Book Review: Taking the Reins (The Rosewoods #1) by Katrina Abbott

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Taking the Reins

The Rosewoods #1

By:  Katrina Abbott

Published: Jan. 28, 2014

By: Over the Cliff Publishing

Source:  Author

GR'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 readers who love fun, flirty love stories.

The Rosewoods:

My Take on this Journey:

Taking the Reins, by Katrina Abbott, was a entertaining, laugh out loud, fun, retro to the early years novella.  Brooklyn Prescott is the main character, from a rich family.  Her family has decided to send her off to school to get her out of the way.  Trouble is brewing and it is best to keep her somewhere safe.  So, her father has some trouble going on and sends her to Rosewood Academy for Academic Excellence, school of the rich and famous.  Brooklyn is at an all girl school, but lucky for her, there is an academy for boys very close.  She immediately is face to face with three cute guys, each with their own appeal.  She has no idea if they are who they portray to be or represent.  All three boys end up interested in Brooklyn and she is on board, though she is shy and awkward at times, nervous about making friends, getting good grades, keeping up appearances, and creating her own reality so she can fit in. 

This novella is exciting and new if your looking back to your teen firsts. Fun times with your pals, learning new things, getting excited over boys, and just being young girls who get no nervous and excited over boys when they are first thrown into teenage drama.  (but not too much) Ms. Abbott's style emulates that of the teenager and hits on all the dingy things that teens say and do.  It is quite new and refreshing to be thrown back to those days of so long ago.  Sometimes you forget how fun things use to be when you had innocence.  I found it all refreshing and young.  I think this would be an entertaining series for young teens, and they will find themselves laughing and understanding the dilemmas that Brooklyn finds herself in the middle of a stable boy named Brady, a grown up child actor named Jared, and Will, a guy who helps with her move in on the first day at Rosewood.  Each guy is cute, funny, and likable; in their own way.

This book is fun and flirty, and Ms. Abbott did a great job on creating an atmosphere suitable for the grade portrayed.  I found the characters well developed and essential to the story.  I think that the romance is suitable for the age of teens that will be reading the story.  The sequel sounds like it has promise of a little more substance and hidden agendas to the story line.  Ms. Abbott has set a good foundation for this series.

For a funny, carefree, easy read, with a lot of out loud laughter, try this brand new series.  Your teens will enjoy it and there isn't anything inappropriate in the story.  I give, Taking the Reins, by Katrina Abbott, 3 1/2 Fun Filled, Laugh Out Loud, Love Triangle, New Discovery Stars!!!

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About Katrina Abbott:

A survivor of adolescence, Katrina Abbott loves writing about teens: best friends, cute boys, kissing, drama. Her main vice is romance, but she's been known to succumb to the occasional chocolate binge. She may or may not live in California with her husband, kids and several cats.

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