Took me awhile to like Jules.

I read the whole Show Barn Blues series on Kindle. Then I discovered Audible and I can "read" while mucking out stalls, doing chores, cooking, driving etc. I'm hooked! I hope Audible releases all of Natalie Keller Reinert's books. I love her characters and Piper Goodeve is fabulous with her narration. I hate to say it but an incredible book can be ruined by the narrator. But I have also heard some not so great writing brought to life by an incredible narrator. Audible books are judged twice as harshly as written literature. But with this combo of writer and narrator, it's a win in my book. I'm almost twice as old as Jules ALMOST. And I have to keep reminding myself this main character is only in her early twenties when her attitude starts to grate on my nerves. Once I remember how young she is to have so many responsibilities, then I can start to relate to her and be more forgiving of the chip on her shoulder. I also grew up surrounded by rich spoiled kids who were given everything they wanted and thought they were too good to work at the barn. But unlike Jules, I didn't care much for showing. I just wanted my own horse and craved the special bond between girl and horse. Not the superficial push button, show ring ready, only horse time is in the saddle, revolving door of blue ribbon winning and disposable red ribbon "losers" glassy eyed show mounts, that didn't care who was in the saddle and were all forgotten by high school anyways. I did whatever I could just to be around horses. I finally bought my first horse when I was 22 right after I married my husband (he's not a horse guy), and we bought our little farm a year later. I discovered trail riding and natural horsemanship and have the bond with my horses, I craved as a child. I rescued a few horses, and have buried a few on the hill. But I still have my first horse Magic. He turned 29 on March 10th. I can relate to Jules on the stress, exhaustion, and financial expenses of farm ownership and I don't even show. Natalie Keller Reinert does such a wonderful job with creating several series of horse themed books that are accurate with the realities of horse ownership, terminologies, and true to the sport. It's so refreshing to fall into the story because it is so well written and accurate with the subject matter. I loved Show Barn Blues series, I'm loving this Eventing series and I'm looking for to the Racing series. I hope Audible releases all of the "series" books by Natalie Keller Reinert with Piper Goodeve narrating.

3 people found this helpful

My New Favorite Author

Very well written with a plot that keeps you guessing until the end. The narrator is perfect. I really enjoyed getting to know a fresh heroine that I could relate to and root for despite her flaws. This is no bland fairytale. The setting is written spot on. I live in Ocala and Natalie K. Reinert nailed it and the horse community here. If you haven't read this book yet, order it now!

2 people found this helpful

I really wanted to like this.

As a lifelong horseperson and an eventer, I really wanted to like this. I'm not all the way through yet, but I'm finding myself SO irritated by the protagonist. I really don't like her at all. Most of the horse facts are pretty accurate, but there are some that drive me nuts. This book is only a few years old as of my reading it but there are horsekeeping habits described in it that belong to the 1970s.

The narrator is great, and I like all the ancillary characters, but Jules needs to get the hell over herself already.

2 people found this helpful

I love horse stories but was put off a few times in this book.

I trained show horses professionally for 15 years so I wanted to help the heroine not be so naïve. A flip over backwards horse is never one to stand and watch. Then who shanks a horse over the nose or under the chin that rears up and flips over backwards? Then is this young trainer so naïve that she can’t even see the horses feet are too wide or not angled right and does not sit there and micromanage her farrier? Yes if the Farrier does a fantastic job you leave them alone if they leave them a little long or a little wide you hold the horse and tell them what you want. Get hoof xrays to prove your moving towards getting that horse in balance with his coffin bones. Oh well 10-14 yr old girls should love the book.

1 person found this helpful

One of the first pretty accurate eventing novels

I have always loved to read horse stories but am usually disappointed in the complete lack of reality. This book is well written; has good characters and fabulous on audio book so I can listen while doing my own barn work. I will definitely be downloading book 2.

1 person found this helpful

What a bitch.

I'm only about a quarter of the way through this so far, but I already know that I don't like it. I'm going to finish it because I paid for it, but I'm not going to get the rest of them.

The man character is miserable. The author took the worst characteristics you could have as a horsewoman and out them all into one character. Honestly, who looks at their horse that they "love" and thinks that the horse isn't good enough? Dynamo deserve a better owner. And who in the world wouldn't call a vet immediately when a horse rips it's forelock off? Or the fact that she tries to push the vet bill for all of the horses off on Mickey's owner and then has the nerve to think about stealing supplements and using tack without permission.

I have a horse but I'm in no way an experienced horsewoman. My horse is a Paint, so I was a bit offended by the random and unnecessary attack on Paint horses. I ride English, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with Western riding. From what I've seen in my short time of owning a horse, the people are nice and they want to chat and make friends. They're a bit psycho sometimes, but they generally have good intentions. I'm sure there are people like the main character in real life, but they're not the kind of people that we want around our barn. The main character isn't an "underdog". She's an entitled, hateful, arrogant bitch.

Edit: Is Coca-Cola a sponsor? Why does she drink SO MUCH Diet Coke. Maybe she'd be happier if she drank some water instead of constantly drinking poison. Moderation is key.

1 person found this helpful

Main character is horrible

Being a long time horse owner oriented to eventing the overall details of horse care are fairly accurate (other than not calling a vet for a major scalp lac on a boarders horse WTF?!?) & not irritating like some writers unfamiliar with horse care.
However, the main character is an absolute self centered irritating person. If I met her I’d certainly not want to be her friend much less have her as my trainer, board my horses with her, or even be around her. She’s so unbelievably narcissistic and always thinking someone is out to get her and how she’s been so mistreated. I kept hoping something would happen that she’d suddenly have an OMG moment and she’d change her ways. It’s always everyone against her and nothing is her fault.
Would be so much better to have had her wake up and smell the coffee! Horse life is hard. It requires hard work. And she’s so much all about not needing help from anyone and she knows it all. No wonder she is unsuccessful
On positive side the narrator is awesome!!

1 person found this helpful

Worst main character

I was really hoping this book was going to be better. I do like the author gives some accurate info of the horse world (although the majority of riders are not cut throat).

I couldn’t finish the book though. The main character is extremely unlikeable, rude, and entitled. Maybe if you don’t ride and just like horse stories you can get through it, but she is exactly like all the horse people I try to avoid. The authors writing style is not to my taste, although that is just an opinion.

1 person found this helpful

Meh.

I agree with the Sarah Jenkinson's review - as a lifelong horse person - I really, really wanted to like this book, but I found myself a little disappointed with the entire plot.

I guess it was believable in that horse people aren't always very professional in their dealings with other people. Maybe?

I was disappointed enough that even though I purchased the entire series on Audible, I set the series aside to listen to a few other things. I will continue on eventually.

1 person found this helpful

Fun! Well written!

A great horse story!
The characters were believable and the narrator was easy to listen to.