, Speak Its Name’s Best Book of 2011.
Jockey Gem Hardaway has a race strategy that will not only carry him and Pilate to victory, it will also show that he’s the best jockey at Templeton Yard. Lord Templeton, the Earl of Vickers, knows exactly what he wants to have happen at the racecourse. He demands Gem’s obedience.
When an unruly horse intervenes, the Earl insists on a meeting of the minds. Gem is shocked to learn exactly what that entails.
Review by Erastes
A very basic little short story about a jockey who likes men and the description of a race and the consequences of him not obeying the instructions of the horse’s owner regarding that race. Basically build-up, race, sex but it fills ten minutes of your time. I wouldn’t say it’s worth actually paying for,and I’d baulk at paying $2.29/£1.40 for it (even though I did!) 99c would be a much more reasonable price, and even so it’s not much for that price.
There’s no real grounding as to when and where the story takes place, just some generic racecourse during “the earlier days” of racing—I’m guessing early Victorian perhaps or Georgian. Nothing wrong with it but nothing to write home about either.
Filed under: 19th Century, 2½ stars, ebook, JM Cartwright, Regency, short stories, uncertain time, Victorian
Too bad. I grew up in the horse business and was hoping for a gay Dick Francis.
There needs to be a gay dick francis. I am not knowledable enough on the inside of racing to be able to do it convincingly. I could do 3 day events or jumping, but racing is very specialist!