Hi folks just to let you know that I have recently started another blog which will run alongside this one. The Mad Booklover Blog will concentrate on adult books (both horsy and non-horsy) and horsy or literary issues which may include adult content.
I have reviewed two books so far there: The mainstream novel Painting Naked by Maggie Dana and the young adult horse novel Blaze of Glory.
I hope folk will pop across there and have a look once in a while.
The ponymadbooklovers blog will be reserved for mainly children's pony stories. I will also be adding all my reviews here as well as on the forum reviews pages so that a wider range of readers can see them.
Saturday, 15 September 2012
Sunday, 29 July 2012
Summer Reading Lists
We are having fun on the pony mad booklovers chat forum with a Summer reading programme in which we have all picked 10 or so books to read over the Summer months (if indeed Summer has finally arrived!) and discuss. To make it more interesting I suggested we all try and pick at least one book from one of the following categories as well as some old classics and other books we had waiting to be read:
*Adult pony book
*Fantasy pony book
*New pony book (published in 2011-2012)
For anyone else who'd like to compile a summer reading list of their own here are some suggestions of great reads in the various categories:
FANTASY PONY BOOKS:
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifvater - A pony story like you've never read before - and horses like you've never ridden before (hopefully!) combined with a love story. Warning: its violent and gory!
This was a forum reading circle choice Join in with discussion here
The Girl Who Remembered Horses by Linda Benson (ebook only) - Excellent post apocalyptic story in which a girl begins to have dreams of a long forgotten legendary animal - the horse...
Read review here
Mylor the Most Powerful Horse in the World by Michael Maguire - A fun adventure romp with a very special horse. A classic which is now back in print!
Read review here
The Black Loch (aka The Horse From the Black Loch) by Patricia Leitch - Classic fantasy as children try to save a very special and magical horse.
Freedom by Angela Dorsey - Fantastic horsy ghost story which is actually scary!
Circle of Blue by Eleanor Jones - An excellent and very different horsy fantasy in which a girl stumbles into an alternative world where everything she knows is upside down. Can she get back home and will she have learned from her experiences?
Can I Get There by Candlelight by Jean Slaughter Doty - Horsy time slip in which a lonely girl finds a friend in the past. Everyone I know who has read this has loved it!
Read review here
NEW PONY BOOKS:
Timber Ridge Riders series by Maggie Dana - A great new series in which a girl vows to have nothing to do with horses after fearing she has caused the death of one. A lively modern take on a traditional pony series.
Read review of book 1 Keeping Secrets
Read review of book 2 Racing Into Trouble
Taking Flight by Sheena Wilkinson - THE pony book of 2011 - a gritty young adult story which you will not be able to put down!
This was a forum reading circle choice Join in with discussion here
Grounded by Sheena Wilkinson - A must-read sequel to Taking Flight.
Read review here
The One Dollar Horse by Lauren St. John - Gritty young adult drama of a girl determined to rise above her awful home life and compete at Badminton on a rescued horse.
Blaze of Glory by M. Garzon - Young adult novel. A girl struggles against circumstances and a forbidden passion. Authentic horse detail from an ex professional rider. Lots of people have really enjoyed this although it was slightly too Mills n Boonish for me!
The Girl Who Remembered Horses - see above
ADULT:
Bluegrass by Borden Deal - possibly the best adult horsy book ever written - certainly the most authentic. Fascinating detail of the world of breeding in Bluegrass country provides a backdrop for an absorbing story of a woman struggling to survive in a man's world.
Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen - Page turning story of a once top rider who returns to horses after many years.
The Horse Dancer by JoJo Moyes - One of my favourite reads of last year. Combines a teen pony drama with an adult story. Interesting backdrop of Le Cadre Noir.
Come to Grief by Dick Francis - Third in the excellent Sid Halley series and possibly the most gripping. A fantastic study of a psychopathic personality as well as a page turning mystery. Warning - some hard hitting scenes of horse injury.
Going the Distance by Christina Jones - Chick lit for all (even boys!) with racing backdrop of scheming trainers and randy jockeys. A very funny light read for the beach.
Read review here
The Man from Snowy River - Intelligent and very well written adaptation of the film of the same name by Silver Brumby author Elyne Mitchell. Aimed at young adult to adult.
Read review here
Six to One Against by Lyndon Stacey - Excellent racing thriller in which an animal behaviourist gets involved with solving the murder of a jockey. Or try any of the author's other books!
Warrior the Story of a Real War Horse by Lord Mottistone - does exactly what it says on the cover - a real life biography of the author's own war horse. Touching and fascinating.
Read review here
I hope this has given people some ideas of what to read over the Summer. There are some real corkers here which will have you glued to the page whether on the beach or garden or stuck indoors if the rain returns!
Please feel free to add your own suggestions!
To see my own Summer reading list check out the Shelfari link on the right.
*Adult pony book
*Fantasy pony book
*New pony book (published in 2011-2012)
For anyone else who'd like to compile a summer reading list of their own here are some suggestions of great reads in the various categories:
FANTASY PONY BOOKS:
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Steifvater - A pony story like you've never read before - and horses like you've never ridden before (hopefully!) combined with a love story. Warning: its violent and gory!
This was a forum reading circle choice Join in with discussion here
The Girl Who Remembered Horses by Linda Benson (ebook only) - Excellent post apocalyptic story in which a girl begins to have dreams of a long forgotten legendary animal - the horse...
Read review here
Mylor the Most Powerful Horse in the World by Michael Maguire - A fun adventure romp with a very special horse. A classic which is now back in print!
Read review here
The Black Loch (aka The Horse From the Black Loch) by Patricia Leitch - Classic fantasy as children try to save a very special and magical horse.
Freedom by Angela Dorsey - Fantastic horsy ghost story which is actually scary!
Circle of Blue by Eleanor Jones - An excellent and very different horsy fantasy in which a girl stumbles into an alternative world where everything she knows is upside down. Can she get back home and will she have learned from her experiences?
Can I Get There by Candlelight by Jean Slaughter Doty - Horsy time slip in which a lonely girl finds a friend in the past. Everyone I know who has read this has loved it!
Read review here
NEW PONY BOOKS:
Timber Ridge Riders series by Maggie Dana - A great new series in which a girl vows to have nothing to do with horses after fearing she has caused the death of one. A lively modern take on a traditional pony series.
Read review of book 1 Keeping Secrets
Read review of book 2 Racing Into Trouble
Taking Flight by Sheena Wilkinson - THE pony book of 2011 - a gritty young adult story which you will not be able to put down!
This was a forum reading circle choice Join in with discussion here
Grounded by Sheena Wilkinson - A must-read sequel to Taking Flight.
Read review here
The One Dollar Horse by Lauren St. John - Gritty young adult drama of a girl determined to rise above her awful home life and compete at Badminton on a rescued horse.
Blaze of Glory by M. Garzon - Young adult novel. A girl struggles against circumstances and a forbidden passion. Authentic horse detail from an ex professional rider. Lots of people have really enjoyed this although it was slightly too Mills n Boonish for me!
The Girl Who Remembered Horses - see above
ADULT:
Bluegrass by Borden Deal - possibly the best adult horsy book ever written - certainly the most authentic. Fascinating detail of the world of breeding in Bluegrass country provides a backdrop for an absorbing story of a woman struggling to survive in a man's world.
Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen - Page turning story of a once top rider who returns to horses after many years.
The Horse Dancer by JoJo Moyes - One of my favourite reads of last year. Combines a teen pony drama with an adult story. Interesting backdrop of Le Cadre Noir.
Come to Grief by Dick Francis - Third in the excellent Sid Halley series and possibly the most gripping. A fantastic study of a psychopathic personality as well as a page turning mystery. Warning - some hard hitting scenes of horse injury.
Going the Distance by Christina Jones - Chick lit for all (even boys!) with racing backdrop of scheming trainers and randy jockeys. A very funny light read for the beach.
Read review here
The Man from Snowy River - Intelligent and very well written adaptation of the film of the same name by Silver Brumby author Elyne Mitchell. Aimed at young adult to adult.
Read review here
Six to One Against by Lyndon Stacey - Excellent racing thriller in which an animal behaviourist gets involved with solving the murder of a jockey. Or try any of the author's other books!
Warrior the Story of a Real War Horse by Lord Mottistone - does exactly what it says on the cover - a real life biography of the author's own war horse. Touching and fascinating.
Read review here
I hope this has given people some ideas of what to read over the Summer. There are some real corkers here which will have you glued to the page whether on the beach or garden or stuck indoors if the rain returns!
Please feel free to add your own suggestions!
To see my own Summer reading list check out the Shelfari link on the right.
Friday, 29 June 2012
New look website!
Hi all, just a quick blog to let everyone know that I have uploaded the new look version of the ponymadbooklovers website with new colour scheme and artwork. If anyone notices any errors or has any probs with links please drop me a line.
Also many thanks to Debbie Tink who provided the pic of the pony reading - she is working on more fantastic artwork for other part of the site which I will be adding in due course.
Also many thanks to Debbie Tink who provided the pic of the pony reading - she is working on more fantastic artwork for other part of the site which I will be adding in due course.
Thursday, 21 June 2012
Website back up
Website is now up and running again. Thanks for everyone's patience whilst I have been sorting out the problems. Hopefully everything will run smoothly from now on. It did last out for 5 years without a problem so if we can manage another 5 years trouble-free I won't be complaining!
Sunday, 17 June 2012
Ponymadbooklovers website is down
Apologies to anyone who has tried to access the website in the last few days. It is down due to contractual issues between the web host and the UK internet registry. I have been informed it will be back on within the next week. IT HAS NOT CLOSED!
I will add updates on the situation here and on the ponymadbooklovers facebook page
I will add updates on the situation here and on the ponymadbooklovers facebook page
Monday, 7 May 2012
Win signed copies of Grounded by Sheena Wilkinson!
Another great competition for you all to enter. There are 2 signed copies of Grounded up for grabs, kindly donated by the author Sheena Wilkinson. This is a sequel to Taking Flight and if you read that book you know you will be in for a treat with the sequel. If you haven't yet read Taking Flight then buy, beg, borrow or steal a copy as this was without doubt one of the best pony book reads of 2011.The competition is open to all readers of the blog, users of the website and members of the chat forum, both from the UK and overseas. Its FREE to enter. Closing date is June 30th 2012.
ENTER THE COMPETITION HERE
JOIN IN WITH A DISCUSSION OF TAKING FLIGHT HERE
Latest authors added
Not many added lately due to having too many other things to do!
The ones I have added are:
PIERS ANTHONY
MARK DANIEL
MURIEL DENISON
DICK KING-SMITH
BEATRICE PETERSON
BELINDA RAPLEY
You can find more about them on the author and book info page
The ones I have added are:
PIERS ANTHONY
MARK DANIEL
MURIEL DENISON
DICK KING-SMITH
BEATRICE PETERSON
BELINDA RAPLEY
You can find more about them on the author and book info page
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