“If Wishes Were Horses”  

          by  Robert Barclay

2011 Book Review #47

  Library Journal Review

Wyatt Blaine is still grieving the death of his wife and son in a DWI accident on his birthday five years ago. Even so, he decides to reinstate on his family's Florida ranch a therapeutic riding program for troubled teens that had been a beloved project of his late wife.

Gabby Powers, the widow of the driver of the other car, would love to see her 15-year-old son included. With great reluctance and a nudge from his own irascible father, Wyatt accepts the teen, who definitely doesn't want to be there.

Gabby and Wyatt are attracted to each other but are afraid to act on those feelings. Family loyalty and love, self-forgiveness, learning to love again after loss, and the benefits of equine therapy both physical and emotional are themes developed in this faith-tinged tale.

With detail on horses and their use in rehabilitation services, consultant Barclay's first novel is ultimately a feel-good story. The couple eventually find love but without engaging in graphic sex; still, the frequent use of off color language might be a deterrent to fans of Christian fiction.

My Thoughts:  I am not a big fan of romance books, but this story appealed to me because of the emphasis on the Horse Therapy.  There is a lot of bad language but, it is used as I suspect anyone in those circumstances would use it and…you can skip the words as you read. Don’t let that stop you from reading this book.  I liked it!