This is what happens after happily ever after. Kentucky Roses picks up where Dekker Malone’s first book, Nashville Gold, ended. Happily ever after isn’t quite the case when we re-enter the world of cowboys, jockeys, Payne, Skeeter, and Co. In the book, you meet the country music star, an achin’ jockey, a tired cowboy, and a nasty desperado who badly wants revenge.
Take a ride back into the beautiful Texas Hill country, experience the excitement of the Churchill Downs, and take quick stopovers in other cities. Malone, through his characters’ eyes, shows the reader why each one loves what they love and how they’re motivated by that love.
Sequels have the habit of starting a book by repeating details from the original to get people up to speed. Yes, the book helps jog the memory if you haven’t read the first in a long time, but Malone does it subtly throughout the book instead of wasting the first couple of chapters recapping past adventures.
Payne and his buddy, Skeeter, have gone home to Texas to start their own stable for breeding and racing thoroughbreds. Despite a few troubles, the hard work pays off in the form of two contenders for the Kentucky Derby. What’s a cowboy book without the baddie? Red Phillips won’t let anything get in the way of his tracking down those who put him in jail. If you think Red is bad, wait until he encounters a P.I. who turns Red’s hatred into absolute vehemence. Hell hath no fury like a Red scorned.
Readers who can’t help but predict what will happen will be knocked for a mini-loop. Those predictions are prone to be off the mark. It was gratifying to see the story progress with unexpected curves. Just when you think it’s safe or to relax, a twist comes along to throw you off the racetrack.
Readers who encounter Kentucky Roses first can follow the story as if there were no other book. Those who enjoyed Nashville Gold are guaranteed to ride off into the pretty sunset again with the likable and not-so likeable characters. Once more, Malone has written an enjoyable and engrossing story that moves smoothly as silk.
Title: Kentucky Roses
Author: Dekker Malone
Publisher: Booklocker.com
ISBN: 159113160X
Date: June 2002
Format: Paperback
Pages: 312
Cover Price: USD: $17.95 Amazon: $17.95
