Christine Martin – The official website of Christine Martin, author

Welcome to author Christine Martin’s official site

Bienvenue sur le site officiel de l’auteure Christine Martin

About the author

Between 1997 and 2000, Montréal-born Christine Martin published three French-language novels. In 2016, she decided to re-visit her earlier works, and started writing Rising Hope, an updated, English version of one of her French novels. She is planning to publish Rising Hope in 2021, and is working on an English-language version of its sequel, Bonaventure.

Christine has always been an animal lover. At age nine, she started taking riding lessons. Christine rode regularly until she entered law school in Montréal in her late teens. She married in 1990 and practiced law in her hometown until 1999, when she moved to Ontario. She then became a legal translator to and from English and French. In 2005, she reconnected with her lifelong passion for horses, and in 2008, fulfilled her dream to own a hobby farm. She currently lives in Brantford, Ontario with her family and two dogs, four cats, six horses and two miniature goats.

Rising Hope her latest novel

Fleeing a troubled past, horse-enthusiast Pascale Vladek leaves her native Québec for the United States, where she hopes to start a new life working at a racing barn in the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky. Though she is distant, and socially awkward, her intense nature attracts unsolicited attention from the members of the Lavergne family, her new employers. However, seventeen-year-old Pascale has reason to hope that her luck has turned, and that she can now chase her dream of becoming a jockey.

But that ambition is a long way from being fulfilled. While connecting with equines comes naturally to her, Pascale has a harder time relating to people. Those around her are quick to wonder why she fled her home. Their interest in her and her past threatens to shatter the walls she has erected to protect herself from further, emotional harm. Will she ever reveal the secrets of her traumatic past? Will she be able to overcome the dramatic events facing her at Lavergne Farm? Will she open up to friendship, family, and romance?

Rising Hope is the coming-of-age story of a courageous young adult who struggles to recover from trauma. Readers of all ages and backgrounds will enjoy this fast-paced, passionate novel, and will relate to Pascale’s quest for safety, respect, love, and acceptance.

Buy this novel on Amazon and Kindle

Previous novels

Rising Hope

This novel tells the coming-of-age story of horse-enthusiast Pascale Vladek who, at 17, tries to recover from childhood trauma and to achieve success in the world of Thoroughbred racing.

Available on Amazon and Kindle

Testimonials of appreciation

I never wanted for this book to end because it was so good.

There’s nothing I love more than a well written novel, especially one that has equestrian elements woven into a tale that attests to the strength and power of the human heart while overcoming the adversities of life.

What in incredible story of balancing life’s difficulties, following one’s passion, and overcoming a dark past to create a brighter future. Pascale Vladek flees Quebec for the United States, working towards her dream of moving to Kentucky horse country. Her wants and desires are very simple, but life has a way of inserting itself, disrupting her path and forcing her to deal with unexpected experiences.

Christine Martin is the talented author who brings this story to life. She introduces characters gradually, taking the reader on a journey that is structurally solid and well crafted. This book will draw you in to the world of her characters and weaves an in-depth story around them. There were several instances throughout the book in which she could have taken the cliché’ path in writing this novel – but she didn’t – and this kept me intrigued and loving that it was not a predictable story.

As someone who has an equestrian business degree and experience working with horses and people in the racing and Hunter Jumper industry, it is truly refreshing to read a book that gets the terms right, understands the industry, can explain it well, and weaves the equestrian elements seamlessly into the story for anyone to read and enjoy. I also have a great love of visiting Kentucky horse country, especially the Louisville / Lexington region and the descriptions in the book are perfect.

I never wanted for this book to end because it was so good. I was often torn between reading yet another chapter or putting it away to savor at a later time. I am excited for the publication of the sequel.

Highly recommended!

Sonya Julie

Great novel. Horse lovers will love it!

Great novel! Did not want to put it down. I just know a little bit about horses as my daughter is new into horse back riding. I enjoyed the story and learned a lot about horses.

Catherine Morel

Great read! Well done!

This is a fabulous read! Keeps you in suspense as the characters twist and turn and their environment keeps changing pace. The main character is a strong young woman facing her past and looking for a future. Great read! Well done!

Pam Hubick

Can't wait for the sequel!

What a great read! You don’t have to be a horse enthusiast to enjoy this book. Can’t wait for the sequel!

Sally Davis

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