I love it when I find a good romance in a beautiful setting with an original premise. ' The Whisperer'meets all the above criteria, and I enjoyed it. I've read stories by this author previously, and I enjoy her writing style, again it is less commercial than some, but that's a plus for me.

Set in South Africa, this contemporary romance features Cilla, the horse whisperer and Cameron, the horse farmer who deals in figures and doesn't give credence to unique gifts. The romance is sensual and full of conflict, and the horses are characters in their own right. I love the whisperer element of the story; it makes it unique.
I received a copy of this book from Harper Impulse via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

enjoyable read. was great to find some strong characters

This isn't the normal type of book I'd read, although I am a horse lover, but I wanted to give it a go, as it looked a light hearted read, and I wanted a break from my usual crime novels.

I was enchanted by this book, set in South Africa, and got so I couldn't put it down. It led you on a series of emotions including "Wonderment", in the way Cilla could speak to horses and how she connected with them, and they with her and "Frustration" with Cilla and Cameron as they appeared to have a real dislike to each other but something was smoldering underneath. I got frustrated at times with Cameron but that just added to the story itself, and I think the author meant you to feel that way.

I loved the way that the author managed to merge the story of the connection with horses, and the relationships between all the characters. The story flowed well and I felt a real connection with the characters themselves. This is a quick and cosy read and one that is perfect to curl up with.

The Whisperer is a Harper Impulse romance set is South Africa. Cilla Stevens is a school teacher who has the ability to communicate with animals. Cilla has been asked to assess a difficult stallion; however, when she arrives she overhears a heated argument between the owner and his stable hand, primarily about her methods.

Cameron Rahl is a tough scientific based farmer, and horse whispering goes against all his beliefs. He’s hostile to both Cilla and her methods; however, when he finally meets her, he is floored by her beauty and his body’s reaction to her touch.

Cilla approaches Bravo, the difficult stallion, talks soothingly to him, calms him down and gains his confidence. She opens a connection to him and sees images which tell of his plight: he’s frightened, wants the freedom to run and has a yearning for a mare he’s scented, yet cannot find.

All this is re-told to Cameron and Ken, as well as the need to get Bravo checked over by the vet for anaemia. Cameron refuses to listen, he’s bad tempered, confused and grumpy about it all. Cilla has turned his world upside down, with her ideas, beauty and constant presence in his thoughts.

Cameron isn’t the only one feeling confused. Cilla too feels how her body reacts when she sees Cameron, but she can’t help Bravo if he won’t accept what she does. Can the desire to help the troubled horse make them put aside their own relationship issues, or will Cameron’s self-coping brick walls around his heart stay bound forever?

This was a sweet romance and the South African setting a lovely touch. For me there was one too many “will they, won’t they” situations for the couple to get through. Just occasionally the dialogue was also a little stilted, but I’m well aware this might be my British reading of a book from a South African author and we will have different speech expectations.

I'm really not sure what to make of this. I requested it because firstly I love cowboy/horse romances. Second, it was sold to me as like a Nicholas Sparks book so I assumed it would be filled with plenty of emotion.

However, while the horse element was there, something about this book didn't work for me. I didn't buy into it and the more it developed the more distant I started to feel.

To start with I was intrigued. However, Cilla's ability soon began to keep me at a distance. Sure, I believe humans can communicate with animals to a certain extent, but for me the author pushed the boundaries a little too far in this book so that it bordered on telepathy, which then crossed over to other humans like this. It was too much for me to buy into.

As for the romance, I wanted to like it, yet it was just so annoying. The characters go back and forth to the point they felt like high-schoolers rather than adults. There were a lot of stereotypical threads from the romance in this short read and it all became too much. I wanted a spark and a slow build, but the drama got into the way and Cilla was too forgiving.

Overall, it wasn't what I was expecting. It wasn't a bad read, I just struggled to buy into the story and therefore it didn't engage me. I wouldn't not recommend it, but I have read plenty of other romances in this genre I'd read first.

Average reading but the main characters were wearing to read at times throughout the book.

eARC reviewed from HarperImpulse via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

When I read the blurb for this book, i was really looking forward to reading it, but i just couldn't get into it. I found it tough to connect to the characters as you never got more than a page from there POV, then it switched to the other main character. I found it hard to warm to Cameron, and the whole premise of the story was a bit far-fetched for me. Gutted as I really wanted to enjoy this book.

This is a sassy feel good story set in South Africa, and focusses on the connection that humans and animals share that some are able to interpret. But sometimes they are unable to interpret human connections as clearly!

Cilla is the horse whisperer at the centre of the storyline and I loved the bond that she has with any animal that she meets and she isn't afraid to be seen as different when she shares her 'gift' with others. Even those who work around animals all the time seem to be sceptical, and when she is asked to help get under the skin of Bravo on a nearby farm she faces obstacles - mainly from the farm owner Cameron.

When they first meet the sparks immediately fly between them but both seem very reluctant to open up to each other, and even have the intense feeling that they've met before. Cameron is very old fashioned in his approach to animals, and life, but while watching Cilla gain the trust of Bravo he begins to see the benefits.

I loved the will they, won't they approach throughout the story. They both seemed perfect for each other but there was always a reluctance to take things further nd push each other away. The setting is also perfectly described that really gives you a sense of watching the drama unfold at close hand.

The connection Cilla has with the animals is beautifully captured in this story and the horses just become extra characters as you get to understand things from their point of view too. Loved the pace of the storyline as the plot never got ahead of itself but took its' time for the characters and their pasts to be developed and understood by the reader before passions became overwhelming!

I found this to be a fun, easy to read story that was full of soul as well as being sexy!!

Cilla is asked to 'whisper' to one of Cameron Rahl's horses, a fierce stallion out of control. Cameron however does not believe in Cilla's abilities, even when he keeps getting confronted with evidence. Because of his childhood he is very guarded of his heart. There is immense attraction between Cilla and Cameron, as they are drawn to each other but Cameron is reluctant to admit it and commit.

Written beautifully and with heart, I enjoyed this book very much. There is more between heaven and earth and I believe in intuitive people and that you can discover more when you are open to it. I could have done with the extra drama near the end and clobbered Cameron, but the ending was very satisfying.

Great book! I am happy I requested this as an ARC and this is my honest review.

eARC reviewed from HarperImpulse via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was exactly what I needed without me even realising I was looking for it. I just love feisty heroines and heroes who can't accept love easily because it is so wonderful when they finally do!

The third person perspective really helped me to get inside both Cilla and Cameron's head. I absolutely loved the parallels between their thoughts. I liked all the side characters especially Cilla's best friend and Cameron's brother. Even the horses came to become characters I cared about in their own right.

Cameron is a facts and figures guy and Cilla draws strength from her gut instinct. On paper they couldn't be more different but from the moment they meet it's instantly clear there's an attraction. This book opens right onto the story. We meet both Cilla and Cameron on the first page. I found myself immediately invested in their lives both as individuals and as a would be couple.

Contemporary romance is one of my favourite genres throw in a farm or ranch and a farmer and you are ticking a lot of boxes. The Whisperer is a wonderful example of contemporary romance that offers something a little extra and unique. This book is sexy, angsty and even pulled the happy tears out of me at one point. There was a was delicious element of "will they won't, won't they" throughout the book which I loved.

I am looking forward to reading more of Elsa's books in the future.

I read this book very quickly. As a horse lover who believes in the ability to communicate with animals and enjoys a bit of romance mixed in, this book was a great read. It is well written, so that the reader is grabbed by and feels they know the characters and understand the story line from the start. Lucky that it is a fairly short book as it was impossible to put down.