Title: By Chance
Series: N/A
Author: Sasha Kay Riley
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novella (148 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-62798-532-1
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (March 5th, 2014)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts
Reviewer: Cat
Blurb: Vincent Anderson has everything he thinks he wants; A job he loves, a girlfriend he feels comfortable with, and a horse that never lets him down. He successfully trains off –track thoroughbreds at his dad’s stable, teaching them to do things other than race. When he’s not working at the stable he trains with Xander, a rescued former racehorse turned talented jumper-not that Vince takes him to many shows.
Everything changes when he hires a homeless drifter as a stable-hand. Seeing the young man’s passion for working with horses, Vince takes him under his wing. But his passion for horses isn’t the only things Vince notices about Dustin. This revelation leads him to question his relationship with his girlfriend of two years.
As Vince learns to accept himself, he and Dustin grow closer. At the urging of his family, he agrees to make the United States Olympic show team with Xander, and he hopes Dustin will travel with him as his groom. But first, Vince must confess his feelings before Dustin decides there’s no hope for romance between them and moves on.
Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4753&cP=55_1057
Review: Vince is a trainer and barn manager at his father’s retraining and rehabilitating stable. He feels like he has it all a dream job, a great family and a nice girlfriend. But why does he feel so empty. Dustin is desperate for work and keeps begging Mark but keeps being turned away. He has always wanted to work with horses, but his parents never even let him do the pony rides in fairs. He has been living in the woods and logs to belong somewhere.
This was a very interesting story at first and kept me engaged until the end. However, it left me disappointed and with so many unanswered questions. It felt like a set up for a series but nothing was mentioned about more to come or a possible series. The writing is very emotional, the story full of emotion, not only Vince and Dustin but also Jane. I loved the hints of Vince needing more and wanting to fulfil his mother’s wishes, but would have liked to seen these happen. There are no sex scenes or not a lot of foul language so this is a nice clean story.
If you like horses, men finding themselves, emotional stories and no sex, you should like this one!