Hidden Order: A Thiller, by author Brad Thor

July 28, 2013

Dear Readers, 

I’m not sure when I first became an avid reader and my mother is no longer here to tell me how it came about. I do recall spending hours scanning the Funk and Wagnall’s dictionary when there wasn’t anything else available. The well-used bookshelf in our home also included a complete set of encyclopedias, National Geographic magazines, picture books of all sorts, and various novels my mother had collected over the years. I cherished a beautifully illustrated, four book set of Alice in Wonderland, and lingered over the full color illustrations, my imagination fully engaged.

 Dr. Seuss books, every one, I can’t possibly pick a favorite. Charlottes’ Web was so powerful, though I know its coming, even today I cry over the death of Charlotte. Among the novels my mother collected I found the Old Man and the Sea, I fell in love with Don Quixote, and through the reading of both, I learned to embrace the impossible dream.  I wept for Buck, in Call of the Wild; my youthful outrage at the cruelty of men, knew no bounds. My Friend Flicka, Black Beauty and let’s not forget Old Yeller, the biggest tear jerker of all time, and one I can’t bear to read again—it’s just too painful.  

My sister and I would walk three miles to the library and max out our library cards, trudging home with ten books each, clutched in our arms. I was never happier than when I wandered through the library, seeking out exciting adventures, and I knew where they lay— captured within the pages of all those books. The words were color and life to me, reading wasn’t an escape, it was a reward, and I rewarded myself frequently from as far back as I can remember.    

My latest reward has been Brad Thor’s; Hidden Order: A Thriller. I’d never read this author before, and I chose this title because so many people said it was a novel, though attached to a series, that could stand alone. Here is my review; 

 “It is said that power corrupts, but actually it’s more true that power attracts the corruptible.” – David Brin

 

Power beyond measure? That is without a doubt the most terrifying of thoughts. Why is it that so often the intentions of a few, which start out cloaked in good,  and espoused to benefit the many, turn out when the layers are peeled back, to reveal exactly the opposite? 

With all the scandals currently fouling the already poisonous atmosphere of our Nation’s Capital, I get where Mr. Thor was going. If you’re going to write this kind of book, you are going to have to tip toe around in the politics. 

Very interesting insight into the workings of the Federal Reserve, and at times I almost felt this was an entertaining text book, one that went off to visit murder and intrigue. 

It’s always hard to fill in the back story without the narration beginning to sound like a history lesson. When I become aware this is happening, I start mentally urging the author to hurry it up, tell it faster, get back to the action, in other words I get bogged down, it frustrates me and detracts from my pleasure.   

There were so many characters; I found I wasn’t invested with any of them. This could probably be cured by reading the other books in the series. With the recurring protagonist theme of a series, it would give me the insight about the lead characters that I didn’t get in the quick overview the author accorded each in this book. 

With my few criticisms aligned all in a row, it sounds as though I didn’t enjoy the book, but I did, and I fully intend to start the series from the beginning when I get a chance. 

       Next up another Breeders’ Cup “Win and Your In” challenge event, the Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen. Yikes…don’t try to say that after you’ve been to the dentist. 

Take care,

Shelley Riley

www.shelleyriley.com

Casual Lies-A Triple Crown Adventure

Bill O'Reilly plugs Bad Monkey

July 25, 2013

Dear Readers,

         I was sitting in front of the TV at 4:55 pm yesterday, anxiously awaiting The Bill O’Reilly show to come on the air. I had seen his talking points rant, from a few days before, and was curious to see his approach in handling the avalanche of comments from all over the world. Bill continued to boldly support his talking points and seemed more self assured than ever, if that is possible.

        Thankfully we’re all entitled to our opinions and accorded the right by our constitution to voice them. The part of the show that I found most entertaining was his offering up suggestions for vacation beach reads. To that end he recommended Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen. Bill did voice a cautionary tone due to graphic content, but he certainly gave the book a huge thumb up. Wow, I thought, how do I get a shout out by Bill O’Reilly?  I can only imagine how big a jump in sales an endorsement like that would generate.

        I suspect, the only way he will ever see my book, would be if I attended one of his Bolder & Fresher shows, got a seat in the front row and threw a copy on the stage at his feet. Of course that would probably result in me leaving the venue in handcuffs. Anybody think I should try sending him a copy instead?  The mail room clerk would surely enjoy it.

For those of you who didn’t see it, here is my review of Bad Monkey; 

"There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt."--Erma Bombeck

I would add to Erma Bombeck's quote; "there's a thin line between funny and ghastly." Carl Hiaasen doesn't carefully balance between satire and black humor in the opening paragraphs of this book, he jumps feet first into a situational comedy. The character of James Mayberry is so well crafted by the author, that his arrogance, and shamelessness, combine with a bold audacity, and leaves no doubt in the readers mind as to his true nature.

  What should be shockingly abhorrent to the reader, is rendered skillfully by Hiaasen into a macabre, cynical sort of humor. The reader is left to experience both laughter and discomfort simultaneously.

  The writing is first rate; however, I did find it distracting when every reference to the Mayberry character included both his first and last name. I think after this character was introduced, further reference could have been on a first name basis. A very small criticism on the whole.

  I liked that the protagonist, Andrew Yancy isn't perfect, in fact far from it. For me this made the character more believable, and I found him colorful besides.

  I thoroughly enjoyed Bad Monkey and I will be looking for another book by this author, in fact I just might fire up Google and search out his newspaper column.

I end this review with another quote. "The most wasted of all days is one without laughter."-E.E. Cummings

  The time I spent reading Bad Monkey was not time misspent. 

        I’m on the last chapter of Brad Thor’s latest thriller; Hidden Order. I will make an effort to get a review written sometime tomorrow. 

Take care,

Shelley Riley

www.shelleyriley.com

Casual Lies-A Triple Crown Adventure

Ever Rider ARG wins Clasico Belgrano at Hipodromo Palermo

July 22, 2013

Dear Readers

 

      I’m finding my research on the races featured in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series, has morphed into something more than checking out the winners. The racetracks, their architecture, and history are fascinating.

I’m beginning to think I need to start working on a travel plan that would encompass a grand tour of all the racetracks included in this series.  

Take the Hipodromo Argentino de Palermo located in Buenos Aires, Argentina and built in 1876. Pictured are the viewing stands (Photo one) as it looked before the current Beaux Arts tribune (Photo Two) was erected in 1908, designed by Louis Faure-Dujarric. The Grandstand as it looks now (Photo Three) and the saddling paddock (Photo 4).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I guess by now you might be asking yourself if I am ever going to get around to the race results. The Clasico Belgrano ran on June 21, 2013 and won in wire-to-wire fashion by the long shot Ever Rider, a 5 year old son of Rider Stripes and out of Alley Dancer.

 

Behind the number five barricade, Ever Rider was wearing a bright yellow shadow roll, making it very easy to keep track of him. He stood stock still in the gate, while others weren’t, and was looking straight down the track when the gate opened. He left there running and was never in trouble at any point during the race. Though there was a nice charge made by the runner-up in the final strides, Ever Rider was clearly the winner at the wire.

   There was another horse in the race that caught my attention, and I watched the replay to see if I could count how many times he got into trouble. It was impossible to get an accurate count, other than to say one time, because he never seemed to get out of trouble.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a race where I thought a horse was going to clip heals and go down as much as Honor Charrua in the Clasico Belgrano. Lunging, climbing over heels and changing lanes, only to end up climbing over heels yet again. Honor Charrua was still in trouble coming down the lane for home.

I don’t read Spanish, but I did find mention of this horse in a Google search, and it did look like he may have won a race recently. If anybody can update me on this horse, I would love to hear about it. It was a fifteen horse field and there was a lot of crowding, but Honor Charrua with his rider wearing bright red silks, was impossible not to notice. Check the race out on YouTube, and see what I am talking about.

I couldn’t help but worry about the back tendons on the horse’s he was climbing over. I’ve seen horses come back after a race with severed tendons, caused by the toe grabs on the horse that ran up on their heels during the race.

That’s enough for today; I will post a book review tomorrow, so be sure and check back.

Take care,

Shelley Riley

www.shelleyriley.com

To Please A Yankee Palate

July 21, 2013

Dear Readers,

I’m always surprised at how many people around the world read my blog postings. Very few readers take the time to write a comment or contact me, but a few do and those smaller numbers inspire me to keep on tapping at my keyboard.

I have noticed a trend, more Russian readers log on to read about the racehorses than most of the other countries put together, other than the United States. Lately I’ve seen a huge upswing in the numbers of readers from other countries. So I looked a little closer at the figures. It seems, on the days I write about the racehorses, Russians dominate. But on the days when I post book reviews, there’s a decided uptick of readers in other countries, and far fewer Russians.

“You can’t please all the people all the time,” a variation on famous quote. But I’ll try, so I will continue to post both. To that end I've posted a review on the newest Lee Child/Jack Reacher book. I thought you might like to see the review I did on the first Lee Child book I ever read, and as it was, it happened to be the first book he’d written.

“It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.” – Voltaire
                         
Wandering around a WHSmith bookstore in Central Milton Keynes in England, I was an American looking for a book to read, something familiar that would please my Yankee palate. I picked up Killing Floor by Lee Child, and I was prepared to put it down just as casually as I had picked it up.

Debut novel it said on the jacket. I bought the book and took it home to Wavendon House where I was living at the time. I didn't put the book down until I'd turned the last page. Loved it! I told my husband you have to read this book, it's amazing. He loved it! I couldn't wait for Mr. Child's next novel to come out.

I've been a fan of Mr. Child from the time I read the opening chapter of that book I'd been so fortunate to stumble upon, on that rainy afternoon in Milton Keynes. Lee Child can't write them fast enough for me...then or now.

Tomorrow…racehorses, I promise.

Take care,

Shelley Riley

www.shelleyriley.com

PS: I am struggling through the third book in the Game of Thrones series; I keep putting it down to read other things. What does that tell you?

Review of A Wanted Man by Lee Child

July 20, 2013

Dear Readers,

       Maybe it is because it’s been a really hot July, or I’m just looking for an excuse to put off until tomorrow all those things I talked about before, the ones that I should’ve been doing as early as yesterday. I did walk Nigel, many times, and I did go to the farmer’s market this week, and I did read another book. A Wanted Man by Lee Child, and if you read my review on Goodreads of another Lee Child book I reviewed, you will know how much I like his writing. Here’s my review for those of you who would like to know my opinion of this book.

“A Wanted Man, by Lee Child”     

I want the first line of a novel to grab me by the throat, shake me and leave me gasping for more. This doesn’t happen often, nor did it in this novel by one of my favorite author’s. In A Wanted Man, Lee Child doesn’t really grab my attention until page three; I know that’s hardly a stretch. But let me tell you at that point he paints a vivid picture with his words.

Large, intimidating, and scruffy, Reacher is trying to hitch a ride, and has a strip of silver duct tape pasted across his freshly broken nose. The visual of the splintered fingernail picking at the edge of the tape, the sound of the fractured nose as it clicked and ground…cringe worthy!

Now I’m there, the author has my attention; I want to know how Reacher broke his nose, why is his fingernail splintered. Then the ride begins. Lots of riding around in the middle pages, but in usual Reacher fashion, there is always a big finale.

I was not disappointed, and as I have come to expect, the writing was tight and the sentences structured well. My eyes flow easily through the paragraphs, the images bold and clear in my mind. As long as Mr. Child writes them, I’m eager to read them. I hope he can keep them coming. Eventually I suppose Jack Reacher has to age and grow too old to go on, perhaps at that point the author could pull out Son of Reacher. Wait…maybe daughter of Reacher. Reacher Cleans Up Assisted Living?

Take care,
Shelley Riley

www.shelleyriley.com

Review of Carl Hiaasen's Bad Monkey

July 18, 2013

Dear Readers,

I know I should be writing a short story for my next book. I know I could be cleaning the garage or walking Nigel. There is so much I should be doing, planting the impatiens that I bought two weeks ago. Paying the P.G. & E. bill could be high on my agenda, if I looked at it. I would probably enjoy preparing a presentation on Raphael for my art appreciation group. But no, I am not and have not done any of these things. Instead I read Bad Monkey by Carl Hiassen. It was great and I have written a review for anyone who might like to read it.

“There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt.”—Erma Bombeck

I might add to Erma Bombeck’s quote; there’s a thin line between funny and ghastly. Carl Hiaasen doesn’t carefully balance between satire and black humor in the opening paragraphs of this book, he jumps feet first into a situational comedy. The character of James Mayberry is so well crafted by the author that his arrogance, and shamelessness, combine with a bold audacity to leave no doubt in the readers mind as to his true nature.

What should be shockingly abhorrent to the reader, is rendered skillfully by Hiaasen into a macabre, cynical sort of humor. The reader is left to experience both laughter and discomfort simultaneously.

The writing is first rate; however, I did find it distracting when every reference to the Mayberry character included both his first and last name. I think after the character was introduced, further reference could have been with his first name only. This is a very small criticism on the whole.

I liked that the protagonist, Andrew Yancy isn’t perfect, in fact far from it. For me that makes the character more believable, and I found him colorful besides.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I will be looking for another book by this author, in fact I just might fire up Google and search out his newspaper column.

I end this review with another quote. “The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.”—E.E. Cummings

The time I spent reading Bad Monkey was not time misspent.

                                                       ***

I’ll be back to the 2013 Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series in the next blog post.

On another note that’s important to me, the memoir is being picked by more book clubs and I am having a great deal of fun being included in their meetings.

Take care,

Shelley Riley

www.shelleyriley.com

Fort Larned wins Stephen Foster Handicap, and review of The Cuckoo's Calling

July 15, 2013

Dear Readers,

      Continuing my look at the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series by date, I am still looking back at results rather than handicapping upcoming races.

      The 1 1/8^th Miles Stephen Foster Handicap is a G1 race and was run on June 15^th this year over the Churchill Downs dirt track. The race was named to honor the famed composer Stephen Foster, whose work includes “My Old Kentucky Home.” This well known song is played annually as the field of horses scheduled to run in the Kentucky Derby parade in front of the grandstand. The familiar strains have become as iconic to Kentucky Derby day as the twin spires.  

      Fort Larned a five-year-old son of E Dubai and out of the Broad Brush mare Arlucea was bred and owned by Janis Whitham of Keoti Kansas. As last year’s winner of the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, Fort Larned had come off a disappointing finish in his last race and was allowed to go off as the fourth choice in the impressive six horse field. Dominate is the best word to describe the race Fort Larned ran in the Stephen Foster.

      Allowed to set his own pace on the front end by his jockey Brian Hernandez, whose main job was to hold onto the reins and keep his feet in the stirrups, Fort Larned looked powerful and focused on the task at hand. The race was run in a time that was one tick off the track record, it was obvious this horse is back to his form of last fall, and he'll be a force to contend with going forward in the season. Watch a replay of the race; it was a thing of beauty.

Fort Larned scored an easy victory in the Stephen Foster Handicap. Credit: Churchill Downs / Reed Palmer Photography

     There is an interesting bit of history linked to the name Fort Larned. Now a National Historic Site, the fort was in use from 1859-1878 to protect traffic along the Santa Fe Trail from hostile American Indians. Open to the public, the site is impressive and makes for a great family outing, check out the website. http://kansastravel.org/fortlarned.htm   

         Next up, we’ll be headed back to Argentina for the Clasico Belgrano. Stick with me; eventually we’ll have a good feel for the horses that make it to Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita in November.

       I did add a review on Amazon for the new J.K. Rowling book; The Cuckoo’s Calling, and while I was still thinking it had been written by Robert Galbraith. Here is my review;

—Unhappy is he whose fame makes his misfortunes famous. - Lucius Accius
     This Lucius Accius quote, inserted by the author at the beginning, could easily be used as the pitch line to flog this novel.
     I found the beginning pages a bit difficult, the writer’s cadence awkward for me. But I persevered and I am glad I did. You’ll ask yourself; “Isn’t this just another detective story with a quirky protagonist and his trusty sidekick, or in this case—girl Friday?”
     OK, another clichéd tough, laconic private detective? I don’t care. The author didn’t seem to care either, and knew I would recognize the usual character’s right from the get-go.
    When I walked through the black painted door, peeling and flaking, trudged up the metal staircase that spiraled around the antiquated birdcage lift….. By golly I was there; my mind’s eye could see it, black and white marble floors, fedoras and a black statue of a bird. Wait a minute, that’s Dashiell Hammett’s Sam Spade.
     Once again, I repeat, I Don’t Care; I have added Cormoran Strike to the list of hard-boiled detectives, like Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe that I would love to pal around with. You will too.

        Alrighty then, that does it for today. 

Take care,

Shelley Riley

www.shelleyriley.com

Ordak Dan wins the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo at the Hipodromo de San Isidro

July 13, 2013

Dear Readers,
 

     It’s time to take a look at the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo Gr.1, which was a one mile-and one-half race, and contested over the turf course at the Hipodromo de San Isidro racecourse in Buenos Aries, Argentina on May 25, 2013. With three starting gates lined up to accommodate the 18 horse field, this gave the viewer an impressive visual of the overall width of the track. The course is so big, that each year the race is run with only one wide sweeping turn for the horses to navigate.
 

    The eventual winner, Ordak Dan, a son of the Danzig stallion Hidden Truth, and out of the Sir Chester mare Duna Ter, cruised along in the fourth position for a good deal of the race. He looked, via the video replay, to be totally relaxed and a horse that doesn’t like to run up-in-the-bit. When asked, by his jockey Pablo Carizzo, Ordak Dan did drop his head and start to drive hard on the outside. Once he’d passed the first of the three front runners, he started lugging in until he reached the path closet to the rail, where he stayed to the finish. The Carlos Carabajal trained runner was a clear winner, however the runner up, Soy Carambolo was pressing Ordak Dan hard in the final strides.

   

Members stand at the Hipodromo de San Isidro. What an unusual and eye-pleasing structure, I wanted to share it with you.  

By winning this race, as we know, Ordak Dan earned his automatic berth in the $3 million dollar Breeders’ Cup Turf on November 2 at Santa Anita Park. However he needed to be supplemented to the Breeders’ Cup Program before July 15^th at a cost of $50,000 US.
 

   Since his owner, 95-year-old Saturino Erro stated the victory was “the greatest of my life,” and when asked if he would be going to the Breeders’ Cup, he answered; “Of course I will,” we expected it wouldn’t be long before the supplement was paid. And sure enough since then the horse has been made eligible, and I hope we get to see Mr. Erro in attendance on Breeders’ Cup day in November.
 

     Does everyone recall Frances Genter? She was 92-years-young at the time her horse Unbridled won the 1990 Kentucky Derby? One of the great Kentucky Derby moments, is the picture of her trainer, Carl Nafzger calling out the race to her, as the horses came down the lane. Frances was too tiny to see over the heads of the crowd. The look of joy and wonder on their faces is still clear in my memory, and only two years later Carl befriended me, as I tried to make history in Louisville in the 1992 Kentucky Derby with Casual Lies.
 

    I hope we get to see Mr. Erro’s face if his horse runs in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, it will make for memorable viewing.
 

Take care,

Shelley Riley

www.shelleyriley.com
 

Be sure and take a look at the reviews Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure, is getting both on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com

 

Goodreads Book Review

July 10, 2013

Dear Readers,

     Today I need to fulfill an obligation, and that obligation is to share a review with you on a book I recently completed.

     If you haven’t checked out Goodreads, you should. I have an author’s page and I have been navigating around the site, gathering new friends. It’s sort of like Facebook, only it is specifically for people who love reading books of every kind.

     You are invited to participate in, or create discussion groups on all sorts of book related subjects. You can search lists of books, including those that are listed under specific genres or topics, ie Memoirs written by women, or by sports figures…the list goes on. If you don’t see the one you like, you can create your own, then wait and see what other people think or like. I could go on and on, but it would be simpler if you checked it out yourself.

    Another area they have is free giveaways, where authors make copies of their book available for people to win. The authors are doing this in hopes they’ll draw attention and get reviews on their books.

    Some authors get together with groups and offer to let you read their book for free in exchange for which you are required to write a review and post it on Goodreads, Amazon, and a blog if you have one.

    I had a title offered to me as a RFR, Read for Review; Brian, His Granddad and the Cup of Ages. I have read it and here is the review;

I received "Brian, His Granddad & the Cup of Ages," free as a book for review.  

My mother told me, many years ago, if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. Sounds simple, unfortunately it’s easier said than done. And so I have made it my practice not to write reviews on books I don’t like. 

It’s not that I disliked this book. In fact it was cute; my main issue was how often I found myself realizing how closely the characters, and some of the plot, mimicked another story and its characters which had already been written by someone else. 

I think it was Ernest Hemingway who said, “Every writer has three good stories in him, and he keeps re-telling them until the reader no longer wants to read them.” I’m not sure those are the exact words, but you get the idea.  

It's obvious the reading public is not tired of reading stories about wizards and witches. I know I'm not. Since there are so many offerings out there, it has to be difficult for any author to be completely original and not sound like they’re mimicking something they’ve personally read and enjoyed.  

So I think it’s important for the author to make an even greater effort to separate their protagonists’ and antagonists personalities from those of such a popular series as J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter Books. Other critiques of this work have made the same comment about the characters. So I’m not alone in this.

The voice of this author is sweet, and I think he is writing to the right age group. However, he needs to find a fresh way to tell his story. I have rated the book two stars, which is defined by the review process as being “it was OK.” This rating does not reflect a dislike of the work, it was OK. In my book, OK is OK, not bad. One star or no stars would reflect an active dislike, something I did not feel while reading this book. 

The book needs to be reworked and I think if the author does this, the under nine audience will embrace it with alacrity.  

My thanks to the author for the opportunity to read his work, I know what it takes, and I can hear his passion for writing in his words. I know we will see more from this author, and I will look forward to reading what he comes up with next. 

    All righty then, there you have it. Tomorrow I will take a look at the 2013 Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series.” The May 25^th running of the Gran Premio 25 de Mayo is next on my agenda.   

Take care,

Shelley Riley

www.shelleyriley.com

 

Sacred Falls Bests Pierro in the BMW Doncaster Mile

July 8, 2013

 

Dear Readers,

     As promised, I wanted to chat about the next race in the Breeders’Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series. I know this is not new information, but I am familiarizing myself with the horses who are automatically made eligible to the Breeders' Cup by winning one of these races. So if you haven't been following this series, this will be new information for you.

    The last race I talked about was the T.J.Smith Stakes which was won by the amazing mare Black Caviar. The next race in the series, the BMW Doncaster Mile G1, was also run over the course at Randwick, Australia on April 20, 2013. Sacred Falls the ultimate winner of the race was a long shot, after having come off a disappointing series of losses.

    He faced a huge field of seventeen other horses, thirteen of which were Group 1 winners, and included the brilliant colt Pierro.

   Sacred Falls, a New Zealand bred three-year-old colt, broke well and was soon forced back to last place in the huge field. Tommy Berry his jockey, controlled his mount well, and in the stretch threaded a very tight needle indeed, to win through for the victory and the two million dollar purse. When hooked, the much lauded Pierro hung on gamely but was outmatched on the wet ground.

   I haven’t seen any other races for Sacred Falls, but it would be great if his connections showed up with him in the fall for the big day of racing at the Breeders Cup.

   If anybody has news about this horse, let me know and I will pass it on to all the other readers. 

Take care,

Shelley Riley

www.shelleyriley.com

Memoir Receives "Readers' Favorite - FIVE STAR - Review"

July 7, 2013

Dear Readers,

      The excitement just keeps coming my way, be still my heart. On second thought, the best things in my life have happened when it's beating triple time.

      You may have noticed a silver medallion on the upper right hand corner of the blog. Moments before I left for the track on Thursday I checked my email, only to find a notification from Readers’ Favorite, that my memoir about Casual Lies had received a coveted five star rating.

     I have included the review, I am thrilled and wanted to share this with everybody who wants to read it.

READERS’ FAVORITE – FIVE STAR – RECIPIENT
Reviewed by Christine Nguyen for Readers' Favorite

"Casual Lies: A Triple Crown Adventure" is a memoir about one woman’s journey to realize her ultimate dream of racing a horse in the Kentucky Derby, one of the most famous horse races in the world. Shelley and her husband Jim are racehorse trainers that buy young yearling colts to train them and sell them at a higher price. She goes to Lexington, Kentucky, and fate brings her face to face with the horse she will purchase, naming him Casual Lies and Stanley, the latter a stable name for the colt. Stanley makes Shelley’s dreams of going to the Kentucky Derby come true.

Author Shelley Lee Riley draws you in with her descriptions of Stanley’s mischievous, rambunctious personality and has cute nicknames for him, such as “muskrat,” “my ugly duckling,” “giant chipmunk,” and “fuzzy haired heathen” that makes you fall head over heels in love with Stanley. Stanley is just so lovable that you will be enchanted and delighted by his rise to success in the horse racing circuit. The reader is not only thoroughly entertained, but also educated on the basics of training and racing horses and how the whole process works. Riley also has inspirational quotes like “What price can you put on a dream, hoping the dream will come true?” that really strike a chord about destiny and dreams. The book is utterly endearing and inspirational, inspiring readers to reach for dreams they thought were out of their realm. A definite feel good read that will have you chuckling at Stanley’s many antics and finish with your heart warmed. The best part is that the author is able to vividly recapture all her moments with Stanley so that the readers can feel the emotions and bond Riley and Stanley had. A must read for everyone that loves horses, believes in destiny, and making your dreams come true.

     Thank you for sharing this thrilling time with me, and tomorrow I will include another look at the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.  

    If you are interested in a signed paperback copy of the book, “Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure,” contact me via the link below. If you want to purchase directly from Amazon, or want the ebook edition, there is a link to Amazon on my website, just click on the shopping cart and it will take you directly to Amazon. 

Take care everyone,

Shelley Riley

www.shelleyriley.com

Ourwestcoastghost Wins the First Running of the Casual Lies Handicap

Dear Reader’s,

     I am so sorry I didn’t get the blog posting out yesterday, as I’d said I would. The heat we encountered on July 4^th at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds was basically a 100 + unbearable. Yikes! Yesterday I felt like I had a hangover.

     I must admit I am getting pretty soft. Gone are the days of training horses in the summer heat. When the shedrow would get so hot, I would wipe my streaming brow with a dripping wet towel, before draping it over a stall fan. This was a rather effective way of putting a bit of cool moisture into the stalls of my overheated horses. Unfortunately it required a constant reapplication of cold water to the towels. But the horses loved it, they would hang their heads as close to the covered fan as they could get.

   Then there were the winter months. I still recall those freezing fogs in January. I would be so cold; I would lose contact with the end of my nose. The horses would come back from the track with frost on their whiskers and eyelashes.  We won’t even talk about the rain and the mud. Ah those were the days. Now my temperature tolerance is so narrow, that the air conditioner comes on at 71◦ degrees and the heater at 69◦ degrees.

   Having said that, if I could drive up to a barn full of the kind of horses I saw on Thursday, I would soon acclimate myself to the changing seasons with alacrity.

   The Casual Lies Handicap was a thrill for me as you know. But my enthusiasm couldn’t hold a candle to the owners of Ourwestcoastghost, and in particular Ron Lang. Ron and Lillian Lang own Ourwestcoastghost in partnership with their trainer D. Wayne Baker.

   It would be hard to find two more delightful people than the Lang’s. For me it started as soon as I left the stage of the handicapping seminar, held daily by Dennis Miller and Frank Mirahmandi.

    Ron and Lillian approached me, smiling from ear to ear, and hands outstretched, anxious to introduce themselves and share their pride in having a horse in the Casual Lies Handicap. Ron was the first, that day, to secure a copy of “Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure.”

    While I inscribed his book with my best wishes for his horse to be successful in the Casual Lies, we handicapped the race. Our conclusion? They had a heck of chance of taking home the trophy in the first running of the Casual Lies Handicap.

    When the horses left the gate in the Casual Lies, I started for the winner’s circle, keeping a close eye on the big screen television. As the horses rounded the turn for home, it looked to me like the speed was fading and Ourwestcoastghost, despite a lackluster start, was reeling them in on the rail.

    Pleased, I dropped my gaze from the screen to see a tightly bunched group of spectators down by the outside rail, straining to see the horses as they pounded towards the finish line.

     It was the Lang’s. I stepped towards them just as their horse flashed into view, clearly in front, and clearly a winner.

     As one this small group of people exploded in celebration, they spotted me and I was wrapped up in their enthusiastic arms, jumping, kissing. I felt like I had won the race myself.

     After the presentation, Ron said the nicest thing he could have possibly said to me, when he commented; “this is our Casual Lies,” referring to his lovely horse Ourwestcoastghost.

 

     What a day at the races for me, another moment of joy that I can attribute, yet again, to that moment, so many years ago, when Stanley’s eyes first met mine.

Take care,

Shelley Riley

www.shelleyriley.com

PS  What a joy to see so many of the great people I have come to know over the years because of Casual Lies.