Coyote Canyon

Wild Horse Creek #2

by Sharon Siamon

The second instalment of the exciting Wild Horse Creek series finds twins Sophie and Liv back in Arizona's blazing desert and in the middle of another adventure. In Coyote Canyon, the twins discover a runaway colt, which almost becomes lunch for a hungry coyote. It's up to them to protect the foal from all the predators that lurk along Wild Horse Creek. Sophie wishes she could ask Shane, the good-looking cowboy, for help, but he has problems of his own. There are other kids in the ranch community, but the twins aren't sure they can trust them-at least not yet. Sophie and Liv must learn how to fit in and look after the precious horses of the Lucky Star Ranch.

Genres: Horses

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up because I would have been all over this when I was young. I loved reading horse books, and the hint of romance made it sound all the better.
This is the second book, so I was a little lost on the characters, and their relationships from book one. There were lots of references to people and things that happened in book 1, so I didn't have that foundation going into this.
I really liked the inside cover, with the sketching of a horse. It really looked Native American. I also liked that there were drawings in here to bring the story to life.

I found it very convenient that while they were discussing the dangers of cougars getting the horses, right after the colt runs away a coyote jumps from the bushes. It was very sudden and not written well:
'The bush exploded. A hungry gray coyote had been hiding behind it, waiting for the goal to stray near enough to pounce.
It leaped for the foal's throat.'

I really didn't like that the twins were 13, going on 14, while Temo was 17, going on 18. That is way too big of a gap, and I wish the guys were the same age, or closer to their age, so something could actually happen.

Liv is the go-getter, and Sophie thinks she's prettier, with long legs, good hair. Of course Liv thinks Sophie is prettier, with a clear complexion, slender fine-boned, and stylish.

In the hot tub, Cheyenne says "Dana says you know Shane. He's related to me" followed by Hailey asking "do you like it at the Lucky Star Ranch?" And then Dayna asked them if they want to ride after they swim& they agree, but it's like they didn't say anything to the first two girls& the questions were fired at them with no response from the girls. It was weird. Why not write responses from the twins to questions they're being asked?

I thought it was ridiculous when Sophie wonders what the girls wanted with Shane, and she knew Dayna liked Shane, but wondered if Hailey and Cheyenne did too, even though Cheyenne was related to him.

The language was a lil painful at times. "I'm a-comin' knockin'."

Liv regretted asking after Temo in front of Dayna, knowing she'd tease her,& then the next day she asks if Temo is eating lunch with them. Why would you do that again?! & she actually told Sophie before at least she keeps her feelings for Temo a secret. No, you're not!

This book felt more kids than YA, so I was surprised there was mention of Shane's dad losing his license for drunk driving.

Idk why in kids books the parents are called by their names, and not 'mom'. Their mom is referenced as Jess said this, Jess did that. Why not mom?

Shane's horse is called Navajo, and I was hoping he was Navajo, I think that would be a cool addition to the story. He got the horse from a Navajo tribe at the four corners of Arizona. Their horses are tough, surest and intelligent.

The book was surprisingly deep, with their dad leaving their mom and moving in with another woman. And Liv realized not every adult is worth your respect, let alone your love. It tackles some difficult issues.

Diego was the stallion in the herd, and the lead mare was Carmelita, who was never far from Diego. 
I thought the death of Carmelita was too much. I hated that happened. Especially saying it was a terrible struggle and her throat was torn.
And the vultures have been at work; they go after the eyes first. And it probably dragged the colt with it and ate it first, and then will come after the mare.

Liv tells Cheyenne that Shane is staying at their bunkhouse, & it's creepy how disappointed Cheyenne is. If you're going around saying you're related, then don't be crushing on him. 

Sophie was lost, Liz almost fell off a cliff in the first one. I really wish I could have read that before this.

It was too much to have cougars and coyotes after the horses. After finding Carmelita slaughtered by the cougar, we had to worry about the coyote. The section in the coyotes perspective was bizarre. I know coyotes can be smart and cunning, (they don't call him Wily Coyote for nothing), but having him sound like a person was just weird.
'His limp had healed but he stayed around, hoping he's be luckier the second time. A lil chestnut fully with two white socks had caught his hungry eye. She was only a few weeks old and couldn't run as fast as the others. The coyote watched her constantly with his yellow eyes. The here was milling around. Maybe it was about to move. Maybe in the confusion he would get his chance for a tasty lunch of horsemeat at last.'

The lead mare's job is to lead the band of horses, and the stallion watches from the rear, keeping them moving.

Liv waves goodbye "if you're out near the Lucky Star ranch." Missing a period.
And 'She stopped looking up.' Missing a comma. 

When Shane and Sophie were herding the horses, it was handled so quickly. 'Shouting at the top of her lungs and waving her hat Sophie and Cisco turned the herd of fleeing mares. On the other side, Diego and Shane did the rest, slowing the mare in front, breaking the momentum of the stampede.'

I like learning new things, like a wait-a-minute bush.

Cheyenne saying "Mebbe Dayna and Liv found him" was too hick-ish for me. Shane used it a couple times after. I don't even know how to pronounce mebbe.

People were described as blond or dark. Instead of saying dark-haired, dark made it sound like skin.

Dayna and Liv went in the cave after Tux, thinking Bando was there too. I didn't like that Shane came along and confirmed there were paw prints, small good prints and a couple footprints. That easy. Why didn't the girls see them? And it was supposed to be a mystery if Bando was even in there.

Bando also had a POV. It's weird because it seemed to be Bando's thoughts, but if he knew Tux was protecting him then he shouldn't have attacked.
'Tux barked fiercely at Bando, trying to here the colt away from the danger.' But then it goes--'Bando's fighting instinct kicked in. He might be cornered, but he wasn't giving up without a fight.' Then he strikes Bando, sending him flyig over the ledge and into the darkness below. I was mad at that colt then,& didn't really care for him. Everyone's going through all the trouble rescuing him and he goes and attacks his rescuer.

Dayna is going in circles in the cave, although idk how you would when it seemed like a straight shot into the cave. On the way down, there seemed to be only one path, they didn't choose which way to go. She says keep left, not taking right turns so she'd either find her way out or meet up with Liv. Idk how that's possible that left turns would get you out.
The scene where Dayna loses the flashlight and falls down, pinning her legs and only being able to move her head was so unclear, so hard to picture. 

'The dog lifted his head and let out a groan.' Dogs don't groan.
I thought it was sweet, although not wise, of Liv to stay down in the cave with Tux and wait for help.
It was really smart of Sophie to carve arrows in the walls so they could find their way back out.

The Apache used to store food in the caves, and there was a legend that a gang of outlaws used to hole up in the dry caves. 
I found it very unlikely that Shane and Sophie came across Liv and Tux before Dayna.
I thought it was so cute when Shane is about to climb down the ladder she tells him to take his shirt off.

Sometimes the chapters gave things away, like Death in the Desert and Where's Tux?

Liv made it up the ladder carrying Tux, and then after Shane takes him, she asks for him back so Shane can search for Dayna. All of a sudden we're told he's heavy, which I figured, but it seemed like he was somehow light the way she didn't even struggle with him up the ladder. Border collies aren't that small that a 13 year old could just cradle him like that.

I thought it was weird they named a chapter Shane's Shirt.

It was funny when Sophie thought Shane looked amazing without his shirt.
I really didn't like when Shane called Tux a danged dog for barking and scaring Bando, after Tux went and got hurt trying to round the colt up.

I thought it was odd when Jess told the girls to go and she'd stay at the ranch to hear from her dad. When Temo shows up as it's getting dark, Jess didn't even seen real concerned about her kids, and showed no inclination of searching for them. She told Temo she can't go look for him because she's waiting for a call from her dad. I think the call can wait. You can call them anytime, but your kids are out missing. What parent would react like that??

We finally were in Temo's POV, and I was glad for the connection, because he's barely had an appearance. And Liv hasn't spent any time with him, while Sophie has been with Shane. He didn't even share concern over her being lost, only Dayna, saying he tried to keep worried thoughts out of his head, 'Not Dayna! Nothing must happen to her!' As if he cared for her, & I felt so bad for Liv.

Horses never forget a bad experience. Their whiskers can tell them how close they are to an object.

When Liv sees Temo looking worried for Dayna she realized he cares more for her than he let's on,& it's so sad Liv has to see that. It's one thing if he doesn't like Liv, but why Dayna of all people?! She's a snob that looks down on him and his family for being the help. 
When her dad orders his horses up, Dayna and Temo had been standing close together,& their feelings were so strong you could almost see the bond between them. & where has this been? When Liv mentioned Temo, Dayna didn't appear to like him.

It was so stupid when Cheyenne said in front of everyone for Shane to come home with them, because the girls weren't his relations. Why are you openly calling someone your relation if you like them?!
I really didn't like when Shane turned on Sophie, saying quit that, not liking two girls 'fighting over him.'
I felt for both girls being heartsick about their guys. And Liv saying Dayna's not good enough for Temo.
When Sophie says she feels sorry for her not being able to admit her feelings and her dad keeping them apart, she says I know but Idc, which was funny. And saying she was rich and can have everything she wants, why Temo too? I think we all can relate to feelings like that.

I didn't think it made any sense for a horse to go into a cave, especially to keep going so deep into it, up and down, all around. The cave seemed to go on forever, and I find it hard to believe a colt could fit through every part of it, or would want to go in a cave in the first place, much less through the length of it like he's some kind of spelunker.

The mystery stallion that challenged Diego was mentioned but never made an appearance, until the end.

The mention of beer and rehab is definitely YA.

When Bando wakes up he sees a black stallion, and he makes a chewing motion with his jaws, letting the stallion know he wasn't a threat.
It was cute how Bando only had four teeth, two of them new, and not good for chewing grass. He whinnied to tell the stallion he was hungry.

Here we go with animals acting like people: 'the stallion could have told Bando that he wasn't the only hungry animal on that hillside. A family of coyotes had been circling Bando when he arrived and he had driven them away. And a cougar had screamed from a high ledge sometime during the night.' Coyotes and cougars oh my! It's always them together. One would be enough of a threat.

'The colt was weak and would have lain down again except that the stallion had a magic string that seemed to pull him forward and give him strength.' Oh boy.

The stallion had been chased by men in helicopters and I wondered if that was in book one. 
If unrealistic, I thought it was sweet the stallion guides him to the corral.

I really felt for Liv when she thought Dayna was going to say something about Temo and she would lose it.

Let's just focus on the weirdness of this: "She's always after me to be some kind of family to her, or boyfriend, idk what." What is the deal with that?
He started to say if he was looking for a girlfriend, and Sophie thought he meant her, and then he goes and says if he was looking for family it wouldn't be his aunts--which was funny--& that he'd choose her grandparents, mom, her and Liv! & she says they can be his good friends, like family. You dw be his family!! She's had a crush on him.

It was very convenient that one of Silver Spur's mares lost her foal the night before Bando shows up, and Bando needs a mom.
'If his mother or Diego had been there they would have let the colt know the young man and the girl were trying to help him, but Bando was a range colt and people were new and strange.' Would they have really let him know?

'They were face to face--Dayna pale with strain, Temo's dark eyes fierce with love.' Gag. We get it, they like each other.

I really didn't like that Bando showed up at Dayna's farm, and will be nursing from one of their horses.
Sam Regis says "what in thunderation" and I had never heard that before.
Dayna tells her dad that the girls and Shane saved her life with a little help from Temo. If you want your dad to accept him why say that? He showed up last, but he did help you up the cave, which was a really easy and unrealistic rescue, btw.

It was funny when Dayna said they'd have a massage and spa day after the bats being in their hair, and Liv said they don't really get in your hair because they have echolocation and never hit anything. I knew she was still bitter about Dayna and Temo!

I thought it was really insensitive for Sophie to say Liv's going to get over her feelings and they're too young to be serious about guys. And Dayna and Temo are 17 and 18 and it could be once in a lifetime love.

Piñatas were explained and they didn't need to be. I think everyone knows what a piñata is.
'She dived forward' just sounded wrong to me. I think it should be dove.

Sophie all of a sudden gets over her crush and realizes it's ok to be Shane's friend. Just like Dayna and Temo suddenly like each other. It sprang up suddenly and progressed suddenly too. Just the day before, Sophie said Dayna hadn't even realized she had feelings for Temo.

Their grandma asks what happened to the foal,& they say he got away,& that they call him Bando, and he's wonderful. They made it sound like he was still lost.
Didn't get to hear their grandmas response to the spring, and their grandpa didn't hear any of it about the missing foal, dead mare, and the spring. I know this is a series but it didn't have to end so suddenly, and without their grandma's reaction.

This ended up being disappointing. I didn't like that it only took place over a few days. The crushes turned out to be one big disappointment. The ending was sudden and unfinished.
Can't imagine how the third will go.

The characters gulped a lot in here, and it rarely made sense for them to do so. Here's an example:
“You won’t have to squeeze him in. He’s staying in the bunkhouse at the Lucky Star. He’s working at our place this week, anyway.”
“Oh!” Cheyenne gulped. “But maybe he’d rather stay with relatives--family.”
-Gulping is when you're nervous, or you have a dry throat, or are scared as crap. It makes no sense to gulp in that situation.

This was an ok read. It didn't deliver in the way I wanted it to. I kept wanting more action, better dialogue, just more. I didn't like what actually happened, getting lost in the cave for so long, and the easy way everyone was rescued, and the horse going to the 'bad guy's' farm. I wish the plot had centered around more than this one colt getting lost.
To have the girls have crushes in here and then to have it go nowhere was just pointless. Why put it in there if it wasn't going anywhere? I would have liked both of them, or at least Sophie in the end, to get with the guy she liked.
It was weirdly YA at times, when this looks like a kid's book, and has the simplicity of a kid's book, with the writing, and the chapter titles.
The grandparents didn't even make an appearance, and were just voices on the phone, until in the Afterward where the girls tell only the grandma what's happened at the ranch.
This is a series so I know more will be explained about the cave, the hidden spring, and who's property it's actually on. Hopefully there will be something between Sophie and Shane, and maybe someone at school for Liv.
I think I would have really liked this when I was young.

[Sarah Lonsdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.... After the first book I thought the series just ended but the second book was a suprise..... My friend read the third book and said it was really good