lonely life and as he learns to admire and then care for Rosalind, the loneliness becomes even more obvious.

The character development is as always very good.  Ms Romain is a talented author who allows her readers to feel as though her characters are dear friends.  The secondary characters provide texture and color to this story.  As the story progresses, the reader can become an observer of the lives of everyone from hard working families to wealthy land owners.

The plot is a departure for historic romances.  We are immersed in horses and racing as well as travel and coaching inns.  In short, what we learn the most about is life in another time and place.  That life was populated by real people and at the end of the book I felt as though I had met many of them.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in the hope that I would provide a fair and honest review.  All opinions are my own.
1939525
this is an older book. one of the best Ive ever read. Its about complex characters in the horse racing business. The characters are the Thorobred horses themselves, and their lives from birth until adulthood, owners, jockeys, trainers, and a great insight into the world of big time horseracing, and what the life of a Thorobred is like...Its a throw back to the classic Black Beauty and gives great understanding to the million dollar horseracing world.