Hearth Stone by Lois Greiman

Her father is demanding she marry the man he has chosen for her.  After all, it would be an attractive merger of assets.  He doesn't even care that the man has been untrue to her.  As a matter of fact, he knew it all the time.  He tells her to accept it.  She refuses to, saying no for the first time.  And she escapes the house and his influence by going to a guest ranch her cousin suggested.  Maybe time will convince him she's serious.

Kensington Books sent me an ARC of this book to read for review (thank you).  It's being published in March, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

Sydney enjoys her stay at the guest ranch so she decides to look for her own ranch.  The ranch is run down, the barn is almost falling down, but the setting is perfect and she feels at home there.  She decides to buy it and set it up to train Olympic hopefuls for equestrian competition.  Buying the ranch was no problem, but then her father cut off her money.  Now she has an old run down ranch and no money.  Her father would let her come home if she'd just get over her mad and marry David.  She's determined to stay there and do what she can to improve it and endure it.  She doesn't want any David in her life.  She's also got the problem of her injury from an angry horse ride to get over.  She's stubborn though and she's finally taking charge of her life instead of doing what her father tells her to do.  He's very upset about this but she doesn't care.

She has a whole host of friends that help her.  They are all eccentric characters in their own way and I enjoyed reading about them.  She finds a mustang tangled up in barbed wire and when they are ready to put her down because her back legs are torn to pieces, she refuses to let them.  I think she sees herself in that mustang.  Her legs didn't work after the accident and the mare has no one to support her.  She's going to save her.

I can understand and sympathize with Sydney.  She has to do some growing up and she needs to find her own path.  It's at the end that she suddenly realizes what would really make her happy.  And she can do it without her father.  She'll just work with her new friends and the man she's beginning to love.  How can it get any better that?