Taking the Reins

The Rosewoods, Book 1

By: Katrina Abbott

Narrated by: Ann Marie Gideon

Brooklyn Prescott (if that's even her real name) is the new girl at The Rosewood Academy for Academic Excellence, now that she's moved back to the States after two years living in London. Rosewood, a boarding school for children of the rich and famous and known for its celebutantes, is missing just one element important to any junior's education: boys. But luckily for Brooklyn, and the rest of the Rosewood girls, there's a boys' boarding school, The Westwood Academy, just a few miles away.

On her very first day, Brooklyn meets Will, a gorgeous and flirty boy on campus to help with move in. But is he who she thinks he is? And what about Brady, the cute stable boy? Or Jared, the former child actor with his grown-up good looks who can always make her laugh? As Brooklyn settles in at Rosewood, she's faced with new friends, new challenges and new opportunities to make herself into the girl she always wanted to be. Whoever that might be.

Taking the Reins is the first installment of The Rosewoods, an exciting new young adult series for listeners who love fun, flirty love stories.

©2014 Katrina Abbott (P)2017 Katrina Abbott

Great New Fun Teen/YA Series

I really enjoyed this audiobook. It was interesting and the characters likable. This is a Teen/YA Series which is one of my favorite genres. I'm young at heart!!!

The narrator did a great job bringing the story to life. Her intonation was great and it was easy to differentiate between characters.

I'm looking forward to Katrina's next book in this series. This was a great start to a new series.

"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

fabulous listen

I was gifted this audio ARC for a honest and unbiased review from the author/narrator.
Katrina Abbott did an outstanding job writing this YA book. It seems to be one of my favorite genre's.
Ann Marie Gideon did a great job bringing the story to life. Her narrative voice was great and it was easy to differentiate between each character.
Highly recommend this Audio Book.

FUN!!!

I enjoyed this book very much. I like really like Brooklyn Prescott and her story this far. I like the romance, chaos and joy of being young. I can't wait to listen to another in the series.

"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

Taking the Reins

Would you try another book from Katrina Abbott and/or Ann Marie Gideon?

Yes

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The ending was alright.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Ann Marie Gideon?

Sure, the narration on this book was ok

Could you see Taking the Reins being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No, I don't see this ever becoming a movie

Any additional comments?

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the
author, narrator, or publisher.

Welcome to Rosewood!

With a name like Brooklyn Prescott, you'd expect the new student at The Rosewood Academy for Academic Excellence to be selfish, spoiled, and pretentious. Luckily for us, she's just the opposite, she's warm, down to earth, and eager to be accepted. Brooklyn is used to being the new girl at school as her family moves often for her father's job, but she's never been able to make close friends. When she arrives at her new all-girl academy, she vows to try to be more outgoing and fun. She gets the chance right away as she meets Will, a gorgeous guy from the nearby Westwood all-boys school. She also meets two other boys she's immediately attracted to, Brady in the school stables, and Jared at the school dance.

There's not too much drama in this first book in the Rosewoods series, it's more about introducing us to the characters and their everyday life. I like the girls and their friendships feel real, it's nice to read a YA novel with no mean girl. Their conversations and the situations they get themselves into had me smiling through most of the book.

Brooklyn is plain old boy crazy, she goes into mental raptures over every male in her vicinity. I get the impression that she'll fall for a hitching post if you spray a bit of cologne on it. It doesn't help that every single boy in the book is incredibly hot and smells like a mix of leather, wood, and pure sex. Not a pair of sticky out ears, acne spots, or bad breath among them.

The narrator was a good choice, she put just the tiniest touch of a British accent in Brooklyn's voice, and her pace was perfect. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

This entertaining story kept me going ohh and ahh!

For some odd reason, when I read the synopsis of this book I thought of Gossip Girl and immediately requested a copy so that I could review it. well, the storyline certainly does not disappoint and the characters are larger than life. What made me enjoy this book even more was the narrator, Ann Marie Gideon. Her voice is soothing and I loved how she brought the characters to life for me via her voice changes. This entertaining story kept me going ohh and ahh throughout the entire listen. I look forward to more stories from Katrina Abbott and to more audio listening featuring Ms. Gideon. -YA/NA Book Divas

{I requested a copy for reviewing purposes and made no guarantee of a favorable review. The opinions contained herein are unbiased and my own,}

taking the reins

What did you like best about Taking the Reins? What did you like least?

this book was not at all what I thought it would be like...I had a really hard time getting into this book at the beginning but I pushed through that & I'm glad I did...I enjoyed the book.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I guess the beginning...I really had to push through to get further into the book.

Do you think Taking the Reins needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

yes...I'm curious to see what happens.

Any additional comments?

“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”

A cute YA Contemporary you won't want to miss

Taking the Reins is an uplifting, entertaining YA book that will surely delight the listener.

Ann Marie Gideon does a great job with the "voices", emphasis, and in an effective delivery.

This is a story of a YA girl who is entering a prestigious all Girl college. Her father is in a secret service
assignment in London and they have lived thee for a couple of years. Brooklyn is worried about being "the new girl".
She had never really "fit in" before. She is determined to be different in this new experience and do what it takes to "fit in".

Her roommate is unexpected surprise.

From her first experience with two guys from a nearby elitist all boy college,, to her love of horses, and her efforts to become the "new Brooklyn", she is totally unprepared for her experiences in her new school. She experiences, surprises, embarrassment frustration, and crushes.

The characters are fun and endearing, the events are well portrayed The Title and Book image are okay.

The only negative is, the ending was too abrupt and weak. there are assuredly more books in the series, but this had an ineffective lead in to the next book.

Cute fast teen fiction

What did you love best about Taking the Reins?

The world building and the potential for more books in the series

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main character Brooklyn, she was fun and it was interesting watching her try and navigate her new world- plus I think she is genuinely a good person, regardless of being a bit boy crazy

What three words best describe Ann Marie Gideon’s voice?

Consistent, Personality, Well-paced

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The friendships that the girls built, most certainly the best part...and maybe brooding Brody

Any additional comments?

Fun book overall, I would easily listen to the next. Super short and fast read.

A great start to a fun YA series

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend this to friends ranging from junior high/high school to friends in their 20's. It's a fun, well written YA novel that reminded me a bit of Gossip Girl without the sex, drugs and ridiculous scandals. Everyone is kind and likable and it's a great start to the series. It's like a little bit more mature and current Sweet Valley High.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I enjoyed the main character, Brooklyn the most, as she is the main character and you get to know her the best through her character development.

What does Ann Marie Gideon bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Ann Marie Gideon did a very good job narrating, in my opinion. She brought the characters to life with their various voices and reading the book just wouldn't have had the same affect.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This is book one in a series. It introduced a lot of the main characters and set things up for future novels, and because of this, it never really grabbed me and made me want to binge listen, but I was perfectly happy to listen to it when driving or doing the dishes, etc. So while I didn't want to listen to it all in one sitting, I would imagine that the next books in the series will move much faster.

Any additional comments?

I would absolutely recommend this novel to my age appropriate friends. It was a fun story and I enjoy the whole setting and group of students.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.