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raynebair's review against another edition
3.0
I got to the end of the story and it's not really the end. It's just the beginning really. How frustrating. A very slow build up for a maybe relationship that just barely begins at the end. And this book is almost 400 pages. yikes!
I felt just as clueless as Dan in understanding Jeff and Evan. But I guess that's okay since this was all Dan's POV. I still am not sure what Jeff and Evan truly want. They seemed to talk in circles around everything, and without getting in their heads, there is no history into their relationship to get a feel for where they are coming from.
I felt just as clueless as Dan in understanding Jeff and Evan. But I guess that's okay since this was all Dan's POV. I still am not sure what Jeff and Evan truly want. They seemed to talk in circles around everything, and without getting in their heads, there is no history into their relationship to get a feel for where they are coming from.
ameserole's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, wow, wasn't excepting to fall in love with this but I am so glad that I took a chance on a new book, author, and series. Dark Horse definitely started off strong for me because it completely sucked me in. It was in no way, shape, or form happy but it didn't matter to me. I was hooked. Period.
Then about halfway through, you start to see the light. Or maybe you start to see the main character see the light. Either way, you get what is about to happen. Plus, Dan is all kinds of cute. He trains horses and is by all means living his best life. Mostly because I'm beyond jealous he spends his days with horses.
It just sucks that his lover is in a coma. Once he declared brain dead, well, Dan has to decide what to do. It's not an easy decision to make and it completely broke my heart. Again, I wasn't prepared for what was going to happen one freaking bit in this book.
After all the heartbreak, he has to learn new ways to pick himself back up again. Along the way, he starts to move on but it does seem a little to fast for me. It was an interesting new dynamic since Dan wasn't fully prepared for Evan and Jeff. Yet, it was magical once it started.
The romance was adorable but I feel like the pacing could've been a bit better. It just felt like it was lagging at times or maybe I was just sitting there wondering what was going to happen next. In the end, I wasn't expecting that cliffhanger either but I guess I will have to find the next book stat!
Then about halfway through, you start to see the light. Or maybe you start to see the main character see the light. Either way, you get what is about to happen. Plus, Dan is all kinds of cute. He trains horses and is by all means living his best life. Mostly because I'm beyond jealous he spends his days with horses.
It just sucks that his lover is in a coma. Once he declared brain dead, well, Dan has to decide what to do. It's not an easy decision to make and it completely broke my heart. Again, I wasn't prepared for what was going to happen one freaking bit in this book.
After all the heartbreak, he has to learn new ways to pick himself back up again. Along the way, he starts to move on but it does seem a little to fast for me. It was an interesting new dynamic since Dan wasn't fully prepared for Evan and Jeff. Yet, it was magical once it started.
The romance was adorable but I feel like the pacing could've been a bit better. It just felt like it was lagging at times or maybe I was just sitting there wondering what was going to happen next. In the end, I wasn't expecting that cliffhanger either but I guess I will have to find the next book stat!
leelee68's review against another edition
5.0
I really loved "Dark Horse" it really had my emotions going crazy. It made my laugh, cry and made me want to throw my computer across the room. I really loved Dan and I really felt for him with everything he was going through. My heart went out to him. I enjoyed getting to know Evan, Jeff and Tatiana "Tat". I've only riden a horse once in my life and I was under ten when I did, but I tell you Kate made Enventing sound very interesting. I could actually understand everything and it wasn't over my head, lol. I'm so glad that we will see everyone again. I was wondering about that. When I review I usually don't tell what the book is about. , I don't want to give anything away so I tell how the book made me feel. I tell you it's worth the read and make sure you have a box of tissues by you.:-)
teresab78's review against another edition
4.0
The emotions were high in this book and I felt deeply for Dan. I enjoyed the background setting of the eventer horse farm. The situation with Evan and Jeff was complicated and I could understand Dan's reactions and feelings. I loved that Tat acted like a 15 year old. The book definitely finished on a tentative happy for now that I am looking forward to exploring in further books!
julianicole's review against another edition
2.0
I really want to give this book 3 stars and I have gone back and forth over it but I can't. After reading all the positive reviews I wanted to love this book but I almost feel like I read a different version than others.
The first part was so sad and depressing...and almost confusing and so slow. I don't love when books are only told from one perspective and this one being told only from Dan's eyes I feel like we don't fully understand what was going on with the relationship between Evan and Jeff. Which I feel is a major part of the story! Them struggling with their open relationship and feeling unfulfilled is what drew them to wanting something with Dan. But we don't get an inside view of that we only get the same confusion Dan is feeling.
Then the second part was just as confusing. I feel like if you are going to have a story involving horse training you need to be aware that you are going to have readers that know nothing of that world and might need a bit more to understand what's going on if you are going to include so much of it in the storyline. I'm also not sure if the Ryan part of the storyline is needed (other than to give you some sexy time before the very end?)
My last thought is you don't get any of the romance or sexy action until the very end (at least not between all three of them together). Which is fine I guess...but I'm not going to lie and say that's not one of the main reasons I read mm(m) romance books!
The first part was so sad and depressing...and almost confusing and so slow. I don't love when books are only told from one perspective and this one being told only from Dan's eyes I feel like we don't fully understand what was going on with the relationship between Evan and Jeff. Which I feel is a major part of the story! Them struggling with their open relationship and feeling unfulfilled is what drew them to wanting something with Dan. But we don't get an inside view of that we only get the same confusion Dan is feeling.
Then the second part was just as confusing. I feel like if you are going to have a story involving horse training you need to be aware that you are going to have readers that know nothing of that world and might need a bit more to understand what's going on if you are going to include so much of it in the storyline. I'm also not sure if the Ryan part of the storyline is needed (other than to give you some sexy time before the very end?)
My last thought is you don't get any of the romance or sexy action until the very end (at least not between all three of them together). Which is fine I guess...but I'm not going to lie and say that's not one of the main reasons I read mm(m) romance books!
wolfspirit292's review
4.0
I really, really enjoyed this from beginning to end. I loved all the main characters, and had fun going through all the twists and turns with them and following along on their crazy rollercoaster of a relationship. It got a little frustrating towards the last 1/3-ish of the book as it was like "JUST KISS ALREADY YOU BASTARDS!" This book made me laugh, cry, coo, and occasionally want to hit the MC's upside the back of the head.
I always comment on the sex. It's a big deal for me not to have too much sex in a story as well as having the scenes be there for a REASON. The amount of sex was fine and everything also advanced the plot. Although I could have done without the first sex scene given who it was with. A fade to black in that case would have been just fine. But it was forgivable in the grander scheme of things.
I take a risk reading series books as I often run into stories that leave off at giant cliff hangers that force you to get the next book. I despise that! In this case, the book does a good job of ending the story arc and is perfectly fine being stand alone. I think the author did a great job of making it satisfying while still making me want to read more about the guys. I'll need a break though before reading the next one because despite the fact I love the boys, they also make me completely crazy! HAHA. That said, I'm looking forward to continuing on their journey at a later date.
I always comment on the sex. It's a big deal for me not to have too much sex in a story as well as having the scenes be there for a REASON. The amount of sex was fine and everything also advanced the plot. Although I could have done without the first sex scene given who it was with. A fade to black in that case would have been just fine. But it was forgivable in the grander scheme of things.
I take a risk reading series books as I often run into stories that leave off at giant cliff hangers that force you to get the next book. I despise that! In this case, the book does a good job of ending the story arc and is perfectly fine being stand alone. I think the author did a great job of making it satisfying while still making me want to read more about the guys. I'll need a break though before reading the next one because despite the fact I love the boys, they also make me completely crazy! HAHA. That said, I'm looking forward to continuing on their journey at a later date.
liza5326's review against another edition
4.0
I am really surprised at how much I loved this book. I usually avoid menage. I am just not into threesomes, but this one was so damn good!! Mostly because it didn't consume the whole story. There really wasn't a lot of sex, just a LOT of really yummy sexual tension, but when they finally did get together.... Whoa baby!!! And everything wasn't all sunshine and roses, they knew there was a lot of logistics and work to starting a relationship with three men, especially when 2 of them were already involved. It was the most realistic I have ever read and I will definitely go forward in the series because I want to know how their relationship develops from the HFN.
marlobo's review against another edition
4.0
4,5 stars.
A magnificent novel, in great part a character-driven story about the slow building of a threesome. And a book nothing easy to read and less easy to forget.
I'm truly marveled by the exquisite construction of all the characters, horses included. The physical data are few and sporadic; what's marvelous is that characters develop from within, layer upon layer, until they acquire corporeality and soul in front of the reader's eyes. There are singularity and a terrific consistency in them; In each one of them I found coherent body language, attitudes, mood changes, and ways of speaking.
I suppose that in next installments we'll know more about Evan and Jeff.. Until now the series mainly focuses on Dan and with good reason (please note that at the moment of writing this review I already read [b:Sometimes You Just Know|12979664|Sometimes You Just Know (Dark Horse, #1.1)|Kate Sherwood|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1319955890s/12979664.jpg|18138655] and [b:Rough Broke|12991357|Rough Broke (Dark Horse, #1.2)|Kate Sherwood|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328186976s/12991357.jpg|18151413]), Dan is an amazing character, he's a phoenix, being reborn time after time of an horrid past full of pain and losses.
Well, then cause not 5 stars? Because in a moment, toward the ending of the first part I experienced a focus loss, as if the step would have become too tiresome.
I take the opportunity to repeat my opinion and defense on the verb tense used. The present tense isn't a bad thing. Definitely, getting accustomed takes a little time, but as its effect is that the action happens while you read, reinforce the empathy with the characters. At least that way it's for me, and in such sense the present-tense adds to the virtues of this book.
A magnificent novel, in great part a character-driven story about the slow building of a threesome. And a book nothing easy to read and less easy to forget.
I'm truly marveled by the exquisite construction of all the characters, horses included. The physical data are few and sporadic; what's marvelous is that characters develop from within, layer upon layer, until they acquire corporeality and soul in front of the reader's eyes. There are singularity and a terrific consistency in them; In each one of them I found coherent body language, attitudes, mood changes, and ways of speaking.
I suppose that in next installments we'll know more about Evan and Jeff.. Until now the series mainly focuses on Dan and with good reason (please note that at the moment of writing this review I already read [b:Sometimes You Just Know|12979664|Sometimes You Just Know (Dark Horse, #1.1)|Kate Sherwood|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1319955890s/12979664.jpg|18138655] and [b:Rough Broke|12991357|Rough Broke (Dark Horse, #1.2)|Kate Sherwood|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328186976s/12991357.jpg|18151413]), Dan is an amazing character, he's a phoenix, being reborn time after time of an horrid past full of pain and losses.
Well, then cause not 5 stars? Because in a moment, toward the ending of the first part I experienced a focus loss, as if the step would have become too tiresome.
I take the opportunity to repeat my opinion and defense on the verb tense used. The present tense isn't a bad thing. Definitely, getting accustomed takes a little time, but as its effect is that the action happens while you read, reinforce the empathy with the characters. At least that way it's for me, and in such sense the present-tense adds to the virtues of this book.
iam's review against another edition
3.0
I'm generally a big fan of long books with many detailed scenes - but this one would have benefited from being shorter.
Especially the first part could have been considerably shorter, especially since it has such a different mood from the rest of the book - it almost felt like a sort of prequel, pretty much seperate from part two, so I feel like it should have either been extended (possibly with the events prior to the actual starting point) and turned into its own book or simply cut a lot shorter.
I also wasn't entirely sold on the romance -because honestly there isn't much romance. It makes sense with where Dan sees himself currently in his life, but seeing as I felt there was basically no character development, yet Dan changed his mind repeatedly while everything takes plays during just a few weeks, it lacked depth. Additionally, for a book where characters repeatedly sit down together to have conversations and clear things up, the actual discussions about feelings and words used are remarkably vague; I'm still not entirely sure where exactly they are standing in their relationship, what exactly they agreed on or how comfortable they really are with it. Huh.
Bonus points for side characters and horses!
Especially the first part could have been considerably shorter, especially since it has such a different mood from the rest of the book - it almost felt like a sort of prequel, pretty much seperate from part two, so I feel like it should have either been extended (possibly with the events prior to the actual starting point) and turned into its own book or simply cut a lot shorter.
I also wasn't entirely sold on the romance -because honestly there isn't much romance. It makes sense with where Dan sees himself currently in his life, but seeing as I felt there was basically no character development, yet Dan changed his mind repeatedly while everything takes plays during just a few weeks, it lacked depth. Additionally, for a book where characters repeatedly sit down together to have conversations and clear things up, the actual discussions about feelings and words used are remarkably vague; I'm still not entirely sure where exactly they are standing in their relationship, what exactly they agreed on or how comfortable they really are with it. Huh.
Bonus points for side characters and horses!