False Gods: The Show Jumper's Challenge

Teens

synopsis

Synopsis

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.

bio

Author Biography

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.

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Author Insight

The Power of Hope

The loss of hope will extinguished all your dreams. Without the belief that good things will come, there is no point in planning for the future. Hope is a fuel that keeps not only dreams, but creativity, ingenuity, justice, and productivity alive. Hope for something better has buoyed the spirits of people in impossible situations and kept them from sinking into the darkness of despair. This past year has been a constant challenge, disrupting our jobs, health, and connections with other people. And the crisis continues. What hope do we have that things will get better? Well, all we have IS hope. If the vaccine researcher lost hope, where would we be? Hope. It's what makes us human.

Book Excerpt

False Gods: The Show Jumper's Challenge

“You seemed to click with Pressman pretty well,” she said. “Some horses you get comfortable with right away, others take time. Sort of like driving a strange car. You got to figure out how much gas to give it.”

“And there’re some you never want to get used to. But I really liked him.”

Vee smiled. “He’s a good guy. Was my jumper horse for years.”

“So he’s a horse you clicked with.” Cory tried out Vee’s expression.

“Sure. He wasn’t too complicated a ride and has a generous nature.” Vee stared at the halter in her hands like she was remembering something. Cory was about to leave when Vee continued, “But then there’s that one horse you really click with. The once-in-a-lifetime horse.” Her eyes moved away from Cory’s face and scanned the row of saddles.

“So Pressman wasn’t your once-in-a-lifetime horse?”

“No. He’s a great guy—don’t get me wrong—but not the one.”

Cory stifled a snort. “Sounds like you’re talking about a boyfriend instead of a horse.”

One side of Vee’s mouth turned upwards. “Yeah, it’s kind of the same thing. You find that one you really love and everything goes great when you’re together. The horse almost reads your mind. He forgives your mistakes and even saves your butt when you screw up. Only thing is, it’s tough if he isn’t your horse. It’s as bad as falling in love with someone else’s husband.”

“Someone else owned him?”

“Owned a piece of him.”

“So what happened to him? Where’s he now?”

Vee turned quickly to adjust the reins on a bridle hanging along the wall. “Dead now.” She looked back, like she wanted to say something else, but instead gathered the tack she needed for her next ride.

Cory felt the air go out of the room. Vee didn’t seem to want to look at her and was busy piling saddle pads and girths across her arm. Did she say something wrong?

“I’ll head home now.”

Vee nodded.