EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY
Race Girl
(The Go Girl Chronicles Book 3)
(The Go Girl Chronicles Book 3)
by Leigh Hutton
Race Girl is the third book in The Go Girl Chronicles by Leigh Hutton. Also available: Rev Girl and Jump Girl.
Race Girl is currently on tour with Xpresso Book Tours. The tour stops here today for an excerpt and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.
Description
Fresh on the heels of Michelle Payne’s historic Melbourne Cup win, comes a blockbuster Australian story about a Queensland girl and the "race that stops a nation" ...
Tully Athens has always dreamed of following in the footsteps of her hero Michelle Payne. Of living up to the Athens name and becoming the third generation of women from her family to rule the track. But Tully’s never been sure she’s got the nerve, and when her mother is killed in a racing accident, her whole world is shattered.
Six months later, in the heat of a Queensland summer, sixteen-year-old Tully is ready to face her fears. But getting back in the saddle leads to a whole lot more than she bargained for, with an out of control crush on the boy from their rival thoroughbred farm – the gorgeous but cocky larrikin Brandon Weston – and a forgotten filly with stardom in her eyes ...
When faced with the most difficult decision of her life, will Tully choose to train and race her new filly in Melbourne? Or will she sacrifice it all to fight for love on the land that feeds her soul?
It’s only when tragedy rips everything from her that Tully finds a strength and courage she never knew she had, in this action-packed novel of passion, adventure and determination.
Race Girl is the highly anticipated third book in The Go Girls Chronicles – bestselling stories of gutsy girls in action sports, by Leigh Hutton!
Note: A portion of every Race Girl book sold goes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions, and to horse-welfare charity, Equine Action Qld.
Excerpt
Fia had warned that Xena wasn’t a huge fan of the barriers. They were starting out in a chute, unlike the longer races which started on the course proper, and it took two attendants to pull Xena in, then push her powerful chestnut hindquarters into the heritage green gate. Tully didn’t have time for nerves out here – the other jockeys, many who were Birdsville veterans, called out to her and chatted like bar patrons as they waited for the lights to turn and the gates to open.
Tully stifled a cry as Xena jumped backwards, then slammed her into the right side with a sharp clang of metal. Xena reared, then dropped her head, bringing all four legs up into a cow hop. Jesus, Tully thought, yanking the mare up, doing her best to keep her feet shielded from any further assaults. Aunt Fia, what have you gotten me into!
Xena reared again at the sound of a foghorn in the roiling, several-thousand strong crowd – a rowdier, more colourful bunch than Tully, and Xena, apparently, was used to. Xena pulled for her head and arched her back like she was going to buck, sending Tully’s heart up through the top of the barrier - ‘Holy - ’
The gate flung open and Tully was sure she heard a jockey holler: ‘Welcome to Birdsville, darlin’!’ before the horses tore off across the dry clay surface, vying for the rail.
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]
Praise for the Book
"Leigh has a knack for making you feel like you are there amongst it, in the middle of the action with her characters. The on track descriptions in this book are brilliant – you really do feel as if you are riding the horses – I could give five stars just for the Race Scenes. You find yourself tearing through the words, like a horse tearing up the turf as it thunders down the track." ~ Sarah
"Race Girl is an inspiring book that looks into the lives of the brave men and women in the horse racing industry. The real life experiences with love, loss, heartache, adventure, and everything inbetween. [...] I can't wait for more of The Go Girls Chronicles. Amazing." ~ Jacinta Ludlow
"Leigh Hutton has proven herself once again as a perfect writer for the coming of age stories full of heroism, love, loss, triumph and of course adventure. [...] This book took me through the amazing life of these riders and racers, as well as a love for a horse that knows no bounds. Truly a great read, you should definitely pick this one up at your local book store or online. Today, go right now. You will thank me later." ~ Krista
"This young adult book elicited a lot of emotions from me even as an adult. There were times I could feel my heart breaking long with Tully's heart. I felt the racing of my heart when she was on the back of a horse in the barriers. My heart sang with joy as she rode, brought her Dahlia back from the possible brink of death, and then it felt like there was a vice around it, squeezing as the neighbor showed up, threatening to take over their farm." ~ Dana Busenbark
"Race Girl is fast paced throughout with some epic racing scenes that will leave you on edge! The story was wrapped up in a perfectly satisfying conclusion that left me with a huge smile on my face, and it has definitely made me excited for the upcoming stories that this series has to offer." ~ Katie Brown
About the Author
Leigh Hutton is a former Courier-Mail journalist, dirt bike racer and horse show jumper. Leigh was born in Canada and lives on rural property in southeast Queensland, Australia, with her husband and three young children. When she isn’t writing, managing the relocation and restoration of historic "Queenslander" homes, wrangling the kids or swilling coffee, she loves to read, watch smart TV and movies, ride her motorbike and daydream about gorgeous horses. Her family spell racehorses at their property and making friends with each one is also a favourite pastime of Leigh and her children. Leigh is especially passionate about promoting the growing number of girls and women in all action and equestrian sports, and is thrilled to be drawing on her experiences to bring you the exciting novels of The Go Girls Chronicles.
Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card.
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