Horse Gods: The Dressage Rider’s Betrayal

Teens

synopsis

Synopsis

A half-wild horse, a Celtic legend, and a teen trying to escape… Regina Hamilton has three months to prove to the courts she can earn a living on her own and avoid going home to her abusive mother—a tall order for a teen with only her riding skills to rely on. Desperate to prove herself, Regina lands a job at an exclusive dressage barn. But when workers start to mysteriously disappear, she becomes ensnared in a web of lies and deceit. With time running out and unsure who to trust, Regina turns to an unlikely trio: an unusual boy who trains hawks, a reclusive professor of Celtic history, and a half-wild red mare. Together they form a bond that will be tested when a long-held secret exposes a much greater threat—and Regina’s the target. To save her horses and her life Regina may have to trust her enemies and betray her friends.

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

Thanks and Hope

Thanksgiving is the unofficial starting gate to the holiday season, but it should not be overshadowed by what is to come. I love Thanksgiving for its simple agenda of gathering with friends and family to enjoy a good meal and take a moment to reflect on all we have in our lives. Thanksgiving is a time of hope, expectation, and trust for a good future. In addition to all I have in my personal life to be thankful for, I am also very grateful for having the opportunity to share my stories with readers. I love hearing from you about your thoughts and insights involving the books. I am also grateful for all the help and encouragement I've received. I try to give back by creating characters who find real hope and healing through horses. I want to share the magic and blessings I've experienced. Happy Holidays!

Book Excerpt

Horse Gods: The Dressage Rider’s Betrayal

Declan puts Rosie away in her birdhouse. He’s told me a million times what it’s really called—a mew—but I still think of it as her shed and yard. It’s inky dark as we make our way down the path to the barn to feed Red Mare. I hate calling her that, so I’ve been thinking up names for her. Also tried to find out her real name, but since Declan doesn’t know her breeding or the name of her sire or dam, there’s no place to start. It’s a dead end.

Inside the barn, Declan goes through the same routine of dumping her grain, calling the mare, and running back through the stall, slamming the door shut.

“Stop.” He half turns but his hand doesn’t drop from the stall door’s latch. I sigh. “I can’t stand watching you treat her like a man-eating tiger. She’s a horse.”

He stands straighter. “She’s unpredictable, Reg. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

“She hasn’t hurt me, has she?” I’ve been brushing her, picking up her feet, getting her more comfortable with humans again. I remember his words and throw them back at him. “How do you build trust?”

Red splotches bloom over his cheeks and he looks down into the empty grain scoop in his hand.

We look out into the dark night. Red Mare hasn’t appeared.