Hi guys!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Today, we're welcoming back into the spotlight an author I grew to know and love through her fabulous Kid's Fiction series,The Timber Ridge Riders. They star horses and best friends, competitions and jealousy, reaching for the stars and the unavoidable fall on our faces....but in a fun literary adventure. ^_^ This time around, we're not sampling from this particular series (though I really need to get back in the saddle and read the ones I haven't yet) but rather a stand alone book she released just last year. It still stars a few of her favorites (horses, friends, etc) but with a time travel twist. Now before you go raising any eyebrows, I beg you to step between the pages with me because though the concept may sound sketchy, the results are blue ribbon worthy. Ladies and gents, today's book of choice is....
by
Maggie Dana
9780985150495
Pageworks Press
About the book...
Two girls from two different centuries and the horse that brings them together.
Teenage equestrian Samantha DeVries wants to be the first African American to ride in the Olympics. Her father, a successful trainer, pushes Sam to excel, while Sam’s academic mother tries to instill a sense of heritage in her headstrong daughter who’d rather be riding horses than studying history. But Sam’s beliefs and her carefully constructed world shatter like a jelly jar when she travels through a time portal and lands in the canopy bed of an 1860s Southern belle.
Even more surprised by Sam’s unexpected arrival is Caroline Chandler. She’s a tomboy who wears breeches beneath her crinoline and rides horses bareback, much to the dismay of her critical mother.
But neither girl has time to fret over petticoats and prejudice. The Civil War is raging, and soldiers from both sides are stealing horses. At risk is Pandora, Caroline’s beloved mare. Without her, Sam’s future Olympic horse, Nugget, might not exist in the present.
Neither will Sam if the slave catchers grab her.
Teenage equestrian Samantha DeVries wants to be the first African American to ride in the Olympics. Her father, a successful trainer, pushes Sam to excel, while Sam’s academic mother tries to instill a sense of heritage in her headstrong daughter who’d rather be riding horses than studying history. But Sam’s beliefs and her carefully constructed world shatter like a jelly jar when she travels through a time portal and lands in the canopy bed of an 1860s Southern belle.
Even more surprised by Sam’s unexpected arrival is Caroline Chandler. She’s a tomboy who wears breeches beneath her crinoline and rides horses bareback, much to the dismay of her critical mother.
But neither girl has time to fret over petticoats and prejudice. The Civil War is raging, and soldiers from both sides are stealing horses. At risk is Pandora, Caroline’s beloved mare. Without her, Sam’s future Olympic horse, Nugget, might not exist in the present.
Neither will Sam if the slave catchers grab her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let me start out by saying that when I picked up this book for a read through, I had almost forgotten how GOOD this author really is...almost. It didn't take but a few pages to set me straight and shake free the fond memories I have of reading several of her other works.
This time around, we have two young ladies whose lives couldn't be any more different and yet their life paths are about to cross in several most unexpected ways. Sam lives in the here and now and with any luck, she's on her way to potential Olympic glory with her horse, Nugget. While training for the gold (or at least the chance at it), she is also trying to discover all the lines in Nugget's pedigree. She and her Dad travel deep into the heart of Dixie on the trail when things get a bit more than interesting. A quick nap and the turn of a mysterious old dime later and BAM! Hello, 1800s! It is at this junction that we meet Caroline...
Caroline is a proper Southern girl, or at least she would be if she'd stop sneaking away to the barn to ride her beloved horse, Pandora. She has spunk and spirit but times are different than now. Her world is in the middle of the Civil War and when Sam turns up in her room unexpectedly with no idea of her "place", things quickly turn from questionable to dangerous. More than Caroline's beliefs are about to be challenged though as the war lands on her doorstep placing her family in harms way and her new found friend in eminent danger. Will Sam survive this adventure to take with her not only her horse's history but the truth in her own? Will Caroline step out of line one too many times and learn the harsh truth of the world she held dear? Only time will tell and frankly, neither one has much of it left....
I gotta say, I REALLY enjoyed the girl's stories. Sam uncovers not just her best friend's bloodline but the truth in her own and ends up with a deep appreciation of all that her mom tried to instill in her. Caroline learns to challenge ideas that others set before her instead of just accepting them as gospel truth and finds her voice among the masses. To see how these girls got along warmed my heart and despite it perhaps not being easy to imagine in the time period set, I do believe it to hold some grains of truth; after all, there was the Underground Railroad and such so kind hearts DID exist even in the darkest times.
In conclusion, author Maggie Dana has once again proven she has chosen the proper genre for her writing talents. Her work never fails to be memorable, creating friendships and connections that follow you off the written page. This book is no exception and a wonderful addition to anyone's library. Recommended read for horse lovers, Kids Fiction fans, and all those that simply love a good adventure.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About the author...
MAGGIE DANA’s first riding lesson, at the age of five, was less than wonderful. In fact, she hated it so much, she didn’t try again for another three years. But all it took was the right instructor and the right horse and she was hooked for life.
Her new riding stable was slap bang in the middle of Pinewood Studios, home of England’s movie industry. So while learning to groom horses, clean tack, and muck stalls, Maggie also got to see the stars in action. Some even spoke to her.
Born and raised near London, Maggie now makes her home on the Connecticut shoreline where she divides her time between hanging out with the family's horses and writing her next book in the Timber Ridge Riders series.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Special thanks to author Maggie Dana for the review copy as well as the chance to share her latest work. (THANKS!) For more information on this title as well as the Timber Ridge Riders series, be sure to click through the links provided above. This title is available now so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.
Until next time...happy reading!
This is the kind of review that makes an author's day. Gina, thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure Maggie! Thank YOU for the grand adventure. ^_^
ReplyDelete