J.P. Jackson

This was an immersive dive into the world of the privileged – elite equine events and Hollywood stardom.

Title: Hollywood to Horses
Series: N/A
Author: Dez Schwartz
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: June 14, 2021
Heat Level: 3/5
Pairing: M/M
Length: 94 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tags: horses, rivalry, competitions, celebrities, posh, glamour
Content Warnings: N/A

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Blurb:

Mateo Harris, a retired Olympic Show Jumper, achieved just about everything he could want in life. Rising from a nobody to becoming a beloved gold-medalist, co-owning H&H Riding Academy with his cousin—and best friend—Emily Hall, and he’s one of the most powerful and respected men in his hometown of Sweetspire, VA. Nothing can shake the foundations of the life he’s built for himself. That is until he hears his nemesis and former crush, Christopher Wright II, has moved back to town.

Christopher, a runaway movie star, has returned to Sweetspire to inherit the family business: Wright Stables, the only rival riding academy Mateo has ever had to worry about. With Christopher’s charm, talent, and fame taking charge, Mateo is faced with real competition both in and out of the arena. He’ll have to be at the top of his game to prove he’s still the number one equestrian in town, but every encounter with Christopher becomes as challenging as any obstacle he’s faced on horseback.

My Review:

I had a good time reading this novella, but for very different reasons – I wanted to see how Mateo evolved during the course of the book. Mateo Harris is arrogant, and self-absorbed. I have to confess, I hated him a little. So, it was an interesting exercise to watch the dynamic between him and Christopher Wright, and see how Mateo changed – albeit slightly – as the connection between the two men grew more intimate.

Mateo co-runs the H&H Riding Academy, being an Olympic gold-winning athlete in equestrian events, he excels in the area and is the expert in all things related to horse. His academy is known for producing top level riders and frequently walk away with the best trophies in local competitions. When long time rival Christopher Wright returns from Hollywood to the town of Sweetspire, where our story takes place, the rivalry between the two comes to the forefront when Christopher is set to take over the running of his family’s horse riding business – Wright Stables – a direct competition for Mateo.

Mateo harbors resentment from past history with Christopher in unrequited love (or crush). Christopher on the other hand, wishes that his life hadn’t played out the way it did. He has harbored a secret for many years. Everyone assumed given his action-movie star career and marriage to a Hollywood starlet, that Christopher was straight. Not so.

After lots of conniving, schemes and plans to make Wright Stables look bad, and for H&H Riding Academy to come out on top in a friendly competition between the two stables, Christopher confesses his long hidden, and enduring feelings for Mateo.

Once this revelation takes place, Mateo’s subtle change in behaviour makes for interesting dynamics between the two. There are other subplots in play – rivalry between the stables and jealousy over inheritance feature in the story giving it additional depth and texture.

All in all, even though Mateo wasn’t my favorite character, Schwartz does a commendable job in creating stress and tension in the story, and as the relationship between Mateo and Christopher changes, there are subtle alterations in Mateo’s behaviour. I quite liked how this played out. The story was memorable.

It should also be noted that Hollywood to Horses won Runner-Up in the 2021 Rainbow Awards for the Gay Romantic Comedy category.

My Rating:

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