Georgina Bloomberg & Catherine Hapka's The A Circuit (Review & Giveaway!)

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

The A Circuit is the top of the top when it comes to horse shows. It's a world with its own rules and superprivileged lifestyles. Teens travel the circuit all year, showing horses that cost as much as some homes.

Tommi, Kate, and Zara are all elite competitors on the circuit, but they come from totally different backgrounds. Tommi is a billionaire heiress trying to prove she has real talent (not just deep bank accounts). Kate puts the working in working student-every win has been paid for with hours of cleaning stalls. She's used to the grueling schedule, but Fitz, the barn's resident hot guy, is about to become a major distraction. And then there's Zara. She's the wild child of a famous rockstar, but she's ready to take riding seriously. Can a party girl really change her ways?

Readers who enjoy peeking into the elite world of Gossip Girl or The A-List will feel right at home in this new series with its friendships, drama, and privilege set against the backdrop of competitive horseback riding.

Review:

Ever since Gossip Girl and The A-List, two of my favorite guilty pleasure series, ended, I have been trying to find the next flashy and light series to replace them. Luckily, I think I just may have found what I have been looking for in The A Circuit, Georgina Bloomberg & Catherine Hapka's new look into the exclusive would of horses, wealthy girls, and the secrets that tie them together.

For Kate and Tommi, the world of horse showing is everything. Addictive, fun, and fully of plenty of rewards, both are willing to sacrifice nearly anything to be the best of the best. For Kate, this means working herself to the ground so she can compete and work with one of the best trainers in the country, and for Tommi, this means going against what her father and sister think is the best for her. However, everything changes when Zara comes to town. Flashy, wealthy, and snarky, Zara is the queen of mean, and because of this, she quickly winds up on the bad sides of Tommi and Kate. What happens, though, when you throw in one bad boy player, a party, and a disaster that may change everything? Will Kate, Tommi, and Zara come to the rescue? Or will their bitter feud ruin everything? Only time and more pages can tell in this glossy read sure to enchant even the most reluctant of readers.

While this book did not continue the most developed of characters, I still did enjoy reading about Kate, Tommi, and Zara in their alternating perspectives. My favorites out of the bunch would probably have to be Kate and Tommi, because not only did I find their friendship an interesting side to the story, but I also enjoyed how they were more “real” then Zara. The addition of Fitz, the player, was also interesting, though I sometimes felt his character was all over the place, and because of it, I never knew if I should like him, love him, or hate him.

The most exciting part of The A Circuit though would have to be the focus on horses. When I was little, I used to love horse reads- even though I was terrified of riding horses myself- and because of this, I loved seeing the behind the scene of horse shows and all the determination and work that is put in to be the best of the best.

The ending is this was also good enough to make me not only curious to see what will happen next the characters, but also happy that it was not exactly cliff-hanger-ish.

Full of horses, drama, and a dose of depth, The A Circuit is a great lazy day read.

Grade: B

The A Circuit is now out!

Source: Publicist at Bloomsbury Publishing- thanks Kate!

Best of all, I have ONE copy of The A Circuit to giveaway, thanks to Kate at Bloomsburry. To enter, please fill out the form below.

Official Contest Rules:
~ Must be 13 years or older to enter.
~ Must have a US Mailing Address (No PO boxs please!)
~ This giveaway will end on May 30, 2011 at 12:00 PM EST