Remember Me
Grade : B

In Remember Me a supermodel returns home to save the family horse farm and take over the care of her sullen, sulky half-sister. It's an enjoyable, angsty read that begins The Rosewood Trilogy.

In the world of horses, RJ Radcliffe is royalty. His farm, Rosewood, is known for its history, its elegance, and the superb horses it produces. RJ married twice - his first wife died of cancer and they had two daughters; Jordan is married to a lawyer, and Margot is the heroine of this book. By his current wife Nicole, he has a daughter named Jade. Nicole is very much aware of her status as the mistress of Rosewood and she has treated Jordan and Margot very shabbily.

As the book begins, Margot is 18 and bemoaning her looks. She is tall, skinny, flat chested and she fears she's not the type to attract the man she loves, Travis Maher, her father's best horse trainer. It's the night of the Rosewood Roast, a party RJ gives every year. All the rich and powerful in the horsey set are there and a photographer from Vanity Fair is in attendance. Not Travis though - Nicole wouldn't dream of inviting the help. Margot, all dressed up in a scrap of couture, takes herself to the stables where she meets Travis and throws herself at him. He rebuffs her (although it takes every scrap of willpower he possesses), and his rejection is the last straw. Margot, tired of her stepmother's cruelty and her father's indifference, leaves with Charlie, the photographer who has promised to introduce her to a modeling agent.

Eight years later, Margot is one of the top models in the world. Charlie was as good as his word and the agent, Damien, turned out to be a wonderful man. He's become a father figure to Margot and she's needed one since all her letters to RJ have been unanswered. Just as Margot is basking in her latest triumph on the catwalk at the Milan fashion show, she gets a call. Her father and Nicole have been in a plane crash, Nicole is dead and RJ is clinging to life. He dies, just after Margot reaches his bedside and when the will is read, the sisters discover that RJ has spent a lot of money, lost a lot of investments, and the woman who was supposed to be Jade's guardian is dead.

None of the sisters want to sell Rosewood, but they need a good manager. Before he died, RJ had fired Travis thinking he had had an affair with Nicole. When Margot tracks him down, he agrees to come back to Rosewood, and Margot volunteers to be Jade's guardian.

Margot is a practically perfect heroine. As a model, she is hard working, professional and never acts like a diva - she even eats! She puts up with sixteen year old Jade's bad attitude, and even forgives Nicole for her behavior. The only truly foolish thing she does is keep the true state of Rosewood's finances from Travis. Yes, she's a paragon, but she has a kind heart and I liked her very much.

Travis is a bad boy made good. His father was the no-good town drunk. Travis had a gift for working with horses and has become respected (if not quite socially acceptable) among the elite horsey set. He is prone to lots of mental lusting (which I found tiresome), and his initial reaction to Margot can be summed up as : "I'm not worthy - but I want her".

Travis and Margot have a complicated relationship. They both have had hard childhoods, and they are both self-made adults, but the difference in their social class hampers Travis from declaring his feelings. I wish the author had made more of that aspect, but it's a minor quibble. Travis may not be a gentleman born, but he is one by dint of his own hard work. As for Margot, she was shunted aside by her stepmother, ignored by her father, and has kept her heart sealed away. She isn't a communicator, but her reasons are very realistic.

There are lots of dangling plot ends in Remember Me, but since this is the first book in a trilogy, I know we will get closure in the later books. I had a lot of fun reading this one, and even the technical horsey talk didn't faze me (even though I am a Kentuckian, I'm not a horse person). Fans of a good family saga - pick this one up as soon as you can. You will love it.

Reviewed by Ellen Micheletti
Grade : B

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date : January 27, 2010

Publication Date: 2010/02

Review Tags: horses model

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Ellen Micheletti

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