About the Book
Title: Selah's Painted Dream (Dream Horse Adventures, Book 3) |
Author: Susan Count |
Publisher: Hastings Creation Group |
Publication Date: May 7, 2018 |
Genre: Children's Novel |
Number of Pages: 174
Description: Thirteen-year-old Selah’s life is about as perfect as it gets. She has horsy friends at school, and on weekends, she rides her black mare on Grandpa’s farm. Training the horse to do upper-level liberty work is what makes her heart beat.
But one word can ruin a perfect life—moving.
A move would separate her from her horse, so she plots to get her name on the farm mailbox instead. She’s sure she could persuade Grandpa—except he’s overly distracted by a sheep-loving neighbor.
Determined not to let Grandpa's new sweetheart take her place in his heart, Selah puts her hope in a painted dream horse from Grandpa’s past. When she snugs up the girth and buckles on her spurs, Selah rides to win.
Selah elbowed the farm kitchen screen door open balancing her orange juice and bag of donuts. She set the glass on the table between the two porch chairs and dipped into the bag.
“If your mother knew you had donuts for breakfast every Saturday morning, she would put a stop to it.”
“It’s our special secret. Awh. These are still warm.”
Grandpa folded the morning paper into his lap. “So, I’ve not heard much about Austin from you.”
“What’s to tell? I hate it. It’s too far from here.”
“There’re some really nice areas for horseback riding. Bastrop, for one.”
An old truck rattled down the driveway way too fast, blaring the horn. A dust cloud billowed from the road. Grandpa rose from his chair. The tan Ford skidded on the gravel as it stopped. Mr. Noah, from a neighboring farm, leapt out and strode to the deck.
“Chief ’s been trying to call you, Ed.” 79
SUSAN COUNT
Grandpa grumbled at his cell phone as he tapped the ringer on and moaned at the missed calls. “Why didn’t he call the house phone?”
Mr. Norris shrugged. “He said you never answer it either. The Bartons have an emergency. Ellie’s disappeared.”
“Oh no.” Grandpa threw the newspaper into the chair behind him.
“One minute she was in the yard playing with her puppy, and the next she was gone. Deputy Bob’s called out the search and rescue team. She’s been missing for almost three hours now.”
Selah’s heart sank. “Ellie is only four. She’s helpless out there.”
Grandpa pulled his Search & Rescue backpack from the closet and crammed his feet into his snake boots. “Have they checked the neighboring farms?”
“The teams on site are combing the area around the Bartons for tracks and scanning with thermal imaging for any sign of her. Chief is already at the scene. He’s calling in all the resources this county has, including the bloodhounds from the prison.” Mr. Noah fidgeted with the coins in his pocket. “I called Katie, and she will meet us at the Bartons.”
“Wise move.” Grandpa tucked a water bottle into his pack. “She really knows The Grasslands well. If anybody can find Ellie, it will be Katie.” He threw his pack over his shoulder and strode to the truck, calling instructions to Selah. “Stay by the house. Do the rest of the morning chores because I won’t be back until we find her.”
“But, Grandpa.” She raced after him and tugged on his sleeve. “I could help.”
He drew her into a hug. “I appreciate your heart, but a search is no place for you. We hope for the best, but we never know what we’re going to find.” He kissed the top of her head as he released her. “Practice your liberty work with Dream.”
Other books in the series...
A story of love and determination in the face of adversity that will steal your heart.
Twelve-year-old Mary longs to have a horse of her own, but she's limited to reading horse books. A talented artist, she spends her days on a blanket in the grass sketching the horses at the farm next door. She falls in love with one of the foals and is outraged to learn the filly is considered worthless as it was born lame.
Mary befriends and enlists the help of twelve-year-old Laura, whose family owns the horse farm. Against the better judgment of the farm manager, a brief reprieve is negotiated for the foal's life. The girls conspire to raise money to save her, but time is running out. Sadly, it appears the expensive surgery the foal needs has little chance to correct the problem anyway. Mary isn't about to let her own disability hold her back. She sacrifices what she holds dear - the trust of her papa, to gain her heart's desire. But she could lose everything in her struggle to save the foal.
TxAuthors Best Book Award Winner for 2017 - Juvenile - Coming of Age
Feathered Quill - 2017 GOLD Award - Children's Fiction - Animals
Purple Dragonfly - 2017 First Place - Disability Awarenes
A delightful read. Plenty of twists and turns which makes the book a great little adventure. Selah embodies perseverance, hope, determination, compassion, and spunk.
Twelve-Year-Old SELAH'S quest to be equestrian superstar is impossible without a horse. Then she spots buzzards circling in the grasslands behind Grandpa's farm. They're stalking a horse trapped in wire and Selah is its only hope. But the mare she rescues might be a bigger challenge to her dream than not having a horse at all. When an old friend of Grandpa's and a world renowned horse trainer offers to work with the wild and defiant mare, Selah jumps at the opportunity. She trains with a fierce determination to equal the equestrian talent of the deceased grandmother who instilled the love of horses in her. But when the horse causes mayhem at the trainer's facility, he sends them home. Selah must gather her courage and face up to the trainer or watch her dreams gallop away.
American Horse Publications - FIRST PLACE - Equine Fiction..... Feathered Quill - GOLD Award.....Readers Favorites - GOLD Award.....
About the Author
As a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Texas Association of Authors, I take studying the craft of writing seriously. Revision is my super-power.
Instilled with the need to create, I love building projects and writing adventure stories. I’m a life-long equestrian and owned by a Rocky Mountain Horse. I adore grandchildren, horses, bunnies, mochas, and forest trails.
I’ve published three books in an equestrian series. I write at an antique secretary desk that occupies a glass room with a forest view. Fittingly, it once belonged to the same wise grandmother who introduced me to the love of reading via Walter Farley's horse books. That desk has secret compartments which hold memories, mysteries, and story ideas.
Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choice
Giveaway ends: May 29, 11:59 pm, 2018
Open to: Internationally
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Susan Count and is hosted and managed by Stacie from BeachBoundBooks. If you have any additional questions feel free to send an email to stacie@BeachBoundBooks.com.
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Jillian Quinn is an international bestselling romance author who likes her females just as alpha as their swoon-worthy male counterparts. As a lover of all things bookish, Jillian has a serious book-hoarding problem and runs a blog in her free time. When she's not reading, writing, or blogging, she's obsessively fangirling over hockey players and can be found wherever she can catch the next hockey game.
