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The Makeover Horse
Mackenzie's life needs a complete makeover. Just like her retired racehorse.
Halfway between a quarter-life crisis and a midlife one -- that's where you'll find Mackenzie O'Neill. With the glitter of West Palm Beach and the debris of a failed marriage in her truck's rear-view mirror, she's heading to North Florida to start over as a groom for show-jumper Basil Han and his girlfriend, Kayla Moore (The Sweetheart Horse).
With her, she brings a retired racehorse she loves with all her heart, and her hope of taking him to the Thoroughbred Makeover competition in Kentucky. Oh, and a lot of emotional baggage about controlling men. She's looking forward to healing and personal growth on a quiet farm.
She didn't know about the farrier renting stalls and an apartment in the same barn where she'll be living and working.
As Mackenzie works on repairing her life and retraining her off-track Thoroughbred, she finds it harder and harder to resist this quiet giant of a man, who rehabs racehorses with a gentle hand. But she knows better than to let a charming man past her defenses. Even one who lives just across the barn aisle.
Even one who might be her only hope to get her beloved ex-racehorse to the Thoroughbred Makeover.
Book Five in the heartwarming Ocala Horse Girls series brings back old friends and introduces new ones in a relatable, emotional, and thoroughly horsey adventure! Combining the best of romantic comedy and women's fiction, the Ocala Horse Girls are full of fun, heart, and friendship.
Halfway between a quarter-life crisis and a midlife one -- that's where you'll find Mackenzie O'Neill. With the glitter of West Palm Beach and the debris of a failed marriage in her truck's rear-view mirror, she's heading to North Florida to start over as a groom for show-jumper Basil Han and his girlfriend, Kayla Moore (The Sweetheart Horse).
With her, she brings a retired racehorse she loves with all her heart, and her hope of taking him to the Thoroughbred Makeover competition in Kentucky. Oh, and a lot of emotional baggage about controlling men. She's looking forward to healing and personal growth on a quiet farm.
She didn't know about the farrier renting stalls and an apartment in the same barn where she'll be living and working.
As Mackenzie works on repairing her life and retraining her off-track Thoroughbred, she finds it harder and harder to resist this quiet giant of a man, who rehabs racehorses with a gentle hand. But she knows better than to let a charming man past her defenses. Even one who lives just across the barn aisle.
Even one who might be her only hope to get her beloved ex-racehorse to the Thoroughbred Makeover.
Book Five in the heartwarming Ocala Horse Girls series brings back old friends and introduces new ones in a relatable, emotional, and thoroughly horsey adventure! Combining the best of romantic comedy and women's fiction, the Ocala Horse Girls are full of fun, heart, and friendship.
394 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2024
55 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Keller Reinert
53 books535 followersNatalie Keller Reinert is the award-winning author of more than twenty books, including the Eventing series and Briar Hill Farm series. Drawing on her professional experience in three-day eventing, working with Thoroughbred racehorses and mounted patrol horses, therapeutic riding, and many other equine pursuits, Natalie brings her love of equestrian life into each of her titles. She also cohosts the award-winning equestrian humor podcast Adulting With Horses.
Natalie lives in north Florida with her family, horses, and cat.
Natalie lives in north Florida with her family, horses, and cat.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 19, 2024
Learn about the Retired Racehorse Project
I love the idea of a second career for Thoroughbreds being retired from the racetrack, or even those that didn't show well enough there. It takes a lot of dedicated training to teach a young adult racer new tricks, when all he has ever known is to run as fast as he can.
Oh, yes... There are people in this book as well! Kayla Moore and Badil Han (The Sweetheart Horse) are back. They have their own farm and training facility now, and have recruited a friend of Basil from his south Florida equestrian days to be their barn manager. Mackenzie is fresh out of a disastrous trophy wife marriage, and to say she is feeling disillusioned about the male of the human species is a bit of an understatement. Landon had a tough obstacle to overcome to even build a friendship with Mackenzie. He was as patient with her as he is with the horses he is trying to rehab their hooves.
I was so proud of Mackenzie for setting a goal to accomplish -- to get her off-track Thoroughbred to the big show for re-trained racehorses, the Retired Racehorse Project -- and for working systematically on all the intermediate steps to actually accomplish her goal. I also appreciated the lesson that achieving a goal is good. But doing so with others is even more satisfying for having someone to cheer you along and feed the emotions back at you.
I received a free advance copy of this story from the author via BookFunnel and voluntarily chose to share my review.
I love the idea of a second career for Thoroughbreds being retired from the racetrack, or even those that didn't show well enough there. It takes a lot of dedicated training to teach a young adult racer new tricks, when all he has ever known is to run as fast as he can.
Oh, yes... There are people in this book as well! Kayla Moore and Badil Han (The Sweetheart Horse) are back. They have their own farm and training facility now, and have recruited a friend of Basil from his south Florida equestrian days to be their barn manager. Mackenzie is fresh out of a disastrous trophy wife marriage, and to say she is feeling disillusioned about the male of the human species is a bit of an understatement. Landon had a tough obstacle to overcome to even build a friendship with Mackenzie. He was as patient with her as he is with the horses he is trying to rehab their hooves.
I was so proud of Mackenzie for setting a goal to accomplish -- to get her off-track Thoroughbred to the big show for re-trained racehorses, the Retired Racehorse Project -- and for working systematically on all the intermediate steps to actually accomplish her goal. I also appreciated the lesson that achieving a goal is good. But doing so with others is even more satisfying for having someone to cheer you along and feed the emotions back at you.
I received a free advance copy of this story from the author via BookFunnel and voluntarily chose to share my review.
November 12, 2024
Well this book series inspired me to go searching for barns for rent and accidentally stumble across a property that we are going to try to purchase, so like, I have to give it some credit for that even if the actual plot was annoying.
March 20, 2024
Book Five in Natalie Keller Reinert's Ocala Horse Girls series brings back old friends and introduces new ones, including Mackenzie, whose life needs a complete makeover just like her retired racehorse.
"With the glitter of West Palm Beach and the debris of a failed marriage in her truck's rear-view mirror, she's heading to North Florida to start over as a groom for show-jumper Basil Han and his girlfriend, Kayla Moore (The Sweetheart Horse). With her, she brings a retired racehorse she loves with all her heart, and her hope of taking him to the Thoroughbred Makeover competition in Kentucky. Oh, and a lot of emotional baggage about controlling men. She's looking forward to healing and personal growth on a quiet farm."
But what happens when a gentle giant of a man, a red-headed Viking who not only rehabs racehorses with lameness issues, but brings his gentle loving energy everywhere he goes, rents stalls and an apartment in the same barn where Mackenzie will be living and working?
Natalie knows people and, more importantly for those of us who are horse lovers, she knows horses. She gets the details right, down to the smallest behaviors. And that sets her apart in my book! I love her characters and stories, but I truly love reading about horses with hearts and behaviors just like the ones I used to own. This was another of Natalie's books that I just couldn't put down until the last page was savored.
"With the glitter of West Palm Beach and the debris of a failed marriage in her truck's rear-view mirror, she's heading to North Florida to start over as a groom for show-jumper Basil Han and his girlfriend, Kayla Moore (The Sweetheart Horse). With her, she brings a retired racehorse she loves with all her heart, and her hope of taking him to the Thoroughbred Makeover competition in Kentucky. Oh, and a lot of emotional baggage about controlling men. She's looking forward to healing and personal growth on a quiet farm."
But what happens when a gentle giant of a man, a red-headed Viking who not only rehabs racehorses with lameness issues, but brings his gentle loving energy everywhere he goes, rents stalls and an apartment in the same barn where Mackenzie will be living and working?
Natalie knows people and, more importantly for those of us who are horse lovers, she knows horses. She gets the details right, down to the smallest behaviors. And that sets her apart in my book! I love her characters and stories, but I truly love reading about horses with hearts and behaviors just like the ones I used to own. This was another of Natalie's books that I just couldn't put down until the last page was savored.
May 28, 2024
This is the first book in a long time that led to a laugh of utter delight when I finished it. This was SO FUN! It is a cozy, silly, lovely, heartwarming romance that will melt even the most cynical horse girl's heart!
Mackenzie, a recent divorcee who feels in need of new start, gets one in the form of her new job at Kayla and Basil's (from The Sweetheart Horse!) Alachua farm in northern Florida. She expects to take on the burden of managing their barn herself, while simultaneously getting her OTTB Thomas ready for the Thoroughbred Makeover competition. She doesn't need anyone else, and after what she's been through, she certainly doesn't need a man. But Landon, the bearded Viking wonder farrier living in the barn apartment across from her, swiftly complicates all of Mackenzie's carefully laid plans.
It is an absolute delight. This is a forced-proximity romance that warms at just the right pace, with hilarious confrontations and adventures, all culminating in the TB Makeover at my beloved KHP, an event so cozy, friendly, and celebratory that it provides the perfect climax to this charming little romance of thirty-something horse nuts. Loved, loved, loved it!
Mackenzie, a recent divorcee who feels in need of new start, gets one in the form of her new job at Kayla and Basil's (from The Sweetheart Horse!) Alachua farm in northern Florida. She expects to take on the burden of managing their barn herself, while simultaneously getting her OTTB Thomas ready for the Thoroughbred Makeover competition. She doesn't need anyone else, and after what she's been through, she certainly doesn't need a man. But Landon, the bearded Viking wonder farrier living in the barn apartment across from her, swiftly complicates all of Mackenzie's carefully laid plans.
It is an absolute delight. This is a forced-proximity romance that warms at just the right pace, with hilarious confrontations and adventures, all culminating in the TB Makeover at my beloved KHP, an event so cozy, friendly, and celebratory that it provides the perfect climax to this charming little romance of thirty-something horse nuts. Loved, loved, loved it!
March 19, 2024
This was so good! I'm not joking, I did read it in a day. Stayed up past my bed time cause I literally couldn't wait the 6 hours to see what would happen.
Mackenzie has been one of my favorite characters so far! While she's always been a horse lover, it's fun to see something a little different- instead of someone who always knew horses would be her career, this was a woman who finds herself in her 30s and life turning on it's head. She's strong, and determined to make her own way in the world, even though things have not gone to plan- and you'll find yourself drawn in, wanting to know if it will work out for her!
Mackenzie has been one of my favorite characters so far! While she's always been a horse lover, it's fun to see something a little different- instead of someone who always knew horses would be her career, this was a woman who finds herself in her 30s and life turning on it's head. She's strong, and determined to make her own way in the world, even though things have not gone to plan- and you'll find yourself drawn in, wanting to know if it will work out for her!
April 4, 2024
I enjoyed this story about a wealthy woman trying to remake her life after a divorce. She carries the scars from a horrible, gaslighting ex. into a new relationship with a farrier who works at the north Florida stables where she gets a job as manager. Reinert's stories are always enjoyable. I like learning about the professional riding culture and this area. It's gritty and real, and her descriptions of horses and their behavior can only come from someone who knows the life personally. The only ding on this book was that the main character drove me a little nuts with her negativity and insecurity.
March 12, 2024
My new favorite if that's possible !
Mackenzie is so much fun to follow, what she lacks in confidence she has in actions !
I wonder how Nathalie comes up with some crazy ideas like she does, I will not say which ones because you need to read it and I absolutly don't want to spoil the fun you're going to have reading this book.
From in need of a new begining, and from what she think she needs to what life gives her, Mackenzie goes a long way !
Well don't loose time reading the reviews, go read it !!
Mackenzie is so much fun to follow, what she lacks in confidence she has in actions !
I wonder how Nathalie comes up with some crazy ideas like she does, I will not say which ones because you need to read it and I absolutly don't want to spoil the fun you're going to have reading this book.
From in need of a new begining, and from what she think she needs to what life gives her, Mackenzie goes a long way !
Well don't loose time reading the reviews, go read it !!
Read
September 19, 2025I followed the link purporting to be to "Landon's POV" only to see the link "doesn't exist."
RIPOFF.
I persisted through chapter after chapter being told every few pages that Landon's eyes are BLUE (like readers would start expecting them to turn brown) and and Mackenzie's immaturity (are we sure she's not 15? She acts about 11), hoping this would become a horse story. It skipped right over the jumping round at KHP.
But for the author or publisher to mislead readers with a dead link just plain sucks.
RIPOFF.
I persisted through chapter after chapter being told every few pages that Landon's eyes are BLUE (like readers would start expecting them to turn brown) and and Mackenzie's immaturity (are we sure she's not 15? She acts about 11), hoping this would become a horse story. It skipped right over the jumping round at KHP.
But for the author or publisher to mislead readers with a dead link just plain sucks.
March 24, 2024
Mackenzie isn't just giving a fresh start to her retired race horse, she is giving a fresh start to her life as well. The fifth book in the Ocala Girls series is an enjoyable book of a thirty something, newly divorced woman starting a new career as a barn manage. She finds new friends along the way in achieving her goal to make it to Kentucky for the retired racehorse horse show. A definite must read.
May 6, 2024
Great story! Natalie writes an amazing horse story. Her technical knowledge of the equestrian world is on point, and you can tell she's also a rider.
This story centers around the retired racehorse project which is such a wonderful topic to bring awareness to. It's a fun story, McKenzie is sassy and independent and I definitely understood the desire to carve a path that is your own.
Perfect for horse lovers, but a nice enough story line that I think even non horse lovers will enjoy it.
This story centers around the retired racehorse project which is such a wonderful topic to bring awareness to. It's a fun story, McKenzie is sassy and independent and I definitely understood the desire to carve a path that is your own.
Perfect for horse lovers, but a nice enough story line that I think even non horse lovers will enjoy it.
March 18, 2024
I think this is my favorite of the series! Of course, I think I may say that about every new book Natalie Keller Reinert publishes. The makeover horse is a page turner. I literally couldn’t put it down. The story is amazing, and you can’t help but fall in love with the characters. Added bonus- raising awareness for the Thoroughbred Makeover too!!!
March 15, 2025
Another cute fluffy nostalgia read, but the characters just felt flat and the pacing felt weird. And the big “mystery” that the MMC refused to talk about for most of the book, the cause of the main conflict? What a weak reveal. Still a pretty enjoyable read because I enjoy the setting, but not a favorite by any means.
March 18, 2024
The newest Ocala Girls book is adorable! Being a trimmer myself, I love that the farrier and hoofcare information was accurate. I devoured it in one sitting!! Highly recommend this and all her other books :)
March 25, 2024
Once again, Natalie Reinert takes readers into the horse world in her unique way. I especially loved the "Thoroughbred Makeover" competition aspect of this novel. This was a fun read and I enjoyed it from cover to cover.
April 14, 2024
Another good one this author is one who never disappoints.
She is like some of horses that she writes about she gives her best effort ever time! I know when I need to go back to riding and showing days I only have to pick up one of her books! Just pick one up and see!
She is like some of horses that she writes about she gives her best effort ever time! I know when I need to go back to riding and showing days I only have to pick up one of her books! Just pick one up and see!
May 8, 2024
She’s done it again!
Natalie’s Ocala books, no matter which series, are stellar reads. I have never been disappointed in anything she’s written and I doubt I ever will be. No matter the series, they grab you and enmesh you in her universe. I can’t wait for the next one!
Natalie’s Ocala books, no matter which series, are stellar reads. I have never been disappointed in anything she’s written and I doubt I ever will be. No matter the series, they grab you and enmesh you in her universe. I can’t wait for the next one!
May 4, 2024
One of the better horsey rom-com reads out there!
October 26, 2024
I wanted more horse...
December 8, 2024
Another horsey romance
Didn't think it on the par with other Reinert stories. Don't think I will read anymore of hers after this one.
Didn't think it on the par with other Reinert stories. Don't think I will read anymore of hers after this one.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews