I really enjoyed The Grump Whisperer. Katy James has written a grown up romance for horse kids. Bronwen is the grump whisperer, with two grumps who need her help. One is Ian, a show jumper who has suffered a career ending injury. The other is Hades, a horse who has been badly treated in the past.
Listen, I love hurt people finding each other and healing. Bronwen was also a show rider, but a bad fall has made her afraid to get back on a horse. She’s made a safe life for herself as the barn manager at Morning Song Farm. The problem is (and we always start with a problem), that the farm has been sold and the new owner hasn’t shown up. The manure is piling up, the feed is getting low, and other maintenance important to the health and safety of the horses isn’t getting done. Ian Kingston thinks that he has retreated to his sister’s new house where he can wallow in privacy while she’s on a multi week retreat. Too bad for him that the house includes a working horse farm and a barn manager who wants the bills taken care of. Further proof that his sister is manipulating him, she buys a cantankerous horse and has him delivered without notice.
While there is conflict, The Grump Whisperer is in the mostly vibes camp of romance. I like an angsty romance with a third act breakup , but I also like a soft vibes romance where the third act conflict is worked out with communication and mutual understanding. I see myself wanting more soft vibes romances in the coming years. I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series.
I received this as an advance reader copy from Harlequin Books and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.