Show Barn Blues

"Delightfully addictive barn drama." - HorseNation.com Grace has built her life on show horses. It's been a good life, too -- she mounts her wealthy students on European warmbloods, competes her horses on Florida's rigorous A-circuit, and runs the nicest barn in the neighborhood. Then, suddenly, it's the only barn in the neighborhood. As Grace's country town becomes a sun-drenched playground of pools and golf courses, she vows that no bulldozer will ever touch her farm. With her neighbors selling their farms and moving to more isolated corners of Florida, she finds herself fighting off land-hungry developers alone -- until Kennedy comes along. Kennedy is everything Grace doesn't want around her bustling show barn -- a pleasure rider who would rather wander in the woods than tackle a show-jumping course. Kennedy might make for an unlikely sidekick, but she's just the inspiration Grace needs to fight back against the developers who want to bulldoze her corner of Floridian wilderness -- and, eventually, against the wilderness itself.

A unique look at horses and theme parks... Can one show barn coexist with the world's most famous theme park resort? Grace, long-time owner of Seabreeze Equestrian Center, sure hopes so. She and her staff have been working every angle in the books for the past few years, as their country neighborhood succumbs to vacation-land sprawl. A shot at making a few extra bucks by renting stalls to a trainer specializing in parade horses becomes a new obsession for Grace’s assistant trainer, Kennedy -- and a shot in the arm for Grace, who finds herself charmed by the local theme park’s equine manager, Mark. Not ready to cede the area’s equestrian experiences to the theme parks, she begins to think she can beat them at their own game. Which, unfortunately, won’t be easy to explain to Mark. Trying to balance a barn full of boarders, aggressive new neighbors, a troublesome staff and a relationship with a man whose business model is in her crosshairs isn’t easy. Grace has been in the horse business a long time... but it's never looked like this before! Praise for Horses in Wonderland "This is a fun read, a peek behind the curtain of a real-life entertainment juggernaut which shall not be named, but you can certainly guess." "LOVED this book! I really loved the first one too but this one was just as great a read and even made me more curious about Disney and those famous horses they have in their parades!" "As always, a brilliant story, well written and absorbing. This didn't head in the direction I was expecting, but was even better than I hoped it would be!"

A romance born from a mystery, as the holidays arrive in Catoctin Creek. When reporter Kelly O'Connell arrives in Catoctin Creek, the last thing on her mind is falling in love. She's here for answers about a missing hiker, and just maybe to get away from her dissatisfaction with the way her life has turned out. But when she runs into the small town's newly returned prodigal son, the sparks between them are undeniable - and quick to kindle into romance! Meanwhile, the residents of this big-hearted town are pulling together this holiday season, helping one another deal with some surprise twists of their own, and planning a Christmas carnival to remember. Slip into someplace more comfortable! The little town of Catoctin Creek, Maryland is waiting for you. With storylines including memorable characters from the rest of the Catoctin Creek series, you'll love every minute you spend here!

Jenny's a horsewoman, born and bred. Aidan's a photographer, with a passion for sleek thoroughbreds. Lana has business brains and start-up cash. Together, they're going to bring horse racing's best stories to life. Best friends working on a passion project together: it could be the perfect post-grad life in New York City... if only Jenny wasn't hopelessly in love with Aidan.Unrequited love aside, Jenny might be in over her head. It's not an easy task to get old-fashioned trainers to open up to her, but Jenny's determined to get her story. Then, as she digs deep in search of a missing horse, Jenny tumbles into a dark underworld she'd thought was just a fairy tale.In the pursuit of horse racing's happy endings, to say nothing of her own, Jenny will find herself tested again and again. A colt's bid for a Breeders' Cup championship, a racehorse with no name, a charming police mount on Amsterdam Avenue, a carriage horse clattering through Central Park: the horses of New York are clamoring to have their stories told. Jenny just has to find the words, and the courage, to give them a voice.

A Wild Ride Through Florida's Horse Country Jules came to Ocala one year ago, with only one goal on her mind: becoming a top Three-Day Event rider and trainer. She's young, hungry, and driven by demons only she knows about. To Jules, being fiercely ambitious is simply the fuel she needs to achieve her dreams. But to the rest of the Ocala equestrian set, Jules Thornton is a nasty know-it-all who deserves whatever comeuppance she gets. Jules doesn't get the hate. What’s a hard-knocking horsewoman supposed to do when no one likes her, everyone is whispering behind her back, and the same pretty rich boy keeps beating her at every event? It will take a hurricane to blow some sense into Jules, and even then, she won't be quick to accept help. If Jules is going to succeed, she has to learn to let go of her past and embrace a different version of the world she's built for herself: one in which people can be just as trustworthy as horses, and everyone deserves a fair shake. With deepening friendships, a budding romance, and a fresh start, Jules could be on the road to recovery. If she doesn't mess it up for herself. Take a journey like no other, as you explore the gorgeous Florida horse country with Jules and her horses, working students, and friends in Ambition. The first in a bestselling series which has captivated thousands of readers, Ambition is a deep dive into the tough, unglamorous world of professional equestrians - and the ways this challenging industry molds its future stars. It’s the perfect escape for anyone seeking equestrian fiction or horse books for adults. In this seven-book series, you can join Jules Thornton and a cast of horses and equestrians on an intensely realistic and relatable ride through Three-Day Eventing, as Jules learns not just about becoming a better horsewoman, but a better human. Read the entire series! Bold: A Prequel to the Eventing Series Book 1: Ambition Book 2: Pride Book 3: Courage Book 4: Luck Book 5: Forward Book 6: Prospect Book 7: Home Reviews for Ambition "Natalie weaves the story of Jules, her horses, and their uncertain road to the upper levels of eventing with realism and detail." - The Equine Insider "'Ambition' is one of the good ones." - Susannah St. Clair (Vine Voice Reviewer) "This all felt very real to me." - Karen McGoldrick, author of The Dressage Chronicles "I loved watching her story unfold -- the good, the bad, and the ugly were highly entertaining." - Brittney Joy, author of the Red Rock Ranch Series "In Jules Natalie Keller Reinert has created a barbed wire heroine who still, despite her arrogance, and her pathetic inability to see the good in people, still has something about her that catches at your heart." - Jane Badger, Editor and Equestrian Writer "I was sucked in from the very first page." - BassetMom (Amazon Reviewer) "This book shows the hard work, drudgery and living-on-the-edge aspects that come long before the jumps. The Florida setting provides the big action sequence that dominates the final third of the book. Trust me - you'll blast through the book then and won't put it down." - R. Maners (Amazon Reviewer) Perfect for fans of equestrian fiction and readers of books like The Horsewoman (James Patterson), Riders (Jilly Cooper), Dark Horse (Dick Francis), Riding Lessons (Sarah Gruen), The Horse Whisperer (Monty Roberts) and The Lady (Anne McCaffery. Great for fans of three-day eventing, dressage, show jumping, horse racing, and horse showing!

Based on scores of interviews with the artist's relatives, friends, lovers, producers, accompanists, managers, and fans, this brilliant biography reveals a man of many layers and contradictions. Following the journey of a musician who left his family's poor cotton farm at age eight carrying only a guitar, the book chronicles his life on the open road playing blues music and doing odd jobs. It debunks the myths surrounding his meetings with Blind Lemon Jefferson and Texas Alexander, his time on a chain gang, his relationships with women, and his lifelong appetite for gambling and drinking. This volume also discusses his hard-to-read personality; whether playing for black audiences in Houston's Third Ward, for white crowds at the Matrix in San Francisco, or in the concert halls of Europe, Sam Hopkins was a musician who poured out his feelings in his songs and knew how to endear himself to his audience--yet it was hard to tell if he was truly sincere, and he appeared to trust no one. Finally, this book moves beyond exploring his personal life and details his entire musical career, from his first recording session in 1946--when he was dubbed Lightnin'--to his appearance on the national charts and his rediscovery by Mack McCormick and Sam Charters in 1959, when his popularity had begun to wane and a second career emerged, playing to white audiences rather than black ones. Overall, this narrative tells the story of an important blues musician who became immensely successful by singing with a searing emotive power about his country roots and the injustices that informed the civil rights era.

Starting over was the hard part...right? When Casey started riding again, she thought she'd nailed the tough part. That was before she tried starting over at a new farm, with a new job, in a new city. Casey's horse, James, seems happy enough at Twin Palms Ranch. And Casey's boyfriend, Brandon, is loving his dream job saving the ocean. Casey knows she should love her job marketing for a growing horse show organization. If only she had known how fast they'd be growing! Suddenly, her weekends are full of flights to distant cities instead of hanging out with James. She doesn't seem to know anyone at her new barn. And Brandon -- is Brandon wearing cowboy boots? Casey thought she could have it all. Now, she can barely keep up. Can a working girl be a horse show girl, too? For everyone who fell in love with Casey and James in the smash hit Grabbing Mane, welcome back to the coastal Florida of beachfront brunches, long trail rides through the sawgrass, and stormy afternoons listening to rain drumming down on the metal barn roof. For every equestrian who has ever tried to balance work and horses, and for every adult who has tried to hang onto a hobby, Flying Dismount is a relatable romp through the tangle of responsibilities and fun we call life. Praise for Grabbing Mane: "Life is too short to be working for the weekend, drudging away doing something you aren't excited about and are now stuck with because you were guided down the sensible path. There is always a spectrum of options. This story encouraged me to get busy searching and doing what I need to do to find my own happy ending. Which will, naturally, include horses in my life." - Katia Hart, Amazon Review "Just a super book. Loved it! The only problem with her books is I don't want them to end! Can't wait for more of Casey and James." - appychicken, Amazon Review

It's 1863 and 10-year-old Emmy Blue Hatchett has been told by her father that soon their family will leave their farm, family, and friends in Illinois, and travel west to a new home in Colorado. It's difficult leaving family and friends behind. They might not see one another ever again. When Emmy's grandmother comes to say goodbye, she gives Emmy a special gift to keep her occupied on the trip. The journey by wagon train is long and full of hardships. But the Hatchetts persevere and reach their destination in Colorado, ready to start their new life.

When November Nelson loses her boyfriend, Josh, to a pledge stunt gone horribly wrong, she thinks her life can't possibly get any worse. But Josh left something behind that will change November's life forever, and now she's faced with the biggest decision she could ever imagine. How in the world will she tell her mom? And how will Josh's parents take the news? She's never needed a friend more. Jericho Prescott lost his best friend when he lost his cousin, Josh, and the pain is almost more than he can bear. His world becomes divided into "before" and "after" Josh's death. He finds the only way he can escape the emptiness he feels is to quit doing the things that made him happy when his cousin was alive, such as playing his beloved trumpet, and take up football, where he hopes the physical pain will suppress the emotional. But will hiding behind shoulder pads really help? And will his gridiron obsession prevent him from being there for his cousin's girlfriend when she needs him most? This sequel to The Battle of Jericho is a no-holds-barred look at what happens when life doesn't go as planned, by the acclaimed author of the 2007 Coretta Scott King Award winner Copper Sun.