Horse racing isn’t for nice girls like Alex. She’s been told again and again: stick to horse shows, stick to riding lessons, stick to the relative safety of the suburban equestrian center where she has been a working student since grade school. But Alex can’t shake the conviction that the Thoroughbred life is her destiny. When her unstable trainer cuts her off from horses, Alex finally has to obey her instinct to run away from the safe version of life. She heads to Ocala, where horse racing is king, with no plan and no leads on jobs. When she meets handsome, successful racehorse trainer Alexander White, she feels an instant connection with him. Could this be her dream come true? Falling for Alexander and learning to stay on young racehorses all at once: that’s risky business. But it’s a risk Alex is willing to take—until a storm of emotion threatens to founder her new life. Nothing at Alexander’s gorgeous Thoroughbred farm is as simple as it seems, and she’s not the only one lining up for Alexander’s affection—or his horses. How many times will Alex obey her urge to run away when things get too real? And what happens to her dreams if she can’t stay the course?

Originally published in 2011, The Head and Not The Heart spurred the creating of the bestselling, award-nominated Alex & Alexander series. Now, read this bonus novella for more background on the action between Runaway Alex and Other People's Horses, Books 1 & 2 of the Alex & Alexander series. About the Book Alex's life looks pretty wonderful to the casual observer. She's in a committed relationship with a master racehorse trainer. Surrounded by hundreds of horses in the green hills of Ocala, Florida, it's a dream life for any equestrian. But suddenly she's tired of hitting the ground when a flighty racehorse decides to spook, tired of fending off biting and kicking foals, tired of 2 AM calls for veterinary emergencies. And Alex is starting to wonder if she's made the right choices in life. When their racing stable suffers a loss, she and Alexander slowly begin to fall apart. A chance find of a long-lost horse sends Alex alone to New York City, and she wonders if this is the sign she's been waiting for. Is it time to leave it all behind and start fresh? Running from the lush pastures of Florida horse country to the icy streets of Brooklyn, Alex experiments with being a different sort of person, as if horses had never mattered to her, and finds herself lost in the company of strangers. Dealing with love, loss, and obsession—all the components of a life with horses — "The Head and Not The Heart" brings the world of racehorses and the people who love them to life. The Alex & Alexander Series First published in 2011, the Alex & Alexander Series explores the hearts and minds of the people who make a living in Thoroughbred horse-racing. Originally beginning with a short novel entitled The Head and Not The Heart, the series was expanded in 2020 to provide a smoother reading experience. The series 1. Runaway Alex 2. Other People's Horses (Semi-Finalist for the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, for horse-racing literature) 3. Claiming Christmas 4. Turning for Home (Finalist for the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, for horse-racing literature) 5. The Head and Not The Heart - Bonus Novella and original Book One. Praise for The Alex & Alexander Series “[Alex is] easy to relate to–equal parts doubt and hope, insecurity and confidence. I think she’s inspiring, and will nudge her readers to face their own crises.” – Melaina Phipps, Saratoga.com “The writing is beautiful, and if you love horses, she doesn’t dumb it down. She concentrates what makes horses so compelling.” – Alexa Shelton, Amazon review The Alex & Alexander Series is part of the Florida Equestrian Collection, which These novels include overlapping characters, events, and locales which create a community of equestrians you'll love recognizing and catching up with in each book!

★ Semi-Finalist, 2013 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award "This is a horse story for grown-ups. The Black Stallion for adults." "Written by a horse person for horse people" "Enchanting and consuming." Six horses and Saratoga. It's a young trainer's dream come true, and it's happening for Alex at Alexander is entrusting the farm's racing string to her while he heads Down Under to help run his sick brother's farm. But Saratoga isn't interested in Alex without Alexander. Unproven and decidedly female in a man's world, Alex finds herself the target of old-school racetrackers certain she married her way into training good horses. At the same time, her naïve assistant, Kerri, is far too interested in the less-than-scrupulous trainer who shares their barn. But running a racing stable doesn't leave much time for petty fights and stable rivalries. Horses need to be worked, races need to be run. And Alex has her eye on something besides the winner's a funny-faced filly, a chestnut nobody with a spotty blaze and a decided lack of brakes. Saratoga thinks the filly has a screw loose. But Alex knows better. From training track gossip to tack-room confidentials, OTHER PEOPLE'S HORSES is the perfect stand-alone novel for fans of horses, equestrian sport, and horse racing—or enjoy it alongside the companion novels in the Alex & Alexander Series. \*In keeping with its racetrack theme, this book contains strong language. The Alex & Alexander Series is part of the Florida Equestrian Collection, which These novels include overlapping characters, events, and locales which create a community of equestrians you'll love recognizing and catching up with in each book!

All Alex wants for Christmas is a little peace and quiet. After all the drama of her summer in Saratoga, she's been taking it easy around the farm, enjoying the horses (and baiting Alexander). But a phone call from a local charity changes all that. When Alex meets Wendy, a young girl with a tragic past, she finds herself going to surprising lengths to brighten Wendy's life – and visiting some surprising places. A filly named Christmas, a horse-crazy kid, and a trainer who never thought much about holidays or children – Claiming Christmas celebrates the bond between horse and human, and between a trainer and student. \*In keeping with its racetrack theme, this book contains strong language.

Every racehorse must one day retire from the track, and for Tiger, that day has arrived. Alex isn't ready for Tiger's racing days to end, but planning his next career is quickly becoming the least of her problems. An animal rights group is accusing her of involvement in a horse-abuse scandal, and with death threats arriving daily, Alexander fears for her safety. Suddenly Tiger's not the only one heading back to the farm—Alex is stuck at home, too, with strict orders to stay away from the racetrack. Both horse and rider would rather be racing than hacking around the farm. A Thoroughbred makeover event seems like the perfect distraction, but as the activists ramp up their protests, Alex realizes she's competing for more than just a blue ribbon. She's fighting for her own reputation. This horse show could make—or break—her future in horse racing.