Close Call

Golden Filly #9

by Lauraine Snelling

Accepting an offer to be the television spokesperson for the Chrysler Corporation, horse-racer Trish Evanston finds her dreams shattered by an accident that sends her into surgery, until an out-of-body experience makes her realize a higher purpose. Original. IP.

Genres: Young Adult, Horses, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Childrens, Christian, Animals

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1994

About the author

Award-winning and bestselling author Lauraine Snelling has over 80 books published with sales of over 4.5 million. Her original dream was to write horse books for children. Today, she writes adult novels about real issues centered on forgiveness, loss, domestic violence and cancer in her inspirational contemporary women’s fiction titles and historical series, including the favorite, Blessing books about Ingeborg Bjorklund and family.

Lauraine enjoys helping others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the county. She and her husband Wayne have two grown sons, and a daughter in Heaven. They live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a Basset named Sir Winston ob de Mountains, Lapcat, and “The Girls” (three golden hens).

Reviews

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Besides all the great horse stuff, what I love about this series is watching Trisha grow from victim to survivor. Love the Christian weave in the stories.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trisha Evanston thinks that winning is better than anything, and winning the Triple Crown was best of all! She was signing programs after the Hal Evanston Memorial Cup, one for someone's daughter who she sent greetings to. Trish always wanted to follow her father, Hal Evanston's, example. She told the reporters that, God willing, she'd be riding in the Breeders Cup, and was fine after the mess at the Meadows. Her brother, David, was still concerned for her safety. She felt it was all over except for court. She talked with Genie Stokes, another jockey, about the exercise riding took. Trish's ride for the next race was Gatesby, & David gave her a let up. Gatesby snorted into David's face! Gatesby gave the handlers a hard time going into the #1 spot, biting one of the assistants. During the race Gatesby was slammed against the rail and Trish fought to stay in the saddle, but Gatesby was uninjured. After falling back Gatesby won! He bit his owner, John Anderson, & Trish hid her grin. Anderson asked Patrick, the trainer, if there was any way to break him of biting. Marge, Trish's mom, told her to hurry, they were invited out to dinner.

After she had dressed almost everyone had gone, but she remembered hearing gun shots in the hall. Sounds echoed as the day ended. Doug Ramstead, one of group of Prairie High students that waited for her, kissed her cheek & said he'd see her Monday. Rhonda Seaboldt, Trish's best friend, had told her that he liked her. Her mom, Patrick, & the four Muskateers (Trish, David, Rhonda, & Brad Williams) left together.

The Thoroughbred Association and other could be heard before they went into the ballroom. Bob Diego introduced Trish as guest of honor because she & her friends had helped get racing at the Meadows. A waiter gave her an envelope, when she opened it the message said, "I'LL GET YOU."

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this series very much. A girl who lives on a horse farm in Oregon wants to be a jockey. Finally, her dream is coming true. Just as it has come true, her father dies of cancer. After this, she learns to cope with his death by turning to God. The one thing I did not appreciate about this book was the whole boyfriend/girlfriend thing throughout the series. But, overall, I definately enjoyed them.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 9th book in the series and it was OK but it never resolved the biggest issue in the story - who's sending scary notes to Trish???? There must be another book to resolve the issue. Again these are good stories for the 10-12 year old readers. Christian values.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not what I expected, but a good read. I wish famous people would read this one and see a healthy view of what it's like to be famous. It does not have to go to your head and totally change you!

[Rivkah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a twist I wasn't exspecting! I really like how the author kept the same themes as always but managed to throw something in out of left feild.

[Sarah♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was amazing!! I can't wait to read more. This book was very intense, but also filled with the good things of life:). Good things that a Triple-Crown winner would experience, anyway.