Racing Savannah

Kenneally’s (Things I Can’t Forget) equestrian-themed romance is energized by another winning heroine: pragmatic and hardworking Savannah Barrow. The 17-year-old keeps her spirits up even though she’s been forced to move with her father and pregnant stepmother from West Virginia to ritzy Cedar Hill Farms in Tennessee, where her father is the new head groom for horses entered in the Kentucky Derby and other prestigious races. Savannah is immediately attracted to the farm owner’s son, Jack, but also intimidated by the class divide between them. She focuses her attention on saving money for a future that includes college and training Tennessee Star, a willful thoroughbred who will be sold unless he starts winning races. Savannah’s relationship with Star, her steamy but clandestine romance with Jack, and her budding career as a jockey help her confront her fears and recover from her mother’s death years earlier. Kenneally’s story about considering the importance of one’s own happiness should appeal to a wide audience; despite some bumps in the road, there’s never any doubt that all will end well. Ages 13–up. Agent: Sara Megibow, Nelson Literary Agency. (Dec.)