Taking the Reins

By: Katrina Abbott

Narrated by: Ann Marie Gideon

Length: 4 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

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

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,}

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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."

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great read and great narration

Loved it! Narration was perfect! I wanted more! Can't wait for the next one to come out!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Rosewoods Stick Together

I really enjoyed this quick, easy to listen book. The main character, Brooklyn Prescott, moves from London to be a student at Rosewood Academy, where her roommate, Emmie is fabulously wealthy, but doesn't let it go to her head. Emmie's personality and giving nature, makes you love her immediately. There is a little bit of humor with the "underwear raid" and other items such as teenage crushes, that just make you want to go back in time and be 17 again. Speaking of crushes, I am all for Brady, being the right man for her-but we shall see. Looking forward to book 2!


I received this audiobook at no-cost from Audiobookworm Promotions. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

Loved the whole audiobook experience

Let’s start with it being an audiobook. This book is the first of the (current count) ten books from this series and I don’t think I’ll ever read it if it’s that long. Guess what, of course, being an audiobook changed my view about it and now I’d like to read all the 10 books!

The narrator, Ann Marie Gideon, did a great job. Her voice is really soothing. SOOO soothing that it never failed to put me in sleep. Yea, I was on Chapter 28 and this book has 33 Chapters. I slept and woke up with a finished book. I have to replay it over again. One thing that I want to emphasize is her Guy Voice (she had to do all the voices) because it doesn’t sound so masculine and the book describes those guys as masculine. Completely understandable why it went like that, but still. Overall, it was amazing!

The story revolves around a new student, Brooklyn. She’s now studying at The Rosewoods Academy with handsome guys and model-like ladies whose families are really wealthy. It’s our kind of fantasy. It has a lot of cute people in it like: Jared, Will, Brady! Also things like horses and a ball. Is that their promenade or welcoming party or a winter something? I’m not really sure but there’s dance and dresses.

This story was a lot of fun to listen to.

Taking the Reins is the first book in The Rosewoods series. I love a book with a good amount of YA drama, and this book had just that. It reminds me just a bit of the Keatyn Chronicles by Jillian Dodd in that way, and I’m addicted to that series! I can see this being one of those series I binge read because after finishing this audio book, I’ve already started the second one!

Brooklyn Prescott is new to The Rosewood Academy, an all girls boarding school for the rich and/or famous. She’s a junior in high school and is bummed about going to an all girls school. That is, until she finds out that Westwood Academy for boys is right down the way and the two mingle quite a bit. Brooklyn makes fast friends with many of the girls at school. There is also a lot of boy drama, which I love LOL! There is Brady, Dave, and Jared. There are things I like about all three but I gotta say- I’m rooting for (view spoiler)

Taking the Reins is narrated by Ann Marie Gideon. This is my first audiobook by this narrator, and I thought she did a great job voicing Brooklyn Prescott. Brooklyn is a teenager, and even though I’m sure Ann is not, you couldn’t tell. She sounded like I imagine Brooklyn would sound. The audio book was high quality and this is one of those books I would recommend listening to over reading.

This story was a lot of fun to listen to. It’s one that definitely has me wanting to know more about Brooklyn and her friends at the Rosewoods!

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.

Oh My Days! I loved this!

Oh My Days! I loved this!

I want to be a school girl again just to go to Rosewoods Academy. But not only would that mean time travel. It would also probably mean robbery. In order for to pay the fee’s to get into the illustrious school, but I would do all that just to get my hands on Brady!

I am so Team Brady, is that saying too 2008? I don’t care I want me some Brady – If I could miraculously age him or de-age me, but everything is possible in the world of books right?

Anyway onto the review………..

Brooklyn is the new girl, an already difficult situation and to make things even harder she has a strange accent and has to hide aspects of her life because of her dad’s top secret job. Her first day doesn’t get off to a good start but she soon settles into the school and with her persona of ‘The New Brooklyn’ manages to fit in immediately. Not everything is simple for teenage girls however when boys and hormones become involved and Brooklyn is soon to this find out.

Katrina expertly defined what it is like being a new girl and the difficulties and troubles that come with simply being a teenager. Anyone would think that at some point she had been a teenage gi…oh wait…… never mind.

The camaraderie between the young girls made me look back at my high school years in fond memory. Even if mine had been hell. Then there are the boys. Brady, Will and Jared, Yum….The clear mixture and hints of not one but two love triangle’s (even if one may be considered a square?) made me just want to keep listening/reading.

A strong lead is always enjoyable in a book but sometimes its nice to have a character like Brooklyn. She may see many faults in herself but is also aware of what she is good at willing to use this in order to achieve what she wants, even if it is to make cute Jared blush or get onto the Equestrian Team.

Its also a nice change to have side characters that are not simply there as fodder but help with story development, clearly have pasts that are to be delved into and help shape Brooklyn as a character.

If I had the ability and money I would one-click the rest of the series simply to find out what happens to Brooklyn and her friends. Is that good enough for would I recommend it? If not I certainly would. Anyone who loves a bit of contemporary, and YA/Teen romance will love this book and more than likely series.

The audio-book aspect of this book was as equal to the actual story. The voice acting by Ann greatly aided character development as I was able to differentiate easily between the many young female characters within the story.

Ann (as well as the way the story was written) allowed for me to develop a connection with Brooklyn the main character. Something that find vital in any story. Sometimes a book can become disconnected if you cannot understand motives of a protagonist or if they begin to aggravate you.

I wasn’t able to stop listening to the book and cannot wait to read or listen to any further books/audio books within the series.

A 5/5 stars for Taking the Reins, I would definitely re-listen to this and would recommend to anyone who likes a light, yet gripping, Teen/YA romance. Well worth the read.

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