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Kentucky #3
Kentucky Sunrise
The edge-of-your-seat finale to the trilogy set in the bluegrass country horseracing world from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Kentucky Heat .
The trilogy that has reunited the Coleman and Thornton families continues as horsewoman Nealy Coleman faces her greatest challenge—to produce another Derby winner and show the world that a determined woman never quits . . .
Nobody can measure up to Nealy’s standards as a trainer, not even her daughter Emmie, who now runs the family’s Blue Diamond Farms. When Nealy she returns to the stables for a family reunion, she realizes that Emmie has let the farm slide and has picked a small, gutsy colt to send to the Derby—a nice horse, but clearly the wrong one. Suddenly Nealy is back in the game, ready to prove she’s not too old to back a winner—even if means taking on another colt as her own personal project.
Now Emmie and Nealy engage in an unstoppable rivalry, one that may irreparably damage their relationship. Each is determined to win—no matter what the dangers, no matter what the cost.
In Kentucky Sunrise Fern Michaels captures the adrenaline rush of the sport of kings while sending a family toward a shattering climax, where the difference between winning and losing in all aspects of life lies in the choices of the heart.
Praise for the Kentucky Trilogy
“Prose so natural that it seems you are witnessing a story rather than reading about it.” — Los Angeles Sunday Times
“Fun . . . has more plot twists than a soap opera, and will keep readers on tenterhooks.” — Booklist
The trilogy that has reunited the Coleman and Thornton families continues as horsewoman Nealy Coleman faces her greatest challenge—to produce another Derby winner and show the world that a determined woman never quits . . .
Nobody can measure up to Nealy’s standards as a trainer, not even her daughter Emmie, who now runs the family’s Blue Diamond Farms. When Nealy she returns to the stables for a family reunion, she realizes that Emmie has let the farm slide and has picked a small, gutsy colt to send to the Derby—a nice horse, but clearly the wrong one. Suddenly Nealy is back in the game, ready to prove she’s not too old to back a winner—even if means taking on another colt as her own personal project.
Now Emmie and Nealy engage in an unstoppable rivalry, one that may irreparably damage their relationship. Each is determined to win—no matter what the dangers, no matter what the cost.
In Kentucky Sunrise Fern Michaels captures the adrenaline rush of the sport of kings while sending a family toward a shattering climax, where the difference between winning and losing in all aspects of life lies in the choices of the heart.
Praise for the Kentucky Trilogy
“Prose so natural that it seems you are witnessing a story rather than reading about it.” — Los Angeles Sunday Times
“Fun . . . has more plot twists than a soap opera, and will keep readers on tenterhooks.” — Booklist
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2002
1062 people are currently reading
1090 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
431 books6,585 followersFern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
September 8, 2022
Great ending to a three book series.
June 29, 2011
The last year I ran a riding program my staff gave me this book as a parting gift. We read it out loud on the drive from Seattle to Baltimore. It was awful in a fairly hilarious way. The horse details were terribly off, and the protagonist's attempt to battle back from disease to race in The Derby (the only race in existence) felt extremely far-fetched.
August 28, 2022
If you know anything about horses, Kentucky or the Derby, skip this -- it will set your teeth on edge about how much is incorrect :) Plot super stilted and predictable.
March 7, 2024
I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't. The number of cliches and tropes were so numerous I couldn't keep track, the dialogue wasn't believable, and the characters and sequences were not well written. Nealy and her daughter, Emmie, were absolutely unbearable, and the plot line with Willow didn't add to the story or make any sense whatsoever. Save yourself the time and read a different book.
March 12, 2017
Thankfully this got a little better toward the end. I must have told myself to 'quit' once per page in the first 100 pages. I didn't read the first two books, though I don't think that was the problem. Just too many over the top story-lines and difficult to like characters.
February 25, 2021
I am beyond happy to be done this series. Why read 3 books about an unhappy woman? It was depressing and I couldn’t wait to be done. Fern Michaels is now on my shit list.
October 11, 2021
By far the worst of the trilogy. And, in my opinion, and awful conclusion.
October 26, 2023
2 stars. Disappointing end. This book was so pointless! Which, in turn, makes the series pointless. It should have ended with book 2, imo. Stretching it out to a trilogy was a mistake. Nealy (still hate that name) is bitter, hateful, jealous and plucky still. Her main target is Emmie, her weak willed daughter who is always being cared for. “Not fair she was cared for! She let this place go to heck in a hand basket!” Forget that Emmie had rheumatoid arthritis and it became debilitating. Then Emmie leaves to get treatment and Nealy hates her for it. Then Nealy hates her for wanting to train her horse. Then Nealy hates her for inheriting the old farmstead. Nealy already hates her for inheriting half of Blue Diamond. Emmie is finally facing everything and maturing into a solid person. Nealy realizes she’s bitter & jealous of Emmie and that she cares for her, but doesn’t love her, but may hate her, but she might have gotten over it. She wants to tie in the race with Emmie as long as Emmie isn’t better. Emmie finally is 100% on track and decides to flake out last minute reverting COMPLETELY to her earlier self. Nealy declares she was right about her weak willed daughter, Emmie then runs Blue Diamond into the ground because she is totally inept now. Oh! And Emmie somehow became bitter to everyone (even her daughter, father, and brother don’t like her now), nobody that works at the Blue Diamond likes her and follows Nealy to the old homestead leaving Emmie’s because there is just something about her that is wrong and therefore Nealy feels vindicated. But it’s okay because as Emmie is thinking about just dying on her porch a man comes up and can take care of her like her mother said she wanted. Nealy is right again. Oh, and we can’t forget the completely unnecessary Willow drama that pulled them all in for no reason. It truly was a book of weird fillers.
So my question is: What was the point of this book at all?
Everyone ends up in the same if not worse place than before. Therapy was seriously a waste of everyone’s time because not 1 person changed. Emmie was doing great then the author decided she hated her, too. That set Nealy off so she had a pass on working on herself. Good job! A narcissist is proven right. Yay! I honestly hated the ending of the book. POINTLESS!!!
Needless to say, I won’t be reading another book by this author if I can help it.
So my question is: What was the point of this book at all?
Everyone ends up in the same if not worse place than before. Therapy was seriously a waste of everyone’s time because not 1 person changed. Emmie was doing great then the author decided she hated her, too. That set Nealy off so she had a pass on working on herself. Good job! A narcissist is proven right. Yay! I honestly hated the ending of the book. POINTLESS!!!
Needless to say, I won’t be reading another book by this author if I can help it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2024
Life comes full circle for Nealy.
She may have won the triple crown twice, but she has lost her children.
Nick is now a lawyer with the help of her husband, Hatch, and his partners. He now lives in Santa Fe. Emmie is another story. She holds resentment for her mother. She has been dealing with excruciating pain. She's too stubborn to go to a doctor to find out what's wrong. Until the night, she has a full-blown RA attack. She's rushed to the hospital and finally diagnosed.
She is able to go to a special clinic that is owned by the Thortons. Her mother's relatives own the clinic. She gets treatment and rehabilitation while she is there. She finally gets up enough nerve to call her father. He helped her through the gruesome process.
Emmie refused to see her family while she was at the clinic. Only her father.
When she goes home, she still has problems with her mother. They lock heads.
Nealy tries, but she doesn't know how to reach her. So Nealy decided to see a therapist. Pulling all her hurts and frustration.
Jealousy is part of the factor.
Nealy has always worked hard, and Emmie is handed everything. If things happen, she gives up. Then, she moves on.
Emmie bought two horses that are sired by Shfly. Two different mares. Hifly is like a runt of a horse with lots of heart and speed. The other doesn't like her, but warm up to Nealy.
Lots of drama and hard feelings Both feel unloved. Emmie thinks her mother never loved her children.
Nealy never felt loved until she met Hatch Littletree. He would do anything for her.
Great story of a strong woman who ran away at seventeen with a two year old baby girl and became a racing legend. Beating all the odds.
Loved all the strong characters and Fern Michaels' way of bringing them to life.
She may have won the triple crown twice, but she has lost her children.
Nick is now a lawyer with the help of her husband, Hatch, and his partners. He now lives in Santa Fe. Emmie is another story. She holds resentment for her mother. She has been dealing with excruciating pain. She's too stubborn to go to a doctor to find out what's wrong. Until the night, she has a full-blown RA attack. She's rushed to the hospital and finally diagnosed.
She is able to go to a special clinic that is owned by the Thortons. Her mother's relatives own the clinic. She gets treatment and rehabilitation while she is there. She finally gets up enough nerve to call her father. He helped her through the gruesome process.
Emmie refused to see her family while she was at the clinic. Only her father.
When she goes home, she still has problems with her mother. They lock heads.
Nealy tries, but she doesn't know how to reach her. So Nealy decided to see a therapist. Pulling all her hurts and frustration.
Jealousy is part of the factor.
Nealy has always worked hard, and Emmie is handed everything. If things happen, she gives up. Then, she moves on.
Emmie bought two horses that are sired by Shfly. Two different mares. Hifly is like a runt of a horse with lots of heart and speed. The other doesn't like her, but warm up to Nealy.
Lots of drama and hard feelings Both feel unloved. Emmie thinks her mother never loved her children.
Nealy never felt loved until she met Hatch Littletree. He would do anything for her.
Great story of a strong woman who ran away at seventeen with a two year old baby girl and became a racing legend. Beating all the odds.
Loved all the strong characters and Fern Michaels' way of bringing them to life.
March 28, 2022
Another wonderful book!
The characters all feel real. I read everything by this author. I have never been disappointed. I thought I would someone else's book but didn't get farther than first chapter. The difference is Fern Michaels writes books that you feel you are actually with these people. So many characters I feel I know. I go to work and look toward to coming home to relax with her books. I dread the day I have read them all! Probably I will start all over (YES THEY ARE THAT GOOD). Thank you!
The characters all feel real. I read everything by this author. I have never been disappointed. I thought I would someone else's book but didn't get farther than first chapter. The difference is Fern Michaels writes books that you feel you are actually with these people. So many characters I feel I know. I go to work and look toward to coming home to relax with her books. I dread the day I have read them all! Probably I will start all over (YES THEY ARE THAT GOOD). Thank you!
March 30, 2025
Sad but good
I cried throughout the story. This series has made me think about relationships and how they can be beautiful or trauma. Emmie is one where mom had so many problems that she barreled through life selfishly but did not see it in herself. She fought for her life and did not understand how what she did affected those around her. She did make some progres into changing but she did not want to change.
The end left me with curiosity of what the new guy will do for Emmie. Like a repeat of history?
I cried throughout the story. This series has made me think about relationships and how they can be beautiful or trauma. Emmie is one where mom had so many problems that she barreled through life selfishly but did not see it in herself. She fought for her life and did not understand how what she did affected those around her. She did make some progres into changing but she did not want to change.
The end left me with curiosity of what the new guy will do for Emmie. Like a repeat of history?
June 11, 2022
Disappointed
I loved the first two books of the series. The !main character, Nealy is back with her two adult children. Sadly some of the best characters from the first two books are retired and gone from Blue Diamond Farm and the book. The book main focus seems to be Nealy's daughter Emmie and that is where I think the book goes wrong. Emmie is written as a sad, disappointing, weak and jealous character and that is where the book went wrong.
I loved the first two books of the series. The !main character, Nealy is back with her two adult children. Sadly some of the best characters from the first two books are retired and gone from Blue Diamond Farm and the book. The book main focus seems to be Nealy's daughter Emmie and that is where I think the book goes wrong. Emmie is written as a sad, disappointing, weak and jealous character and that is where the book went wrong.
July 18, 2022
It was a good way to end the series albeit it wasn't quite as good ending as I hoped. It seemed to focus back and forth between Nealy and Emmie. The plot line involving Willow didn't really add to the story and it took Hatch out of the main plot. The mention of the other members of the family has made me want to go and read the other parts of the series (the Texas series and the Vegas series). I will admit I read this in one sitting as I wanted to see how this would finish. A very good read!
June 7, 2024
It was a good way to end the series albeit it wasn't quite as good ending as I hoped. It seemed to focus back and forth between Nealy and Emmie. The plot line involving Willow didn't really add to the story and it took Hatch out of the main plot. The mention of the other members of the family has made me want to go and read the other parts of the series (the Texas series and the Vegas series). I will admit I read this in one sitting as I wanted to see how this would finish. A very good read!
June 13, 2024
I know most folks did not like this Kentucky trilogy but I couldn't put the books down. I enjoyed reading about the breeding that goes on to make a race horse and all the work that goes into it. As I live in Saratoga Springs, New York where racing is front and center in the summers, this book felt familiar.
The "family" dynamics was not for the faint of heart. It felt real.
This was certainly a quick read and totally enjoyable
The "family" dynamics was not for the faint of heart. It felt real.
This was certainly a quick read and totally enjoyable
August 9, 2020
One more portion of Nealy Coleman Diamond’s life. Nealy is in her late 50’s. She is examining her life and those of her children.
The big questions are, “Why has she had to work so hard for everything in her life? Why do her children seem disinterested in maintaining everything she has work so hard for?”
Life has never been easy for Nealy. Why can’t she enjoy what she has?
The big questions are, “Why has she had to work so hard for everything in her life? Why do her children seem disinterested in maintaining everything she has work so hard for?”
Life has never been easy for Nealy. Why can’t she enjoy what she has?
August 27, 2021
Kentucky Sunrise
This was a great book to finish off the Coleman and Thornton family lives. As the rest this was a very interesting story with many life changing events taking place. All three books are very hard on the eyes when it comes to crying at what takes place in each story. This is my review and mine alone. Norma Gorrill
This was a great book to finish off the Coleman and Thornton family lives. As the rest this was a very interesting story with many life changing events taking place. All three books are very hard on the eyes when it comes to crying at what takes place in each story. This is my review and mine alone. Norma Gorrill
February 26, 2024
Derby
I always loved Kentucky Derby. I always try to watch it on TV each year. I hope to visit Churchill Downs to see where Derby takes place. I love to be in crowd some day to enjoy it in person. Read the series and enjoyed every word. Fern you sure can tell a story. Thanks for all books you have written.
I always loved Kentucky Derby. I always try to watch it on TV each year. I hope to visit Churchill Downs to see where Derby takes place. I love to be in crowd some day to enjoy it in person. Read the series and enjoyed every word. Fern you sure can tell a story. Thanks for all books you have written.
September 3, 2024
review
The circle is complete as
Emmie sits in the middle of the ruin of the farm. A pickup truck pulls and a man hops out looking for a job saying he is a handyman.
She invites him for dinner and prays he is her knight in shining armor.
I totally didn't like the ending of this book and gave granny too much power.
The circle is complete as
Emmie sits in the middle of the ruin of the farm. A pickup truck pulls and a man hops out looking for a job saying he is a handyman.
She invites him for dinner and prays he is her knight in shining armor.
I totally didn't like the ending of this book and gave granny too much power.
November 25, 2024
Good story
I like the book however the parts I didn’t like is when (and I don’t know why) authors tend to use God‘s name in vain. It just turns me off from the book. I don’t even want to read or finish it. I struggled through the ending. Wish I could’ve given it a five stars I would’ve, however; I don’t like it when they use the F bombs or use God’s name in vain.
I like the book however the parts I didn’t like is when (and I don’t know why) authors tend to use God‘s name in vain. It just turns me off from the book. I don’t even want to read or finish it. I struggled through the ending. Wish I could’ve given it a five stars I would’ve, however; I don’t like it when they use the F bombs or use God’s name in vain.
Read
July 6, 2020Another good one my Fern Michaels, a story about family, heart-ache, love and family issues. I felt sorry fir Emmaus, could not seem to do anything righty. Both her mom and dad dirt of left her high and dry.
June 12, 2022
I survived reading this trilogy but...
...Each book in this trilogy is worse and more unlikely than the last, but I saw it through. The ending of this one was particularly unsatisfying. I think the ending twisted the whole two-book story that preceded it.
...Each book in this trilogy is worse and more unlikely than the last, but I saw it through. The ending of this one was particularly unsatisfying. I think the ending twisted the whole two-book story that preceded it.
June 19, 2022
Kentucky Sunrise
This book was amazing! I couldn’t put down this book, or any in the series’s!! I just wish there was more books on the family! I couldn’t get enough! Way to go Fern Michaels’!!
This book was amazing! I couldn’t put down this book, or any in the series’s!! I just wish there was more books on the family! I couldn’t get enough! Way to go Fern Michaels’!!
September 9, 2022
Kentucky Sunrise
Happy and sad about this book. Good story.
I think I saw another book. Interesting. I was hoping for another book. . Mixed feelings.
But still a good read. Thanks again Fern.
Happy and sad about this book. Good story.
I think I saw another book. Interesting. I was hoping for another book. . Mixed feelings.
But still a good read. Thanks again Fern.
November 14, 2022
Kentucky Rich, Heat and Sunshine
All 3 of these books were 5 Stars. I could feel myself at Blue Diamond Farm and also at the Kentucky Derby. I was ready the book just like the Derby Announcer called it. Felt so real. Loved them all.
All 3 of these books were 5 Stars. I could feel myself at Blue Diamond Farm and also at the Kentucky Derby. I was ready the book just like the Derby Announcer called it. Felt so real. Loved them all.
May 1, 2024
loved it
It is a heart warming story of love and loss. The injection of the horses and their personalities makes for fun reading. It keeps you interested from the first page.
The thoroughly enjoyed this book, and recommend it.
It is a heart warming story of love and loss. The injection of the horses and their personalities makes for fun reading. It keeps you interested from the first page.
The thoroughly enjoyed this book, and recommend it.
May 6, 2024
Five stars
I loved this series! The characters are bold and come through the pages to sweep the reader into the story. The book was very well written, as all of Fern Michaels books are. This series deals with the world of horse racing. I definitely recommend this one.
I loved this series! The characters are bold and come through the pages to sweep the reader into the story. The book was very well written, as all of Fern Michaels books are. This series deals with the world of horse racing. I definitely recommend this one.
November 15, 2024
Good final book in this trilogy.
This book further explores the many personalities of each family member and the extended family. I would have rated it as great except the ending was disappointing- felt like the author was tired of the series!
This book further explores the many personalities of each family member and the extended family. I would have rated it as great except the ending was disappointing- felt like the author was tired of the series!
January 19, 2025
For The Win
I like this book just as much as the first two in this series. I have to say I'm not quite sure if Nealy went about it the right way in terms of her two adult children, hmm... 🤨
I like this book just as much as the first two in this series. I have to say I'm not quite sure if Nealy went about it the right way in terms of her two adult children, hmm... 🤨
May 18, 2017
Unrealistic "Fluff"!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews