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Racing Savannah

(Hundred Oaks)

Miranda Kenneally (Goodreads Author)

3.93 · Rating details · 10,633 ratings · 900 reviews

They’re from two different worlds.

He lives in the estate house, and she spends most of her time in the stables helping her father train horses. In fact, Savannah has always been much more comfortable around horses than boys. Especially boys like Jack Goodwin—cocky, popular and completely out of her league. She knows the rules: no mixing between the staff and the Goodwin fa ...more

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Paperback, 304 pages

Published December 3rd 2013 by Sourcebooks Fire

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Average rating 3.93 ·

Rating details

· 10,633 ratings · 900 reviews

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Dec 17, 2012 Angela marked it as to-read

Shelves: contemporary, 2013-december, wishlist-paperback

I'm so in love with the covers for this series. ...more

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Feb 01, 2016 Kels rated it it was ok

Shelves: ya, bag-full-of-meh, contemporary, romance, series, realistic-fiction, easy-read, why-oh-why, yawn, its-not-me-its-you

The thing I'm learning about this series is: the books are all so formulaic. They all share near identical themes, with cliched characters that encounter similar problems, namely in the department of ~~romance~~ lurve.

Girl meets guy. Love at first glance. Problems ensue. Girl and guy stop talking. Girl meets another guy. Then either a) The first couple somehow work it out, and depart off into happily ever after land, or b) girl gets with rebound, and of course, departs off into happily ever after l ...more

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Nov 30, 2013 Stacia (the 2010 club) rated it liked it

Shelves: cute, young-adult, contemporary-romance, made-me-laugh

From his pocket he whips out a red lollipop - one of the fancy ones you can only get at the Cracker Barrel.

3.5 stars. It is entirely possible that the above sentence made me think of the unfortunate interview in the picture below.

That noted, I do think Cracker Barrel has some awesome candy.

What's my point in all of this, you ask? Well, my point is, that I might have laughed a few times at the character antics in Racing Savannah. It was a fun, cute, and enjoyable love story.

I won't ...more

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Jun 12, 2013 Giselle rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, ebook

I've come to expect a super sweet, romantic, and character oriented read when I pick up a Kenneally book and this is, again, exactly what I got from Racing Savannah. This one has its own charm that separated it from the others as it's kind of like the "new generation" of this series. We see glimpses of our beloved characters from the other books who have now gotten a bit older and their relationships are moving ahead which was very exciting to see, and bittersweet because it made me miss them! : I've come to expect a super sweet, romantic, and character oriented read when I pick up a Kenneally book and this is, again, exactly what I got from Racing Savannah. This one has its own charm that separated it from the others as it's kind of like the "new generation" of this series. We see glimpses of our beloved characters from the other books who have now gotten a bit older and their relationships are moving ahead which was very exciting to see, and bittersweet because it made me miss them! :)

This time our wonderful protagonist is Savannah. She has a passion for horse racing - well horses in general - and a take-no-crap attitude that I loved. As a girl, she unfortunately get the expected chuckles and odd looks from the other hose jockeys, thinking she's not tough enough to be a part of this sport. Well, she surely shows them! You can't help but root for this girl! As usual, the side cast provides great personality to the book as well. While the other novels focused on either a sports team or a whole camp personnel, Racing Savannah brings us into the lives of the elite, and the help who work for them. I'm always fascinated by this rich side of society that I don't often - or ever - encounter where I'm from. Live-in maids and farm help who are barely making ends meat, working for - and living with - a family who could buy a million dollar farm at a moment's notice. I especially loved the dynamic between the workers; the "stick together" bond they all seem to have.

With that said, Savannah and the love interest, Jack, are from quite opposite spectrums. Plus, Jack being her boss was given a rule to never mingle with the staff - but you and I both know this never stops young love, right? *dreamy sigh*. I wasn't sure what to make of Jack at first, thinking he would sustain the stereotypical snotty attitude that's often associated with his status and social standing. Instead he quickly grew on me. His hesitations stemming from his need to show his dad he's got what it takes to run the farm, not his monetary ranking. He also learns he has to stand up for what he wants. The romance has that great forbidden fruit vibe with a ton of chemistry, but it's not all flowers and butterflies either. They both have to overcome obstacles built from their differences in class and realistic expectations of their futures - theirs and their parents'.

Fans of the series are sure to find themselves swooning over this newest installment in the Hundred Oaks series. Like the others, it's not necessary to have read the prior books to fully understand this one. Though, it's so much fun to see our old beloved characters from new angles, to realize everyone in this small town is all interconnected somehow, that I truly recommend reading this series as a whole.

--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

...more

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Dec 07, 2013 Roza Dimka rated it did not like it

Shelves: 2013-reads

Okay I don't think Miranda is doing this on purpose but after writing Catching Jordan she lost her touch I'm sorry it might be harsh but it is true. I remember when I read Catching Jordan for the first time I was so psyched about it that I read it 3 times that first week. Honestly it was just that good. And then when Stealing Parker came out and I read it I was distraught I couldn't believe it was the same author and then came Things I can't forget it was the same. Honestly they were just that b Okay I don't think Miranda is doing this on purpose but after writing Catching Jordan she lost her touch I'm sorry it might be harsh but it is true. I remember when I read Catching Jordan for the first time I was so psyched about it that I read it 3 times that first week. Honestly it was just that good. And then when Stealing Parker came out and I read it I was distraught I couldn't believe it was the same author and then came Things I can't forget it was the same. Honestly they were just that bad. For some reason I still didn't lose hope and thought this one would cure the past hurts. I know right how stupid can you get. I did not learn from my mistakes.

It's like fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me but what happens the third time? I'll tell you I should be kicked out of the reading books circle for not knowing what to read and what not to.

Okay so let me tell you about what happens in the book. Basically there's this dumb protagonist of ours Savannah who doesn't know what's good for her and doesn't think at all. I swear through out the books you can't get a handle on her thoughts it's like one minute she's thinking something but she does the direct opposite confusing the reader makes you want to smack her and scream at her "bi*** get a hold of yourself or go die". Right so she's a horse trainer and her dads working for these rich people he's like the head of the stable staff. These rich people have a shallow dumb witted son, Jack, who can not stand up for himself and his only redeeming quality are his good looks. Savannah gets to be the jokey for one of the horses, as the horse doesn't like guys, and Jack being the head gets to know her pretty well he wants Savannah to be his dirty little secret, still like the stupid wh*** that she is she keeps on going to the third base on the side, with him. It's not until he actually says that they are friends with benefits does she put an end to their not-so-much-relationship.

"I thought you wanted to be together....like, in secret. As
friends with benefits."
Did he really just say friends with benefits?
"Like, we'd hook up, but we'd never go out on dates and stuff?"
"Yeah. We'd be together on the down low."
Did he really just say down low?

Honestly this is how stupid she is. And Jack is stupider and has no respect for women since they are on the staff even though he keeps claiming otherwise.

In the end they do end up together and that happens because she is about to be raped, in open day light, by the son of one of the guys who is doing business with Jack's dad and Jack comes to save her saying stay away from my girlfriend. By that time you are like WTF?
And guess what Savannah takes him she accepts him as her boyfriend no serious apology whatsoever for using her. Surprised? No? I wasn't either because yes she is that dumb and stupid.

So in the end all I'd like to say about this book is that please guys don't read it, it sucks but hey go ahead and read it so we can bit** about it together.
And that one star is one star too many if there were an option for hate it I'd pick that one. ...more

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Dec 17, 2012 Jasprit rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-galley, contemporary, out-2013, read-in-2013, ya

Miranda Kenneally has quickly become one of my auto-buy authors, she knows how to charm you into one of her beautiful stories and leave you with a nice glowy feel good feeling once you finish the last page of her book. I have been recommending her books to everyone I know because each time she releases a new book, she always delivers a solid read for me.

With Racing Savannah however things were different, I didn’t find myself as involved with the characters or the gorgeous world Kenneally had cre Miranda Kenneally has quickly become one of my auto-buy authors, she knows how to charm you into one of her beautiful stories and leave you with a nice glowy feel good feeling once you finish the last page of her book. I have been recommending her books to everyone I know because each time she releases a new book, she always delivers a solid read for me.

With Racing Savannah however things were different, I didn’t find myself as involved with the characters or the gorgeous world Kenneally had created straight away. But knowing the way I had loved Kenneally’s previous books, I knew my reward for reading this book would still come. And it did. Personally I blame my reading mood lately for my slow start with this book, it’s either taking me ages to read a book lately, or I find myself reading for the sake of reading. But Kenneally once again reminded me why I love reading in the first place. She was able to take something which meant a lot to her in her own life and bring this belief out strong in her characters. Savannah never had the most privileged life, her family used to get by just fine, but then with her mum’s sudden illness and medical fees to pay, things became a bit tight. But then Savannah’s dad was given a great opportunity, Savannah and her family would be working for the Goodwin family of Cedar Hill farms. They were a well established family renowned for their horses. They’d had several successful horses under their belt already, not only would Savannah’s family get the chance to work with luxurious horses (Savannah’s dream), it was a job which they would pay them all well and provide a roof over their head at the same time too. But it meant Savannah had to leave everything behind during her senior year, make a fresh start and of course there was the Goodwin’s son Jack who was cocky, self-assured, but oh so cute, but as he was in charge of the farm and the Goodwin’s son clearly off limits. Could Savannah finally make a life for herself here and her family? And keep her head and heart in check around Jack?

Kenneally for me is amazing at creating swoon worthy characters; Sam Henry, Will Whitfield and Matt are definitely on top of my fictional crushes list. So you could say I was expecting a lot from her latest character Jack. Whereas Jack could be caring and considerate when he wanted to be, I thought that he really wasn’t his own person. He did a lot of things to please others or because it was the right thing to do. A couple of times I did think he’d made the wrong decision and that I wouldn’t be able to forgive him, but he was quick to pull out some sweet gestures when I least expected him to. Although Jack wasn’t my favourite fictional crush, he has some great scenes in this book that I’m sure will woo many readers over.

Whilst I had my ups and downs with Jack’s character, this was not the case with Savannah at all. She was such a hard working girl who wore her heart on her sleeve that I just wanted her to get her happy ending she deserved. Despite not been given many opportunities at Cedar Hill farm, she slogged it out to work her way up, despite disencouragement from many others including her father. Also she also knew in her heart what she wanted and she wasn’t afraid to put it on the line. Alongside Savannah once again there were brilliant secondary characters, friends who were quick to take her side, when others were quick to make assumptions about Savannah. Also these two people went on to show just how brilliant they were, by having Savannah’s back whenever she needed it the most, but also brightening up a scene immensely with their bubbly personalities.

Kenneally was able to deal with several real life issues in a realistic way, but a central idea to this book was family. There were several families involved in this book, they all had their different ways of how they treated one another, or how much money they had, but at the end of the day the question which mattered the most was, how important was ones family? There were times when some ran the risk of their family losing their history entirely, others which said family was important, but then did something completely different to contradict this and others who made decisions with interests of their families future in mind. I loved all the different areas in which Kenneally explored the idea of a family and how she made it such an integral part of the story.

Kenneally totally surprised me with Racing Savannah, first of all I have never had any interest in horses, but Kenneally quickly enough got me into a first name basis with the horses and I soon understood Savannah’s passion and gentleness with them. Secondly Kenneally was able to change my earlier impressions I had made of several characters quite quickly, once I’ve made an assumption or decision I’m quite adamant in my ways, but here I found myself being won over quite quickly. Third this was a great story which explored several realistic issues that I’m sure many individuals could relate too. It also had a solid set of characters and a nice sprinkling of sweet scenes along the way. Also fans of the previous books will not be disappointed, there were a great amount of re-appearances and name dropping of characters from previous books that all I wanted to do was to re-read all three books there and then. Overall Racing Savannah was simply a sweet and beautiful story.
...more

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Oct 16, 2013 Melanie rated it liked it

Shelves: take-your-instant-love-and-get-lost, romance, young-adult, grinned-like-a-fool, e-arc, books-i-own, contemporary, me-likes-you, blog-tour

See more reviews at YA Midnight Reads

3.5 stars

Thank you Xpresso Book Tours for sending me this copy.

I think I'm getting to that point where I am insanely sick of contemporary romances. Six in a row is just about enough now. I'm quite sure, under different circumstances, I would have enjoyed this so much more but I wouldn't give this more than 3.5 stars at the current situation.

How willing are you to risk everything to be with the one you love? Savannah and Jack come from two different backgroun See more reviews at YA Midnight Reads

3.5 stars

Thank you Xpresso Book Tours for sending me this copy.

I think I'm getting to that point where I am insanely sick of contemporary romances. Six in a row is just about enough now. I'm quite sure, under different circumstances, I would have enjoyed this so much more but I wouldn't give this more than 3.5 stars at the current situation.

How willing are you to risk everything to be with the one you love? Savannah and Jack come from two different backgrounds. She works at the stable while he lives in an estate house and owns the farm. She's poor while he's swimming in his wealth. She's the one with big, dangerous ambitions and he's the one that can make them come true. She's the one that's been warned that he's not worth it. He's the one that's been told she'll bring him down. But still, they want to be together no matter the odds.

Savannah has been around horses for most of her life; she trains them and finds herself in the stable most of the time. When she gets the opportunity to become a horse jockey, she wants it more than anything. Not only did I love Savannah's passion for horses, but her humorous remarks kept me grinning like a fool. She doesn't like being treated like shit and is a strong young woman. I loved her attitude and how determined she is. Moreover, I liked how she would go to her father and talk to him openly, other contemporaries have the MC closing up towards their parents, not telling them anything. Per contra, I struggled to get used to how observant Savannah could be. There was constantly the phrase: "He's staring at me" or something like that. You're not looking at him but you can still see him staring at you? Kinda creeeepy. Especially when it happens so many times.

Another aspect that shined was the friendships. Rory and Vanessa’s relationship with Savannah was truly amazing. The three would stick up for each other and were totally honest. Exactly what an authentic friendship is like. For example: Rory and Vanessa offered to kick Jack's ass because he was being a dickhead.

For me, what did not make this a hugely lovable novel were Jack and the romance. Unfortunately, I struggled to like Jack for half of the story. Savannah and Jack's connection was so hot and cold and too fast. I get that Jack's nature is to flirt, but I seriously hated his approach sometimes. There's something about flirty cocky guy gone all gooey and sweet that just doesn't work for me. I would have preferred if there was a better build up.

All in all, Racing Savannah was a great read even though I failed to connect with Jack or believe in the romance 100%. This was my first Miranda Kenneally novel, and I think I am willing to try her previous ones. ...more

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Dec 29, 2015 Dilushani Jayalath rated it liked it

I'm really sorry to say this, but this is my least favourite Kenneally novel to date. It's as if her books are going for a bad turn.

I really don't know why but nothing in this book stuck as cute or nice to me and the only reason Im giving this is a 3 star instead of one is due to my somewhat biased loyalty to Ms. Kenneally. I partially disliked Things I can't Forget but still it was pretty good enough I gave 4 star but this one?

What can I say? Savannah got on my freaking nerves. She was annoying ...more

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Jul 20, 2014 Laura rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult, 2016, audio-book

2,5 stars
I have to say that this is my least favorite Miranda Kenneally book so far. It wasn't bad, just a bit cheesy for my taste. Also, it didn't touch me like her other books did and I didn't particularly care for the characters, though the whole group of friends was fun. I guess the story just wasn't quite for me. I'll definitely read the rest of her Hundred Oaks books though. Only two left now! ...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it liked it

Shelves: on-my-shelves, owned-print-copy, arc, favorites-contemps

Reread thoughts from 2020:
This is the first in the series that hasn't really held up for me. Aside from the first couple in the series, I didn't read these back to back originally but as they came out. That means I didn't really compare them to each other, but now that I'm doing so, this one isn't up to the standard of the prior books. There's an emotional depth to the others that this one doesn't have. It could have made powerful points about poverty and sexism, but it doesn't really. The roman Reread thoughts from 2020:
This is the first in the series that hasn't really held up for me. Aside from the first couple in the series, I didn't read these back to back originally but as they came out. That means I didn't really compare them to each other, but now that I'm doing so, this one isn't up to the standard of the prior books. There's an emotional depth to the others that this one doesn't have. It could have made powerful points about poverty and sexism, but it doesn't really. The romance could use more development, as could Savannah's relationship with her family. It feels like it's set up for there to be a whole arc with her dad's girlfriend that just doesn't happen. To my current eyes, the book feels a bit unfinished. I also don't like that (view spoiler); that was not a good choice.

My rating's honestly between two and three stars, but I'm rounding up because it's a cute contemporary as long as you don't hold it to the high standard Kenneally's books have set. This is fluffy and quick, and it will be the right thing depending on mood and expectation, I think.

Original review from 2013:

Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars, rounded up because OH MY LITTLE PONY but this is a Christina book.

Racing Savannah is Miranda Kenneally’s fourth novel and, thus far, she’s not written a single book that I do not like and/or love. That, my friends, is an accomplishment. In some ways, all of the Hundred Oaks books are really consistent and similar to one another, but they’re not the same book over and over, which I love. Some are darker, particularly Things I Can’t Forget, and others are fluffy goodness. Racing Savannah‘s definitely on the fluffy end of the spectrum, though perhaps not quite as much as Catching Jordan. Personally, Racing Savannah is my favorite Kenneally novel yet, because Savannah’s my favorite heroine and there are horses.

Read the full review at A Reader of Fictions. ...more

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Sep 29, 2013 Lindy rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya-contemporary, blog-review, blog-tour

I am a huge fan of Miranda Kenneally's Hundred Oaks Series. The first book in the series, Catching Jordan was outstanding, and instantly hooked me! As I continued reading this series, I quickly realized that Ms. Kenneally is a very unique and talented author. Her stories always deal with real life issues, and leave me in a very contemplative mood. She tends to address social dynamics, norms, and stereotypes pertaining to gender roles, sexuality, religion, and socioeconomic class. Her stories not ...more

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Dec 17, 2012 nick (the infinite limits of love) rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc

Miranda Kenneally has fast become one of my favorite YA contemporary authors and with Racing Savannah she proved once again what a talented author she is.

The characters in Racing Savannah were so different from those from her other books and it put me off a bit, but over time they began to grow on me. Savannah was a likeable character and I especially loved how hard she was willing to work in order to make a life for herself. She also had such a giving personality and I loved how kind-hearted sh
Miranda Kenneally has fast become one of my favorite YA contemporary authors and with Racing Savannah she proved once again what a talented author she is.

The characters in Racing Savannah were so different from those from her other books and it put me off a bit, but over time they began to grow on me. Savannah was a likeable character and I especially loved how hard she was willing to work in order to make a life for herself. She also had such a giving personality and I loved how kind-hearted she was, especially when it came to her pregnant step-mother. Savannah would actually take the work shift of her step-mother when the latter had difficulties and that is something I really admired in her. Savannah's love for horse-racing and her willingness to show others that as a woman she could do anything that men did as well were also endearing qualities. When it came to horse racing, Savannah did not always succeed, but she didn't also give up easily. Overall, she was simply a fantastic character. The character that I had the hardest time with was Jack. I was never sure of his intentions and in all honesty, some of the things he did were questionable and I certainly did not approve of them. Over the course of the book, we do watch him grow into a much more mature person, but I still don't think I loved him as much as I loved the other Kenneally boys.

The romance in Racing Savannah wasn't perfect and for almost half of the book, I wasn't convinced with it. I attribute that to my dislike for Jack's character for most of the book. It did have its sweet and swoon-worthy moments, but I can't say it made me want to be in Savannah's place. What I did love in Racing Savannah was the friendship. Miranda Kenneally is wonderful when it comes to depicting growing friendships and in this book, she did not disappoint at all. I especially had a soft spot for Rory. His relationship with Savannah made me smile so many times during the book. What I love the most about Miranda's books is that there are always messages about growing up and learning from your mistakes. Her books aren't just about the romance, but there's a strong moral that the reader can take after closing the book.

While Racing Savannah wasn't my favorite Miranda Kenneally book, it was still highly entertaining and a book that is worth the read. I don't hesitate recommending this author when it comes to YA contemporaries at all. ...more

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Dec 03, 2013 Henrietta rated it really liked it

Entertaining, uplifting and heartwarming, Racing Savannah brings us a story about riders and racehorses. Even though Jack may be young and rich, he is not aloof or haughty. I like that he is friendly, pleasant and approachable. He respects his staff and it’s really sweet to see him treat his animals with love, tender and care. I like his character growth and it’s wonderful to see him take a stand to honor what he values in the end. Savannah may have started out thinking she could not achieve muc ...more

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Sep 15, 2015 bookaholic_kim rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2015, read-in-ebook

This is the fourth story in the Hundred Oaks series. The story takes place more out of school setting. You will mostly read the characters in the stable or in the ranch.

Savannah and Jack are 2 high school students who have more responsibilities than other teens their age.

Jack is taking charge of his father’s ranch for a year. Handling everything like making big decisions and hiring new employees.

Savannah’s father is a new worker in Jack’s ranch so she needs to move in with her father and her gi ...more

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Jul 26, 2015 Anne Osterlund rated it liked it

Savannah wants something more. More than a working class job and a working class life, like those of her dad and his pregnant girlfriend. But Savannah also wants her new brother or sister to have a future. So all of her hard-earned income as an exercise rider goes toward helping out her family.

And Savannah’s own future seems stuck in a holding pattern, with the exception of Jack Goodwin. Jack is trouble—the privileged son of her father’s boss. Savannah knows she should stay away. But Jack is man ...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Jenni Arndt rated it really liked it

My love for Miranda Kenneally’s work will never cease to be a high point in my life every time I pick up one of her novels. She always incorporates the right amount of athleticism, romance and friendship in her stories and gets the reader so wrapped up in her characters lives. She nailed it again with Racing Savannah, and while I did feel like the characterization of our MC wasn’t quite what I had hoped it to be, I loved this story and everything that it stood for.

We meet Savannah, who is a new My love for Miranda Kenneally’s work will never cease to be a high point in my life every time I pick up one of her novels. She always incorporates the right amount of athleticism, romance and friendship in her stories and gets the reader so wrapped up in her characters lives. She nailed it again with Racing Savannah, and while I did feel like the characterization of our MC wasn’t quite what I had hoped it to be, I loved this story and everything that it stood for.

We meet Savannah, who is a new addition to the Hundred Oaks gang. She just moved into town with her father and his newly pregnant girlfriend because her father got a job as a groomer at Cedar Hill Farms. The one rule that was enforced upon her as she began living at the farm was to stay out of the lives of the Goodwins (the owners of the farm) because they value their privacy. But once she meets Jack Goodwin, who is 17 years old and acting as owner of the farm in practice for his future, she can’t keep her eyes off of him. As always, we are given a pretty swoon worthy romance. For much of the novel I was frustrated with Jack and his inability to do what he wanted for fear of disappointing his father but the stolen moments that him and Savannah found were really great. Along with the budding romance we get to watch Savannah settle in and make some strong friendships along the way. I had worried that the camaraderie I have come to expect in these novels wouldn’t be present in this one because Savannah is new to town but Miranda made sure it was there in full force. Rest assured that you still get all the inside jokes and awkward moments that were present in the previous novels.

We also get glimpses of some of the characters that we have come to know and love. Will and Parker make a very special appearance and even Jordan, Sam and Ty take the stage here and there. I can’t stress enough how much I love seeing characters that I have loved in the previous books. Through Miranda included these scenes that they are in we have really gotten to watch them grow up and see all the different, sometimes unexpected, places that life has taken them.

I did find myself longing for more of a connection to Savannah through the first half of the novel. I’m not sure what was missing there, but something kept me from becoming completely lost in her story. But as the story goes on we come to see that she she is an incredibly headstrong girl. She knew what she wanted and she wasn’t afraid to go after it. I loved watching her excel in a predominantly male sport and her love for horses had me actually feeling for the animals as well. This is quite the feat because I am not an animal person at all, but I have to admit that I loved Star (the horse that she begins to train and later jockey.) This horse had an attitude! I didn’t know much about horse raising/racing/grooming but I think I learned a lot from this novel. We learn about the good and the bad of the sport, there are some people out there who put the horses through some pretty cruel things just to earn a buck.

Another strong addition the a series that I have come to love so very much, Racing Savannah is a must read, just like everything else by Kenneally. I can definitely see animal lovers finding a special place in their heart for this one and of course people who love themselves a good romance will as well. As a last little note I have to say to Miranda that I came out of this really wanting Kelsey’s story. So uhh, just think about that please.

An Advanced Reader's Copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

--

You can read all of my reviews at Alluring Reads. ...more

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Dec 17, 2012 Ambur rated it it was amazing

I am seriously so smitten with this series...and with each book I grow to love it more and more! :D While I loved the three previous books, I definitely have to say that Racing Savannah is my favourite so far!! :D I absolutely LOVED IT!!!

Savannah was an AMAZING narrator!!! I loved that she was so true to herself, and that she knew that even though she was poor, she still had value! Too many heroines...and people in real life, too, don't value themselves enough, but Savannah definitely didn't hav I am seriously so smitten with this series...and with each book I grow to love it more and more! :D While I loved the three previous books, I definitely have to say that Racing Savannah is my favourite so far!! :D I absolutely LOVED IT!!!

Savannah was an AMAZING narrator!!! I loved that she was so true to herself, and that she knew that even though she was poor, she still had value! Too many heroines...and people in real life, too, don't value themselves enough, but Savannah definitely didn't have that problem, and I totally loved her for it. I was so proud of her throughout this book, and I absolutely loved that she stood up for herself the way that she did. Savannah is one of those characters that you just have to love, not only because she's an amazing person, but also because she's the kind of person we all should aspire to be more like. I really hope that we see more heroines in YA like Savannah because she's fantastic.

Also, I absolutely loved Savannah's relationship with the horses! And of course, I loved her relationship with Jack, too. ;D Sometimes the boy got on my nerve, but like I said, I was proud of Savannah, and in her interactions with Jack, she definitely made me proud...Jack did in the end, too. All in all though, I loved Jack...and if I were Savannah, I would've been smitten with the charismatic cowboy, too. ;D I honestly just loved the characters in Racing Savannah, they were great! I really enjoyed getting to know them, and I loved getting to see the siblings of a few of the previous characters growing up, it was pretty neat.

Racing Savannah actually takes place a few years after Things I Can't Forget, but we did still get to see our favourite characters from the previous books, they're just a little bit older...trust me though, you will LOVE that you get to see them! I was totally giddy and squeeing when I saw what the characters were all up to. ;D

Overall, I absolutely LOVED Racing Savannah! It's my favourite in the Hundred Oaks series so far, and I thought that Savannah was an amazing heroine! She was strong, funny, and just all-around awesome! I think she's one of the best YA heroines out there, and I loved reading her story. I can't wait for more from Miranda Kenneally because the Hundred Oaks series just keeps getting better and better! ...more

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Dec 06, 2013 Sarah Elizabeth rated it liked it

Shelves: as, read-2014

(Source: I own a copy of this book.)
16-year-old Savannah loves horses, but she wants more from life than the minimum wage that her father gets. Instead Savannah wants to exercise horses for a good wage, and she wants to start at the stables where her father works.
Jack is managing the stables for his father, and isn’t sure about giving Savannah a go as a horse exerciser, unless she can ride Star – Jack’s well-bred but untameable horse.
Can Savannah tame Star? And can she tame Jack too?

This was an ...more

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May 15, 2013 Giselle rated it liked it

Shelves: arc-electronic, from-publishers, requested-for-review, 3-star, age-young-adult, from-netgalley, 2013, blog-tour, genre-contemporary, genre-romance

Here’s another contemporary book from Miranda’s lovely Hundred Oaks series that I couldn’t wait to read, only this time it’s a new character named Savannah who works at a horse ranch with her father. She trains and rides horses for exercise, and when she meets the handsome James she realizes that she could be in love with him. That proves to be problematic only because she’s from a working class and he’s from an upper-class family.

I wished Savannah had more backbone to be confident and not offen ...more

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Sep 10, 2013 Damaris (GoodChoiceReading) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, for-review, arc-tour

Out of all of Miranda Kenneally books, Racing Savannah has to be my second favorite -- Catching Jordan being the first, of course.

I have to admit that the last two books Kenneally has released weren’t horrible, but did not blow me away either. Ever since Catching Jordan I have been waiting for her to release something just as good, if not better, but it just hasn’t happened. However, I never gave up hope. I love her writing style; I love the characters she creates, so I will always read what she ...more

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Dec 26, 2016 Muse-ic ♬ rated it liked it

Shelves: fluff, romance, kick-butt-female, contemporary

3.5
I think this one is marginally the best of the Hundred Oaks books I've read, except for Catching Jordan.

All of these books follow nearly the exact same formula. It's not terrible, but it's going to get old soon. It hasn't quite yet but I can feel it creeping up on me.
I love how each main character has their own different passion.
Jordan is a football player.
Parker is a softball player.
Kate is an artist.
Savannah is into horseback riding.
Annie is trying to run a marathon.
Maya is a musician.
It's ...more

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Nov 06, 2013 Bèbè ✦ RANT ✦ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc-copies, netgalley-edelweiss

*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Racing Savannah is a story about understanding that no matter who you are, where you come from, what you look like, how much money you have – you have the right to go after whatever you want. You have the right to make your dreams come true…

Reading about Savannah and Jack and seeing how their friendship became something more was really entertaining. I don’t really like the thought of being country and have all that interest in horse ...more

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Feb 28, 2014 Veronika rated it liked it

Shelves: ya-contemporary, romance

I loved the premise, the whole setting, the horses... I was excited to start this book. And it was good but I would be lying if I said it lived up to my expectations.

The characters were cute I guess, but to be honest, I couldn't care less what was happening around them. THE STORY WAS MISSING! I felt like the book was about nothing in particular, except maybe about the main characters falling for each other. The problem was, Savannah and Jack had no chemistry IMO.

The book was enjoyable and fa ...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Tamikia rated it it was ok

This kind of reminds me of the show Wildfire. But I'm still not sure if I'll read it or not though. It seemd like each book in the series is getting more and more reglious. ...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Heidi rated it really liked it

Four stars: Another terrific addition to an outstanding YA series!

Savannah is worried about relocating right before her senior year. Still she understands that her father could not pass up a promising job opportunity. Money is tight and Savannah's dad now has another baby on the way. Savannah settles in at the wealthy estate and sets her sight on becoming a horse exerciser. The wealthy Goodwin's have a stable full of pure bred racehorses and her father is going to help with the training. On Sava ...more

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Dec 17, 2012 Jennifer rated it it was amazing

I loved the previous three books in this series and devoured this one in one night. Savannah has moved to a new town for her dad's new job. She lost her mom but her dad's new girlfriend is now expecting a baby. Money is tight so she wants to help out and when the opportunity to become a horse jockey pops up she is excited. The owner's son Jack, has been taking over duties and Savannah has caught his attention but both their parents prefer for them to stay on their own sides. Sneaking around isn' I loved the previous three books in this series and devoured this one in one night. Savannah has moved to a new town for her dad's new job. She lost her mom but her dad's new girlfriend is now expecting a baby. Money is tight so she wants to help out and when the opportunity to become a horse jockey pops up she is excited. The owner's son Jack, has been taking over duties and Savannah has caught his attention but both their parents prefer for them to stay on their own sides. Sneaking around isn't for Savannah. She wants it all but the pressure is on because her dad can't lose this job with a baby on the way.

The thing I love most about this series is how well I can relate to the characters. Even though I may not have ever been in their exact position with their exact passions, I love the way real life problems are brought up and dealt with. A girl wanting to do something she is passionate about but that others think only men should do. First love and new friendships, growing up and how that changes relationships with your family. Going after what you want despite all the difficulties in your way. Making all kinds of mistakes along the way but learning and changing.

Savannah wants to be a horse jockey even though her dad is afraid of her getting hurt and others think only men should do it. She wants to go to college even though she doesn't think she could ever have the money. Balancing family responsibilities along with her own needs. Some of these things used to stop her but I love how she changed and took charge. Miranda Kenneally's characters have a way of making me tear up with their struggles and then tear up some more when they overcome them. Even standing up to Jack and demanding to be more than a secret or a friend with benefits.

Jack is adorable. Every love interest in this series steals your heart. He is rich and Savannah thinks he will be stuck up but he is really kind and down to earth. He wants to do well and take over the farm and make his own way. I think his father at times had too much influence on him but being a teenager is about making mistakes and learning. Eventually he stands up for himself. There is plenty of great romance along the way. They try to stay away from each other but that doesn't last long. Lots of sweet stolen moments. And of course we still get to see the characters from the previous books and even a wedding! You don't have to read them all in order to follow but it makes it that much more fun. A great series to get started on!

"You are really pretty..." He drags a hand through his blond hair. "But you're kind of like a great book...you know, you pick up a book at the bookstore because it has a beautiful cover...but it's what's inside that pulls you in."
That might be the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me.

"Would you stop trying to distract me?"
"Talking about my underwear distracts you? If only I'd known that sooner."

"And now you're using it to sneak a girl into the house and into your room?"
"How do you know that's where I'm taking you?"
"Because if you aren't, I'll be really pissed."

*I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review* ...more

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Nov 03, 2013 Karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-2013

I really enjoyed Racing Savannah. It takes on quite a few serious issues like class but it’s done in a thoughtful, almost breezy way.

Savannah is the most refreshing of YA girls. She lost her mom to cancer, has a new step mom and step-baby on the way, works in the stables of a horse farm with her family, living one paycheck away from being destitute, has to work as a maid serving her crush – the wealthy son of the horse farm owner – Jake, yet she takes it all in stride. Sure she’s worried about I really enjoyed Racing Savannah. It takes on quite a few serious issues like class but it’s done in a thoughtful, almost breezy way.

Savannah is the most refreshing of YA girls. She lost her mom to cancer, has a new step mom and step-baby on the way, works in the stables of a horse farm with her family, living one paycheck away from being destitute, has to work as a maid serving her crush – the wealthy son of the horse farm owner – Jake, yet she takes it all in stride. Sure she’s worried about it all but she isn’t mired down in despair over it. She’s worried about bills and lack of health insurance, dating, college prep fees…just like all of us.

Savannah goes after what she wants. She’s seen her father struggle with money and wants a better future for herself and goes after it. When she falls for Jake – she goes for it. I just adored her.

The romance wasn’t quite as forbidden and swoony as I hoped. I liked him but Jack was….well not someone I could really swoon over. He has so much pressure put on him at a young age as he tries to prove to his father that he can take over the family horse racing business. He’s not supposed to be dating the help but he can’t seem to stop his attraction to Savannah. One of the things I liked about him is how much he respected her talent and abilities with the horses. But as a boyfriend? Not so much. He doesn’t stand up to his father and I get that – there wouldn’t be a book if he does the right thing immediately - but he treats Savannah in a way when they're alone one time that just crossed a line for me. I couldn’t forgive him as easily as she did. It’s nothing huge or dramatic – but shall we say – dick-ish? Yes, I shall say that. Jack is probably one of the more authentic YA boys I’ve read about though. He’s flawed, screws up, and tries to make it right but he's just not my cup of tea in the boy department.

The secondary characters were fantastic and I loved how the story allowed Savannah to have male friends that weren’t love triangle material. Everyone was just so real.

I read a few reviews that said the horse lingo aspect wasn’t authentic and I don’t know enough myself to judge that. All I know is that this book felt open and free to me. That probably doesn’t make sense but I loved when Savannah was cleaning the stalls, riding the horses, watching a race. I felt exhilarated with her – like I was outside in a big wide open field.

Final thoughts: Although the romance didn’t quite work for me it didn’t matter. I loved Savannah and her refreshingly honest attitude about life. She’s not overly brash but knows what she wants out of life – even as new possibilities open to her. Racing Savannah has wonderful friendships and a beautiful sense of family and honor.

Also posted on my blog: http://www.fwiwreviews.net/2013/12/re... ...more

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Feb 03, 2013 Aimee ♥ | Aimee, Always rated it liked it

Shelves: insta-love-lust-attraction, light-and-cute, covergasm, no-chemistry

The first Hundred Oaks novel, Catching Jordan, was an absolute favorite of mine, while the following two (Stealing Parker and Things I Can't Forget) weren't as good but still made me laugh and cry. Racing Savannah wasn't a particularly bad book, but it just felt a bit flat. I expected to bawl my eyes out in the last part of the novel as I did with the first three, but there wasn't nearly enough angst--or any other emotion, in fact--to make me cry.

We're given a fairly generic setup: the rich boy and the poor girl. And of course, he's her boss. Even though it seems like nothing interesting will come out of reading Racing Savannah, Miranda Kenneally does know how to entertain her readers. There was humor mixed in, mostly coming from Savannah's friends, Rory and Vanessa. They were a cute pair and I adored their support towards whatever Savannah wanted, as well as their banters.

As for the actual romance, I liked Savannah and Jack well enough. There were some times where I questioned their feelings for each other, but it was overall an alright relationship. They didn't really share the bond that the other characters in the previous books had, which was very disappointing. It felt a little forced, as though they were dating/flirting for the sake of it, not because they really liked each other. In other words, there wasn't enough development in their relationship. It would've been fine with me if, for example, they were best friends for a long time like Jordan and Henry. I wished they'd gotten to know each other more, instead of all the casual flirting here and there.

Now, my favorite part about Savannah's character was her love for horses. She deeply cared about them, as if they were humans rather than just animals used to earn money. She wouldn't let anyone hurt them and openly cared for them. She was very passionate about her job as well. Despite the danger of being physically hurt (permanently and not), she would stop at nothing to reach her goals.

Overall, I did enjoy some parts of the novel but not as much as I did the previous books. Some scenes felt off and stiff, but the side characters definitely made up for it. If you liked the first three books in the series, this one is still worth a shot. ...more

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Aug 28, 2013 AH rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, green, bl-reviews, arc-netgalley, romance, babr-reviews, zzread-nov-2013

Initial Thoughts:I'm so glad that I discovered Miranda Kenneally's young adult series. This author manages to write realistic stories about teenagers. I love how her characters (especially the girls) are so strong and know what they want. Nicely done.

The Review:Racing Savannah was a pleasant surprise for me. I had read Catching Jordan earlier this year and I was eager to try out another book by Ms. Kenneally. I’ll admit that I know nothing about horses and horseracing yet I still enjoyed this b Initial Thoughts:I'm so glad that I discovered Miranda Kenneally's young adult series. This author manages to write realistic stories about teenagers. I love how her characters (especially the girls) are so strong and know what they want. Nicely done.

The Review:Racing Savannah was a pleasant surprise for me. I had read Catching Jordan earlier this year and I was eager to try out another book by Ms. Kenneally. I’ll admit that I know nothing about horses and horseracing yet I still enjoyed this book.

I think that what I liked best about this book was the main character, Savannah Barrow. Savannah is a spunky 17 year old high school senior who is quite gifted when dealing with purebred horses. Savannah has not had an easy life. Her mother died of breast cancer and her father’s current girlfriend is pregnant. Money is scarce and Savannah desperately wants a job at the Cedar Hills farm where her father works and where she and her family live.

The story is told from Savannah’s point of view. Her character feels so authentic. Savannah is strong and caring, and she puts the financial welfare of her family first. Savannah also knows what she wants, even though it may not be possible. I loved how she was able to “tame” a crotchety purebred horse and how she determined the source of that horse’s discomfort.

Savannah’s love interest Jack Goodwin came across as a real player at first. Jack’s family owned the farm but his father put him in charge so he could learn the business. Jack is good looking and his father warns him about consorting with staff. Needless to say, there is an attraction between Savannah and Jack. At first Jack wants Savannah to be with him in secret. I loved how Savannah rejected that idea outright. This is a girl who is strong and who doesn’t put up with crap.

The secondary characters were also interesting. I loved the camaraderie between Savannah, Rory and Vanessa. Rory was a hoot and he made me laugh especially when he told Savannah that he couldn’t possibly date her because she was too short.

Racing Savannah was a fun peek into the world of purebred horse racing. Even though I’m not a horse racing fan, I was able to enjoy this book. I’ll have to make sure that I find the other books in this series and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for a review copy of this book.

Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.
...more

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Oct 06, 2012 Molli Moran rated it really liked it

Today I'm hosting a tour stop + giveaway on my blog for RACING SAVANNAH!

Despite having a hit-or-miss relationship with Miranda Kenneally’s books, I still get excited about each new one from her. And the truth is, she’s on my auto-buy list: I own all her books on my Nook and want to own them in paperback at some point. Miranda writes these amazing genuine, real characters, like Jordan, or Parker, or even Kate. Her characters get under your skin, even as you feel like you know them.

Now I can add Today I'm hosting a tour stop + giveaway on my blog for RACING SAVANNAH!

Despite having a hit-or-miss relationship with Miranda Kenneally’s books, I still get excited about each new one from her. And the truth is, she’s on my auto-buy list: I own all her books on my Nook and want to own them in paperback at some point. Miranda writes these amazing genuine, real characters, like Jordan, or Parker, or even Kate. Her characters get under your skin, even as you feel like you know them.

Now I can add Racing Savannah to the list of another book I loved from Miranda Keneally. With great, natural pacing that never felt off-putting or jolted me out of the story, I fell hard for leads Savannah Barrows and Jack Goodwin. Savannah had a realistic inner voice – Miranda knows how to write teens that THINK and sound and ACT like teens should. And Jack, while he made some bad choices at times (just like Savannah did) was pretty darn swoon-worthy. Savannah and Jack had great chemistry, but more than that, they had a real connection, and I loved watching them come together.

Kenneally nails characters and their interactions, and obviously that’s her strong suit, but she’s a good storyteller. The tension in Racing Savannah was definitely there from the beginning, and it only increased as the story spun to a close. I always go into a Kenneally book expecting a few things: swoony romance, good characters, and strong friendships. All those were present in Racing Savannah, and more! I love the friendships between Savannah and Rory, Savannah and Vanessa, and so forth.

At first it was odd following a “the next generation” type story, but ultimately I loved how Kenneally makes references to her other characters. We see glimpses of Jordan, Henry, Will, etc. We see where their lives have gone, and they’re clearly still relevant, even though the Hundred Oaks series is moving forward. I for one can’t wait to see where it goes next!

Pros and Cons!

Pros: A great romance, and an emphasis on friendship mix with a fantastic story. HORSES!

Cons: I didn’t really connect with the characters in terms of feels, but the story was super cute at times, and enjoyable. ...more

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About Miranda Kenneally

Miranda Kenneally

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Growing up in Tennessee, Miranda Kenneally dreamed of becoming an Atlanta Brave, a country singer (cliché!), or a UN interpreter. Instead she writes, and works for the State Department in Washington, D.C., where George W. Bush once used her shoulder as an armrest. Miranda loves Twitter, Star Trek and her husband.

Note: I don't answer direct messages, but do answer questions on Goodreads and Twitter ...more

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“But you're kind of like a great book…you know, you pick up a book at the bookstore because it has a beautiful cover…but it's what's inside that pulls you in.” — 35 likes

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