The Pretty Horse-Breakers (The Eternal Collection) Paperback – June 1, 2013

One of first Cartland books I had ever read. Good story. Character of innocent young woman alone who loves her wonderful horse and has to sell him because she is destitute, She is taken advantage of by a couple of clever wheeler dealers looking to make a profit on her and the horse by selling them both to a wealthy nobleman, who , of course falls in love with the girl. And she falls for him. Interesting historical info about 'the pretty horsebreakers'.

This is more like the original Barbara Cartland romances clean and full of adventure. Her earlier work like this title is written more elaborately and hence more fun to read than the hurriedly written short ones. I am still waiting for the titles that I read when I was in my teens, loved and forgot about. It was an enjoyable read.

Loved it.

A novel about "Ladies?" in society in Victorian times. It has adventure and romance galore and proves that people are not always what or who they seem to be.

Very long but fascinating indeed!! Drama, romance, great ending! Some unexpected twists, great detail in the descriptions... Glad I bought it

This book is part of an early series that are longer and feature more in-depth plots and character development than her later book and it is one of Barbara's best. Basically there is a poor beautiful heroine whose only possession is a magnificent horse. She has to sell it but the man who buys it recognizes that she is ever more valuable than the horse as one of the "pretty horse breakers" or courtesans who are known for their riding skills. The heroine doesn't realize this of course and goes to London thinking that she will be working in a stable. The Madame there buys her a wardrobe and the first "client" that they pair her with is an aristocrat who wants her to entertain his young nephew at their country estate and help him get over a failed romance. The heroine and the nephew like each other immediately (he sees that she's a nice girl when his uncle is still in the dark) and they each other by innocently reading poetry and riding while the hero fights his growing attraction for what he thinks is a "fallen" women. There is a house party with the many of the notorious "pretty horse breakers," races, kidnappings, etc. and finally the happy ending. Love this heroine and hero!

This is the only Cartland book I've read (to date.) I liked it because it examines the reality behind the well-dressed ladies riding fine horses gently in the London parks.A side-saddle lady rider had to use a whip to give the signal on the legless side and as her heels were pretty much useless, she needed a long, usually sharp spur on the near side. This meant that she also had to use a double bridle so as to have a curb bit to stop the well-fed horse from running away with her.The heroine has to sell her fine black horse Pegasus to a London stable owner as a park hack. He takes her on a girl groom too and sends her out neatly dressed to exercise the horses as an advertisement for his stable. The single men approve and before long the heroine is unwittingly being paraded as an advertisement of quite another sort, ordered to wear an eye-catching white riding dress which no lady of quality would wear. Naturally, a romance ensues.

This novel has it all. Just read it! Many plot twists and great storylines in one of the first novels written by Madame Cartland.