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Romance of the Turf #0.5
The Sport of Baronets
An original novella introducing Romance of the Turf, Theresa Romain's exciting new Regency romance series
The lives of Sir Bartlett Crosby and Hannah Chandler have been marked by fierce competition between their elite families...the perfect breeding ground for a mutual attraction neither can deny.
Bart hopes to conquer "the turf" through victory in a much-touted match. Should his heavily-favored colt win, the Crosby reputation and fortunes would be revived. Bart's plan seems poised for success until the lovely Hannah Chandler, daughter of a noted rival trainer, turns up claiming ownership of the colt. When Hannah insists on claiming her purchase, the prize colt disappears from Bart's stable. Theft or treachery? As Hannah and Bart rush to solve the mystery before race time, they uncover a scandalous truth about their families' pasts—a truth that has the potential to either destroy both their futures, or to guide them to a love they never imagined.
The lives of Sir Bartlett Crosby and Hannah Chandler have been marked by fierce competition between their elite families...the perfect breeding ground for a mutual attraction neither can deny.
Bart hopes to conquer "the turf" through victory in a much-touted match. Should his heavily-favored colt win, the Crosby reputation and fortunes would be revived. Bart's plan seems poised for success until the lovely Hannah Chandler, daughter of a noted rival trainer, turns up claiming ownership of the colt. When Hannah insists on claiming her purchase, the prize colt disappears from Bart's stable. Theft or treachery? As Hannah and Bart rush to solve the mystery before race time, they uncover a scandalous truth about their families' pasts—a truth that has the potential to either destroy both their futures, or to guide them to a love they never imagined.
120 pages, ebook
First published November 3, 2015
277 people are currently reading
562 people want to read
About the author
Theresa Romain
41 books661 followersTheresa Romain is the bestselling author of more than 20 historical romances, including the Holiday Pleasures series, the Matchmaker trilogy, the Royal Rewards series, and the Romance of the Turf series. Praised as “one of the rising stars of Regency historical romance” (Booklist), her books have finaled for the RITA® award, received starred reviews from Booklist, and been named to the Best Books of the Year list by NPR. Theresa is hard at work on her next book from her home in the Midwestern USA.
To keep up with all her book-release news, please visit her online at theresaromain.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter, or find her on BookBub at https://www.bookbub.com/authors/there....
To keep up with all her book-release news, please visit her online at theresaromain.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter, or find her on BookBub at https://www.bookbub.com/authors/there....
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 115 reviews
September 17, 2016
The Sport of Baronets is the introductory novella to Theresa Roman’s forthcoming
Romance of the Turf
series, and it most definitely gets the series out of the paddock and up to the starting gate in fine style. (I’m sorry – I couldn’t resist it!). I tend to be quite picky when it comes to novellas, as it’s the rare author who can construct one that is as strongly characterised and plotted as a full-length novel – but Ms Romain has risen to that challenge, not only establishing the background for future books, but also telling a self-contained, engaging story in which the characters are fully-rounded and the principals are allowed to spend time getting to know each other.
The Crosbys and the Chandlers have been at odds for… more years than anyone living can seem to remember and for reasons that are equally vague. Both families have been in the business of breeding and training thoroughbreds for years and are fiercely competitive rivals in the field. Unfortunately, the Crosby family fortunes have taken a recent downturn, thanks to some unwise decisions made by the late baronet and the expensive gambling habits of the invalid baroness. Sir Bart Crosby is pinning his hopes for rebuilding his fortune on his prize colt Golden Barb, planning to race him in the Two Thousand Guineas Stakes in a week’s time.
But Bart’s plans seem destined to unravel when, out of the blue, the lovely Hannah Chandler arrives at his stables claiming ownership the colt as the result of a past agreement entered into by her father and Bart’s mother. In spite of Bart’s insistence that the animal was not his mother’s to sell, Hannah will not be gainsaid – but their bickering comes to a sudden halt when they discover one of the grooms knocked unconscious and the horse and jockey missing. Foul play is suspected – and Bart and Hannah have to set aside their differences in order to retrieve it and discover who is behind the theft.
Ms Romain has clearly researched her subject well, because the level of background detail – about horse racing, betting, and breeding – is used to excellent effect and is pleasantly informative without coming across like a lesson in Horsebreeding 101. Bart is a sweet beta-hero who usually gets tongue tied around women, but who nonetheless gives the spirited Hannah as good as she gets. There are a couple of times Hannah comes across as rather too strident, but when I got to know her and realised why she behaved in that way, I found her easier to like. Both Bart and Hannah are attractive people who have found themselves on opposite sides of a family feud without quite knowing why, and who discover that they have more in common than they had previously believed. Their romance is, of necessity, quite fast-paced, but it isn’t of the “blink and you’ll miss it” type – it develops over a matter of days, but it has depth and the attraction they feel for each other is obviously very strong. The single love scene is a bit strange – involving one of those weighing machines used by the jockeys to weigh-in – and I spent far too long trying to work out the logistics before I gave up!
Apart from that, however, The Sport of Baronets is a thoroughly engaging and intelligently written novella and I’m looking forward to reading the first full-length book in the series early in 2016.
The Crosbys and the Chandlers have been at odds for… more years than anyone living can seem to remember and for reasons that are equally vague. Both families have been in the business of breeding and training thoroughbreds for years and are fiercely competitive rivals in the field. Unfortunately, the Crosby family fortunes have taken a recent downturn, thanks to some unwise decisions made by the late baronet and the expensive gambling habits of the invalid baroness. Sir Bart Crosby is pinning his hopes for rebuilding his fortune on his prize colt Golden Barb, planning to race him in the Two Thousand Guineas Stakes in a week’s time.
But Bart’s plans seem destined to unravel when, out of the blue, the lovely Hannah Chandler arrives at his stables claiming ownership the colt as the result of a past agreement entered into by her father and Bart’s mother. In spite of Bart’s insistence that the animal was not his mother’s to sell, Hannah will not be gainsaid – but their bickering comes to a sudden halt when they discover one of the grooms knocked unconscious and the horse and jockey missing. Foul play is suspected – and Bart and Hannah have to set aside their differences in order to retrieve it and discover who is behind the theft.
Ms Romain has clearly researched her subject well, because the level of background detail – about horse racing, betting, and breeding – is used to excellent effect and is pleasantly informative without coming across like a lesson in Horsebreeding 101. Bart is a sweet beta-hero who usually gets tongue tied around women, but who nonetheless gives the spirited Hannah as good as she gets. There are a couple of times Hannah comes across as rather too strident, but when I got to know her and realised why she behaved in that way, I found her easier to like. Both Bart and Hannah are attractive people who have found themselves on opposite sides of a family feud without quite knowing why, and who discover that they have more in common than they had previously believed. Their romance is, of necessity, quite fast-paced, but it isn’t of the “blink and you’ll miss it” type – it develops over a matter of days, but it has depth and the attraction they feel for each other is obviously very strong. The single love scene is a bit strange – involving one of those weighing machines used by the jockeys to weigh-in – and I spent far too long trying to work out the logistics before I gave up!
Apart from that, however, The Sport of Baronets is a thoroughly engaging and intelligently written novella and I’m looking forward to reading the first full-length book in the series early in 2016.
September 4, 2016
Oh, I wanted to like this book much better than did. It has witty banter. It is not about ballrooms. The heroine has agency.
I found myself pushing myself to finish it. I never invested in the characters or the romance.
Something was just off. Romain is a great writer but this just didn't make me believe in the love between the couple.
I was given this book for an honest review. So, there you have it.
I found myself pushing myself to finish it. I never invested in the characters or the romance.
Something was just off. Romain is a great writer but this just didn't make me believe in the love between the couple.
I was given this book for an honest review. So, there you have it.
May 5, 2017
This novella was okay...there were certain parts that I liked but overall, it wasn't my cup of tea.
I don't like the family feud theme, so that's why this book didn't work me. I didn't care about the main characters, I thought Hannah was very annoying and I didn't really understand why she wanted Golden Barb so much. Her reasons didn't convince me and I couldn't relate to her. I liked Bart, he's a nice man and I liked the fact that he was shy around women; it's a nice change from all the rakes in the Historical romance genre! Their romance felt rushed and unbelievable to me.
I'm not going to give up on this author. And I'll be continuing with this series and see if it gets better :)
Buddy read with Andrea :)
I don't like the family feud theme, so that's why this book didn't work me. I didn't care about the main characters, I thought Hannah was very annoying and I didn't really understand why she wanted Golden Barb so much. Her reasons didn't convince me and I couldn't relate to her. I liked Bart, he's a nice man and I liked the fact that he was shy around women; it's a nice change from all the rakes in the Historical romance genre! Their romance felt rushed and unbelievable to me.
I'm not going to give up on this author. And I'll be continuing with this series and see if it gets better :)
Buddy read with Andrea :)
October 11, 2017
I liked the first kiss scene, and I ended the book with a smile on my face.
July 25, 2016
Novellas can be tricky. Conveying the growth of emotional depth between two people with a plot that is believable in a full length novel alone is a difficult task. Even more so, in my opinion, in novellas due to their obvious limitations, which is why I usually stay away from them unless they're written by my favourite authors.
So this little gem - recommended by my GR friend Becca (Thank you, again!) - came as a little surprise, not only because it's a novella but also because it's a completely new to me author. And it charmed me!
There's no better description to this novella then charming. I was charmed by a storyline that usually holds no interest to me (horse racing); I was charmed by the writing that wouldn't let me skip paragraphs; and I was charmed by two main characters who were - fortunately - not tortured, nor self-obsessed or simply stupid. No, anything but.
With Hannah Chandler and Sir Bartlett Crosby, Theresa Romain created two charming characters who let me forget that I was reading a novella, that their relationship develops within a few days with not much else going on. Thrown together by the machinations of their feuding parents, these two very down to earth people have to find a horse that was stolen and that is to be raced a week later. Once again, I won't go into the plot because it is the setup for Hannah and Bart to get to know each other. And that was charmingly done, and I mean it, charmingly. I found myself smiling a lot whilst reading about those two bantering away, reflecting on their lives and the hopes they have for their future lives. As it turns out, they want the same things. Hannah is a very undramatic heroine who, like so many other heroines, wishes to make her own way in life, but as I said, in a very undramatic style. Equally undramatic, Bart simply wants to keep the family business alive which has suffered from his mother's gambling habit. Oh, and he's clumsy and, as he admits to himself, usually tongue tied around women he's attracted to. I love socially awkward, clumsy heroes.
What I truly liked a lot was Romain's writing style. It's unhurried, observational and - can I say it again? - charmingly eloquent and reminded me very much of some of my favourite authors. I know I'm reading the book of a talented writer when I'm forced (for wont of a better word) to read very carefully, lest I miss one of the funny, little observations that would make me smile or the turn of a conversation into new territory.
So, A Gentleman's Game is pre-ordered and I'm looking forward to it!
So this little gem - recommended by my GR friend Becca (Thank you, again!) - came as a little surprise, not only because it's a novella but also because it's a completely new to me author. And it charmed me!
There's no better description to this novella then charming. I was charmed by a storyline that usually holds no interest to me (horse racing); I was charmed by the writing that wouldn't let me skip paragraphs; and I was charmed by two main characters who were - fortunately - not tortured, nor self-obsessed or simply stupid. No, anything but.
With Hannah Chandler and Sir Bartlett Crosby, Theresa Romain created two charming characters who let me forget that I was reading a novella, that their relationship develops within a few days with not much else going on. Thrown together by the machinations of their feuding parents, these two very down to earth people have to find a horse that was stolen and that is to be raced a week later. Once again, I won't go into the plot because it is the setup for Hannah and Bart to get to know each other. And that was charmingly done, and I mean it, charmingly. I found myself smiling a lot whilst reading about those two bantering away, reflecting on their lives and the hopes they have for their future lives. As it turns out, they want the same things. Hannah is a very undramatic heroine who, like so many other heroines, wishes to make her own way in life, but as I said, in a very undramatic style. Equally undramatic, Bart simply wants to keep the family business alive which has suffered from his mother's gambling habit. Oh, and he's clumsy and, as he admits to himself, usually tongue tied around women he's attracted to. I love socially awkward, clumsy heroes.
What I truly liked a lot was Romain's writing style. It's unhurried, observational and - can I say it again? - charmingly eloquent and reminded me very much of some of my favourite authors. I know I'm reading the book of a talented writer when I'm forced (for wont of a better word) to read very carefully, lest I miss one of the funny, little observations that would make me smile or the turn of a conversation into new territory.
So, A Gentleman's Game is pre-ordered and I'm looking forward to it!
December 6, 2019
3.5 stars
November 1, 2015
2.5 stars. The idea of a Regency series centered around horse racing is what drew me to this book – and not just because I love horses. The sport truly was a major part of Regency life and often gets ignored, so bonus points to Theresa Romain for heading to Newmarket for this novella.
However, much though I loved the idea, something about this story didn’t quite work for me: Hannah. What an awful person she is – selfish, brattish, rude and exceedingly petty. Her habit of calling Bart Mr Crosby, instead of using his title was so irritating. She often moans about how small and restricted her life is, despite her wealth and privilege. Perhaps if she wasn’t so petty and small-minded then her life would seem wider. Her insistence that she owns Golden Barb – a colt that was never for sale and sold under highly dubious circumstances – really annoyed me. She never once considers Bart, even when she thinks she’s falling in love with him. It’s all about her and what she wants, all the while she’s thinking about how unselfish she is. Ha!
I vastly preferred Bart. He’s a sweet, unassuming kind of man who gets tongue-tied and clumsy around women and just wants to race horses. However, there are times when he’s just too sweet – with his mother and frequently with Hannah. He lets them both trample all over him, even when he knows his mother knows more than she’s letting on, while the way he lets Hannah look through his family’s papers made no sense to me – considering the feud between their families and all.
I also found the romance to be a bit rushed and a little disappointing. Their attraction is pretty much instant, but Hannah has no respect for Bart at all and the way she treats him is terrible, making me wonder how hopeless he must have been with women if that seemed attractive to him. They also have vastly different goals and priorities, which made the whole romance seem a little hollow to me.
The story with the colt is a tangle of stuff and nonsense, but it kept the tale romping along quite nicely. I also enjoyed glimpses of historical Newmarket, although it is not and never has been a city – it’s a market town – but that’s a pretty minor thing.
So, overall, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. However, it’s a nice enough read with a touch of mystery, a sweet beta hero and a somewhat childish heroine. The horse racing aspect definitely makes it stand out from the crowd and I’m intrigued enough to want to read the first full length novel of the series. This one was just a little too short and its characters a little too annoying for me.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
However, much though I loved the idea, something about this story didn’t quite work for me: Hannah. What an awful person she is – selfish, brattish, rude and exceedingly petty. Her habit of calling Bart Mr Crosby, instead of using his title was so irritating. She often moans about how small and restricted her life is, despite her wealth and privilege. Perhaps if she wasn’t so petty and small-minded then her life would seem wider. Her insistence that she owns Golden Barb – a colt that was never for sale and sold under highly dubious circumstances – really annoyed me. She never once considers Bart, even when she thinks she’s falling in love with him. It’s all about her and what she wants, all the while she’s thinking about how unselfish she is. Ha!
I vastly preferred Bart. He’s a sweet, unassuming kind of man who gets tongue-tied and clumsy around women and just wants to race horses. However, there are times when he’s just too sweet – with his mother and frequently with Hannah. He lets them both trample all over him, even when he knows his mother knows more than she’s letting on, while the way he lets Hannah look through his family’s papers made no sense to me – considering the feud between their families and all.
I also found the romance to be a bit rushed and a little disappointing. Their attraction is pretty much instant, but Hannah has no respect for Bart at all and the way she treats him is terrible, making me wonder how hopeless he must have been with women if that seemed attractive to him. They also have vastly different goals and priorities, which made the whole romance seem a little hollow to me.
The story with the colt is a tangle of stuff and nonsense, but it kept the tale romping along quite nicely. I also enjoyed glimpses of historical Newmarket, although it is not and never has been a city – it’s a market town – but that’s a pretty minor thing.
So, overall, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. However, it’s a nice enough read with a touch of mystery, a sweet beta hero and a somewhat childish heroine. The horse racing aspect definitely makes it stand out from the crowd and I’m intrigued enough to want to read the first full length novel of the series. This one was just a little too short and its characters a little too annoying for me.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
January 7, 2016
The Sport of Baronets is not your typical historical romance novella. In this story, we are introduced to Bart and Hannah, two people from feuding families who find themselves becoming allies in the search for a missing racehorse. What makes this story different is how fleshed out the horse racing scene is. In the span of this tale, I learned about betting, horse care, stables and their staff, and racing. At first, the level of detail was a bit off-putting, but then Hannah and Bart discovered their attraction to each other and I was lost in the story and didn't put it down until I finished it. Most of the story takes place while Bart and Hannah try to discover the motive behind the horse theft and uncover clues for where the horse could be. However, there is also an exploration of family loyalty, independence, forgiveness, and healing. Needless to say, it was a fast-paced book!
Theresa Romain has consistently written books with sweeping romance, emotional depth, and realism. Her stories stand apart because her characters are people I can understand, root for, and empathize with. Bart and Hannah have real fears and dreams that are akin to feelings we face in everyday life, not just those extreme archetypes we expect to see in a romance novel. And they were just plain nice! In many instances, nice characters never take center stage because they can be boring, but Romain fleshed these two out so well that they were the furthest thing from boring.
Romain has become an auto-buy author for me and I always look forward to her new releases. Aside from a beginning that was a bit slow because it got bogged down by horse racing/betting terminology and family feud set-up, this novella was a 5 star book. I would highly recommend it as a way to get your feet wet and ready for the first novel in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!
Theresa Romain has consistently written books with sweeping romance, emotional depth, and realism. Her stories stand apart because her characters are people I can understand, root for, and empathize with. Bart and Hannah have real fears and dreams that are akin to feelings we face in everyday life, not just those extreme archetypes we expect to see in a romance novel. And they were just plain nice! In many instances, nice characters never take center stage because they can be boring, but Romain fleshed these two out so well that they were the furthest thing from boring.
Romain has become an auto-buy author for me and I always look forward to her new releases. Aside from a beginning that was a bit slow because it got bogged down by horse racing/betting terminology and family feud set-up, this novella was a 5 star book. I would highly recommend it as a way to get your feet wet and ready for the first novel in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!
October 27, 2015
Arc from NetGalley for an honest review.
Hannah and Bart's family have been rivalries in the horse breeding and racing circles.Due to financial difficulties Bart's Mother sells a winning colt to Hannah's family and he find this out from Hannah. Bart's struggling to get his family out of financial trouble and this one colt was going to be the ticket out. But now Hannah's family has ownership and as she's advising him of this new development the said colt disappears.
The plot takes off from there as these two work together to find the missing colt. There are some surprises and twist to the story as you progress. These two characters are articulate, kind, and engaging. The development of their relationship was done in stages that came across sweet, adult like and full of chemistry. It's very well written and informative about horse racing during that time period.
An engaging read that has some surprises and wonderful characters.
Hannah and Bart's family have been rivalries in the horse breeding and racing circles.Due to financial difficulties Bart's Mother sells a winning colt to Hannah's family and he find this out from Hannah. Bart's struggling to get his family out of financial trouble and this one colt was going to be the ticket out. But now Hannah's family has ownership and as she's advising him of this new development the said colt disappears.
The plot takes off from there as these two work together to find the missing colt. There are some surprises and twist to the story as you progress. These two characters are articulate, kind, and engaging. The development of their relationship was done in stages that came across sweet, adult like and full of chemistry. It's very well written and informative about horse racing during that time period.
An engaging read that has some surprises and wonderful characters.
February 13, 2017
3.5 stars!
I really enjoyed this one. It was quite clear early on that the sole purpose of this novella was to set the stage for future books starring our heroine Hannah's siblings. That fact didn't hinder the story but instead enhanced it and made me excited to read more. I loved the high stakes world of love, mystery, horses and bitter rivalries that Theresa Romain has created here.
The main romance was wonderful as well. Feisty, clever Hannah with her big dreams and plumed hats and darling, awkward Bart with his bright waistcoats and good intentions; there could not have been a more adorable, banter-y pair. And can I mention how hot that scene in the weighing room was? Brava, Ms. Romain. I'm now eagerly anticipating youngest brother Nathaniel's book next.
I really enjoyed this one. It was quite clear early on that the sole purpose of this novella was to set the stage for future books starring our heroine Hannah's siblings. That fact didn't hinder the story but instead enhanced it and made me excited to read more. I loved the high stakes world of love, mystery, horses and bitter rivalries that Theresa Romain has created here.
The main romance was wonderful as well. Feisty, clever Hannah with her big dreams and plumed hats and darling, awkward Bart with his bright waistcoats and good intentions; there could not have been a more adorable, banter-y pair. And can I mention how hot that scene in the weighing room was? Brava, Ms. Romain. I'm now eagerly anticipating youngest brother Nathaniel's book next.
January 21, 2016
ARC kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
From time to time I enjoy reading historical romance and this was a sweet little story about rivality between two nobel families and about horse racing. Bart's Mother sells a winning colt to Hannah's family but the colt disappeared mysteriously. The two of them put their rivality aside and they try together to find the lost colt. Some twists added to the story and a little bit of romance between the two main characters.
From time to time I enjoy reading historical romance and this was a sweet little story about rivality between two nobel families and about horse racing. Bart's Mother sells a winning colt to Hannah's family but the colt disappeared mysteriously. The two of them put their rivality aside and they try together to find the lost colt. Some twists added to the story and a little bit of romance between the two main characters.
November 24, 2015
If I had to pick a single word to describe The Sport of Baronets it would be “adorable”. The story is sweet, there are no major hang-ups to the central relationship and I genuinely enjoyed the main characters. Theresa Romain couldn’t have picked a better way to introduce her new series to a potential reader.
Please read the full review at Romantic Historical Reviews
Please read the full review at Romantic Historical Reviews
March 31, 2016
3,5 stars! It always hard to shape characters and plot a story when you only have 100 pages but I enjoyed this short story. Even more, knowing Hanna is all happy and pregnant on Nathaniel's book.
It was a sweet romance, though sexy too, and it felt real enough for such a short story. Plus the horse intrigue wasn't too draggy and it brought our otp together, so it was all good! ;)
It was a sweet romance, though sexy too, and it felt real enough for such a short story. Plus the horse intrigue wasn't too draggy and it brought our otp together, so it was all good! ;)
November 16, 2015
4 Stars
Theresa Romain is another new-to-me historical romance author that I have been eyeing for awhile. I have a few of her books on my e-reader, but decided to use this story as a gauge of whether I would enjoy her style. The Sport of Baronets is the novella that is the start of the Romance of the Turf series which will focus on training horses for racing and two families that are prominent in the sport.
The Chandler and Crosby families have been rivals for years so, when Hannah Chandler shows up at Sir Bartlett Crosby's stable claiming that she owns his prized racing colt, things get a heated. The situation becomes even more complicated when it is discovered that the colt is missing and Hannah and Bart must work together to find the truth. It is during their interactions at this time that they begin to learn more about one another and realize that there might be something more than animosity between them.
This was such a cute story with an intriguing plot, some fun banter, and two likable characters. I thought Bart was adorable with his passion for horses and awkwardness when it comes to social situations. And Hannah was admirable with her desire to make a name for herself in the horse training world and her generous nature. It is always nice to read about characters who are just genuinely decent people that deserve a happy ending together.
The mystery behind the missing colt was well-written and helped balance out the romance. The situation allowed Hannah and Bart to learn how to work together which moved the story along at a decent pace. I also enjoyed the setting and never felt bored despite the fact that I know very little about horses. Theresa Romain's style have me a feeling of comfort and warmth with some intriguing character development thrown in. I definitely look forward to reading more of her work.
I received an eARC of this book from Sourcebooks Casablanca via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Theresa Romain is another new-to-me historical romance author that I have been eyeing for awhile. I have a few of her books on my e-reader, but decided to use this story as a gauge of whether I would enjoy her style. The Sport of Baronets is the novella that is the start of the Romance of the Turf series which will focus on training horses for racing and two families that are prominent in the sport.
The Chandler and Crosby families have been rivals for years so, when Hannah Chandler shows up at Sir Bartlett Crosby's stable claiming that she owns his prized racing colt, things get a heated. The situation becomes even more complicated when it is discovered that the colt is missing and Hannah and Bart must work together to find the truth. It is during their interactions at this time that they begin to learn more about one another and realize that there might be something more than animosity between them.
This was such a cute story with an intriguing plot, some fun banter, and two likable characters. I thought Bart was adorable with his passion for horses and awkwardness when it comes to social situations. And Hannah was admirable with her desire to make a name for herself in the horse training world and her generous nature. It is always nice to read about characters who are just genuinely decent people that deserve a happy ending together.
The mystery behind the missing colt was well-written and helped balance out the romance. The situation allowed Hannah and Bart to learn how to work together which moved the story along at a decent pace. I also enjoyed the setting and never felt bored despite the fact that I know very little about horses. Theresa Romain's style have me a feeling of comfort and warmth with some intriguing character development thrown in. I definitely look forward to reading more of her work.
I received an eARC of this book from Sourcebooks Casablanca via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2017
Buddy read with Lacey! (you can find her review here)
This was a nice enough introduction to the world the rest of the series is set in and explains the reason behind a family feud between two families who both own race horses.
Unfortunately, I don't really care for the family feud trope. To me, it just makes little sense that grown up people would just hate someone based on their last name. Also, the couple didn't really have a strong enough connection before the novella starts, and I'm still not really convinced those two will work. I just couldn't connect with this story. I don't know if it's because I recently read My Scandalous Duke and really LOVED it or because it was just too short for me to connect with it. Also, most of the plot was the couple fighting over a colt, arguing that one parent sold it to the other without anyone knowing... I think this would've worked better in a full-length novel, where the whole secret sale and the reasons behind it could've been properly explored. But as it was, I just didn't care for it.
I did love the hero, though. He was a sweetheart. I might be biased because of my love for horses (any man who can earn the trust of a skittish horse is pretty much guaranteed to win me over ^^), but the man was great with horses, and incredibly shy and awkward around women which made for a nice change from the ever-present experienced rakes.
Next up: A Gentleman's Game
This was a nice enough introduction to the world the rest of the series is set in and explains the reason behind a family feud between two families who both own race horses.
Unfortunately, I don't really care for the family feud trope. To me, it just makes little sense that grown up people would just hate someone based on their last name. Also, the couple didn't really have a strong enough connection before the novella starts, and I'm still not really convinced those two will work. I just couldn't connect with this story. I don't know if it's because I recently read My Scandalous Duke and really LOVED it or because it was just too short for me to connect with it. Also, most of the plot was the couple fighting over a colt, arguing that one parent sold it to the other without anyone knowing... I think this would've worked better in a full-length novel, where the whole secret sale and the reasons behind it could've been properly explored. But as it was, I just didn't care for it.
I did love the hero, though. He was a sweetheart. I might be biased because of my love for horses (any man who can earn the trust of a skittish horse is pretty much guaranteed to win me over ^^), but the man was great with horses, and incredibly shy and awkward around women which made for a nice change from the ever-present experienced rakes.
Next up: A Gentleman's Game
September 23, 2015
This was such a sweet, warm story. It's so nice to read a story about two characters who are really nice people. And I love this world of the turf, with the two enemy horse-racing families, and how vividly that setting is evoked. I can't wait to read the siblings' stories! A definite cozy, comfort read.
January 4, 2016
Free right now on Kindle and at the B&N store.
I really, really liked this. Grabbed me from the first sentence, I liked reading about Bart and Hannah and their families' not-so-great history with each other. This is a little different with the world of horse racing as the back drop. Nice little mystery with a nice twist. Good character development and pacing.
I really, really liked this. Grabbed me from the first sentence, I liked reading about Bart and Hannah and their families' not-so-great history with each other. This is a little different with the world of horse racing as the back drop. Nice little mystery with a nice twist. Good character development and pacing.
May 3, 2016
I was having a bad novella day. See, I like her books, but no, this one was just ok. It was a case of should have been a book.
Hannah and Bart meet, they are enemies, but look at that. They will fall fast in love.
While looking for a horse
Horses and races are boring...yup
It was too fast! I wanted more drama,
Ok
Hannah and Bart meet, they are enemies, but look at that. They will fall fast in love.
While looking for a horse
Horses and races are boring...yup
It was too fast! I wanted more drama,
Ok
March 26, 2016
I think I was supposed to think the almost sex in the jockey chair was hot, but mostly I just thought all of it was sort of dumb.
Want to read
November 8, 2019 Freebie on Amazon 8th November 2019
July 5, 2020
Hannah is a Chandler. Bart is a Crosby. Their families are bitter enemies. Both families breed and race horses.
When Hannah shows up at Bart’s barn with a bill of sale saying she owns the best colt he owns, Bart is shocked. This colt can win a race and enough money to he and his stable out of debt. When the colt is stolen, both of them begin to work together in order to find the stolen horse.
I am sure both these characters are wonderful people. But, for some reason I could not relate to either of them.
The relationship moved like a rocket. From we are enemies, to we are sharing a sexual experience almost immediately.
I am a fan of Ms Romain and I have enjoyed many of her books. This novella is not a story which drew me in.
I will find more of her books to read and love. This did not do it for me.
When Hannah shows up at Bart’s barn with a bill of sale saying she owns the best colt he owns, Bart is shocked. This colt can win a race and enough money to he and his stable out of debt. When the colt is stolen, both of them begin to work together in order to find the stolen horse.
I am sure both these characters are wonderful people. But, for some reason I could not relate to either of them.
The relationship moved like a rocket. From we are enemies, to we are sharing a sexual experience almost immediately.
I am a fan of Ms Romain and I have enjoyed many of her books. This novella is not a story which drew me in.
I will find more of her books to read and love. This did not do it for me.
March 30, 2018
Don’t feel like I can really rate this book appropriately because I don’t really like novellas - the romance goes too fast for me. Such is the case with this book, although the sex scene is pretty steamy. I’m assuming this sets up the series by introducing the Chandler horse-loving family. I did really like both Bart and Hannah in this novella, just wished things had progressed a bit slower.
January 20, 2016
(January #tbrchallenge theme was "shorts", including novellas, short stories, and category romances. I have far too many novellas tucked away on my kindle from various sales, so I'm glad to wipe one off the slate.)
Theresa Romain's Sport of Baronets mixed romance with horse racing, feuding families and snappy banter. Hannah Chandler and Sir Bartlett Crosby appear ready and willing to take up the ongoing battle between families until a promising colt is stolen under their noses before a major race. Faced with no other choice, Hannah and Bart decide to investigate together, fighting attraction and animosity. On the one hand, they're curious about each other, but they're also immediately thinking the worst because of their families' shared history. I love that both of them are so comfortable in the horse racing world, rather coming from an outsider's perspective. It's probably a hidden benefit of novellas because there isn't a lot of time for characters to learn the ropes. Each character learned some hidden information about their respective parents and the origins of the feud, but was allowed to confront them in their own way, which I appreciated. I appreciated that while there is a HEA for Hannah and Bart, the pain and conflict between the parents isn't magically erased by their children's happiness.
Theresa Romain's Sport of Baronets mixed romance with horse racing, feuding families and snappy banter. Hannah Chandler and Sir Bartlett Crosby appear ready and willing to take up the ongoing battle between families until a promising colt is stolen under their noses before a major race. Faced with no other choice, Hannah and Bart decide to investigate together, fighting attraction and animosity. On the one hand, they're curious about each other, but they're also immediately thinking the worst because of their families' shared history. I love that both of them are so comfortable in the horse racing world, rather coming from an outsider's perspective. It's probably a hidden benefit of novellas because there isn't a lot of time for characters to learn the ropes. Each character learned some hidden information about their respective parents and the origins of the feud, but was allowed to confront them in their own way, which I appreciated. I appreciated that while there is a HEA for Hannah and Bart, the pain and conflict between the parents isn't magically erased by their children's happiness.
February 2, 2016
Bart Crosby and his family held a long running feud with Hanna's family. The Crosby family had always despised the Chandlers and vise versa. When Hanna Chandler appears at the barn holding the colt Golden Barb, an expected winner in the upcoming race, she held in her hands a note saying that she now owned the colt.
This did not sit well with Bart and he was very frank about that with Hanna. While they were discussing this problem, someone stole the colt and knocked out the grooms.
Hanna and Bart are forced to work together to find the missing horse and the man that stole him. They also needed to find documentation that Hanna did indeed now own the colt. Bart did not want to give up this colt that just might provide so much of what his family needed.
This book held so many secrets that it kept me interested in every chapter. The characters were so likable and so rich that I wanted only the best for them both. I found myself annoyed at some of the discoveries and some of the people that they encountered during their search. It is a very engaging book. I loved reading it!
This did not sit well with Bart and he was very frank about that with Hanna. While they were discussing this problem, someone stole the colt and knocked out the grooms.
Hanna and Bart are forced to work together to find the missing horse and the man that stole him. They also needed to find documentation that Hanna did indeed now own the colt. Bart did not want to give up this colt that just might provide so much of what his family needed.
This book held so many secrets that it kept me interested in every chapter. The characters were so likable and so rich that I wanted only the best for them both. I found myself annoyed at some of the discoveries and some of the people that they encountered during their search. It is a very engaging book. I loved reading it!
April 5, 2019
I’ve enjoyed this author before, but this didn’t work for me. The families are feuding but don’t know why, they just are. It’s revealed later on, but I’d have a hard time with “We hate the Smiths because, we just do, okay?!” as an explanation—I wouldn’t want to be a part of a feud without knowing why.
Silly summary because I’m in a silly mood:
I don’t like you because of your last name.
Well I don’t like you either because of yours.
Let’s work together to recover the stolen horse. The horse is mine, by the way.
No it’s mine.
Let’s sort that out later.
Okay.
Maybe you’re not so bad after all.
Hey, let’s go into this cottage and rub each other off.
Okay! I’ll sit on this balance made for weighing jockeys and bounce up and down while you give me an orgasm. Oh yes! Wait, I think you betrayed me! I hate you!
Fine! The horse is still mine btw. Hmm...I may have the horse back, but know what? I love you.
Aw. Okay, I guess I love you too.
Silly summary because I’m in a silly mood:
I don’t like you because of your last name.
Well I don’t like you either because of yours.
Let’s work together to recover the stolen horse. The horse is mine, by the way.
No it’s mine.
Let’s sort that out later.
Okay.
Maybe you’re not so bad after all.
Hey, let’s go into this cottage and rub each other off.
Okay! I’ll sit on this balance made for weighing jockeys and bounce up and down while you give me an orgasm. Oh yes! Wait, I think you betrayed me! I hate you!
Fine! The horse is still mine btw. Hmm...I may have the horse back, but know what? I love you.
Aw. Okay, I guess I love you too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2017
3.5 stars rounded up here on GR to 4 stars
A fun way to spend an afternoon. The plot was a bit predictable, but the author made the characters and dialogue shine. This was my first time reading a Theresa Romain book, but it certainly won't be my last. The setting of Newmarket and the horse race craziness rang really true for me, as I live near Newmarket and visit every so often. And you can't beat a Regency that does not have balls, marriage mart mayhem, or much in the way of titled society (the ranks of both families were recently bestowed and were lowly baronets); yet it still felt historical. The one sticking point for me was that out-of-the-blue sex scene that didn't make any sense in the storyline at the time - it felt very much thrown in at the last minute and I took half a star off my rating.
A fun way to spend an afternoon. The plot was a bit predictable, but the author made the characters and dialogue shine. This was my first time reading a Theresa Romain book, but it certainly won't be my last. The setting of Newmarket and the horse race craziness rang really true for me, as I live near Newmarket and visit every so often. And you can't beat a Regency that does not have balls, marriage mart mayhem, or much in the way of titled society (the ranks of both families were recently bestowed and were lowly baronets); yet it still felt historical. The one sticking point for me was that out-of-the-blue sex scene that didn't make any sense in the storyline at the time - it felt very much thrown in at the last minute and I took half a star off my rating.
May 12, 2016
cute story about what happens when the heirs to two rival families team up to find a stolen horse whose ownership is under question. will they fight each other? will they kiss? WILL THE HORSE BE FOUND?
(the answer to all three lies in the fact that this is a romance novella; take your pick)
both leads have disabled parents which brought to mind the realization that i almost never see disabled people in historicals. what's up with that? ty for breaking the mold there romain
3 stars
(the answer to all three lies in the fact that this is a romance novella; take your pick)
both leads have disabled parents which brought to mind the realization that i almost never see disabled people in historicals. what's up with that? ty for breaking the mold there romain
3 stars
January 8, 2016
Liked most of it, but I'm not really into horse stories. However, I have pre-ordered the next episode in this new series, so I'll wait and see. As long as there is lots of love interest, I think I probaby will enjoy reading it. I did like the main characters though, especially Bart!
May 29, 2016
The romance part is pretty adorable, but since this is a novella there wasn't enough time for the mystery and the feud to be as fleshed out as they should have been. Still, historical romance plus horse racing!
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