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Timber Ridge Riders #0
Kate and Holly: The Beginning
If you’ve ever wondered what Kate’s and Holly’s lives were like before they met at Timber Ridge, this short introduction spills all the details! * * * Fourteen-year-old Kate McGregor has trouble making friends. In exchange for her riding lessons, she works at Sandpiper Stables where the other girls look down their noses at her as she mucks stalls, cleans tack, and grooms their European warmbloods. For comfort, Kate turns to Black Magic, the barn’s best horse. His favorite treat is watermelon rinds, which he slobbers all over her. But Kate doesn't care. She loves Magic’s attention and pampers him. Together, they're already making a name for themselves at three-day events, and Kate’s riding instructor predicts they will go far . . . until a tragic accident changes everything. * * * Holly Chapman hides her sadness and loneliness behind a cheerful smile. She grooms as much of her horse, Magician, as she can reach from her wheelchair and watches another girl ride him—winning the blue ribbons that Holly used to win. Determined to keep up with the other kids, even if she can’t walk, Holly takes risks. She gets her wheelchair stuck in the mud, stranded on stairs, and wedged into corners. Sometimes she falls out of it. Her mother advertises for a summer companion, but Holly doesn’t want a watchdog. She wants a best friend.
76 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 19, 2014
46 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 14, 2015
This is a prequel novella for the Timber Ridge Riders series. It follows some of the events leading up to Kate and Holly meeting at the beginning of book one.
I don't feel that this book was really necessary to the story, since we get a lot of this within the novels, but it was a fun read. Kate's story had more to it, I felt and I really enjoyed seeing life at her old barn. The whole thing with Magic's death and blaming Kate drove me just as crazy.
This was an enjoyable read. You don't need it to appreciate the series, but it's a nice companion novella.
I don't feel that this book was really necessary to the story, since we get a lot of this within the novels, but it was a fun read. Kate's story had more to it, I felt and I really enjoyed seeing life at her old barn. The whole thing with Magic's death and blaming Kate drove me just as crazy.
This was an enjoyable read. You don't need it to appreciate the series, but it's a nice companion novella.
May 31, 2016
I enjoyed this tale which starts off a YA horse series. Kate is every horsey girl rolled into one, keen to work around horses for nothing if she can ride and groom. She lives in America and at the start is aged fourteen, riding a horse called Black Magic which she loves, around a showjumping course.
When tragedy strikes Kate finds that her dad is busy and working so she is at a loose end for summer, with no real friends and no horses. She goes to stay with an aunt and answers an ad to help a girl with a disability, which is Holly. Holly is in a wheelchair since a car accident in which her father died. The girls have a lot in common, but they don't know it yet.
The reasons I am not giving a better rating are that the very start doesn't convince - you don't let your mind wander off into your life history during a competition jumping round, or when jumping at all - and the end is a bit of a non-ending on a cliffhanger. We do get the first chapter of the next book which just finishes off this book.
I've read a later book in the series and was pleased to get a look at the two girls before they became such good friends. This tale can also carry the lesson that no matter how bad life gets, or how serious an ending, there is always a new chapter waiting to start. I would definitely want to read more books about Timber Ridge after this one but it is very short.
I received a copy for an unbiased review.
When tragedy strikes Kate finds that her dad is busy and working so she is at a loose end for summer, with no real friends and no horses. She goes to stay with an aunt and answers an ad to help a girl with a disability, which is Holly. Holly is in a wheelchair since a car accident in which her father died. The girls have a lot in common, but they don't know it yet.
The reasons I am not giving a better rating are that the very start doesn't convince - you don't let your mind wander off into your life history during a competition jumping round, or when jumping at all - and the end is a bit of a non-ending on a cliffhanger. We do get the first chapter of the next book which just finishes off this book.
I've read a later book in the series and was pleased to get a look at the two girls before they became such good friends. This tale can also carry the lesson that no matter how bad life gets, or how serious an ending, there is always a new chapter waiting to start. I would definitely want to read more books about Timber Ridge after this one but it is very short.
I received a copy for an unbiased review.
March 28, 2019
I’ve read the first in the Timber Ridge Riders series and really enjoyed it. This prequel was a great way to find out a little bit more about Kate and how it was that she came to lose her interest in horses and riding.
Told from each girl’s point of view, the reader is introduced to first Kate and her dedication to being a working student in order to ride the animals that she loves. Kate is hard working, focused and a good rider.
Read more at http://equus-blog.com/timber-ridge-ri...
Told from each girl’s point of view, the reader is introduced to first Kate and her dedication to being a working student in order to ride the animals that she loves. Kate is hard working, focused and a good rider.
Read more at http://equus-blog.com/timber-ridge-ri...
March 8, 2016
The Timber Ridge Riders series has become a popular collection of books for both horse lovers and teenagers alike. Kate and Holly: The Beginning takes the readers back to where it all started from. If you ever wondered how they met and why, then this is the place where you need to be.
As a reader, you just know when you're going to get on with a book, and this short story is no different. As a plus, there is an excerpt from the next title in the series so as to give you an idea of what is to come. As someone who hasn't read any of the previous instalments, this was something I welcomed.
As a book, it's such an easy and enjoyable read that it can be hard to stop for any length of time, even though the tale starts with a tragedy. The two girls' are like chalk and cheese anyway but there is a disability issue thrown in, too. A previous equine book I reviewed also featured a disabled child so I just love authors who are not afraid of diversity. It also means that they are compassionate and sympathetic to disability rights.
The book is a great lead into the rest of the series and that's how it should be viewed. Could it have been fleshed out a little more? Maybe, but it doesn't really matter either way; it's still a terrific introduction to the rest of the collection.
As a reader, you just know when you're going to get on with a book, and this short story is no different. As a plus, there is an excerpt from the next title in the series so as to give you an idea of what is to come. As someone who hasn't read any of the previous instalments, this was something I welcomed.
As a book, it's such an easy and enjoyable read that it can be hard to stop for any length of time, even though the tale starts with a tragedy. The two girls' are like chalk and cheese anyway but there is a disability issue thrown in, too. A previous equine book I reviewed also featured a disabled child so I just love authors who are not afraid of diversity. It also means that they are compassionate and sympathetic to disability rights.
The book is a great lead into the rest of the series and that's how it should be viewed. Could it have been fleshed out a little more? Maybe, but it doesn't really matter either way; it's still a terrific introduction to the rest of the collection.
November 25, 2015
Ideally, you would read this before you dive head first into the series. I didn't, but I'm still glad I read it. It's the prequel to the series and answers some of the question I had throughout the first 10 books. I really like these two kids, and I love the series. I can't imagine anyone, no matter what age or background, not enjoying the books. These kids are awesome, and the author, Maggie Dana, does a fantastic job keeping each new book fresh and amazing.
May 8, 2016
I loved learning more about how the two horse mad friends first met, in this novella prequel type book in the Timber Ridge Riders series. Kate and Holly obviously meet in the series but this gives extra info set before that fateful meeting which was fascinating. It added to my current knowledge of their characters which will be useful as I continue reading the series.
May 22, 2016
I haven't read the series, so for me it was pretty much a cliffhanger prequel, which is something I can't stand. I always feel cheated when that happens. On that count it would have been a 2-star but Dana knows horses and can string a sentence together and that gives her a third.
November 13, 2018
Attention Horsecrazy Girls
Your will love this book. Great characters, and a good plot. The book is well written and appears to to have lots of additional stories in the series so you won't have to say good bye to your fictional friends too soon.
Your will love this book. Great characters, and a good plot. The book is well written and appears to to have lots of additional stories in the series so you won't have to say good bye to your fictional friends too soon.
April 30, 2015
Can't wait to read the whole series!
November 27, 2022
A short quick introduction to the Timber Ridge series and its two main characters Kate and Holly. Most of the book is well known to anyone who has read the series as it details the time just before the girls meet and ends with Kate showing up at the pool as Holly is trying to get out. Kate's story shows her rise in popularity only to have it shattered when Black Magic gets out and essentially eats himself to death and she's blamed for it. Holly's story has her celebrating her half birthday and meeting her online friend Becca who we'll meet much later on in the series and how lonely she is. Still a good read but as I said nothing new and exciting.
February 17, 2020
Awkward
I have read many books. This gets two stars because the flow of the events was awkward and clumsy and not very well put together. Very disappointing.
I have read many books. This gets two stars because the flow of the events was awkward and clumsy and not very well put together. Very disappointing.
April 1, 2021
I did not enjoy the fat-shaming in this book at all... But all that said, it was still an intriguing story. I will give this series another try.
June 26, 2016
Awesome intro to one of my favorite series.
July 26, 2016
A prequel to the start of the series, you get to know Kate more than Holly though.
December 29, 2025
This is a nicely written short story that kept my interest to the end. Recommended for horse lovers hither and yon.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews