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Phantom Stallion #19
Secret Star
For the Phantom, there is only one girl. For Sam, there is only one horse. A movie star horse and his trainer are coming to River Bend Ranch, and Samantha can't wait. But when Bayfire shows up, something is obviously wrong. The famous stallion has lost his sparkle. Bayfire has to get ready for his biggest, most dangerous scene of his new movie. If Sam can't help bring back the stallion's fiery spirit, his career could be over -- and someone could get hurt.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
3 people are currently reading
422 people want to read
About the author
Terri Farley
128 books417 followersTerri Farley is the best-selling author of books about the contemporary and historic West. Her PHANTOM STALLION series has sold over 2 million books world-wide and it relaunches with new art & content in March 2023.
Terri's most recent non-fiction book Wild at Heart: Mustangs and the Young People Fighting to
Save Them (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) is a Junior Library Guild selection; winner of the
Sterling North Heritage award for Excellence in Children's Literature.
Terri's only contemporary fantasy is SEVEN TEARS INTO THE SEA.
Terri is an advocate for the West's wild horses and for young people helping to make their voices heard.
https://www.facebook.com/PhantomStall...
https://twitter.com/Terri_Farley
https://www.instagram.com/terrifarley/
Terri's most recent non-fiction book Wild at Heart: Mustangs and the Young People Fighting to
Save Them (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) is a Junior Library Guild selection; winner of the
Sterling North Heritage award for Excellence in Children's Literature.
Terri's only contemporary fantasy is SEVEN TEARS INTO THE SEA.
Terri is an advocate for the West's wild horses and for young people helping to make their voices heard.
https://www.facebook.com/PhantomStall...
https://twitter.com/Terri_Farley
https://www.instagram.com/terrifarley/
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 7, 2024
Tosser of the series. Ludicrous. Just like every other "teen meets movie/ rock star" book. No spoiler to say " The star wasn't AT ALL like she expected."
And the Phantom hardly appears.
Terri Farley is clearly running out of ideas as the series soon comes to an end.
And the Phantom hardly appears.
Terri Farley is clearly running out of ideas as the series soon comes to an end.
July 23, 2025
I can’t believe after Sam won the truck and her dad was so excited he traded it for a tractor!
“Guess if it weren’t for girls like you, guys like me and Ace wouldn’t have much to live for.” -Pepper
Jake offering Sam to keep Witch while he was at college was so surprising! To have her take care of her and not his brothers or parents.
“Maybe you’d like to have Witch while I’m gone,” he said.
Have Witch? Take Jake’s horse? A panicky pulse pounded in the side of Sam’s throat, but she just said, “She’s too much for me, Jake. You know that.”
“Couple hours in the saddle and she’d know you were the new boss.”
“Yeah, well, it’s that ‘couple hours in the saddle” part that would slow me down,” Sam said
Jake smiled. “You could handle her.”
“Yeah, right,” Sam said. Sam glanced at Witch and for once the black mare’s ears pricked forward in anticipation, instead of flattening in annoyance.
“Why do you talk like you’re not brave?” Jake asked.
Sam’s head whipped around from watching Witch.
Brave was an awfully solemn word, but Jake just stretched as if he’d gotten a kink in his back sitting there at the riverside.
“I’m not brave,” Sam said.
Some dangers had crossed her path, sure, but usually when she stood firm, it was to help a horse. And for each time she’d faced a threat, there were two times she’d hidden or used her head.
Jake weighed her protest, then said, “Well, if you’re not, at least you’re stubborn.”
“Like I haven’t heard that before,” Sam said with a laugh.
“Stubborn can make you determined,” Jake told her. “Sometimes, bravery and determination can take you the same place by the end of the day.”’
Idl the gap in their ages. 3 years feels like too much. He’s going to college next year and she’s just started HS. And still wants to stick her tongue out at him, like in almost every book. Seems she isn’t maturing..
‘“Don’t talk to me about the costumes and sets,” Jake ordered her. “Because I’ve heard enough. I was barely awake this morning when I heard Mom instructing Dad in all the ways Hollywood botches history. I bet he was late for work.”
“Well, history is her thing,” Sam said, though it was funny to imagine little blond Mrs. Ely following Jake’s towering dad around, lecturing him like she would a student.’
Violette was like almost every other girl in here who is bratty and unlikable but is good with animals for some reason. The HARP program is over so Idw read about more troubled teens when I don’t even like the HARP program.
Everything points back to the Phantom. Would love more separate stories and some books that don’t feature him. I know the series is called Phantom Stallion but every book can’t be about him.
‘“Why don’t you tell her?” Sam asked
“It wouldn’t be right,” Jake said with certainty.
A legend crossed Sam’s mind. Something about a great hero who’d lost his strength when his magic hair was snipped off. She weighed the consequences of relating that story to Jake.
Bad idea, she thought. If she wanted to keep Jake as a friend, she wouldn’t tell him he was a chicken.
“She’s rich and famous, but she’s also this thin little scrap of a female,” Jake said. “I’d look like a bully.”
Jake had a point.
“I’ll think about it,” Sam said, then glanced out into the ranch yard, where Violette and Inez stood near the house. “But I’m not doing it at dinner.”
“‘Course not,” Jake said. “To tell you the truth, she’s kinda scary.”
“Scary,” Sam repeated, looking at Jake, who’d never shown a speck of cowardice, at least in front of her. “What about her could possibly be scary?”
“All that sweetie, baby, horsy stuff is weird.”
Sam giggled, then socked Jake in the arm. “I’ll take care of her for you, partner,” Sam said. “Don’t you worry.”
He nodded silently and headed for the barn door. He was almost through, and Sam had started to relax, when Jake looked back, made a cowboy gun of his hand, and said, “Don’t take too long about it. I’m leavin’ soon and this is one showdown I don’t want to miss.”’
There are some surprisingly deep and touching moments. Her dad mentioning scavenger birds following the Roman legions, and seeing every kind of bird while they were haying, catching bugs that were kicked up by the tractor, field mice who’s nests were exposed, gophers from their holes, and she thinks of Jake, used to ranch life, heading off to a new college. But one rodent bit a raven’s claw.
‘“I know,” Dad said, again, “here’s animals who’ve been protected all season, just exposed like that—“
For no good reason, Sam pictured Jake, range born and bred, leaving rural Nevada for a far-off college.
“And what do you think happened next?”
“I don’t know,” Sam said quickly, “what?”
“One of those little critters, some kind of rodent—I’m not sure what, it happened so fast—got up on her hind legs, chattered at a raven, and actually bit him on the claw, right there!” Dad rubbed his index finger as he laughed. “Then the raven flew off and she went about finding her hole in the ground.”
“That’s amazing,” Sam said, and her thoughts circled back to Jake again, thinking of how he’d said stubbornness and determination could take you the same place bravery did.
Sam smiled. Some little rodent had proved him right.’
It’s very unrealistic she’s initially upset about something—her dad and Brynna getting married, in here it’s giving away her mom’s horse to some rider program—and then is immediately ok with it.
The author recaps things we know, I guess for readers who haven’t gone in order, but then when Inez asks why it’s named Lost Canyon she doesn’t tell the tale. Just mentions cavalrymen in blue killing Indian ponies to leave their warriors on foot.
Very unrealistic that the Phantom would be near the movie set, with all the crew and cameras. But he has to make some kind of appearance in every book.
‘Sam’s mind raced, trying to make sense of the neighs, screams, and the sudden darkness around her.
Blinking, Sam realized it was dark because Ace stood over her, protecting her from the plunging stallion who’d set off downhill.’
‘When Sam reached level ground, Jake was waiting.
“Didn’t mean you had to break her arm,” he joked.’ Ahaha!
‘“Still, good job up there, Brat.”
Of course Jake didn’t explain whether he was talking about keeping the horses safe, or jumping, or not pushing Violette all the way off the edge, but San didn’t care. She gave him a gigantic hug.
Sam had just an instant to think Jake smelled of horses and denim and rain, a pretty nice combination, before he pushed her away.
“Horse isn’t gonna put up with much more of this, and I need to head for home,” he said, slapping Bayfire’s reins into her hand.
“Okay,” Sam said, and as Jake stalked away, she couldn’t help laughing.
He might have cut his hair and he might be headed for college, but Jake was still Jake.’
‘“But—“ Sam began. She’d been about to say Bayfire hadn’t jumped. She stopped just in time.
“Yes?” Candice said, wheeling on her as if intuition told her something was wrong. “What is it?”
Inez had said Candice loved to catch other people messing up.
Behind Candice, Ben buried his face in his hands.
Sam took a deep breath. She wasn’t sure how to get out of this.
“What is it you were going to say?” Candice asked. “Go right ahead,” she encouraged.
Oh well, Candice already thought she was a lost cause.
“Uh, do you think I could have a donut to go with my coffee?” Sam asked.
Candice gave a condescending chuckle.
“Take care of her, Ben,” she said, then walked away.
Ben gave Sam a thumbs-up sign and whispered, “Nice save.”
“Real nice,” Sam said, feeling embarrassed, though there was no reason she should worry about what Candice thought of her. “She thinks I’m dumb as a rock.”
“So what? She thinks everyone is,” Ben said.’
That’s a shame she can’t tell anyone, not even her family, it was Ace in the shot in the movie jumping the waterfall. Her deal was she gets the footage the cameraman got of the Phantom and Inez has to adopt a wild mustang. For Bayfire’s “inspiration.” Pretty silly…He needs a wild horse to bring back his fire.
She didn’t tell Violette off! What was the point, she just got away with everything. Jake wanted to see it before he left to scout colleges but he didn’t get to! Sam’s “big” moments were telling her “I don’t think so” when she wanted to ride a horse.
Ending was a lil disappointing. It could have been better.
They just get even more far-fetched, as was the Phantom and his random appearances, to tick the box of having his presence in each of the books.
I hate Jake will be leaving for college; I didn’t realize he was that old. It makes Sam seem even younger.
There were lots of funny and touching lines from the book, more than usual.
“Guess if it weren’t for girls like you, guys like me and Ace wouldn’t have much to live for.” -Pepper
Jake offering Sam to keep Witch while he was at college was so surprising! To have her take care of her and not his brothers or parents.
“Maybe you’d like to have Witch while I’m gone,” he said.
Have Witch? Take Jake’s horse? A panicky pulse pounded in the side of Sam’s throat, but she just said, “She’s too much for me, Jake. You know that.”
“Couple hours in the saddle and she’d know you were the new boss.”
“Yeah, well, it’s that ‘couple hours in the saddle” part that would slow me down,” Sam said
Jake smiled. “You could handle her.”
“Yeah, right,” Sam said. Sam glanced at Witch and for once the black mare’s ears pricked forward in anticipation, instead of flattening in annoyance.
“Why do you talk like you’re not brave?” Jake asked.
Sam’s head whipped around from watching Witch.
Brave was an awfully solemn word, but Jake just stretched as if he’d gotten a kink in his back sitting there at the riverside.
“I’m not brave,” Sam said.
Some dangers had crossed her path, sure, but usually when she stood firm, it was to help a horse. And for each time she’d faced a threat, there were two times she’d hidden or used her head.
Jake weighed her protest, then said, “Well, if you’re not, at least you’re stubborn.”
“Like I haven’t heard that before,” Sam said with a laugh.
“Stubborn can make you determined,” Jake told her. “Sometimes, bravery and determination can take you the same place by the end of the day.”’
Idl the gap in their ages. 3 years feels like too much. He’s going to college next year and she’s just started HS. And still wants to stick her tongue out at him, like in almost every book. Seems she isn’t maturing..
‘“Don’t talk to me about the costumes and sets,” Jake ordered her. “Because I’ve heard enough. I was barely awake this morning when I heard Mom instructing Dad in all the ways Hollywood botches history. I bet he was late for work.”
“Well, history is her thing,” Sam said, though it was funny to imagine little blond Mrs. Ely following Jake’s towering dad around, lecturing him like she would a student.’
Violette was like almost every other girl in here who is bratty and unlikable but is good with animals for some reason. The HARP program is over so Idw read about more troubled teens when I don’t even like the HARP program.
Everything points back to the Phantom. Would love more separate stories and some books that don’t feature him. I know the series is called Phantom Stallion but every book can’t be about him.
‘“Why don’t you tell her?” Sam asked
“It wouldn’t be right,” Jake said with certainty.
A legend crossed Sam’s mind. Something about a great hero who’d lost his strength when his magic hair was snipped off. She weighed the consequences of relating that story to Jake.
Bad idea, she thought. If she wanted to keep Jake as a friend, she wouldn’t tell him he was a chicken.
“She’s rich and famous, but she’s also this thin little scrap of a female,” Jake said. “I’d look like a bully.”
Jake had a point.
“I’ll think about it,” Sam said, then glanced out into the ranch yard, where Violette and Inez stood near the house. “But I’m not doing it at dinner.”
“‘Course not,” Jake said. “To tell you the truth, she’s kinda scary.”
“Scary,” Sam repeated, looking at Jake, who’d never shown a speck of cowardice, at least in front of her. “What about her could possibly be scary?”
“All that sweetie, baby, horsy stuff is weird.”
Sam giggled, then socked Jake in the arm. “I’ll take care of her for you, partner,” Sam said. “Don’t you worry.”
He nodded silently and headed for the barn door. He was almost through, and Sam had started to relax, when Jake looked back, made a cowboy gun of his hand, and said, “Don’t take too long about it. I’m leavin’ soon and this is one showdown I don’t want to miss.”’
There are some surprisingly deep and touching moments. Her dad mentioning scavenger birds following the Roman legions, and seeing every kind of bird while they were haying, catching bugs that were kicked up by the tractor, field mice who’s nests were exposed, gophers from their holes, and she thinks of Jake, used to ranch life, heading off to a new college. But one rodent bit a raven’s claw.
‘“I know,” Dad said, again, “here’s animals who’ve been protected all season, just exposed like that—“
For no good reason, Sam pictured Jake, range born and bred, leaving rural Nevada for a far-off college.
“And what do you think happened next?”
“I don’t know,” Sam said quickly, “what?”
“One of those little critters, some kind of rodent—I’m not sure what, it happened so fast—got up on her hind legs, chattered at a raven, and actually bit him on the claw, right there!” Dad rubbed his index finger as he laughed. “Then the raven flew off and she went about finding her hole in the ground.”
“That’s amazing,” Sam said, and her thoughts circled back to Jake again, thinking of how he’d said stubbornness and determination could take you the same place bravery did.
Sam smiled. Some little rodent had proved him right.’
It’s very unrealistic she’s initially upset about something—her dad and Brynna getting married, in here it’s giving away her mom’s horse to some rider program—and then is immediately ok with it.
The author recaps things we know, I guess for readers who haven’t gone in order, but then when Inez asks why it’s named Lost Canyon she doesn’t tell the tale. Just mentions cavalrymen in blue killing Indian ponies to leave their warriors on foot.
Very unrealistic that the Phantom would be near the movie set, with all the crew and cameras. But he has to make some kind of appearance in every book.
‘Sam’s mind raced, trying to make sense of the neighs, screams, and the sudden darkness around her.
Blinking, Sam realized it was dark because Ace stood over her, protecting her from the plunging stallion who’d set off downhill.’
‘When Sam reached level ground, Jake was waiting.
“Didn’t mean you had to break her arm,” he joked.’ Ahaha!
‘“Still, good job up there, Brat.”
Of course Jake didn’t explain whether he was talking about keeping the horses safe, or jumping, or not pushing Violette all the way off the edge, but San didn’t care. She gave him a gigantic hug.
Sam had just an instant to think Jake smelled of horses and denim and rain, a pretty nice combination, before he pushed her away.
“Horse isn’t gonna put up with much more of this, and I need to head for home,” he said, slapping Bayfire’s reins into her hand.
“Okay,” Sam said, and as Jake stalked away, she couldn’t help laughing.
He might have cut his hair and he might be headed for college, but Jake was still Jake.’
‘“But—“ Sam began. She’d been about to say Bayfire hadn’t jumped. She stopped just in time.
“Yes?” Candice said, wheeling on her as if intuition told her something was wrong. “What is it?”
Inez had said Candice loved to catch other people messing up.
Behind Candice, Ben buried his face in his hands.
Sam took a deep breath. She wasn’t sure how to get out of this.
“What is it you were going to say?” Candice asked. “Go right ahead,” she encouraged.
Oh well, Candice already thought she was a lost cause.
“Uh, do you think I could have a donut to go with my coffee?” Sam asked.
Candice gave a condescending chuckle.
“Take care of her, Ben,” she said, then walked away.
Ben gave Sam a thumbs-up sign and whispered, “Nice save.”
“Real nice,” Sam said, feeling embarrassed, though there was no reason she should worry about what Candice thought of her. “She thinks I’m dumb as a rock.”
“So what? She thinks everyone is,” Ben said.’
That’s a shame she can’t tell anyone, not even her family, it was Ace in the shot in the movie jumping the waterfall. Her deal was she gets the footage the cameraman got of the Phantom and Inez has to adopt a wild mustang. For Bayfire’s “inspiration.” Pretty silly…He needs a wild horse to bring back his fire.
She didn’t tell Violette off! What was the point, she just got away with everything. Jake wanted to see it before he left to scout colleges but he didn’t get to! Sam’s “big” moments were telling her “I don’t think so” when she wanted to ride a horse.
Ending was a lil disappointing. It could have been better.
They just get even more far-fetched, as was the Phantom and his random appearances, to tick the box of having his presence in each of the books.
I hate Jake will be leaving for college; I didn’t realize he was that old. It makes Sam seem even younger.
There were lots of funny and touching lines from the book, more than usual.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2024
Quite a lot going on in this one! Apart from Bayfire needing inspiration from wild mustangs to continue his work as an animal actor, there's also quite a lot about change - from Jake's new haircut ("How could he?!" my sister and I gasped when I got to that part) and imminent departure for college, to Brynna's coming baby and Sweetheart being given away for a therapy programme. I like the lesson in this book about adjusting to changes and working around obstacles.
Also, Ace gets a secret cameo in the movie - yay for him!
Also, Ace gets a secret cameo in the movie - yay for him!
October 1, 2024
3.5 stars
I've wished during this whole re-read that I could see a picture of Ace. Well, now I guess I have a decent idea of what he looks like. This was a fun story. I liked Jake treating Sam more as an equal and Sam also conquering some fears.
I've wished during this whole re-read that I could see a picture of Ace. Well, now I guess I have a decent idea of what he looks like. This was a fun story. I liked Jake treating Sam more as an equal and Sam also conquering some fears.
January 20, 2024
This is the first, and hopefully the only Phantom Stallion book that I'm giving 4 stars so far. There were things about this story that I liked and things that I didn't like as much. The premise is that a horse trainer who works for the movies brings her horse to River Bend Ranch because a movie is going to be filmed in town soon, but the star horse is not acting right and she's looking for help. The journey towards discovering a solution was interesting enough, but there was this one character, an actress, who I found highly annoying. She was super bossy, entitled, and had even done things like stealing animals or setting them loose if she didn't feel they were treated right. (And, ironically, if she thought their owners were too bossy.) She'd faced legal repercussions in the past, but her attitude on the whole really didn't get dealt with at all. I guess it was a situation where nobody present really had the authority over her to deal with it, but I still just got really annoyed with her and sometimes wondered what the point was of her being in the story, other than causing extra conflict.
Things that I did like were the continuations of various story threads that have grown through the whole series, namely, realistic issues Sam is facing now that she's growing up. In this case, the story touched on the fact that Sam's best guy friend, Jake, is entering his senior year of high school and now Sam has to face the realization that this person she's grown up with will soon probably leave for college. This honestly makes me sad to think about as a reader because these characters are so real to me and I'm sad that Jake might go away too. XD :') But I also remember dealing with those growing-up feelings at that age myself, and the anxieties that come with the approach of the end of high school, so I really related to what both Jake and Sam were feeling. I also think, again, that it's great how this series handles real life topics like this that are so relatable to kids that age, and that Sam has family that cares about her and will help her through it.
Looking forward to the next book! Only 5 more left!!!
Things that I did like were the continuations of various story threads that have grown through the whole series, namely, realistic issues Sam is facing now that she's growing up. In this case, the story touched on the fact that Sam's best guy friend, Jake, is entering his senior year of high school and now Sam has to face the realization that this person she's grown up with will soon probably leave for college. This honestly makes me sad to think about as a reader because these characters are so real to me and I'm sad that Jake might go away too. XD :') But I also remember dealing with those growing-up feelings at that age myself, and the anxieties that come with the approach of the end of high school, so I really related to what both Jake and Sam were feeling. I also think, again, that it's great how this series handles real life topics like this that are so relatable to kids that age, and that Sam has family that cares about her and will help her through it.
Looking forward to the next book! Only 5 more left!!!
October 6, 2020
My rating system
5- Gush/Absolutely Loved
4- Low Love/High Like
3- Like
2- Meh
1- Dislike/Hate
If it is a .5 star I round up
4 Stars
This was one of my favorite series from my childhood books 11-24 I did not have the pleasure of reading them during childhood I am reading them now.
A movie star horse and his trainer are coming to River Bend Ranch, and Samantha can't wait. But when Bayfire shows up, something is obviously wrong. The famous stallion has lost his sparkle.
Bayfire has to get ready for his biggest, most dangerous scene of his new movie. If Sam can't help bring back the stallion's fiery spirit, his career could be over and someone could get hurt.
5- Gush/Absolutely Loved
4- Low Love/High Like
3- Like
2- Meh
1- Dislike/Hate
If it is a .5 star I round up
4 Stars
This was one of my favorite series from my childhood books 11-24 I did not have the pleasure of reading them during childhood I am reading them now.
A movie star horse and his trainer are coming to River Bend Ranch, and Samantha can't wait. But when Bayfire shows up, something is obviously wrong. The famous stallion has lost his sparkle.
Bayfire has to get ready for his biggest, most dangerous scene of his new movie. If Sam can't help bring back the stallion's fiery spirit, his career could be over and someone could get hurt.
March 27, 2026
An average book in the series as far as plot goes. Nothing particularly game-changing happens (apart from maybe the mention of Jake preparing for college?), and there's no real character progression.
The characters introduced are somewhat predictable, and Bayfire doesn't really stand out to me among the horse characters of this series.
The characters introduced are somewhat predictable, and Bayfire doesn't really stand out to me among the horse characters of this series.
December 19, 2017
Another amazing book! But the author is getting off topic. The Phantom isn't one of the main characters anymore. He's still mentioned in every book, but he's not in the main part of the story. I would appreciate more focus on the Phantom.
Read
June 16, 2008Good to pass time. Can be interesting/exciting-but def. for horse freaks!
February 10, 2009
Awesome book!!! I like the movie theme!!!
September 25, 2010
See the first book in the series for a full review.
November 30, 2014
A great series for the young horse-lover! I read the whole series as a kid and each book keeps you interested and racing for the next!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews