Timber Ridge Riders #1 Keeping Secrets by Maggie Dana (Children's, 9 years +, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

  November 2011, Pageworks Press, 178 pages, Ebook, Review copy from NetGalley

Summary from Maggie's website

A valuable show jumper is dead, and it’s all her fault . . . which is why 14-year-old Kate McGregor has put horses and riding out of her life.

Forever!

But her new job as a companion to Holly Chapman, a former riding star who’s now confined to a wheelchair, takes Kate back to the barn—the last place she wants to be.

Can Kate keep her terrible secret from Holly, who is fast becoming her best friend? More important, can she keep her secret from Angela Dean who lives for only two things—winning ribbons and causing trouble?

Kate manages to hide her secret until a riding accident forces it into the open ... and it's just the moment Angela has been waiting for.

Nayu's thoughts

Give me a horse book and I'm there. More so if the main character vows to stay clear of horses due to some tragedy in their past. Kate's tragedy was a tragedy, but by the end of the book you'll learn all is not as it seems. I liked how she gained confidence from Holly, who is extremely gung-ho despite the obvious physical limitations she has. Kate needs Holly more than she realises. She tries to hate being around horses but she isn't able to hide her squashed passion for them forever.

There is the inevitable mean girl who has a mean mother, causing chaos for Kate and Holly. Grrr! Angela is really spiteful, and nearly kills Kate. I whooped loudly in my head at the end when Kate pulls through with her own riding skills despite Angela's interference. I loved getting to know the horses who can tell when someone good is riding them. I'm excited about reading more books in the series, and to hopefully seeing Holly make some progress with her health issues.