Review: Horses and Rugby - Children's authors Mica Ford and Rob Stevens

Angela - Beatons New Milton's Tearooms Owner - discovered two local authors over the launch of her tearooms in New Milton: Rob Stevens and Mica Ford. Putting on our younger selves, we've reviewed their books and recommend them!

Mica Ford is no doubt breeding future generations of horse and pony lovers.  She writes accessible, gentle adventures drawing on a wealth of expertise and familiarity with the noble 'four-leggeds' who grace the New Forest. I read 'Forest Summer', Mica's latest book. If you're looking for high tech, fast paced drama and scary villains, this isn't for you!  But it's perfect for girls or pony or nature-loving boys wanting to escape into the country and join sisters Niki, Beth and Lolly as they work towards the highlight of the holidays - competing in a gymkhana!


Rob Stevens - who happens to be a British Airways Captain  (how cool is that) writes in his spare time. He tackles a complex subject with aplomb in 'Lucky Break' (pub. May 2018 by Andersen Press): death of a twin brother, an estranged family and a boy called Arnold who doesn't communicate like his peers. In the way that true masters of their craft do with apparent effortlessness, I became Leon,  the teller of the tale and journeyed with him on the emotional roller-coaster of a weekend when Arnold comes to stay. Boys don't cry, but I did at the end.


'Lucky Break' is 'un-put-downable' and I'm not a pubescent boy with a love of rugby! Rob should anticipate the film rights to be snapped up - it's a cracker. We're even more delighted Rob is supporting Beatons New Milton's Charity Open House Event on May 7th, 2018  - full details here now we've read his book.

Liz Darcy Jones
House Poet