Book description
High Flyer
Life hasn’t been easy for Joey Leatham. As a tiny orphan he had to fight to survive. Then he escaped to a circus, where he was captivated by Nina Korsakov and discovered an affinity with horses, but a trapeze accident forced him to leave to join his brother as an apprentice jockey in Newmarket.
Suddenly his lack of size is an advantage and Joey becomes one of the most sought-after jockeys in Europe. Success brings him happiness for the first time in his life. Then, by an ironic twist of fate, he is blackmailed. Despite his innocence, Joey knows that his tormentor could ruin his career as well as his relationship with Nina. When he discovers his only witness has been murdered, he fears he will be paying for the rest of his life. But how can he reveal the identity of his blackmailer? And how long can he hold out?
False Start
When Charlie Patterson and Nick Ryder begin training together they strike gold in their first season. The two lifelong friends have been sent a yearling by Kate Scanlan, the attractive boss of a local animal rescue centre. Willow Star, as the scrawny filly is named, is sold to Major Patterson, Charlie’s step-father, and the youngster quickly defies her looks by establishing herself as one of the fastest of her age.
A stab at the following year’s classic races is about to begin when, without warning, Major Patterson informs Charlie and Nick that he is selling Willow Star to another yard. The ambitious trainers see their chance of hitting the big time disappear when their attempts to deter the sale fail. What ensues is a thrilling tale of mystery that finds Charlie cornered, facing the impossible dilemma of having to choose precisely where his loyalties lie – with his best friend Nick or with his family – and needing to solve a murder to stay alive…