A New Beginning: A Short Story: Shade Break Farm Series Book 1 ~ Nicole Moore

A New Beginning: A Short Story: Shade Break Farm Series Book 1

By Nicole Moore

"Sarah has dreamed her whole life of owning her own horse. When her trainer rescues an off the track thoroughbred from slaughter and gives him to Sarah, it seems as if all her dreams have come true. But does the quirky bay have what it takes to be a champion? Or will his checkered past ruin their future forever?" ~Amazon Description

Brittney Joy's Review ~ What a fun start to a new equestrian series! Nicole Moore's novella, A New Beginning, is just eleven chapters and a quick read which introduces readers to the characters of Shade Break Farm. I immediately fell in love with Flynn, the off-the-track Thoroughbred rescued from the kill pen, and Sarah, the fourteen-year-old horse-crazy girl who comes to live on the farm, to learn and to work. Both Sarah and Flynn have baggage - issues that were forced upon them, but they both seem to want to overcome their hurdles together (pun intended!).

 I'm a huge fan of an underdog story and I was rooting for both Sarah and Flynn from the second I met them on the page! This series seems like it will be a fun, feel-good ride! And it's obvious that Moore is an equestrian herself as the horse-terminology, descriptions, and equine personalities are spot on. I'm looking forward to seeing what the rest of the series brings!

Headed for the Win ~ Rachael Eliker

"Nadia Wells has spent her life trying to convince her parents that horses are a necessity but despite her best efforts, they see them only as an extravagant luxury. After landing her dream job mucking stalls in exchange for riding lessons, a wealthy philanthropist recognizes Nadia’s talent and decides to invest in her. Purchasing a mare nicknamed Winny, Nadia is sure she’s bound for equestrian greatness but on the cusp of their most challenging three-day event yet, Winny bucks Nadia off in front of a crowd of her peers. Humiliated and fuming, Nadia makes a birthday wish that she could better understand her horse. The next morning, she wakes up to discover she has four hooves and a tail swishing between her legs: she and Winny have switched places! If life as a teenage-girl-turned-show-horse wasn’t hard enough, Nadia has to figure out a way to tell the dashing Mike how she feels or risk losing him and the competition to the talented, gorgeous and spoiled Gretchen. Will the pair concede defeat or work together to overcome the impossible and be headed for the win?"  ~GoodReads Description

Brittney Joy's Review ~ Nadia and her new horse, Winny, switch places - what a fun horse story with a fantastic plot twist! Right from the beginning I connected with the main character, Nadia. Nadia is so "head-over-heels" in love with horses that she literally faints when she finally gets one. She's a hard worker and a natural rider, but when she doesn't immediately understand her horse, an old "wives tale" forces her to switch places with Winny. I love this twist because the author really shows how a horse feels, what they see, and why they act the way they do. I would categorize this book as a tween-read, but a horse-lover of any age will enjoy! And, I'd especially recommend it to a new horse owner as the story will actually give the reader real insight into a horse's thought process! Fun read and I could completely see this story as a Disney movie! Tons of action and a great lesson!

The Secret of Blackwatch (Blackwatch Stables #1) ~ Amber Cavalier Spiler

"THE SECRET OF BLACKWATCH explores the magical relationship between owner and pony as they conquer phenomenal life-changing events. Following the death of her mother, eleven-year-old Maggie dreams of owning her own pony. Her dream comes true when her father surprises her with a trip into the mysterious world of Blackwatch Stables. Led by the intriguing Ms. Cavalieri, Maggie learns that owning a pony is a bit different than she imagined. Guided by other girls at the barn, she learns that caring for her pony, Bella, is hard but rewarding work. As her adventures at Blackwatch Stables begin, she and Bella develop a magical relationship based on love and trust that carries them through an extraordinary adventure." ~Amazon Description

Brittney Joy's Review ~ Perfect Middle-Grade Pony Novel! If I had a daughter, she'd be reading this book ... I would say "The Secret of Blackwatch (Blackwatch Stables, #1)" is perfect for middle-grade girls ranging from 8-12 years (but I also enjoyed it). :)

Very fun concept combining the love of horses with the mystery of magic! My favorite parts include the action scenes -- especially the battle scene at the end. And, of course, I love the horse-talk and the special bond shown between the girls and their ponies. Looking forward to seeing how this story evolves in future novels ... and don't you just love the cover??!

Pony Club Rivals ~ Stacy Gregg

THE AUDITIONS (PONY CLUB RIVALS, BOOK 1)

"Competition is fierce at the All-Stars Academy – can the new girl outshine her rivals? The Blainford ‘All-Stars’ Academy is the most elite horse riding school ever and it’s auditions time for next year’s new students! The hopefuls must battle for a place against the most talented riders from around the world. Friendships are quickly made, but with rivalries hotting up inside AND outside the arena, who will stay focused and outshine the competition?"  ~Amazon Description

Brittney Joy's Review ~ Seriously ... I'm obsessed with Pony Club Rivals! I stumbled across Stacy Gregg's Pony Club Rivals Series while searching for young adult horse books on Amazon and downloaded the first book in the series -- The Auditions. OMG...I couldn't stop reading! I devoured this book!

There is not one slow point in this story. The twists and turns and action kept me wanting more! Not to mention, the characters made me tear-up and crack-up. I was enamored by the horse world that Stacy created and sucked in by the high speed and action of the competitions. 

She also had me giggling at the horsie-stereotypes worked into this story. Spot on!

No matter what your age, if you love horses you need to put this book on your read-list! I have already downloaded the second book in Stacy Gregg's Series-- Showjumpers, Pony Club Rivals Book #2. And, I cannot wait to jump into Georgie's new adventure! 

SHOWJUMPERS (PONY CLUB RIVALS, BOOK 2)

"Georgie has secured her place at Blainford Academy for now, but knowing who to trust is tough when you’re all competing against each other. Some new-found friendships might already be close to breaking point as competition heats up in the showjumping arena. Is cute boy James about to become an ally or is his scheming sister Kennedy going to wreck Georgie’s dreams? And can she really trust her rivals? Find out in the exciting second term!" ~Amazon Description

Brittney Joy's Review ~ After finishing "The Auditions," I immediately downloaded the second book in the Pony Club Rivals Series ~ Showjumpers! Again, I loved it!! Stacy Gregg's characters have a witty sense of humor which keeps me reading and giggling. The second book is full of more adventure, twists, and general horse-wonderfulness! I'm looking forward to the third and fourth books ... this series would make a great gift-set for the horse-crazy tween!