Fairmont Riding Academy Series by Michele Scott, Amy McFadden

Small town seventeen-year-old Vivienne Taylor is a talented equestrian with Olympic dreams and a little something extra going on — she is also an “equine empath,” someone who has the ability to read horses’ minds and moods... moreSmall town seventeen-year-old Vivienne Taylor is a talented equestrian with Olympic dreams and a little something extra going on — she is also an “equine empath,” someone who has the ability to read horses’ minds and moods. When she receives a full scholarship to attend Fairmont Riding Academy, a prep school with a famous riding program, she struggles with homesickness, hazing by the school’s snooty drama queen, intense competition in the sport of three-day-eventing, and the not-altogether-unwelcome interest of a hot guy. On top of all of that the horse given to Vivienne via the scholarship is an animal that she cannot “read” or understand. When Vivienne learns that her new horse Harmony belonged to the school’s vet, who recently died in a freak accident, she senses that the horse’s aloof behavior may be the result of her witnessing this accident. But as a connection begins to unfold between Vivienne and Harmony, Vivienne begins to believe that the vet’s death was no accident at all — but rather murder — and she resolves, at considerable peril, to track down the killer.Michele Scott lives in California with her family. With her days spent in the barn or at the keyboard, Ms. Scott has forged a flourishing career as mystery writer and is also deeply involved in the world of horses and equestrian riding. less

Book 2 in the Fairmont Riding Academy seriesAs seventeen-year-old Vivienne Taylor returns to Fairmont Riding Academy for the second semester, she just wants to get past the drama that dominated her first months at the school.Reunited with her beloved horse, Harmony, Vivvie vows to focus on riding, particularly with the announcement that a select group of students will be chosen to compete at a Three Day Event in Kentucky, with access to world class coaches afterwards... moreBook 2 in the Fairmont Riding Academy seriesAs seventeen-year-old Vivienne Taylor returns to Fairmont Riding Academy for the second semester, she just wants to get past the drama that dominated her first months at the school.Reunited with her beloved horse, Harmony, Vivvie vows to focus on riding, particularly with the announcement that a select group of students will be chosen to compete at a Three Day Event in Kentucky, with access to world class coaches afterwards. Making the team is exactly what Vivvie needs to get to the next level. Yet she's hardly back before her talent for reading the animals? minds gives her a slew of troubling insights, not the least of which is that certain horses seem to be walling themselves off from her. The horses make her increasingly suspicious of everything from new student Joel's actions to her boyfriend's troubled past. But it's not until someone incredibly close to Vivvie goes missing that she realizes she must seek out the truth no matter the risks.As Vivvie trains for the hyper-competitive Three Day Event, she must not only solve the mysteries around her and tune into the horses she loves so much, but she must listen to her own heart, too. less

Vivienne embarks upon the summer of her dreams as one of the few students selected for a training program back east at Liberty Farms. But as focused as she is on her riding, Vivvie also has a secret agenda: to investigate the death of Joel Parker, her friend who she believes was tragically murdered.Vivvie has hardly set foot in the state-of-the-art barns before things start to go amiss. Her gift for communicating with horses reveals that some of the creatures are harboring dark secrets... moreVivienne embarks upon the summer of her dreams as one of the few students selected for a training program back east at Liberty Farms. But as focused as she is on her riding, Vivvie also has a secret agenda: to investigate the death of Joel Parker, her friend who she believes was tragically murdered.Vivvie has hardly set foot in the state-of-the-art barns before things start to go amiss. Her gift for communicating with horses reveals that some of the creatures are harboring dark secrets. When people turn up from Vivvie’s past who she’d rather avoid, including one trainer she suspects of drugging ponies, Vivvie struggles to keep her focus. Meanwhile, ex-boyfriend drama threatens to interfere with her growing feelings for Austen, a handsome rider who wants nothing more than to keep Vivvie safe.The mystery surrounding Joel’s death deepens and as Vivvie edges closer to the truth, unexpected revelations threaten her future. Will Vivvie play it safe or will she risk it all to protect those she loves while staying in the ring? less