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outoftheblue14's review
4.0
Racing Savannah might me by favourite Miranda Kenneally book so far. I've read (bit not reviewed) the previous three books in the series, but I felt I couldn't really relate to the other heroines. Jordan is too much of an athlete; Parker has issues, what with her mother being in a lesbian relationship; and Kate is so judgmental. Savannah, on the other hand, is just my type of girl.
Savannah Barrow has just moved to Tennessee because of his father's job. He is the new head groom for the Goodwin family, and his girlfriend Cindy is a maid for them. The Barrow family now lives at Hillcrest, with the rest of the staff. Savannah wants to get a job as an exercise boy for the Goodwins. She manages to impress Jack Goodwin, the owner's son who is her age and running the farm as a trial run. They are immediately attracted to each other, but the Goodwins don't want Jack to date one of the employees. However, when they start working together on Star, the Goodwins' race horse which isn't doing so well, they grow closer.
Savannah's family is not rich. Before moving to Tennessee, they used to live in a trailer. Her mother died of cancer a few years before, and her father has been struggling with medical bills ever since. To make things worse, her father's girlfriend is expecting a baby. Savannah is not happy about the pregnancy, because she knows they can't afford a child; however, she is very supportive of Cindy and works as a maid to fill in when she's feeling sick. Savannah knows he can't afford to attend college and plans on taking a full-time job as an exercise boy after graduating high school.
When Savannah and Jack start seeing each other, he suggests they have a "friends with benefits" relationship. He's supposed to be dating the daughter of his father's business partner; and his parents would be disappinted if they knew about him and Savannah. She refuses, though. She has enough self-worth that won't stand for being treated badly. I loved seeing this.
Savannah's best friends are Rory Whitman (another exercise boy at the farm, and younger brother to Will from Stealing Parker) and Vanessa Green. When Rory and Vaness hook up, they are totally adorable. Characters from previous novels in the series make an appearance, when Rory's elder brother Will gest married to Parker. Jordan, Sam, Kate, and Matt also appear.
I loved seeing Savannah and Jack finally getting together!
Savannah Barrow has just moved to Tennessee because of his father's job. He is the new head groom for the Goodwin family, and his girlfriend Cindy is a maid for them. The Barrow family now lives at Hillcrest, with the rest of the staff. Savannah wants to get a job as an exercise boy for the Goodwins. She manages to impress Jack Goodwin, the owner's son who is her age and running the farm as a trial run. They are immediately attracted to each other, but the Goodwins don't want Jack to date one of the employees. However, when they start working together on Star, the Goodwins' race horse which isn't doing so well, they grow closer.
Savannah's family is not rich. Before moving to Tennessee, they used to live in a trailer. Her mother died of cancer a few years before, and her father has been struggling with medical bills ever since. To make things worse, her father's girlfriend is expecting a baby. Savannah is not happy about the pregnancy, because she knows they can't afford a child; however, she is very supportive of Cindy and works as a maid to fill in when she's feeling sick. Savannah knows he can't afford to attend college and plans on taking a full-time job as an exercise boy after graduating high school.
When Savannah and Jack start seeing each other, he suggests they have a "friends with benefits" relationship. He's supposed to be dating the daughter of his father's business partner; and his parents would be disappinted if they knew about him and Savannah. She refuses, though. She has enough self-worth that won't stand for being treated badly. I loved seeing this.
Savannah's best friends are Rory Whitman (another exercise boy at the farm, and younger brother to Will from Stealing Parker) and Vanessa Green. When Rory and Vaness hook up, they are totally adorable. Characters from previous novels in the series make an appearance, when Rory's elder brother Will gest married to Parker. Jordan, Sam, Kate, and Matt also appear.
I loved seeing Savannah and Jack finally getting together!
mehsi's review
5.0
I was a bit worried about reading this book. Why? Well after a fantastic first book, I ran into the second book and disliked that, and after that a horrible third book. So yeah, I was all but surprised when I started reading this that I actually loved it. Loved it just as much as I loved the first book.
This book, was fantastic. I loved the characters, though I wanted to smack Jack at times. Dear Lord the boy was wonderful, but at times also manipulative and a wuss. Come on boy, grow some balls. Sorry, had to get that out of my system.
At times that their romance was good, it was beautiful, lovely and heartwarming and I was cheering for them throughout the book. I also loved the side characters, they made the story so much better, and I had quite a few laughs because of things that those characters did or said.
Savannah, ah Savannah, I just loved that girl. She has such a bad past, with so much hardships. No money, no mom, and so much difficulties since so much costs money in this world. Luckily she is a fighter and keeps on going, finding ways to get money, finding her way in this wonderful world.
I loved that this book was about horses, but not in a, OMG Horsieeeess way, but in a normal way of she likes horses, it is a hobby and a job and she doesn't squeal or anything. Everything was handled maturely, not like some books do when it is about horses.
I would really recommend this book to everyone. You don't need to read the other books per se. There are some conversations that might feature some characters from previous books, but nothing big.
This book, was fantastic. I loved the characters, though I wanted to smack Jack at times. Dear Lord the boy was wonderful, but at times also manipulative and a wuss. Come on boy, grow some balls. Sorry, had to get that out of my system.
At times that their romance was good, it was beautiful, lovely and heartwarming and I was cheering for them throughout the book. I also loved the side characters, they made the story so much better, and I had quite a few laughs because of things that those characters did or said.
Savannah, ah Savannah, I just loved that girl. She has such a bad past, with so much hardships. No money, no mom, and so much difficulties since so much costs money in this world. Luckily she is a fighter and keeps on going, finding ways to get money, finding her way in this wonderful world.
I loved that this book was about horses, but not in a, OMG Horsieeeess way, but in a normal way of she likes horses, it is a hobby and a job and she doesn't squeal or anything. Everything was handled maturely, not like some books do when it is about horses.
I would really recommend this book to everyone. You don't need to read the other books per se. There are some conversations that might feature some characters from previous books, but nothing big.
julie_reads15's review
2.0
Summary
Racing Savannah by Miranda Kenneally is a young adult contemporary novel about horse racing.
Savannah is a 17-year-old teenage girl who aspires to be a jockey. Savannah, her father and his pregnant girlfriend move to Cedar Hill Farms since her father has just received a job there. They help train horses for races.
Jack is the 17-year-old acting manager of the farm for the year, in order to prove to his father he has what it takes. He's cocky and popular.
Savannah is under strict instructions not to mingle with the Goodwin family outside of work as they like to keep their privacy. However, she can't help but lust over Jack and hope he feels the same way about her.
Savannah and Jack are up against the barrier of their social classes, but they're both known for breaking the rules.
Savannah has to fight for the role of jockey and prove she has a place in the male-dominated sport.
Review
This novel is the fourth book in the Hundred Oaks series, but it's not necessary to read the others beforehand. This is the beginning of the new generation of characters.
I didn't like Savannah and Jack, the main characters, as much as I liked the protagonists in the first few books in the series.
I liked how Savannah went after her dreams, worked hard and wouldn't let anyone get in her way. However, at times I thought she acted too selfishly. It frustrated me how Savannah was so hypocritical and judgmental. She was upset with people for judging her for being poor, yet she was judgmental of rich people and thought all they cared about was their status and money.
Jack was also a frustrating character because he was a playboy and had constant mood swings. However, it was nice to see him develop a bit near the end.
I wasn't a fan of Jack and Savannah's relationship. I didn't like how it was insta-love and how Savannah kept pining over him after the way he treated her. Their relationship felt forced and unrealistic.
I loved Savannah's friends Vanessa and Rory, and how she had a strong friendship with them. They were funny, supportive, and didn't care what people thought of them.
It was interesting to get an insight into horse racing.
I loved seeing cameos from characters from previous books in the series. It was bittersweet.
This plot-line was very similar to Catching Jordan, the first book in the series. It kind of felt like a cheap rip-off. I preferred Catching Jordan.
I recommend this book for anyone who's 13 years and older and is interested in reading a young adult contemporary novel about horse racing.
Racing Savannah by Miranda Kenneally is a young adult contemporary novel about horse racing.
Savannah is a 17-year-old teenage girl who aspires to be a jockey. Savannah, her father and his pregnant girlfriend move to Cedar Hill Farms since her father has just received a job there. They help train horses for races.
Jack is the 17-year-old acting manager of the farm for the year, in order to prove to his father he has what it takes. He's cocky and popular.
Savannah is under strict instructions not to mingle with the Goodwin family outside of work as they like to keep their privacy. However, she can't help but lust over Jack and hope he feels the same way about her.
Savannah and Jack are up against the barrier of their social classes, but they're both known for breaking the rules.
Savannah has to fight for the role of jockey and prove she has a place in the male-dominated sport.
Review
This novel is the fourth book in the Hundred Oaks series, but it's not necessary to read the others beforehand. This is the beginning of the new generation of characters.
I didn't like Savannah and Jack, the main characters, as much as I liked the protagonists in the first few books in the series.
I liked how Savannah went after her dreams, worked hard and wouldn't let anyone get in her way. However, at times I thought she acted too selfishly. It frustrated me how Savannah was so hypocritical and judgmental. She was upset with people for judging her for being poor, yet she was judgmental of rich people and thought all they cared about was their status and money.
Jack was also a frustrating character because he was a playboy and had constant mood swings. However, it was nice to see him develop a bit near the end.
I wasn't a fan of Jack and Savannah's relationship. I didn't like how it was insta-love and how Savannah kept pining over him after the way he treated her. Their relationship felt forced and unrealistic.
I loved Savannah's friends Vanessa and Rory, and how she had a strong friendship with them. They were funny, supportive, and didn't care what people thought of them.
It was interesting to get an insight into horse racing.
I loved seeing cameos from characters from previous books in the series. It was bittersweet.
This plot-line was very similar to Catching Jordan, the first book in the series. It kind of felt like a cheap rip-off. I preferred Catching Jordan.
I recommend this book for anyone who's 13 years and older and is interested in reading a young adult contemporary novel about horse racing.
shirleymak's review
5.0
YEP I CRIED. But that's to be expected because when have I not cried from a Kenneally book.
UGH UGH JACK. JACK.
So frustrating but so cute.
i never know how to review books but this book was really really cute and I want mooooooore MIranda I want moore
UGH UGH JACK. JACK.
So frustrating but so cute.
i never know how to review books but this book was really really cute and I want mooooooore MIranda I want moore
tpeirona's review
2.0
I think I might have actually lost brain cells reading this book. The writing was awful, the main character was not particularly likeable and the author had a weird obsession with using the word pervert in questionable ways and circumstances. Would not read another book by her.
madithecloud's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25