Ride with Valerie MacKnight, young equestrian, as she and her team head for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta for Team USA. Along the way she finds love, guidance, and a wondrous teammate who is truly one of a kind. Arthur Gaines, looking for redemption after his daughter's untimely death, sponsors a young rider (Valerie) who is talented but unpredictable. She meets Sherman, chemical heir--super-rich, an alcoholic, but fascinated by the zest she brings to the sport. Meanwhile her new trainer, Desmond, attracts her attention in more ways than one. The homicidal stepfather, Melvin, isn't giving up. All four collide in an explosive confrontation that shapes the history of the Olympic Games. Evan Rice interweaves all four strands to present a one-of-a-kind, action-packed look inside the Atlanta Olympic Games. He tells this story with a style that is dense, forceful, and literally page-turning. Five-hundred pages fly by, and take the reader inside a world rarely seen. The power, glamour and yes, physical hazards of Grand Prix show-jumping come through vividly in this account. "Higher" shows the nitty-gritty of the sport, which is infinitely tougher than it looks. It's a shame this sport is reduced to five minutes of coverage eavery four years. Ride with Valerie, and you will be hunting for YouTube clips. Meantime, read "Higher"--it's an experience not to be missed Part adventure, part romance, all excitement, this one takes you there