And We Danced (Dancing With Horses Book 1)

I had taken notes on the points I wanted to make in a review and initially I'd planned on giving it more stars than one even with all the negatives I'd written down. But then something happened towards the end of the book that made me trash any other plan. Not only that, but I didn't read the rest of the story and I deleted book 2 from my tablet without reading any of it.I could look past the overdone Rich Girl vs Poor Girl plot. I could overlook the incredibly cheesy description of Cory in the barn: in the shadows, leaning against the wall with one foot up against it and his head down with his hat covering his face. Did that come from a Marlboro ad? The misspelled and misused words were bad enough and I almost stopped reading after Jane got mad at her horse and hit him with her whip. Animal abuse has no place in books like this.But I kept reading until near the end when something tragic happened and I had had enough!!!! The incident is used in so many books about horses, it's become predictable and utterly ridiculous. Why do people who write books involving horses seem to think something like that has to happen in order for the story to be good? It doesn't! Trust me. So, I stopped reading it and I deleted book 2, even though I'd already paid for it. I won't read anymore books by Toni Mari. She doesn't know enough about the other stuff in her stories to make it worthwhile anyway. I could almost guarantee you a paramedic would know better than to keep the siren going after arriving at the show grounds. They would turn them off as soon as they arrived at the scene and wouldn't have driven through a crowd of people with the sirens going. Lights, yes, but not sirens. Trust me. I know.

And We Danced for those of us who are in or have been in the horse industry.I loved this book and the writing style made me feel that each time Jane was going for a ride, so was I. I could relate to all of the feelings she had about getting a new horse that really proves to be a challenge. She needs to learn how to trust him and build a connection to him. The process by which she starts to build that connection with Windsong forces her to accept help from Cory. A young man who seems to have a real way with horses. At first Jane is resentful that she has to have either Corey of her trainer help her with Windsong, but she quickly learns that she has to start somewhere if she really wants to be able to compete at the next level with Windsong.Will Jane learn to trust both Cory and Windsong? Will true magic happen between horse and rider?You must read this fabulous novel to see what happens.

Wonderfully written. As a a dressage rider, with friends who train reiners, a daughter who not only has trained most her life in Dressage, but now barrel races and ropes and has saddle bronc riding husband, there are definitely some errors in how things are described. For example team ropers catch the head first and then the heels, in the book she describes it backwards. And the pick up men at rodeos do not take the saddles off the saddle broncs, they take off he bucking strap. The JR team does not ride a Grand Prix test, they do not wear top hats anymore, nor do they wear a shadbelly. But it is a good story.

I enjoyed the book but had one major complaint with the early section. Shortly after purchasing a horse for a student which the student admits she is scared of and can't handle on her own the trainer disappears leaving behind another individual who the student (now horse owner) doesn't know, doesn't like, and doesn't trust as the primary caretaker for her new horse. This is extremely unprofessional behavior and if any trainer or barn manager I was paying to care for a horse of mine pulled something like that I would be looking for a new barn immediately. However the author clearly wants us to side with the trainer/new handler rather than the girl whose wishes regarding her horse, regardless of if that was an appropriate horse for her or not, are being completely ignored by the people she should be able to trust

All my 68 yrs I've wanted to own a horse ,,,I roadie a lot as a teen in a local stable in queens. !NY ,saved all my pennies Suomi could afford the 2.50 an hr it cost on weekends,,, after being thrown at 17,and hurting my back badly, I've only ridden twice since, and it was so painful over 50 yrs later ,the joy was gone,,,,but I do live in the country now, and see and can pet horses anytime I want. So in the end, I guess I sorta goy my. Wind song too,,,, finally. ,thanks for a great ending too !!!!!!

Although this novel was predictable and slightly overdramatic (one too many horses died), I have to give it credit for being unique (I have read many equestrian novels and none were about dressage) and entertaining. I had trouble putting it down. It was also unrealistic at times. Why was Jane always calling Cory and other western riders cowboys? I have ridden both English and western & no one actually calls western riders cowboys. I found Jane to be unlikable at times. However, I will still be purchasing the next book and I hope it comes out soon!

This is a great book for those younger readers who love to ride or would love to try. Not that anyone would want to start riding on this beastie. The horse stories are great and oh so true. The relationship between riders and horse is beautifully described. The love story is young but well woven. My only comment to the author would be that if you are setting the story in the south, you need to say soda, not pop. We don't have pop in the south.

Loved this book. Couldn't put it down - except to go feed and care for my own horses! On to the next...

I really wanted to like this, I mean, horses, teenagers from different sides of the equine world coming together, a beautiful and over-powered Grand Prix horse? What could go wrong. The main character, that's what. I found her so irritating, she shrieked far too much, couldn't see when it was her own behaviour that was winding the horse up - and not just at the beginning, I powered through and she just couldn't get it into her head that the horse wasn't being a pig, she was. She just got far too obsessed with riding and the celebrity of it all. Being competitive is one thing, but I could not empathise with such a selfish character.

I really enjoyed this book, and would read it again at a later date. I had to keep reading till I finished. I think any horsey readers would enjoy reading this book.

i really enjoyed this book fro the very first page & i will look out for the others in the series can,t wait. Thank you again for a most enjoyable book.

Although sometimes the story seemed a little thin the rest of it was excellent. An author who knows what they are writing about helps so much.

Really good book. Highly recommended.Suitable for 12 yrs upwards would also be enjoyable for horsey adults. Can't wait to read the sequel.