Welcome to the Blog Blitz and Giveaway for Dream Horse Adventures series by Susan Count, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Selah’s Sweet Dream
Series: Dream Horse Adventures #2
Author: Susan Count
Publisher: Hastings Creations
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
Release Date: December 15, 2015
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.
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 horse 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
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository
EXCERPT
The long and lush pasture grass darkened Selah’s pink boots with dew. Easing up beside Grandpa, she stayed quiet since he was quiet and peered into the thicket.
He motioned for her to step back from the edge of the woods with him. “Skunk brought me baby rabbits this morning. She could only carry one at a time, so she ended up dribbling a trail of bunnies down the hill. She must have thought they were puppies, and she should mother them. I followed her and her bunny trail all the way up the hill. She was happy to show me right where it was, so I returned them to the nest.”
“What about their mother?” Selah tugged on his shirt.
“The doe will move them to a new nest when she finds they smell a little funny.”
“How many are there?”
“I found four. Let’s watch for more as we go back to the house.” Grandpa put his arm across her shoulder and walked her away from the nesting area.
Skunk trotted before them weaving back and forth across the trail, down the hill. She stopped in midstride, picked up another baby bunny, and marched home with it.
“Skunk,” Grandpa scolded.
With her head lowered, she marched on with a purpose. “Skunk!” He slapped his camo cap on his knee. “Skunk is as
determined to have her own way as you are, Selah.”
Skunk paused and turned to look at him. He knelt down.
“Come.”
Her dark eyes watched him for a moment before she moved sluggishly to him.
Cupping his hands underneath her mouth, he told her to “give”. In slow motion, Skunk released the bunny into his waiting hands.
“I understand, Skunk. Us girls need to stick together.” Selah rubbed the dog’s head. “Ahh… may I hold the baby, Grandpa?”
“Sure.” He slipped it into her hands. “Got it?”
“Oooow, its eyes aren’t even open yet.” She stroked its fur with one finger. “Soft as silk. Everything about the bunny is adorable. Look at its teeny, tiny nose. I thought its tail would be fluffy, but it’s bald.” Selah tilted her head to the side and flashed Grandpa her most irresistible smile. “May I keep it?” She cuddled the bunny near her cheek.
“That wouldn’t be the best thing for the baby, now would it?”
“No, I guess not, but I love bunnies.” The smile faded from her face. “Its mother can take better care of it than I could.”
“Good thinkin’.”
“But I would take such good care of a horse,” Selah blurted. He rotated to look at her as his face scrunched up. “Not again,
Selah. Don’t push me on that.”
“Grandpa! You’ve seen the walls in my room at home. Every
inch is covered in horse. Why can’t we just talk about getting a horse?”
“Because I said so.”
“The farm’s too quiet, Grandpa. A horse farm should be alive with horses.”
“I’m done with horses, Selah.”
“I need a horse of my own! You know Grandma would’ve wanted me to have a horse.”
His eyes darkened. He wagged a finger at her, and then shoved his hands in his pockets as he turned back toward the nest. “Selah, that’s enough. Bring the bunny and come on. Your summer vacation should not be torture for me. Do you want me to call your parents and have them come get you already?”
“No, sir. But, it’s your fault! You gave me Grandma’s horse library. Do I read anything except horse books?”
“She would have wanted you to have them.”
“And a horse!” Selah bit the inside of her lip. “When I was really little and your paint horse put his muzzle right in my face, and breathed his scent on me… it’s like he cast a spell over me that changed me forever.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susan Count is a life-long equestrian and owned by a Rocky Mountain Horse that is kind hearted enough to take her on long forested trail rides. She adores grandchildren, horses, and bunnies.
Instilled with the need to create, she loves building projects and writing adventure stories. She writes at an antique secretary desk that occupies a glass room with a forest view. Fittingly, it once belonged to the grandmother who introduced her to the love of reading via Walter Farley’s horse books. That desk has secret compartments which hold memories, mysteries, and story ideas.
Susan has published four books in an equestrian series. As a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Texas Association of Authors, she takes studying the craft of writing seriously. Revision is her super-power.
She says the only thing more fun than riding might be writing horse adventure stories and she invites you to saddle up and ride along. You can learn more about Susan’s work by visiting her website!
CONNECT WITH SUSAN: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a copy of Selah’s Secret Dream, Selah’s Painted Dream, and Selah’s Stolen Dream plus a $25 Amazon gift card!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway will begin at midnight March 5, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on March 12, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Continental US mailing addresses only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
Disclaimer – I have not read this book so I cannot speak to its appropriateness for a K-12 Christian School library.
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