Chasing Dreams

Timber Ridge Riders #5

by Maggie Dana

Now that she has the horse of her dreams, Kate McGregor’s next dream is to live in Vermont near her best friend, Holly Chapman. She wants to ride for the Timber Ridge team and attend high school with Holly. But Kate's father has other plans. He wants Kate to sell Tapestry and move 2,000 miles away.

So does Angela Dean.

She will stop at nothing to force Kate and her horse out of Timber Ridge ... even if it means putting herself at risk by cheating and letting Kate take the blame for something that’s not her fault. Then Angela’s little sister, Marcia, reveals a big family secret, and everything changes … and it all happens at Halloween.

Genres: Horses, Young Adult

176 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 25, 2013

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Maggie Dana writes a fast-moving, horse-centered adventure featuring best friends Kate and Holly. With just enough family drama, boy-friend issues, and of course controversy with Kate's nemesis Angela Dean, Ms. Dana manages to make each of these equine-focused novels (this is Book 5 of the series) fresh and new. Chasing Dreams features a rescue in the snow, where a trick by Kate's horse Tapestry proves invaluable. This is great stuff, and young teens and kids will gobble it up.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timber Ridge books always surprise me. It’s their wit, it’s their cleverness, it’s the sheer awful genius of Angela. She outdoes herself in this book, let me tell you. Angela may be a horrible horsewoman and a terrible human being, but she is smart as a whip. She is a worthy opponent to Kate, who is beginning to grow weary of always being the Good Girl who Just Takes It.

And Kate is starting to get sick of always being trampled all over by Angela, and Angela’s friends, and Life In General. Kate has put up with a lot. Kate has to deal with a father who is more interested in his butterfly career than raising his daughter, until Oh wait! He wants to raise his daughter now. He wants to be best best friends with his daughter now. Gee, thanks, Dad. Now that I have an actual life, you want to make a buddy movie, Kate is thinking. Now that I have goals and friends and an actual possessions that don’t fit into a single suitcase, you want to show me how much you care. Nice timing.

So Kate’s dad is causing trouble, and Angela is causing trouble, and Holly’s boyfriend won’t stop texting her so Holly is causing trouble, and everything is trouble, and poor Kate, and…

That’s it!

Timber Ridge Riders is exactly what being a teenager is like, and that’s why I like it. There’s no nostalgia in these pages for me, just… man I get you Kate. I hated high school too.

more at http://www.retiredracehorseblog.com/2...

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each book draws you into the lives of girls and horse!

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Kate's father heading back to the States she knows her days at Timber Ridge are numbered. Worse still she will no doubt have to sell her new horse Tapestry. Of course Angela is there doing sociopathic things. Angela is probably a teenaged Karen Brewer neither ever face consequences for their actions and are coddled by their families. Angela is especially vile in this book but she has been worse like in the last book. But she seems content neglecting and abusing her horse which is a bad sign. If she cares so little I don't get why she bothers except of course her stage mother pushing her. Anyway Kate is accused of vandalism and plagiarism, she and Holly are trying to set up their parents much like a Dawn and Mary Anne scenario from the BSC. Kate also has to find a way to get her dad to stay in town involving the local butterfly museum and she is torn between her sort of boyfriend movie star Nathan and a new guy football player Brad who is closer and seems to really like her. There are big changes for Kate here and possibly for Holly as well if their matchmaking plans work. I'm not sure why these books appeal so much to me. I'm not a horse fan I've barely even been around horses but these books just grab me and keep me hooked and hopefully it will continue.

[Awesome Indies Book Awards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Indies Book Awards is pleased to include CHASING DREAMS (TIMBER RIDGE RIDERS #5) by MAGGIE DANA in the library of Awesome Indies' Badge of Approval recipients.

[Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chasing Dreams is a facepaced story where we continue to follow Kate in her live at Timber Ridge. Occasionally the narrative is a little confusing, as it is not always clear that the action is told from Kate's point of view, which makes it hard to follow the story. Though as soon as the narrative gets straight again it is easy to fit the confusing parts in. The story is engaging and gives everyday challenges that a fourteen-year-old is likely to challenge. The antagonist (Angela) tend to be two-dimensional and not very well-rounded. I would have liked to see some deeper development of Angela, and maybe see why she behaves the way she does. Angela's nice little sister casts some light on how the life is in that family, but Angela still lack depth. Again the issue with Skywalker (Angela's horse) never being ridden is an issue, as a horse that is not trained can not perform. Though this is shed a light on in this book as it is mentioned that Liz (the stable's owner/trainer) is the only one, apart from Angela, allowed to riding him. This book also shed some more light on Kate's father, as in previous installments he has more or less been absent. He was painted as a strict and eccentric father figure, but he soon changed into a good a caring father. Which was very nice to see.

My only persistent issue with the book series is that the cover continue to have a brown horse, while Kate's horse is palomino (Golden fur with white mane and tail).

Overall I did very much enjoy reading this book, and as an older child/young teenager I would have enjoyed it even more.

[Nayuleska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possible bias as I already adore the series but the stakes keep rising for Kate! Just when you think Mean Queen (my nickname) Angela can't get any nastier in her tricks, she does. Without fail every chapter had me on edge, scared that Kate would end up suspended, taken away from her beloved Tapestry (I so approve of the craft themed name) or be put in financial ruin. Holly is a wonderful best friend, always supporting Kate through life's obstacles.

A newcomer, Angela's little sister (I may have forgotten her if she was in the last book, lousy memory!), stole my heart. She is a sweet girl, total opposite of Angela and features heavily in Kate's life for various reasons. I sincerely hope I see more of her in the future. I can't give details but I inwardly cheered at the end when Kate sees the headteacher - sometimes the truth can't be avoided but it can be read between the lines. Tapestry's lying down trick is a life saver, and there was the usual mucking out and cleaning up of horse gear that I as a non-riding horse book lover enjoyed. They are still too big and too far off the ground for me to ride, but I admire them. What will happen next for Kate & Holly?

I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review on my blog Nayu's Reading Corner http://nayusreadingcorner.blogspot.co...

[Katarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series keeps getting better. One thing I miss though, is that there's less and less of the movie business and stunt riding.

This installment was more like a classic horse-crazy teen, the stable, and her friends, with hardly any mention of movies. In this one Kate's father comes back from his stint in the jungle, and so causes some uproar and upheaval in their lives. Angela becomes even more evil and devious.

[Addyson Letendre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

I had finished my previous horse series and was loo k ing for a other. I thought I'd try the series and now I can't put the book down! If you're just interested in horses, READ THIS BOOK.