A young rider encounters well-known horses and new friends in the final installment of the Ellen & Ned trilogy by Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley. Ellen's family has moved to a new town...but some things, like her love for horses, remain the same. Ellen is now the proud owner of her own horse, Tater. She's learning new skills and challenging herself as a rider...but she still can't stop thinking about Ned, the feisty former racehorse she sees on the ranch during her lessons. In the meantime, Ellen's making new friends and encountering old ones. Most exciting of all is Da, a boy from a riding family who is possessed of a spirit of mischief and daring and knows his own mind. Ellen still has a lot to learn...about horses, friendship, and herself. And will she ever be able to get Ned off her mind?

An executive’s transition into any leadership role can be a challenge. Such transitions do not always go smoothly, and the negative consequences can be significant. This is particularly so for Chief Information Officers (CIOs), as the role has evolved significantly over the years yet remains deeply ambiguous. This is despite information and technology moving from the periphery of an organization to a fundamental driver of innovation and competitive advantage. This book is to help the newly appointed CIO “take charge”: the process of learning and taking action that the newly appointed CIO goes through until s/he has mastered the new assignment in sufficient depth to be effective in the role. This book provides keen insights into the challenges faced by today's CIOs while transitioning into a new role and enlightens readers on how to navigate the organizational environment in order to implement necessary changes. With plenty of practical tools and insights it will help you to: • Decide how best to approach the job • Prioritize the first areas of the business you should attend to • Draw up your goals for the first few weeks and months into the role • Find out if there are there any decisions that you can postpone making Based on over 200 interviews with CIOs, CxOs, and recruiters, this book offers readers guidance on how to take on the role of a business executive with special responsibility for information and technology, with ten key prescriptions to maximize success.

When Sasha Silver and her horse, Charm, arrive on the campus of the elite Canterwood Crest Academy, Sasha knows that she's in trouble. She's not exactly welcomed with open arms. One group of girls in particular is used to being the best, the brightest, and the prettiest on the team, and when Sasha shows her skills in the arena, the girls' claws come out. Sasha is determined to prove that she belongs at Canterwood. Will she rise to the occasion and make the advanced riding team by the end of her first semester? Or will the pressure send Sasha packing?

Christina considers a career in veterinary medicine after she has a horse racing accident. Melanie continues to pursue her career as a jockey and strives to have a good relationship with Christina.

Girls are able select their own endings in this interactive story that takes place on the campus of Innerstar University! Readers can imagine themselves as the main character, a girl who rides horses at the stable but steers clear of competition. Whenever there's an audience, her confidence heads for the hills. When she's invited to ride a spirited quarter horse in the next event, she has some tough choices to make. Will she find her confidence and climb on? With more than 20 different endings, girls will enjoy this book again and again to see how different decisions change the story. Plus, each book comes with a secret access code to unlock additional endings online.

Curtis loved to rope. In his early years he rode bulls and spent much time around the rodeo scene. Now that he was older his preference was team roping...He would spend hours upon hours taking a young horse through the same process until perfection was accomplished. Sandy would sit on the back deck and watch how patient he would be with his horses.Sandy Armstrong was only eighteen when her husband was killed in a gun accident, and she was left to raise their son on her own. Waitressing part-time to pay the bills, she enrolled in cosmetology school and began to rebuild her life. One night at a dance hall, she met Curtis, a handsome, rugged cowboy with a son of his own. After a quick courtship, the two were married. Neither realized they both had pasts that could ruin their future together. Curtis's patience with horses did not extend to his family, and he was often harsh with them. He frequented the bars and slept with other women. Sandy almost left him several times. But Sandy knew Curtis had a big heart, and she forgave him. Many years later, when Curtis was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, Sandy stood by his side as he underwent treatments, eventually selling their wedding rings to pay bills. When Curtis passed away, Sandy remembered his words to her: 'You move on with your life. My life is ending, but yours has not.'Taking Life by the Reins, Sandy started to rebuild her life once more.

"Jake Thompson never realized how many decisions he used to make in a day until he lost the nerve to make any and was forced to leave the army. But he's starting to believe this horse therapy program they've put him in might actually help to get past the nightmare of indecision he's faced since losing his troop. And it's all because of instructor Charlotte Nicholson. As if the recently widowed single mom in charge of the rehab farm doesn't have enough on her plate without Jake adding his problems to hers. But being with Charlie makes him think beyond his pain to the future. If seems as if he's being offered a second chance at happiness ... and all he needs to do is make the decision to take it. Something far easier said than done"--Publisher.