Ever since she can remember, Kimberly Beckett has loved horses. She wore out 4 rocking horses before she was 5 years old, and as she got older, she read every horse story in print, from Black Beauty to My Friend Flicka. It wasn’t until she got her first job as an attorney for the federal government, however, that could afford to buy her first horse, and she hasn’t been without at least one ever since. She has been riding dressage for several years and has earned her United States Dressage Federation Bronze Medal. When she wasn’t reading about horses, she was reading romance novels, and her favorites always involve an alpha male Hero riding a magnificent horse. Kimberly has now found a way to combine her love of horses with her love of romance by writing her own version of equine-facilitated happily ever afters. She truly believes that Horses Heal Hearts. She lives in southwest Ohio with her two adopted greyhounds, and two warmblood horses.
Beverley: Which genre or genres do you write or prefer to write? And why?
Kimberly: I write contemporary romance with some suspense elements. I like contemporary because I like telling stories that women of today can relate to.
Beverley: Who influenced you the most in deciding to become a writer?
Kimberly: I was influenced primarily by New York Times bestselling author Grace Burrowes, whom I met when she sponsored a writer’s retreat to Scotland back int 2016. She made me feel like my dream to become an author could be achieved with a lot of hard work, and a little luck.
Beverley: What gets your creative juices flowing?
Kimberly: I get my inspiration from a lot of different sources. Many times a story line or scene will come to me while I’m driving my car to or from work. Sometimes, I’ll wake up with a plot idea or a block of dialogue. You never know.
Beverley: Do you have a favorite cartoon character? Why?
Kimberly: I have always loved Bullwinkle and Rocky. They were my favorite cartoon characters growing up because I many times, even as a child, got some of the double meanings in the dialogue. It was fun to watch.
Beverley: Who would you love most to meet ‘in person’ and why?
Kimberly: I would love to meet Sam Heughan from Outland. I think he’s a great guy, on top of being drop dead gorgeous. My only problem would be that I would probably be tongue tied and not be able to say anything.
Beverley: If you had an unexpected free day what would you do with it?
Kimberly: I would spend it riding my horse.
Beverley: What are you working on now?
Kimberly: I’m currently working on the third book in my Horses Heal Hearts series, which will tell the story of Lionel Hayes, whom my readers met first in Dressage Dreaming. The book will be set in the world of competitive show jumping.
Blurb for Dressage Dreaming (Horses Heal Hearts Book One)
Michael Stafford was on top of the world. A proud member of the British Olympic Dressage Team and Olympic gold medalist, his life was perfect. Then, he lost his mount, his fiancée left him for another man, and now his brother has been arrested for manslaughter. He believes his luck has turned when he learns that a beautiful and talented stallion is available in Germany, just in time to compete in the next World Cup competition. The horse’s name is Tempest.
Jessica Warren is an up and coming American dressage prodigy with a brilliant future. Orphaned at the age of 21 when her parents were tragically killed in a car accident and the legal guardian of her younger sister, Jessica has lost her competition mount to injury and needs a new horse if she wants to compete in next year’s World Cup. She learns of a spectacular horse available in Germany named Tempest, but when Jessica arrives in Germany with her trainer, she discovers she will have to compete with the extremely handsome and talented Michael Stafford for the right to ride Tempest. Jessica has nothing but respect for Michael, but sparks fly when they’re thrown together in a competition that both must win. Who will win Tempest? Will Michael and Jessica follow their hearts or will their personal demons keep them apart?
Buy Link for Dressage Dreaming (Horses Heal Hearts Book One)
Dressage Dreaming (Horses Heal Hearts Book 1)
Blurb for Racing Toward Love (Horses Heal Hearts Book Two)
Ian Stafford is a former British Special Forces soldier and Afghanistan war veteran who still has nightmares after watching his best friend cut down by a sniper in a remote village in Afghanistan. When he sees a woman in a local pub begin harassed and threatened, he intervenes. During the ensuing brawl, the woman escapes, but Ian accidentally stabs one of his attackers who later dies. Ian is charged with manslaughter, and the woman who can exonerate him has disappeared.
Megan Brady and her father Daniel never imagined that the thoroughbred colt they raised from birth would grow up to be a contender for the British Triple Crown. Seabiscuit II is the last horse you might imagine as a champion if judged by looks alone. Like his namesake, Seabiscuit II is not much to look at, but has a heart as big as all outdoors, and refuses to be beaten. Unfortunately, the Irish mob has also taken notice, and has approached Megan’s brother Stephen with an offer of a bribe to purposely lose the most important race of his career. Stephen refused, and Megan has taken it upon herself to thwart the mob, but their brutal tactics nearly see her raped until Ian steps in to save her. Megan knows she must come out of hiding to exonerate Ian, but knows if she does, the mob will be there too. Meanwhile the date of the big race approaches.
Can Megan’s example of courage in the face of overwhelming odds, and the will to prevail even when the going looks tough, help Ian come to grips with his grief, and give him the courage to forgive himself and allow himself to live and love again? Will Ian be able to trust Megan with his heart?
Buy Links for Racing Toward Love (Horses Heal Hearts Book Two)
Racing Toward Love (Horses Heal Hearts Book 2)
You can find Kim on her website at
http://www.kimberlybeckett.com