Maggie Dana

I gotta hand it to the author, with each installment this series just keeps getting better and better. I’ve yet to be let down by any of the stories and for me to follow a series in ebook format no less, it’s gotta have something special. The “special” in this case is characters you actually care about and stories filled with heart. Kate has proven herself time and again and yet still meets opposition both from Angela as well as her own inner voice. Holly, Kate’s best friend, is show more going through her own tough times as she makes her way back from an accident that nearly claimed her life and for a time, her ability to walk and yet she’s there by her side whenever she needs her. Angela is the girl we love to…well, dislike STRONGLY and yet still hold out hope that one day she’ll see the light and end her wicked ways. Even the horses like Magician and Buccaneer share the spotlight with their riders and create a name (and personality) for themselves once again.

To all of you non-horse lovers out there, take note…this book has MORE to offer than just another horse story. It has high stakes, heady competition, mysterious disappearances and everything in between. It’s really a story about taking chances in life to achieve our dreams and seeing them through for better or worse. Hey, if we never try then how on earth can we possibly expect to succeed?


*review copy received in exchange for my honest review show less

I do like this book. And if I had read it, like, 7-8 years ago, I probably would have adored it. It's very much of "The Saddle Club" mode- best friends, great horses, catty mean girls, cute boys. I ate Keeping Secrets up, as in, I got it, I sat down, and about an hour later, I was done. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Kate and Holly, and they did actually seem their age, which I find is harder and harder to see in books these days. All of the minor issues I have with this book are just show more that: minor. Angela was mean to the point of ridiculousness; even in The Saddle Club, Veronica had some characterization outside of being the mean brat. In addition, I wish the horses had a bit more character, but that's totally just the horse geek in me.

All in all, this is a great book, and even as a 20 year old who read every single horse book imaginable when I was 12, I still enjoyed. Yeah, it's a little cliche, but it just slips you back into that mode of being 12 again, and dreaming of having these adventures alongside the characters. show less

Filled with quite a few devious acts on the part of SOMEONE or other that apparently can’t grasped right from wrong…certainly doesn’t help that their Mother doesn’t know this basic lesson either...whoever said the Middle Grade reads lack the energy and edge-of-your-seat pull you get from stories written for an older audience, should really think again.

Our main events center around Timber Ridge Stables, home of tranquil paths through beautiful woodlands and an award winning riding show more team currently lead by Ms. Chapman. She seeks to instill a love of horses and of riding in those she coaches but the powers that be are looking for a heavier hand. They aren’t satisfied with merely placing in the competitions, they want to be number one….regardless of the riders enjoyment, lessons they learn or whomever thinks they can be a shining star. It’s less about play and more about the prestige which as you can probably guess is a recipe for disaster. Ms. Chapman takes it in stride even when things begin to spiral out of control and I really admire the kind heart she shows even to those you’d really like to just go all out ninja on. Now, for the rest of our featured cast…


I found myself rooting for Kate time and again as she struggled to balance her outward persona with the guilt and blame she carried within. The cause of this heavy burden? A death at her previous riding school for which all blame fell to her. Was it her fault? Mums the word on that one but whether or not she was 100% guilty, the way the owners handled things? She’s only 14 for crying out loud, a mere child…accidents happen, people make mistakes. Yes, the consequences were dire, but my goodness…check things out fully before attacking people and take some blame yourself for not following up on your workers ESPECIALLY when they are children! Moving forward…


Holly is a spitfire whom I loved every bit as much as Kate. She’s stubborn, doesn’t let a thing stop her, and fights for what’s right even when others lack the needed backbone to do it themselves….in short, a great friend. Now for Angela Dean....she is a product of her upbringing, sad to be so cliché but it’s true. Her Mother is an upstanding citizen in the community and owns the resort/ranch featured here…read into that a snooty woman who thinks she’s above EVERYONE and deserves the best of EVERYTHING regardless of whom she steps on in the process. Guess what? She wants that for her daughter too. She's more than happy to take up the reins as she tries out for “Queen B of the Year” but underneath all the tennis sweaters, lack of cooperation, ugliness in words and actions ….yes, miles below the surface, I think she might have a glimmer of hope still. She prides herself on her image and the company she keeps but most of it stems from a craving for attention from the one that should be giving it unconditionally (aka Mom). She’ll do whatever she needs to remain in the spotlight, even if it means bending the rules or much worse. I think she had a little “ah-ha” moment at the end of this story with Kate at the competition….but we'll have to see what happens in the coming books.

A story full of heart for readers of all ages that explores the connections we have with animals as well as each other. Horse lovers will delight in the interactions with their equine counterparts as well as the “stable talk” while those with merely a passing fancy will find a home in the adventure of the story itself. The ups and downs, secrets kept and revealed, plotting and planning will keep you guessing just what will happen next while the final scenes will keep you coming back for more. We all want to be the best, but there can only be ONE “number one”. Perhaps instead of focusing on that lack of a blue ribbon, it is better still to strive for being the best version of ourselves we can be; it’s certainly a peaceful prospect and allows a lot more light and mirth to occupy our days than hard feelings and deceit. A lesson shared and something to think about…


*review copy received in exchange for my honest review show less

Filled with quite a few devious acts on the part of SOMEONE or other that apparently can’t grasped right from wrong…certainly doesn’t help that their Mother doesn’t know this basic lesson either...whoever said the Middle Grade reads lack the energy and edge-of-your-seat pull you get from stories written for an older audience, should really think again.

Our main events center around Timber Ridge Stables, home of tranquil paths through beautiful woodlands and an award winning riding show more team currently lead by Ms. Chapman. She seeks to instill a love of horses and of riding in those she coaches but the powers that be are looking for a heavier hand. They aren’t satisfied with merely placing in the competitions, they want to be number one….regardless of the riders enjoyment, lessons they learn or whomever thinks they can be a shining star. It’s less about play and more about the prestige which as you can probably guess is a recipe for disaster. Ms. Chapman takes it in stride even when things begin to spiral out of control and I really admire the kind heart she shows even to those you’d really like to just go all out ninja on. Now, for the rest of our featured cast…

I found myself rooting for Kate time and again as she struggled to balance her outward persona with the guilt and blame she carried within. The cause of this heavy burden? A death at her previous riding school for which all blame fell to her. Was it her fault? Mums the word on that one but whether or not she was 100% guilty, the way the owners handled things? She’s only 14 for crying out loud, a mere child…accidents happen, people make mistakes. Yes, the consequences were dire, but my goodness…check things out fully before attacking people and take some blame yourself for not following up on your workers ESPECIALLY when they are children! Moving forward…

Holly is a spitfire whom I loved every bit as much as Kate. She’s stubborn, doesn’t let a thing stop her, and fights for what’s right even when others lack the needed backbone to do it themselves….in short, a great friend. Now for Angela Dean....she is a product of her upbringing, sad to be so cliché but it’s true. Her Mother is an upstanding citizen in the community and owns the resort/ranch featured here…read into that a snooty woman who thinks she’s above EVERYONE and deserves the best of EVERYTHING regardless of whom she steps on in the process. Guess what? She wants that for her daughter too. She's more than happy to take up the reins as she tries out for “Queen B of the Year” but underneath all the tennis sweaters, lack of cooperation, ugliness in words and actions ….yes, miles below the surface, I think she might have a glimmer of hope still. She prides herself on her image and the company she keeps but most of it stems from a craving for attention from the one that should be giving it unconditionally (aka Mom). She’ll do whatever she needs to remain in the spotlight, even if it means bending the rules or much worse. I think she had a little “ah-ha” moment at the end of this story with Kate at the competition….but we'll have to see what happens in the coming books.

A story full of heart for readers of all ages that explores the connections we have with animals as well as each other. Horse lovers will delight in the interactions with their equine counterparts as well as the “stable talk” while those with merely a passing fancy will find a home in the adventure of the story itself. The ups and downs, secrets kept and revealed, plotting and planning will keep you guessing just what will happen next while the final scenes will keep you coming back for more. We all want to be the best, but there can only be ONE “number one”. Perhaps instead of focusing on that lack of a blue ribbon, it is better still to strive for being the best version of ourselves we can be; it’s certainly a peaceful prospect and allows a lot more light and mirth to occupy our days than hard feelings and deceit. A lesson shared and something to think about…

*review copy received in exchange for my honest review show less