Even though this is the second book in the Hearts and Hoofbeats series, I didn’t need to read Thoroughbreds and Trailer Trash in order to thoroughly enjoy Studs and Stilettos. I never felt lost in the story and I appreciate that it was written in a way that didn't require a synopsis of book one at the beginning in order for me to get started reading. I’m not a romance junkie and I’m not a horse person, and you don’t have to be either to enjoy this well-written romance-mystery novel.

Emily is a lovable character who is stumbling along in life and just not getting it right. She feels she hasn’t lived up to her potential or her older sister’s expectations. While pursuing her acting career, she meets the dashing horse trainer/wrangler, Dan Barrett, whose history with performers has left a foul taste in his mouth.

The story is warm and quirky. It is eloquently peppered with humor and the seeds of a mystery. I loved that Dan and Emily didn’t immediately fall into bed or spend the entire story thinking about sex. This relatively chaste love story was just right—not too predictable and not too saccharine. The secondary characters are interesting and well developed; they all play a role in the reader really getting a sense of what it is like to be a part of a movie production. The plot was well paced. The characters were believable; no one was perfect, and no one was portrayed as a caricature of a hero or a villain. I was pleasantly surprised by the addition of a mystery element to the story. As the mystery reached its zenith, I was surprised by the outcome. No spoilers here—so I won’t say more!

All and all, a well-balanced, delicious escape that has left me wanting to read more books by Bev Pettersen.

Once again, Bev Pettersen does not disappoint! Her newest novel is from an unexpected perspective, that of an aspiring actress. Though she is struggling, Emily has more guts than most and is far from being the selfish and superficial pretty face that many associate with the business. You will definitely get attached to her as you discover how kind and caring she truly is. The plot is, as usual, riveting, and I would recommend this novel to fans of romance or mystery novels in a heartbeat! ( )