Review: 'Stable Mates' by Zara Stoneley (2014)

Welcome to tranquil Tippermere, an idyllic village nestled deep in the Cheshire countryside. Home to lords and ladies, horsemen and farmers, and plenty of secrets and scandals…
Leaving a scumbag ex behind her, Lottie Brinkley has hotfooted it out of Spain and back home to the country in serious need of some flirtatious fun to soothe her aching heart.
Luckily for her she’s spoilt for choice with not one but three eligible bachelors offering a steamy romp in the hay! But faced with the attentions of roguish eventer Rory Steel, the smiling Irish eyes of hunky farrier Mick O’Neal, and mysterious newcomer Tom Strachan, how can she possibly choose?
When billionaire landowner Marcus James drops dead unexpectedly, his WAGish wife Amanda threatens to sell the heart of the village and sets her sights on Tom! It seems things are heating up for little Tippermere… both in and out of the saddle.
Zara Stoneley's novel 'Stable Mates' was released in August 2014 by Harper Impulse and I remember it being an e-book many book bloggers and readers talked about and gave positive reviews. Not too long ago the sequel to 'Stable Mates', 'Country Affairs', was released and I was lucky enough to be a part of the blog tour for the book (click here to read my review)! The author provided me with a review copy of both novels (thanks so much, Zara!), so I could be introduced to the village of Tippermere and its inhabitants from the very beginning!
The Cheshire village of Tippermere is filled with country manors, ladies and lords, and many horses; and it's the place Charlotte Brinkley, known to her friends and family as Lottie, considers home. After spending some time abroad (which included a now ex-boyfriend who turned out to be married), Lottie is back in town and thoroughly enjoying her casual relationship with handsome Rory, the guy she's had a crush on since she was just a girl. However, Lottie knows she wants more, something real, but is Rory really the guy to give her that? Perhaps she should go for dark Irish guy Mick O'Neal who has come to Tippermere to work, or mysterious model Tom Strachan? Lottie has more to worry about, though, when landowner Marcus suddenly dies, leaving the estate with an unpredictable future...
I have to admit I am personally not a big fan of horses or horseback riding, but that didn't matter one bit with this book, because Zara Stoneley managed to create an overall entertaining and fun read. While horses play a significant role in the novel and the horsing world serves as a backdrop, there's simply so much else going on: beautiful country manors, footballers and their wives, scandal, secrets, enemies, love affairs... There was not a dull moment and as soon as I was immersed in the story I was curious to see how it would all end. Zara Stoneley's writing style is fast-paced, detailed and flows quite easily, which definitely added to the pleasure of reading the book. She also created a wonderful setting with the villages of Tippermere and Kitterly Heath, which I'd love to be able to visit sometime.
The novel starts with a list of characters and I have to admit this was a bit daunting at first. There are a lot of characters and names to remember and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep track of it all while reading. Luckily, this was not the case and the colourful collection of characters really made this story. I particularly warmed to Lottie, Irish guy Mick, and Lottie's grandmother Elizabeth Stanthorphe, who wants to control everything but does so in a great and fun way. Overall, 'Stable Mates' is a fast-paced and fun novel that is packed with a wonderful group of characters and an entertaining storyline. A promising debut by author Zara Stoneley and I am already looking forward to picking up her next work!

Rating:8/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Tour: 'Stable Mates' by Zara Stoneley (including giveaway!)

Scandalous Stable Mates by best-selling author Zara Stoneley is cantering its way through the bloggersphere. Get ready for lust, love and outrageous goings-on as we bring you romping reviews, exciting excerpts, galloping guest posts and a tip-top giveaway!

Secrets and scandals, love and lust – when the ‘Cheshire Set’ are up against the ‘Footballer’s Wives’ the only common ground is carnal… 
 Flirting and fun seem the perfect antidote for Lottie's battered heart, and where better to find them than back in tranquil Tippermere, home of sexy eventer Rory Steel, the smiling Irish eyes of hunky farrier Mick O'Neal, and mysterious newcomer, model Tom Strachan? 
 But when landowner Marcus James drops dead unexpectedly, and the threat of his waggish wife Amanda selling the heart of the village out from under them looms large, things look like they're about to heat up in and out of the saddle. 
With tensions running high, and the champagne flowing as freely as the adrenalin, is it any wonder that love catches more than one of them unawares? 
  Click Here To Buy This Book - UK    Click Here To Buy This Book - US  

I Blame James

Guest Post by Zara Stoneley

When I was younger my mother wanted me to be like James Herriot. Well, I wanted to be like James, a vet. Not, obviously the type who permanently had one arm in the nether regions of a mooing cow, and two feet in very muddy wellingtons. No, more the type that spent a lot of time cuddling puppies and kissing kittens. But my mother had other ideas. She wanted me to write like James Herriot. As in a best-selling very funny and popular book about animals, that is turned into a TV series or a film (I can now see where she was coming from).

I did it my way, I did write a book but it was more James Bond than James Herriot (animals and 007 were my twin obsessions). I sent it to Michael Joseph publishers (because they published my favourite books) and got on with nagging my parents to let me have a puppy, and pay for horse riding lessons.

Time passed, I grew up, and became an IT consultant wearing designer suits instead of wellies, and applying my fingers to a keyboard rather than anything four legged and furry.

And then, one day I decided a sudden career change was in order. I set up a dog grooming business, and bought a horse (no, there isn’t any logic). The dogs were funny (did I tell you about the collie that liked to climb trees?), me and the horse were funnier (ever been towed through a picnicking family by a fat cob?). So I’d come full circle, almost. And I decided to apply those fingers to a different keyboard. And write Stable Mates.

I blame James, and I blame my mother (who definitely knew best) – which is why I dedicated the book to her. Now, anybody fancy turning it into a TV series?

   
Author Bio:   Bestselling author Zara Stoneley lives in deepest Cheshire surrounded by horses, dogs, cats and amazing countryside. When she's not visiting wine bars, artisan markets or admiring the scenery in her sexy high heels or green wellies, she can be found in flip flops on the beach in Barcelona, or more likely sampling the tapas! Zara writes hot romance and bonkbusters. Her latest novel, 'Stable Mates', is a fun romp through the Cheshire countryside and combines some of her greatest loves - horses, dogs, hot men and strong women (and not forgetting champagne and fast cars)! She writes for Harper Collins and Accent Press.

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Giveaway UK only. Paperback copy of Stable Mates will be sent upon its 20th November 2014 release. CandleLit Author Services and Zara Stoneley reserve the right to cancel and/or amend the giveaway at anytime, without prior notification.