Pride

Eventing #2

by Natalie Keller Reinert

The second book in Natalie Keller Reinert’s beloved Eventing Series, set in the high-stakes world of three-day eventing, now reimagined and repackaged!

It took a hurricane for her to admit it, but Jules Thornton is finally falling in love. After losing her farm and nearly her life last year, Jules is back on her feet, living with her horseman boyfriend, Pete Morrison, at his idyllic Briar Hill Farm. But it’s trouble in paradise when Pete is offered a dream sponsorship and a trip to England, while Jules is offered a much less glamorous position in Florida vacationland. Pete is counting on her to help him keep Briar Hill afloat, so she swallows her pride and goes.

Through everything life has thrown at her, Jules has been confident in one thing: she knows horses, and she has a special connection with her horse Dynamo. But her new trainer doesn’t seem to see Jules’s talent. With Pete on another continent and Dynamo struggling in the arena, Jules doesn’t know who she is anymore―as a girlfriend, or a horsewoman. Is this new relationship worth relearning everything Jules thought she knew about horses and about life?

In Natalie Keller Reinert’s beloved eight-book Eventing Series, we follow Jules and her friends through the joys and losses of competitive eventing, as they climb to the top of their sport―and into one another’s lives and hearts. Utterly immersive and propulsive, this series is an unforgettable journey for anyone who has ever fallen in love with horses, or humans.

Genres: Horses, Romance, Audiobook, Fiction

347 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 27, 2016

About the author

Natalie 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.

Reviews

[Marilyn (not getting notifications) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pride, the second book in The Eventing Series by Natalie Keller Reinert was equally as compelling as Ambition, the first book in this series. It picked up right where Ambition left off. I was surprised at how much I was enjoying this series. Jules’ character had begun to grow on me and I felt myself rooting for her. I admired how patient and understanding Pete was with Jules. I listened to the audiobook of Pride. It was narrated by one of my favorite narrators, Barrie Kreinik, who did a fabulous job distinguishing between the voices of the characters in Pride.

After living through and surviving the devastating hurricane and coming to grips with the reality of loosing her farm, Jules Thornton and Pete Morrison had settled into a nice and comfortable routine at Briar Hill Farm. Even though Jules swore she would never get involved romantically with another horse person, she had fallen hard for Pete Morrison and he for her. The hurricane had caused insurmountable damage to the farm she skimped and saved to buy but Pete had saved her in more ways than she could have imagined. Pete had opened his heart, home and farm to Jules. Everything was going along just fine until Pete received a phone call that offed him a sponsorship in England that he could not pass up. As a condition to accepting the sponsorship, Pete requested that Jules be offered a sponsorship as well. Jules quickly learned that her sponsorship would be up near Orlando. She was to remain in Florida. Even though Jules was feeling a little sorry for herself and a little jealous of Pete’s sponsorship, she accepted the lesser sponsorship for herself. Of course, Jules arrived at her own sponsorship with a chip on her shoulder and a know it all attitude. Will Jules’ and Pete’s relationship survive the distance that separates them in their respective sponsorships? Will Jules allow herself to be open to advice from her mentor, possible criticism and the possibility of learning new and better ways to train her horses? I am looking forward to listening to the next audiobook in this series. I recommend reading or listening to Pride. This series should be read in order to enjoy it fully.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Pride (The Eventing Series) by Natalie Keller Reinert through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mary Pagones · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the reasons people who love, ride, and work with horses are so appreciative of Natalie Keller Reinert’s fiction is the fact that her characters seem so true to life. Pride is no exception. Jules is young, a reasonably talented rider, but also financially desperate with an over-inflated sense of her own competence. She’s convinced that the only way to make it as an eventer is to prove that she’s better than everyone all of the time, regardless of the consequences. Along with a desire to save money on adequate training, this makes for some scary and sloppy riding. While she’s able to get away with this at the lower levels, it becomes abundantly clear that her “get it over with and done” style won’t work if she wants to move up with her current string of horses. Eventually, with the prospect of financial backing dangled in front of her, she’s given the chance to go to dressage boot camp with Grace, a controlling hunter-jumper-dressage trainer whose age and experience has given her a great deal of savvy that Jules can learn from…if Jules is willing to listen.

The details about riding are spot on, particularly how to approach (and not approach) a cross-country or a show-jumping course. I love how Reinert describes riding different horses and the debates within the various disciplines about correct striding, pace, and trusting the horse versus carefully setting him up to succeed before a fence. Despite her many faults (I would almost consider Jules more of an anti-heroine than a heroine) I still appreciated the fact that Jules was so determined to succeed. I liked the fact that she wanted to be better than her eventing boyfriend Pete, versus wanting to stifle herself to flatter his ego (a common trope in many romance novels). This is a book about strong women with a passion for horses!

[Allison ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pride is an accurate name for this book. Wanted to strangle Jules, again! Have to remind myself she is like 20 years old, not 30 years old. We did see a breakthrough with her towards the end, realizing she very well may lose everything in her singular desire to win and be respected. Not saying she should tolerate disrespect, but she does absolutely nothing to build community or make people familiar with her.

I loved our time at Seahorse Ranch, though. I see that NKR has a mini series about this place so I want to check that out.

Still not buying Jules and Pete. They may as well just be coworkers or business partners. Just because you live and work together doesn't mean you have to have a romantic connection.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gosh this was a step down for me. Emotionally constipated Jules is the worst person. I was expecting a slow character development instead of the massive explosion of submission.
However I did like the unexpected twist at the end

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fellow equestrian (the fancy word for horse girl for those who do not know), I appreciate this series (and sequel) so much!

I know I said this about the last book, but I need to say it again and truly cannot express this enough: this is such an accurate portrayal of horses and how to interact with them and how to ride them. This is one of the two series I have read that have actually made me think "oh wow, this author has met a horse before." It is crazy rare to find this accurate and relatable of an experience.

The characters in these books do the sport of eventing (three days, three ways AKA three different sports of riding within one sport) but this book seems to focus more so on dressage. For those who don't know what dressage is, it's the horse dancing that Snoop Dogg is obsessed with. So I would definitely recommend that the dressage girlies give this one a read!

The way I speed through these books because I don't have to worry about the confusion of what things mean when written by someone who doesn't know much about horses. That is not a problem here, this author knows her stuff!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[emma hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

main character was insufferable but that was the whole point so it was good!

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the equine content. Story line went fairly slowly but I’m hooked on the series! Looking forward to the author’s updated editions of this series!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pride, the second book in The Eventing Series by Natalie Keller Reinert, is an impeccably written glimpse into the world of competitive eventing. Jules finally admits that she is in love with Pete (what isn't to love about Pete), but their idyllic summer at Briar Hill doesn't quite go as planned. Pete is offered a sponsorship and a summer in England riding cross country, while Jules is sent to Orlando to improve her dressage in order to receive a sponsorship. And perhaps, work on her people skills while there. While Jules and Pete are away, with an ocean between them, Lacey and Becky have to hold things together at Briar Hill. Jules struggles to put her "pride" aside and learn from Grace, who is her boss for the summer. Jules learns some hard truths about horses, riding, building a relationship with a horse, and interpersonal skills. This book ends on a mild cliffhanger and has me hungry for the next book and beyond.

As a reader, I was continually rooting for Jules even when she couldn't seem to get out of her own way. And Pete, oh goodness, I only want the best for "sweet" Pete.

As a lifelong equestrian, I cannot stress enough how incredibly accurate Natalie Keller Reinert's representation of life with horses is. It is fantastic to read an author get it so right and have beautiful prose to describe the horse-centric lifestyle.

Thank you to Flatiron Books and and Natalie Keller Reinert for an ARC of Pride, The Eventing Series #2 in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah Varney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natalie Keller Reinert’s Eventing series is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. I loved Ambition and got the chance to read Pride before its rebranded pub date. I enjoyed every moment!

Jules and Pete are desperately clinging to Briar Hill Farm despite financial and professional challenges. Pete is off to the UK for a summer training program and Jules is miffed to learn a condition of her pending sponsorship is a summer spent doing… ugh, dressage. Jules packs up Mickey and Dynamo and heads to Sea Breeze Farm to be an “apprentice,” and she learns pretty quickly she needs to swallow her pride in order to make this work.

I think of Jules as the embodiment of “scrappy.” She’s not very refined, but she gets things done. No one can say she doesn’t work hard or doesn’t have ambition. But her attitude got her into plenty of trouble, and I found myself growing frustrated with her short fuse and overt cynicism. She ended up figuring it out by the end of the book but I was nervous that she was going to cost herself quite a bit for the sake of her pride.

I love Natalie’s writing style and the way she so perfectly captures the horse world and particularly the eventing atmosphere. I would recommend this series to anyone who loves horses - because it is abundantly clear that the author does.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looked back to see that I first read this Eventing series eight years ago. Wow.. time flew. Always love a book where it’s obvious that the writer knows their subject matter and Natalie knows horses, eventing and Florida. I love this entire series and got so caught up in reading and posting about it on TikTok that I forgot to do reviews on my favorite Goodreads.
As I am waiting for the last two books in the series to be rereleased I will do a general recap.

Jules.., she’s thorny and has a chip on her shoulder the size of a cross country log. She loves her horses and her dog and her little ten acre training barn and even her old trailer with the saggy floor and the even saggier couch. Anyone who had worked as hard as she has can feel that and forgive her the prickly way she treats people. The working for it vs the ones it’s handed to.
Becky.., oh we love to hate her.., dang I wanted her to have any other name but my own.
Lacey.., we cheer her on cause we love how scrappy and tough she is
Sweet Pete.., oh that eyebrow and that lazy smile.., in breeches and boots. ❤️

All the books in this series are wonderful.., don’t miss any of them.

[Gail G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional rollercoaster 4.5

The hard headed immature heroine with the chip on her shoulder got old but the author developed her character enough we couldn’t help rooting for her even though we wanted to strangle her like every one around her. But her love of horses and the realistic scenes made the book for me, another horse fanatic. I enjoyed reading about the insights into training - it is a hard life to train horses, which is depicted so well in this book. As a dressage rider I enjoyed the descriptions of roundness and impulsion and how it affects all riding. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book. I would recommend this book to another horse lover. I don’t know if others would understand the sacrifices made by horse fanatics.

[Christie Bane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hardly 5-star literature — it’s a story about life and relationship drama centered around an eventing barn — but it was a 5-star reading experience for me. Why? Because I liked the main character — she’s such a bitch, and totally her own worst enemy in every way. Can she overcome her bitchiness enough to channel her talent and determination into advancing as a rider and trainer? More important, can she keep her boyfriend (without whom she wouldn’t have a place to live, or keep her horses)? More important that that, can HE afford to keep his farm where they both live? Bottom line, I liked the book because it’s about someone who’s pursuing excellence and having to deal with the less nice parts of herself that get in the way of that goal, and THAT is a story I can relate to.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jules, Jules, Jules, I love you but you are a mess! When will you learn?

I love that these are in audio. The narrator is fantastic. And I still don’t know what a collected trot is. (Yes, non-equestrian here.) But I did learn that an equestrian with a perfect manicure is likely a poser.

[Antonietta tesfaye · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know that the female protagonist is to be a character that is too prideful but she really is written very annoying. A bit too much. She sounds like a whiny brat and makes the reader not root for her and lose interest in the storyline.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid, believable, and as can't-look-away-from-the-train-wreck as the first one. I'll wait anxiously for the 3rd installment... bravo.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll forever champion Jules for the incredibly REAL character that she is! I’m obsessed with how incredibly flawed she is (and yet so very endearing) and the author does such a wonderful job at taking the audience alongside this journey that grew Jules exponentially.

I love how this novel wasn’t JUST about Jules growing as an equestrian— but as a human being who is learning to swallow her pride and accept she doesn’t know everything (in love, life, and horses). It’s masterful work as we get to be voyeurs into Jules’ slow realization that she must make changes to herself in order to further her career.

The Eventing Series is a must-read for any person who has ever fallen in love with horses!

You’ll feel like you’re the one actually in the saddle (I swear I felt the ache in my hips and calves as Jules kept trying to lengthen her leg) and chasing Grand Prix dreams! It’s absolutely un-putdownable and the ending leaves you aching for answers (no seriously, what’s going to happen?!?!?!).

[Allisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s really rare to find an equestrian series that is both a) well written and b) written by someone who actually has a background with horses, which is why I’m really enjoying this series. However, Pride really tested the reader’s relationship with Jules because my GOD. Realistically, I don’t understand how this girl is alive between her reckless behavior and miserable attitude, she probably should have been trampled or shot by now (this is Florida after all). For that reason, I’m giving it 3 stars. That said, I appreciate that Jules feels human (a deeply flawed human, but a human nonetheless) and I think the author did a beautiful job explaining the different approaches to training in different disciplines.

[Ellen Broadhurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jules is a problematic main character; she is unlikable. The good news is that in this second book in the series, she has developed some self awareness and is taking steps in the right direction to become a more fleshed out, introspective person.

I spend my life with horses, and don’t often chose to read fiction about them. In general, fiction is less interesting that the real life horses and people who populate my world, but I am happy to make an exception for Natalie Reinert’s characters.

Jules and Pete are going places, and I’m intrigued enough to want to go along for the ride with them. Next up, Courage!

[Cathy Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recieved an ARC copy of the updated book. Loved reading it again. Great book, great series. Awesome, well developed characters, horses. Love reading horse books by authors who know their subject and NKR sure does. So realistic you feel you are riding with Jules, feeding, mucking out, showing, etc. Love Jules, a driven, hardheaded young horsewomen, trainer who thinks she knows everything. But when she has to take an internship with a dressage trainer to improve her riding she finds she doesn't . She almost loses everything that really matters and learns alot about herself and her relationship with Pete. Love Jukes, love Grace and of course the awesome horses. Highly recommended.

[Dale Leatherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot-headed, driven Jules is a tiny bit more likeable in this, the second book in the series. And it's fun to see Grace, who's tasked with improving Jules' dressage (and perhaps her attitude), begin to bring out the best in her charge. As always, Natalie Reinert takes readers right into the barn--and the saddle--to advance everyone's knowledge and appreciation for horses and horse sports. Along the way she introduces us to complex characters that we really care about. It's an entertaining read, with lots of dramatic tension--enough to keep me up past my bedtime!.

[Lisa Albright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second installment of the Eventing series and Jules and Pete are taking their relationship to the next level after a hurricane destroys her farm. I enjoy the way these two seem to just fit together and the way life throws them a curveball and they have to decide what's important to them and their relationship. Jules needed to be challenged to change and Pete waits patiently for her to do so. I can't wait to see what's next for these two!

I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Elysa Bauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars, I enjoyed that Jules is finally deciding to ask for more help with her riding, however the book was lacking more show experience that I loved about book one. Jules finally realized she's the problem and if she doesn't she'll end up losing Pete. If she'd focus on being a well rounded rider instead of a reckless immature woman, she may have a shot at becoming a real pro. Horses ruled by fear don't win, but those with air tight training and trust in their riders do. Can't wait for book 3.

[Stephanie Kline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very aptly named! I'm really enjoying this series - and Jules is truly a main character that I love to hate. I think we *might* be getting a glimpse at her character arc and progression towards a less prideful, arrogant, brash, angry person (I say this in love)... and I look forward to the next few books in the saga!

Very realistic, fun, and immersive equestrian storytelling. I feel like I'm in the barn with the characters and I absolutely love that.

[Caryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have spent a lifetime in the horse industry, and although I am not at all interested in Eventing, I am thoroughly enjoying Reinert's series. What a pleasure to read stories with some twists to the plots, an intriguing, passionate yet dysfunctional heroine, and truly authentic characters. The author effectively portrays the rigors of the business, along with the love the participants have for their horses. Accurate horse stories with a splash of romance? Count me in!

[Jen Lunkenheimer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely enjoyed this book however I have never disliked a FMC more than Jules. She is so stubborn and naive that she is the “professional” yet does not see a beautiful career opportunity when it is presented to her on a gold platter. Pete doesn’t deserve her that’s for sure.

Definitely love this series - for sure satisfies my little Saddle club loving heart! But I hope Jules can grow a little more throughout the series.

[Jessica Gullion · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can’t stand the FMC. Which sucks because I love everything else about the book. I love reading about the horses, dressage, eventing, even the barn chores. I am a horse girl; horse books are my favorite. But God, the main character is INSUFFERABLE. As much as I would like to continue with this series, I’m not going to. I thought she’d grown up during book one, but I think she’s even more irritating in book two.

[MARYANN MATHER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

I love horses. In fact I have my late husband 36 year old gelding in my back yard. He has a big personality just like the horses in your stories. He was a show horse, so I can relate to the grooming and care of all horses. For those who don't have horses of their own, you can feel like you are right there for the actions.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the "horsey" parts. The dressage info is fantastic. But the main protagonist is getting tiresome. Prickly, know it all, just plain annoying. I'll keep reading and hope she gets less annoying because the horse part is so good.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was able to tell the author had a bit more experience with dressage and larger lesson type barns than they did with eventing. This was a bit more accurate than the first, but still disappointing and tough to get through.

First off, don’t still very much don’t like Jules. I don’t find her bad attitude quirky or even her “improvement” of it to be that interesting. She is very much a pick me girl and that does absolutely nothing for me. Her boyfriend is also kind of a dolt just enabling her toxic behavior and then suddenly when he is struggling he turns a bit toxic himself. Don’t get me wrong, it’s realistic and relatable - who hasn’t been a toxic jerk to their partner at some point. But given that virtually every character in the book sucks it is hard to appreciate the realness when you simply don’t care what happens to any of them.

This was my third and final strike for the series (I read the prequel). If you all you want is to be able to read about horses and glorify a pick me girl who is very entitled and makes a lot of stupid decisions, then this is the book for you. If not, you might end up like me where you wish you had trusted your gut the first book in.

Oh, and again - it is very well written. And the dressage training parts where 100% technically accurate which was very refreshing to read. Didn’t save the series for me, but definitely deserves credit when I found the first book to be a bit lacking in that area.

[Anna Flyte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow it's been awhile since I read a first person POV novel with a character I couldn't stand. It's honestly written very we, Jules' personal is very defined, and very different from my own. So it was interesting to read a new view, especially in the horse world.