Taking the Reins (Thoroughbred)

It's time for Christina and Melanie to make some big decisions. Christina loves being a jockey. But a heartbreaking accident at the Belmont track forces her to reconsider veterinary medicine. Working with a horse that has Charismatic's bloodlines reminds Christina of Charismatic's amazing story -- how he unexpectedly won the Derby and the Preakness in 1999, only to go down in the Belmont with a broken leg. It would feel pretty great to help horses in similar situations. But how can she turn her back on Wonder's Star? Meanwhile, Melanie finds her relationship with her cousin strained when she decides to ride a horse for the very couple Christina holds responsible for her accident. For Melanie, her prospects as a jockey seem clear, but her future with the people she loves -- Christina, Jazz, and even Image -- is less certain. How will Melanie prove to Christina that she puts the people she loves first?Chu, Jennifer is the author of 'Taking the Reins (Thoroughbred)', published 2003 under ISBN 9780606313766 and ISBN 0606313761.