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Stay the Distance #2
All Heart
It's been a summer of changes for July Carter, who has left the high stakes racing season at Saratoga with not only a young filly to call her own, but also an unexpected boyfriend. Change, it appears, is good.
But as the Thoroughbreds return to Belmont Park for fall races, July is caught up in all of those summer changes. With Kali struggling at her new barn, college applications to write, and her relationship with Beck frustratingly undefined, July doesn't know what to tackle first. On top of it all, her mother is back in New York to ride Lighter, the barn's most promising--if completely crazy--colt, stirring up trouble in the shedrow, which now sits mostly empty.
When Lighter goes lame during a workout, July simmers over. And when Beck decides that she might be too much for him, July finds herself staring down another change. This time, it's unwelcome. This time, her heart is on the line.
Fans of Stay the Distance will be eager to return to July's story of family relationships, new love, and the exciting world of Thoroughbred racing.
But as the Thoroughbreds return to Belmont Park for fall races, July is caught up in all of those summer changes. With Kali struggling at her new barn, college applications to write, and her relationship with Beck frustratingly undefined, July doesn't know what to tackle first. On top of it all, her mother is back in New York to ride Lighter, the barn's most promising--if completely crazy--colt, stirring up trouble in the shedrow, which now sits mostly empty.
When Lighter goes lame during a workout, July simmers over. And when Beck decides that she might be too much for him, July finds herself staring down another change. This time, it's unwelcome. This time, her heart is on the line.
Fans of Stay the Distance will be eager to return to July's story of family relationships, new love, and the exciting world of Thoroughbred racing.
- GenresHorses
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2016
53 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Mara Dabrishus
9 books77 followersMara Dabrishus is an author and librarian at a small college in Northeast Ohio. Horse racing is her first great love, but for the past several years she's ridden dressage, learning how to spiral in, half halt, and perform the perfect figure eight. For more information, please visit www.maradabrishus.com.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 2, 2017
*I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.*
Audiobook Review
I really enjoyed rereading (well, listening to) this book. The audio was quite excellent. I really loved the narrator, and how all the voices were different enough, but not too different. Sometimes it seems like narrators try too hard to make everyone distinct.
There were a few things I noticed more while listening, and I think they bugged me more. I was a bit upset with July. All of the eye rolling, the constant pessimism, how she thinks she is such an expert on everything. And while she seemed to learn a little bit, it really wasn't enough. For someone who considers themselves so grown up, she is very immature.
While Beck is a favorite from the series, I found his lack of involvement annoying. There was no development as far as the characters actually being involved with each other's worlds. They overlap where the horses are concerned, but that's it. Could they overlap outside? Yes. But there was no hint that they ever actually will. I'm really hoping this is more of a thing in the next book. Otherwise I will be very frustrated.
All of the horsey stuff was still very much on point. And the family drama played out rather well. There is still room for improvement, but with more books to come I'm sure there will be. I still want to know more about the mom though, why did she leave in the first place? Some of that I understand, but other stuff just doesn't fit.
Overall very enjoyable and I'm glad I gave the audio a listen. It was a great narration and a fun story. Very much looking forward to the next installment in the series!
4.5 Stars
Stay the Distance was one of my absolute favorite reads last year, so I was definitely excited for this sequel (and I really wish I already had book three in my hands). And I was not disappointed.
July was really frustrating in this, but in a completely relatable way. Some of the things she said and did reminded me too much of myself. And her family drama was so much like my own (just on a much smaller scale, since their are only four of them).
The horses were done wonderfully, as I expected. I felt like I was right there. And I was glad to see more of July and Kali outside of racing. And of course Lighter. The crazy colt. And if there's Lighter then you have Beck, who, although just as frustrating as July, was every bit as relatable and likable as she was.
A more thoughtful review will be on my blog on release day at the end of the month.
Pre Release
This is on my kindle. Right. Now. Ahhh! So excited to read this!
Audiobook Review
I really enjoyed rereading (well, listening to) this book. The audio was quite excellent. I really loved the narrator, and how all the voices were different enough, but not too different. Sometimes it seems like narrators try too hard to make everyone distinct.
There were a few things I noticed more while listening, and I think they bugged me more. I was a bit upset with July. All of the eye rolling, the constant pessimism, how she thinks she is such an expert on everything. And while she seemed to learn a little bit, it really wasn't enough. For someone who considers themselves so grown up, she is very immature.
While Beck is a favorite from the series, I found his lack of involvement annoying. There was no development as far as the characters actually being involved with each other's worlds. They overlap where the horses are concerned, but that's it. Could they overlap outside? Yes. But there was no hint that they ever actually will. I'm really hoping this is more of a thing in the next book. Otherwise I will be very frustrated.
All of the horsey stuff was still very much on point. And the family drama played out rather well. There is still room for improvement, but with more books to come I'm sure there will be. I still want to know more about the mom though, why did she leave in the first place? Some of that I understand, but other stuff just doesn't fit.
Overall very enjoyable and I'm glad I gave the audio a listen. It was a great narration and a fun story. Very much looking forward to the next installment in the series!
4.5 Stars
Stay the Distance was one of my absolute favorite reads last year, so I was definitely excited for this sequel (and I really wish I already had book three in my hands). And I was not disappointed.
July was really frustrating in this, but in a completely relatable way. Some of the things she said and did reminded me too much of myself. And her family drama was so much like my own (just on a much smaller scale, since their are only four of them).
The horses were done wonderfully, as I expected. I felt like I was right there. And I was glad to see more of July and Kali outside of racing. And of course Lighter. The crazy colt. And if there's Lighter then you have Beck, who, although just as frustrating as July, was every bit as relatable and likable as she was.
A more thoughtful review will be on my blog on release day at the end of the month.
Pre Release
This is on my kindle. Right. Now. Ahhh! So excited to read this!
September 16, 2016
One of my favorite reads this year, I couldn't get enough of ALL HEART. This story goes to the heart of horse racing, to the men and women who give everything to their horses, and spend what they have left of their hearts on one another. Did I use the word "heart" too often in this review? That's because this novel is aptly named: it's all heart, all love, all wonderful.
September 29, 2016
July’s life centers itself around horses. She hopes one day to be a trainer like her father but in the meantime keeps busy doing what needs to be done, thinking about college applications and training her horse, Kali. Her family dynamics are a bit rocky and so is the new relationship she has with Beck.
This story is about is about making decisions and moving forward with one’s life. Mara has to take responsibility for the horses, the people working with the horses, herself and her relationships and it is not always easy. She finds she is more resilient than she thought she was and makes choices that will impact her future – a future that is shaping up to be a good one.
I enjoyed the supporting characters, the training and race scenes, the conflict between July’s sister and mother, July’s inner conflict and the resolutions that were achieved. I also look forward to finding out what will happen next. Will July and Beck stay together? Will July’s mother manage to return to the family? Will July’s sister stay with her current boyfriend? How will July do in college? Will Pilar become a full-fledged jockey? Still questions to be answered but this episode ended with a HFN and that is good.
Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
4.5 Stars
This story is about is about making decisions and moving forward with one’s life. Mara has to take responsibility for the horses, the people working with the horses, herself and her relationships and it is not always easy. She finds she is more resilient than she thought she was and makes choices that will impact her future – a future that is shaping up to be a good one.
I enjoyed the supporting characters, the training and race scenes, the conflict between July’s sister and mother, July’s inner conflict and the resolutions that were achieved. I also look forward to finding out what will happen next. Will July and Beck stay together? Will July’s mother manage to return to the family? Will July’s sister stay with her current boyfriend? How will July do in college? Will Pilar become a full-fledged jockey? Still questions to be answered but this episode ended with a HFN and that is good.
Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
4.5 Stars
November 25, 2016
All Heart continues to enlighten the reader about the lives of July Carter and Beck Delaney. Both their lives have taken a new direction with Beck studying in the city and July knowing she should apply to NYU.
If she does, then she’ll be closer to her boyfriend and best friend. But if she does, she just can’t see how she’ll manage study, relationships, working her ex-racehorse Kali and devote as much time to the track as is necessary. It’s all heart that needs to be invested in racing, nothing less. Read more at http://equus-blog.com/all-heart-mara-...
If she does, then she’ll be closer to her boyfriend and best friend. But if she does, she just can’t see how she’ll manage study, relationships, working her ex-racehorse Kali and devote as much time to the track as is necessary. It’s all heart that needs to be invested in racing, nothing less. Read more at http://equus-blog.com/all-heart-mara-...
May 3, 2020
I wasn't sure what to expect from the book series of Mara Dabrishus. There is this intention to follow the insightful introspective journey of the main character - July - while getting immersed in an ocean of race horse insight track of technical denominations which I found intriguing and refreshing at times. But to be honest I was also faced with a somewhat disappointing feeling of being unable to follow along with the amount of names of horses and animals around the barn. If the intention was to follow in July's footsteps and check her daily schedule then that was achieved. Is this however the intention of the novel? I was unable to grasp the idea and agree with the fact that July seemed to be out of the loop all the time and her life was hanging in some unknown vacuum. Between her dad's unexpected decisions, her mom's surprise appearances and her new boyfriend's on the spot showings, July seemed to be swept by surprise permanently. In the time of digital communication she's like an outer space alien living on planet Earth by accident and having very little connection with the world around her, always looking inward, always being swept away by a surprise development. One is being left with a wishful desire of a more complex development of the other characters and a needed insight into their thoughts to complete the picture of the story line. The single side view of the dynamic marking only July's insights makes the book seem like a journal of a high school senior and not a novel that adds a new level of personal growth.
November 13, 2016
All Heart is a really great book for any horse lovers! I wish they had added some more scenes to tie things together more but all together a great book!
September 16, 2016
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
All Heart continues the story of July Carter as she settles back into life helping her father train racing courses. Life is a bit different for July now she has a new boyfriend, an ex-racer horse of her own to turn into a dressage prodigy and now her father is a freelance trainer as well meaning a flurry of new horses to fall in love with and agonise over.
This story was almost as good as Stay the Distance and it felt so great to be back with July and Kali and laughing over Lighter’s antic. July has some good character development over this book and she really sorts some things out that were still a bit unresolved at the end of the last book. July is going through a lot of things that would be familiar to other younger readers just out of high school - she’s in an in-between place and is trying to figure out where the best place for her is. Is it remaining at the stables, going to NYU with her best friend or could it be something else.
While July figures out her future, there’s also stuff going on with Beck. I did hate seeing them go through a bit of awkwardness as I really love these two together and weirdly, it made me want to read Stay the Distance again and I think once I’m off my book buying ban in a few months, I’ll order a physical copy for myself.
July learns her lessons - in both the horse world and her personal life. She knows when she’s wrong and when to apologise or admit that she was wrong and it’s a really admirable trait in her. She learned to sit down and talk when she needed to and to take a breath and believe in herself at other times.
I’m already looking forward to another book because I can’t wait to see how Kali gets on!
All Heart continues the story of July Carter as she settles back into life helping her father train racing courses. Life is a bit different for July now she has a new boyfriend, an ex-racer horse of her own to turn into a dressage prodigy and now her father is a freelance trainer as well meaning a flurry of new horses to fall in love with and agonise over.
This story was almost as good as Stay the Distance and it felt so great to be back with July and Kali and laughing over Lighter’s antic. July has some good character development over this book and she really sorts some things out that were still a bit unresolved at the end of the last book. July is going through a lot of things that would be familiar to other younger readers just out of high school - she’s in an in-between place and is trying to figure out where the best place for her is. Is it remaining at the stables, going to NYU with her best friend or could it be something else.
While July figures out her future, there’s also stuff going on with Beck. I did hate seeing them go through a bit of awkwardness as I really love these two together and weirdly, it made me want to read Stay the Distance again and I think once I’m off my book buying ban in a few months, I’ll order a physical copy for myself.
July learns her lessons - in both the horse world and her personal life. She knows when she’s wrong and when to apologise or admit that she was wrong and it’s a really admirable trait in her. She learned to sit down and talk when she needed to and to take a breath and believe in herself at other times.
I’m already looking forward to another book because I can’t wait to see how Kali gets on!
October 1, 2016
Life hasn't given July Carter an easy hand. Her mother, who has only recently come back into their lives, is making life more challenging than it needs to be. On top of that, July has a major life decision to make, which college should she go to? Should she follow her heart or her head? But at least one thing is for certain, she has Beck. He would never let her down....would he?
What an emotional, roller-coaster of a ride book 2 in the Staying The Distance series turned out to be. This is more than just another horse book for pony-obsessed teenagers. This is a coming of age story. We follow July as she struggles to come to terms with her future, that suddenly doesn't seem so certain as it was once before. She discovers that her dream of having her mother back in her life is not quite what she had envisaged. And the pain she goes through when Beck decides that he isn't in the right place for a relationship with her is truly heartbreaking. I felt her pain.
Dabrishus has not only created a wonderfully compelling story that kept me turning the pages, but she has also created characters that I could believe in, and dialogue that jumped off the page. Beautiful.
The story is fast-paced, and it kept me turning the pages. I did not want to put this book down. I can not praise this All Heart enough.
What a fantastic addition to the series. I Highly Recommend.
What an emotional, roller-coaster of a ride book 2 in the Staying The Distance series turned out to be. This is more than just another horse book for pony-obsessed teenagers. This is a coming of age story. We follow July as she struggles to come to terms with her future, that suddenly doesn't seem so certain as it was once before. She discovers that her dream of having her mother back in her life is not quite what she had envisaged. And the pain she goes through when Beck decides that he isn't in the right place for a relationship with her is truly heartbreaking. I felt her pain.
Dabrishus has not only created a wonderfully compelling story that kept me turning the pages, but she has also created characters that I could believe in, and dialogue that jumped off the page. Beautiful.
The story is fast-paced, and it kept me turning the pages. I did not want to put this book down. I can not praise this All Heart enough.
What a fantastic addition to the series. I Highly Recommend.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews