Cory Iverson's junior year is off to a lousy start.
Publicly humiliated by the school's hottest guy and terrorized by a bullying band director, Cory flees sports try-outs and just about everything else she begins, earning a reputation as a loser as well as a quitter. But when her wandering dog leads her to the barn of a former Grand Prix rider, she finds a welcome refuge in the familiar world of horses.
It's not too long before she starts dreaming of showing in one of the country's most prestigious shows--a totally unrealistic hope--until she rescues a mysterious horse with some unusual talents. But her road to success is littered with roadblocks as events spin out of control: prescription painkillers appear in her mother's purse; her ballerina sister wastes away before her eyes; her boyfriend is keeping secrets; and her normally opinionated trainer becomes strangely evasive.
Worst of all, the horse show world is not what she imagined. It isn't long before Cory's winning spree attracts the attention of a brutal trainer with a string of unexplained horse deaths in her wake. When Cory lands in the crosshairs, she has to decide if she'll once again back down and flee or stand up for herself, her horse, and her dreams.
Inspired by everyday miracles, L.R. Trovillion weaves magical stories of hurting people who find hope through horses in her Maryland Equestrian Novel series. Although she earned a degree in Russian and spent a career in government service, her real love has been caring for and working with horses. That love shines through in her series, focusing on the healing power of horses in the lives of teens facing complex and sometimes dangerous family situations. Believing there is more to this world than meets the eye, she adds a dash of the supernatural to each story. L. R. Trovillion lives on a small horse farm in Maryland with her husband, daughter, and several animals that really run the place. Her other works have appeared in Baltimore magazine, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and various poetry anthologies.
Cory thinks she knows this boy who asked her out, but she's wrong. Cory thinks he's in a rock band, but she's so wrong. Kevyn is not a typical high school kid who wants to be like everyone else. Not by a long shot. He surprises her at every turn, and they're happy surprises. Isn't it great to find unexpected joy?
Book Excerpt
False Gods: The Show Jumper's Challenge
The song ended and more lights were dimmed until only one bright spot shone directly over the band. From Cory’s vantage point in the darkened room, Kevyn was luminescent in a white oxford shirt, the sleeves rolled back on his forearms. He dragged a stool to the front of the stage, perched on the edge of it, and casually examined the clarinet in his hand. He put it to his lips and began a tune so mournful, so deep, it caused a hush to fall over the room. Cory moved closer to the stage and watched his fingers play over the holes, touching them firmly with confidence, familiarity, and tenderness. An intense longing felt like a stab deep below her navel. He cradled the instrument, playing the most deliciously sad song.
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