Mini Review: On A Good Horse by Darby Karchut

Posted on March 26, 2021 by rolopolobookblog

Alex Nash dreams of being a soccer star. Or a graphic artist. Maybe both. But being a cowboy? Nope and no way. Not if it means being anything like his seldom seen father.

Then, out of nowhere, tragedy shatters Alex’s world, and when he thinks life couldn’t sucker-punch him again, it does. He’s forced to live with Roberto Nash, a man he barely knows. Or wants to know.

Until Alex finds out his dad has bought him a peace offering of a sort, one with a red coat, lightning speed, and a fighting spirit. A spitfire of a horse that just might heal Alex’s heart and reunite father and son.

Source: Author, NetGalley, Purchase, and Owl Hollow Press Rating: 5 stars

The Bottom Line: Y’all, I truly cannot get enough of these reads! Darby Karchut has a gift for writing characters who are full, beyond interesting, fully developed, and absolutely memorable. Once again, for me, those characters are the TALKING HORSES. In this read, I felt a real connection to the horses as each worked to not only find his place on the ranch but among their humans as well. In this instance, there is a horse for each human, but the smaller of the humans, Alex, has never been around horses and must learn to trust the mount his dad, Roberto has given him as a gift. The true heart of this story is the connection between Alex and his horse. Though they cannot talk to one another, the communicate in a myriad of other ways which is often so kind and so tender. This is the story of trust and friendship, both of which blossom as the connection between a boy and his horse grows.

Finally, I have said it before and I will continue to say it: if you aren’t reading Darby Karchut, get started. Her books are beautifully written, thoughtfully conceived, and full of endearing and wonderfully likeable characters. What’s more, Karchut’s books are appropriate for any age reader and I highly encourage you to encourage your kids to dive into her books. You won’t regret it!

Goodreads | Amazon | Paperback