Girl Warrior by Carmen Peone
LAURA Award-Winning Author Carmen Peone releases Girl Warrior, a fast-paced, action adventure, horse race story. Leave comment to enter novel giveaway!
Picture a little girl keen on entering a horse race. She’s leading a pony down a well-groomed lane. She’s the one with the photo of a shaggy-maned pony on her backpack. Serene posters line her bedroom wall of horses in pastures in front of vibrant sunsets. That could be Native American teen, Charnaye Toulou.
Charnaye’s one of the girls who crave a horse race, to feel the rush of adrenaline galloping through her veins. The rock-hard muscles and speed under her. Goggles over her eyes, a helmet secured under her chin, and crop in hand. Whether she rides a Thoroughbred or Quarter horse, her horse dances in anticipation. The girl’s tummy twists with the thrill of it all. They’re in a horse race.
Breaking into horse racing for women is nothing short of a miracle. Yet there is one horse race Native American females age sixteen and up can qualify to enter––The World Famous Suicide Race.
All she has to do is pass the hill and swim test. And learn to ignore the not-so-charming chatter of some of the male racers.
A handful of women with grit and determination reached the finish line inside the Omak Stampede arena. And so has Charnaye Toulou in Girl Warrior.
Don’t miss out on this wild ride. Get your copy today!
Can one teenager fresh out of high school win the horse race?
The moment the idea of entering the horse race stops swirling in her mind and settles in her heart, life changes for Charnaye Toulou. She pins her sights on winning the World Famous Suicide Race during the Omak Stampede. The purse will help ease a financial burden of her paraplegic father, worn-out mother, and ill grandfather. She also wants the respect earned from becoming “King of the Hill.” This race has been a long time rite of passage for male Natives. Charnaye is up for the challenge to prove females, too, can be awarded a warrior status. Times are changing.
But when bully Hagan Hurst chokes her and causes her self-esteem to plummet, she hooks up with her Okanogan relatives. She finds a horse that can take her the distance. Her father and mother become overly protective, but she meets a woman who has ran the horse race, jump-starting her confidence. The day after Charnaye graduates from high school, she jumps in with cousin and trainer Craig Stuart, and heads for her relative’s Omak ranch. And so do anonymous, threatening letters that point to Hagan.
Charnaye begins the rigorous training. She combats fear and anxiety, fighting to fulfill this rite of passage in the form of a horse race.
Where to find Girl Warrior:
Excerpt for Girl Warrior:
Robert rides over to me and throws me the bridle. “Nice job! You passed the test.”
I snap my head to Tone, sending him a fierce gaze. “Test? Is that what you and Benton have been planning?”
“What? No!” Tone says. “Where’d you get that idea?”
“I saw you two talking as we drove out of here last week. Looked like you were planning something.”
Tone shoots me a defensive laugh. “No. We weren’t.”
“What were you thinking?” Benton grabs Robert’s shirt, his jaw clenched.
Robert shoves Benton away. “Figured if she was serious about coming off the hill, she needed to prove it and stay on.” He reins his horse around and heads for his two-toned Chevy. He pulls back and stops his horse, twists around in his saddle. “You guys are too close to her.” He glares at Tone, Benton, and Craig. “You’re protecting her. But from what? Guys like me? Herself? You’re not doing her a favor. She’s gonna get hurt. I think you guys know it.” He spins his horse around and trots away.
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LEAVE COMMENT WITH NAME AND EMAIL TO BE ENTERED IN GIRL WARRIOR NOVEL GIVEAWAY! Winner chosen Sunday, July 15th ….
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Carmen Peone
Carmen Peone is a LAURA Award-Winning author who lives on the Colville Confederated Indian Reservation with her tribal-member husband, Joe. She had worked with the late tribal elder, Marguerite Ensminger, for three years learning the Arrow Lakes-Sinyekst- Language and various cultural traditions and legends. She enjoys her horses and competing in Mountain Trail Competitions. With a degree in psychology, the thought of writing never entered her mind, until she married her husband and they moved to the reservation after college.
Carmen loves to hear from readers. Follow her online:
CarmenPeone / FaceBook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon / Instagram / Pinterest / BookBub
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If you enjoy this horse race novel, you might also like to read Bly Books fiction titles for youth: https://www.blybooks.com/genre/books-for-kids/
Thank you for having me, Janet! I’m excited to be here.
I hope to win a book. Love Steven Bly books.
Jim, I think you will like Girl Warrior. It is a contemporary story, but fun read.
Jim Cooper is the winner of Girl Warrior. Please contact me through carmenpeone.com. I’ve been trying to contact you for your prize. Thanks!
I love Charnaye’s name and this book sounds like a fabulous read. Thanks for putting the spotlight on Carmen Phone so we have an opportunity to read this book.
Carmen Peone.
Thank you, Connie. It’s actually pronounced Sharnaye, but spelled with a Ch. This story is special to me being it’s on the reservation I live on and of my husband’s people. Thanks for stopping by!
My daughter would have loved this! Maybe her girls will too!
Joan, that would be great! What girl doesn’t like horses, right! And Native American history. And archery. It’s packed full of adventure!
Sounds like a great book. I’ve loved horse books all my life!
susanlulu@yahoo.com
Thank you, Susan. Me too! Thanks for stopping by!
The brief story I read on here has caught my eye. I felt as if i’m a spirit watching from a distance. Wonderful Carmen.
Thank you, Valerie! I know how hard it is for women to do certain events. This one, they are slowing breaking in. I know one man on the board suggested they have a women’s only race on Sunday.
She can definitely win the race.
I think so, Margie! Thanks for dropping by and visiting with us.
She is determined, capable and can win the race
Determination and persistence are what reaches goals, doesn’t it Laura! One of my sons will get anything he goes for on sheer persistence. He never gives up and neither does Charnaye.
Congratulations to Jim Cooper. He is the winner of Girl Warrior!
This looks like an amazing book! I love reading about Native Americans, and I love horses!