Historical Romance #BookReview: The Ringmaster's Daughter by Grace Elliot

The Ringmaster's Daughter by Grace Elliot
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this historical romance, set in a pleasure garden (an early version of an amusement park) in Georgian England, shortly before the American Revolution (1770s). Henrietta "Hetty" Hart is a lovable heroine, a kind woman who dotes on her ailing father and finds her inner strength when circumstances force her to take over her father's act. In the Georgian era, performing was still considered somewhat scandalous for a "respectable" woman, and Hetty's animal act - innocent as it would seem to us now - is salacious simply because a woman is in the ring. Hetty pushes the boundaries even further when she alters her father's ringmaster costume and performs in male dress as "Henry."

Hetty finds a foil in Tobias Wolfson, the pleasure gardens' new manager after a change of ownership. Mr. Wolfson's vision for the gardens conflict with the way things have been done since Hetty was a child. Only the worthiest acts will make the new cut, and Hetty is unsure if she can continue to support herself and her father. Unsurprisingly, after many clashes, Ms. Hart and Mr. Wolfson find themselves falling in love.

I found myself wholly invested in these characters and wanting a happy ending for them because they were written in such a likable way, two people who are rather proud and stubborn but who, in many ways, complement each other nicely.



Obstacles in their pathway include Mr. Wolfson's past and sense of duty, a famous show horse who may or may not form a bond with his new owner Hetty, and the scheming local lord.

Grace Elliot is not only a romance novelist, but also a veterinarian, and her love of animals shows through her fiction. All of the Harts' performing animals are well cared for and essentially treated like four-legged members of the family.

This novel was a pleasure to read, and the ending was a satisfying one. I'm glad I had the chance to read it.

Disclosure: The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest, fair review.

View all my reviews on Goodreads



Social Media, Writing, and Editing Services I Offer - Erin O'Riordan

Tales of an Animal Communicator - Master Teachers: book review by Carol Upton

Tales of an Animal Communicator
Master Teachers
by Nancy A. Kaiser
Soft Cover, 2011, $16.95
Also available as an e-book
ISBN: 9-781-61364-586-4
Available on Amazon or
http://www.nancykaiseranimalcommunicator.com

Reviewed by Carol M. Upton

My hope for this book is that its characters and their tales will cause you to view your own animals with new eyes and with a new perspective about their significance to your life. Remember, they’ve answered your soul’s cries for help. So why not let them help?
~ Nancy A. Kaiser

In this first book of a series, Nancy A. Kaiser draws on her extensive experience to share her personal journey and anecdotes about the animals she has encountered along the way. The result is a spiritually uplifting book that inspires all who truly care about animals or are drawn to the world of interspecies communication.

Kaiser had imaginary conversations with animals as a child. In her adult work as a veterinary assistant, the animals she treated helped her realize that telepathic communicating was possible. She was guided to experiences that would develop her abilities and lead her to embrace her destiny – to help heal the human-animal bond.

We are introduced to Love, an exceptional filly born with curvature of the spine. Although she couldn’t stay on earth for long, Love’s story is one of unlimited possibility. Ongoing paths to transformation are provided by the myriad of Kaiser’s dogs and cats. There are other horses - Squiggles and her first foal, Dash, who later needed two surgeries, and Stormy, who offers powerful lessons of his own during training. Each chapter leaves a lasting impact on the reader’s heart.

Kaiser’s writing style is clear and compassionate. She includes vivid descriptions of her communications with animals – conversations that reveal their love, their fears, and their preferences. There is a companion CD or MP3 download to the book, entitled Gifts From the Universe, which contains the two releasing processes that form the final chapter of the book.

While the circumstances of Kaiser’s life form a fascinating backdrop for these tales, it is the animals themselves who are the real stars. They provide perspective and true partnership, if their humans are willing to receive what they offer to teach. Reading this book is the place to start that exploration. It will definitely introduce fresh dimensions for animal lovers everywhere.

Nancy A. Kaiser lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with her two Labs and Swedish Warmblood horse, where she operates Just Ask Communications. Nancy is an ordained minister in the Universal Brotherhood Movement and works as a spiritual liaison for animals and their human companions, offering consultations via phone, email, Skype, or in person.

Photo taken by Seth Zeigler at the Nokota Horse Conservancy, Linton, North Dakota

WIP Wednesday/Winter Solstice Wednesday, Week 3

Authors, would you like to share approximately 100-200 words about a current work in progress on a future WIP Wednesday? If so, please e-mail the details to erinoriordan AT sbcglobal DOT net.

Erin O'Riordan: My current works in progress? I just finished editing another Hurricane book by Joe Cacciotti, and I'm collaborating with Rushmore Judd on a short story called "The Witch."

Winter Solstice Wednesday: According to GoddessGift.com, Rhiannon was the Celtic goddess of the moon and inspiration and Queen of the Fairies. She married the mortal king of Wales, who first spotted her as she rode a fine white horse. Falsely accused of killing their infant son, she was punished by being forced to wear a horse collar. When travelers came to the kingdom, she would tell them of her crime and offer to carry them on her back to the castle. Her son, raised by a farm couple, was later restored to the throne, and Rhiannon regained her place in royal society.

Some legends link Rhiannon with Vivienne, the Lady of the Lake in Arthurian legend. She is closely linked with horses, and sometimes associated with the Gaulish-Roman goddess Epona, the Great Mare (a name the Romans also bestowed on the grain-goddess Demeter). Epona was especially beloved among the Roman cavalry.

Rhiannon's part on the Winter Solstice was to ride through the Welsh people's dreams, giving them visions and bringing them inspiration for the coming year. The Irish version of Rhiannon's name is Mare, pronounced MAH-ray, which is said to be the source of the word "nightmare."

Although associated with a white horse, Rhiannon inspired the Welsh custom of Mari Lwyd, or Gray Mare. A mare's skull, sometimes made of wood or cardboard, is mounted on a pole and draped with a white sheet. It may be finely decorated, with colorful ribbons for reins, glass eyes and even snapping jaws. The mare is carried through the streets by a colorfully-dressed party singing traditional songs, sometimes mixed with Christmas carols. Sometimes, a rhyme contest would take place between the members of the Mari party and those inside the houses they visited. The party hoped to be rewarded for their entertainments with cakes and perhaps ale. It was a form of wassailing.

Of course, "Rhiannon" is also a Fleetwood Mac song written by Stevie Nicks. She also inspired the English nursery rhyme:

Ride a cockhorse to Banbury Cross
to see a fine lady upon a white horse,
With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes
she shall have music wherever she goes.

The goddess Rhiannon shares her name with author Rhiannon Mills, who has written the paranormal romances Immortal Ties and Immortal Embrace. Her beautiful, sex-positive blog is Rhiannon's Paranormally Romantic Bits and Pieces.

Wild Justice – Guest Post by Rick Dearman

Wild Justice by Rick Dearman
Available at Amazon for $0.99 on Kindle
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Blurb: “A gripping story of blood, revenge, love and fighting for what you believe is right even if it isn’t your fight…” The Civil War is over and the rebellion lost. Cheveyo the half-breed rebel is travelling to the frontier to start a new life with only two pure-bred horses and dreams of a ranch. But after happening on to the remains of a murdered family. He decides to give them the justice his family never got.

Using his skills and training to track down the killers and dispense justice he discovers these killers are just a few of the renegades working for the man they call Big Red. Crossing Red could cost him his life. It will take all of his skills to remain alive and a man of principle in the hellish frontier.
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I was very excited when Erin asked me to do a guest post on her wonderful blog. I decided rather than an excerpt from the book I'd discuss why I love the main character; Cheveyo.

The reason I love Cheveyo is because he is a reformer. He's fought his entire life for his moral code. Cheveyo isn't superhuman, he bleeds, he gets tired, hungry and struggles with his emotions. But his moral indignation drives him to right wrongs.

Cheveyo had a horrible life. His parents were killed in a massacre, he was adopted by barbarian tribesmen. Trained to fight in personal combat circles he had tattoos inked painfully onto his face with primitive needles. Recruited into a rebellion against a dictatorial King and his evil brother, he spent a long time in a prison after the war.

He joined the rebellion because of the “rape squads” sent out by the king's brother. He endured years of hardship, battle and deprivation but still holds his head high because he did what he believe to be right.

In this first book of the Frontiersman series the reader meets Cheveyo while he is stalking men who have murdered a family of settlers. Dispensing justice for a family unknown to him is a burden he picks up gladly. Although his methods are brutal and violent by our standards Cheveyo has many admirable qualities. He loves his animals. Mer & Seus the horses, and old Croaker the army mule with only one ear. His compassion for the unknown victims of a band of renegades started him down a trail of pain, anguish, and violence. But this same path leads him to his true love, a woman who sparks strange new emotions in his young heart.

The appeal of a man with a strong moral compass and the willingness to fight for his beliefs strikes a cord deep within me. I think we can all identify with redemption, second chances, and creation of a better life for yourself. We all have regrets and sometimes we wish we could start over and create a new life.

Cheveyo champions the attributes of conviction, independence, self-reliance and action. In a brutal, violent land he continues to keep to his principles. Hopefully you'll be interested enough in my friend Cheveyo to discover more about him by reading Wild Justice.

Rick Dearman
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Twitter: @RRDearman
Personal Website: http://rdearman.org
Blog: http://rdearman.org/wordpress

'An Exchange of Love' reviewed by Carol Upton

An Exchange of Love:
Animals Healing People in Past,
Present and Future Lifetimes
Madeleine Walker
O Books
Paperback, 2008, $19.95
ISBN: 978-1-84694-139-9
Available on Amazon

Reviewed by Carol M. Upton ~ www.dreamsaloud.ca

The more I learnt, especially from horses, the more amazed I was at their insight into their owners and the deeper implications of their messages began to dawn on me; that there was an exchange, a two way healing. ~ Madeleine Walker

Equestrians are definitely embracing a myriad of ways to better understand their horses, whether to improve show performance or simply enjoy a more pleasant trail ride. In this book, U.K. horse and rider trauma consultant Madeleine Walker draws on her extensive knowledge to help readers gain insights into the links between past trauma / lives and present behavior.

Walker shares compelling true stories from her daily practice and she puts forth ideas that require the reader to see unlimited intuitive connection possibilities.

“When trust is established, even the most apparently aggressive and dangerous animal relaxes, and communication begins,” says Walker.

Walker can heal both horse and rider on many different levels and help us change what we see as ‘misbehavior’ in our animals. Rosie, a mare who was rescued just hours away from slaughter, could not be shoed or touched near her girth. After discerning a terrible past, Walker helped Rosie become a well-balanced saddle horse for the rest of her days.

Walker employs various forms of energy healing such as chakras, visualization, and soul retrieval to help discover emotional issues an animal may be carrying. Her central theme is that animals are our teachers and we have only to listen with open minds. There is so much we can do instead of giving up on a horse with challenging behavior. This book will appeal to all animal lovers, but particularly trainers and those presently involved in rescue.

Madeleine Walker works as an animal intuitive/healer, horse and rider trauma consultant, and empowerment coach for people. She will be offering workshops in Canada and the U.S. in 2011. Her newest book The Whale Whisperer will be released in June 2011. For details of her clinics and courses, or to arrange a consultation, visit Madeleine at: www.anexchangeoflove.com

'Spirit of the Horse: The New Myths of Equus' reviewed by Carol Upton

Forgive me for being a total 8-year-old girl for a moment, but is this not the most beautiful book cover you've seen all day? I'm a little biased, though. I wasn't raised around horses myself, being a city gal, but my grandfather's brother is a rancher. My father is a horseman, and though he lives in the city too he volunteers every week at Reins of Life, the nonprofit therapeutic horseback riding organization. He was once quoted in a magazine article as saying, "I love that place; horses are my own personal therapy. I learn something new every day and I'm challenged. Horses are so smart. They can even figure out how to open gates." ~Erin

Spirit of the Horse
The New Myths of Equus
Carole Devereux
Windhorse Press
Soft Cover, 2010, $24.00 U.S.
ISBN: 978-1-884422-24-9
Available at Amazon

Reviewed by Carol M. Upton: www.dreamsaloud.ca

Animals have the capacity and the power to expand their minds into extraordinary states of consciousness.  My horses have often shown their otherworldly journeys into The Dreamtime to me.  Buddy once told me that he can "feel" the hoof beats of his species running all over the Earth. ~ Carole Devereux

This graceful and timely book takes us on a transformational journey like no other, to the mystic world where the spirit of the horse resides. Carole Devereux introduces a rich language for concepts we may have felt while working with horses, but have been unable to articulate.

Animal-lovers know they can communicate, to one degree or another, with their animals, and there have been many books written on this subject. Devereux guides us beyond that familiar landscape, advancing our understanding of equine perspective and unlocking the endless possibilities present when we truly listen to what horses are saying.

Spirit of the Horse examines the early life of horses, from Eohippus through the Stone Age, and the ancient relationships horses had with human beings. Devereux reminds us that historically, we depended on communion with animals in order to live, much of that wisdom forgotten as we began to exploit resources and work within a paradigm known as “dominion over the earth”. Today, we are moving back to the lessons of nature, and animals, particularly horses, are here to help.

These lessons are evident in the hidden treasures of equus mythology as narrated by Devereux’s horses Buddy and Ellie. Through the myths, we begin to feel the emotional and spiritual impact of horses on our lives. Now, a series of guided visualizations gently assists us to explore our own stories of connection, truth, and healing.

One of the most revealing chapters covers the Yogic system of India, discussing how Yogic practices can help both horse and rider unite body and mind in their work together. We may already know that horses are experts at reading energy, but how do we use this knowledge in our riding? The answers are here.

Spirit of the Horse demonstrates that horses can tell us much more than we have dreamed and can lead us along paths of continuous spiritual growth. Reading it stirs us emotionally, significantly uplifts our souls, and leaves us hungry for more.

Carole Devereux is an internationally known Animal Communicator, spiritual life coach and teacher. She has more than fifteen years experience counseling thousands of people and their animals across North America and Europe. Visit Carole at www.animalinsights.com and learn more about Spirit of the Horse at: www.spirit-of-the-horse.com.