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Book Club Kate McGregor takes a summer job where she may be forced to confront her guilt about a terrible secret she has been keeping. by Faye Hemze, Staff Writer
Title: Keeping Secrets (Timber Ridge Riders: Book One) Author: Maggie Dana Paperback: 178 pages Reading Level: 3rd-8th Grades
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ourteen-year-old Kate McGregor’s summer job is to be a live-in companion for disabled teenager Holly Chapman. Since Holly’s mother, Liz, works as a live-in manager and instructor at Timber Ridge Stables, Kate will be living with them there for the summer.
again one day. Holly’s determination to ride therapeutically leads Kate to the barn, which is the last place she wants to be. Kate just wants to keep her distance from the horses. This stems from a heartbreaking experience she had at Sandpiper Stables, the last barn
Kate to the attention of Holly’s mom, who is getting a Timber Ridge team ready for competition and needs Kate to take part. Angela Dean is the prima donna daughter of one of the Timber Ridge members. Angela’s mother is anxious to impress her affluent friends at
pictures with her words as Magician, Holly’s responsive and well-trained horse, performs dressage, cross country and jumps. You will be holding your breath to see what Angela is willing to do to make herself look good to her domineering Mother and her friends.
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A mistake she made while caring for the horses there led to the death of Black Magic, a brilliant show jumper.
Otherwise, Kate lives with her Dad and Aunt, who are preoccupied with their own lives, and just relieved that Kate has found something to occupy her time for a few months. Holly’s disability stems from a horrible accident that left her in a wheel chair. She hasn’t given up hope that she will be able to walk and ride a horse
where she took lessons. A mistake she made while caring for the horses there led to the death of Black Magic, a brilliant show jumper. Kate keeps this tragedy a secret, and her deception about her past leads to guilt-ridden feelings and more lies. Then an emergency forces Kate back in the saddle to save one of Timber Ridge’s best riders. This brings
any cost. Angela resents Kate’s abilities on horseback, and her jealousy leads her to blackmail Kate about her past to try and prevent her from riding at the Hampshire County Classic Show. The excitement of the preparation for the show will captivate readers as they imagine themselves as Kate at the competition. The author has painted
The Books of the Morgan Horse Series… Have You Read Them All? And Coming This Fall…
The Further Adventures of Blackjack: The Champion Morgan Horse!
Keeping Secrets will leave you waiting for the next episode of the Timber Ridge Series. Is it possible that Holly will be able to walk again? Can Kate’s reputation ever be cleared? Keeping Secrets will leave you hanging until the last page, and wanting more with the next episode of the Timber Ridge Series. n
Available at your favorite tack shop, Amazon.com and through the publisher, Willow Bend Publishing
www.willowbendpublishing.com
SEPTEMBER 2012
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