The Jump

Reinert’s charming latest (after Flight, the conclusion to the Eventing Series) concerns 21-year-old Brooke Haskell, whose great love is her mare, Roxie, a former racehorse she purchased with dreams of showcasing her talent at equestrian triathlons. While contending with Roxie’s stubborn nature and a lack of funds, Brooke serendipitously meets popular influencer Lenox Alvarez, who encourages her to apply to be a working student at the prestigious River Grove Farm in Virginia, run by superstar trainer Eddie Haskell. Eddie takes on Brooke, who spends the summer learning the business with manager Anise Kincaid and working alongside Lenox, who turns out to be down-to-earth and nurturing despite her moneyed background. Still, Lenox has a competitive side, which emerges when the girls learn they’re both up for the same job at the end of their apprenticeship. As the farm prepares for big events in Florida, Brooke grows wary of Eddie’s rough behavior toward the horses and his alcoholic benders. Matters come to a head when Anise and Eddie try to convince Brooke to sell Roxie to them, and Brooke has to come to terms with the nature of the business and her future. Reinert elucidates the world of equestrian eventing with her deeply informed story. This will please the author’s fans and win her new ones. Agent: Lacy Lalene Lynch, House of Story. (Mar.)