Blog Tour: Racing Savannah (Hundred Oaks #4) by Miranda Kenneally

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Racing Savannah
Hundred Oaks #4
By:  Miranda Kenneally
Published:  Dec. 3, 2013
By:  Sourcebooks Fire
Host:  Xpresso Tours


GR's Summary:

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 family. But Jack has no such boundaries.

With her dream of becoming a horse jockey, Savannah isn’t exactly one to follow the rules either. She’s not going to let someone tell her a girl isn’t tough enough to race. Sure, it’s dangerous. Then again, so is dating Jack…

Welcome to our stop on the Racing Savannah Blog Tour.  To follow the rest of the tour, click HERE.

Hundred Oaks Series:

My Thoughts:

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 only highly entertain, and engage her audience, but they also make us think critically about our own beliefs, values, and ethics, as well as societal norms. 

In Racing Savannah, Ms. Keneally tackles two such social dynamics.  First off, Savannah is talented and passionate when it comes to working with horses.  She wants to be a Horse Jockey, which is mostly a male filled role.  Ms. Keneally shows us the prejudices in the horse racing world, as Savannah deals with disrespect from the male jockeys, as well having to prove herself fully capable, and fight for her position.  Before reading this story, I was ignorant to the world of horse racing.  Ms. Kenneally completely captured my interest and attention when it came to reading about this fascinating sport.  Not only am I more knowledgable on the topic, but Ms. Kenneally, seamlessly incorporated the lifestyle and details of this profession into the story in a highly entertaining manner.  

Another social dynamic that Ms. Keneally addresses is the lifestyles of the "Haves" and the "Have Nots."  Jack Goodwin comes from a wealthy and well-respected family, and is training to one day take over his father's running of Cedar Hill Farms, which trains horses for the Kentucky Derby, and Breeders' Cup.  Savannah Barrow comes from poverty.  She grew up getting free lunch in school, going to the salvation army for all of her clothing, and with the expectation that she would never be able to afford a college education.  Her father uproots her along with his pregnant girlfriend, Cindy, from West Virginia to Tennessee, after he gets a better paying job working as the head horse groomer at Cedar Hill Farms.  

Jack and Savannah are attracted to one another, and have a lot in common.  However, Jack is quickly warned against "dating" any of the servants, and Savannah's father tells her to stay away from Jack as well, for fear that he will lose his job if she upsets Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin.  Savannah is expected to be satisfied with a high school education, because her father could never afford for her to attend college.  On top of that, Savannah doesn't want her unborn half sibling to suffer financially like she did as a child.  So she asks Mr. Goodwin to use her paychecks to supplement Cindy's income.  Savannah was very responsible, hard working, spirited, passionate, and giving.  I absolutely adored her character.  She had so much spunk, and would not accept the status quo!  I loved how independent, strong, and courageous she was.  She went after what she wanted, and didn't let anything stand in her way.  I loved watching her stand up for herself, and demand the respect that she deserved.  On the other hand, Jack greatly frustrated me.  He was so concerned with pleasing his father, that many times he seemed to be lacking a backbone.  Jack let his father control his life, and I desperately wanted him to break away, and take back control.  I'm happy to say that he went through a great amount of character growth in this story.

Racing Savannah was a great read!  The main characters were fully developed, realistic, and relatable.  The plot was fast-paced, intriguing, and thoroughly engaging.  The setting was beautiful.  I loved the depth of this story, and how the themes, and issues addressed evoked such strong and passionate emotions inside of me.  I felt anger, frustration, anticipation, and excitement!  I give Racing Savannah 4 Fast-Paced, Uplifting, Intense, and Tenderly Romantic Stars!  

My Favorite Quotes:

"But you're kind of like a great book...you know, you pick up a book at the bookstore because is has a beautiful cover...but it's what's inside that pulls you in."  (eARC, Loc. 762)

~Jack

"When I looked out Jack's large bay window, I could see a million stars.  My window is so small, I can only see a handful.  If I had been born to a richer family, I'd have so many more stars to wish upon."  (eARC, Loc. 2050)

~Savannah

"It doesn't matter where you dance.  It's only who you're with."  (eARC, Loc. 2564)

~Jack

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About Miranda Kenneally:

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.

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