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Briar Hill Farm #1
Foaling Season
In a hidden corner of rural Florida, there’s a place where gleaming horses graze on green pastures, a round pool of clear water shimmers with the brilliance of a blue diamond, and majestic live oaks stretch their tangled branches over an old white cottage. A place where friends gather, children play, and riding skills are honed. A place which feels like a lifetime in the making for the people who have made it their home. This is Briar Hill Farm.
Featuring the characters of Natalie Keller Reinert's many beloved equestrian series, including The Eventing Series, Alex & Alexander, Show Barn Blues, Grabbing Mane and more, this is is a saga filled with friendship, love, and - of course - horses.
Featuring the characters of Natalie Keller Reinert's many beloved equestrian series, including The Eventing Series, Alex & Alexander, Show Barn Blues, Grabbing Mane and more, this is is a saga filled with friendship, love, and - of course - horses.
- GenresHorses
375 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 26, 2022
84 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Keller Reinert
53 books549 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 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 18, 2022
I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review- and I'm glad i did because I could not wait for this book to come out!
First, this continues the Alex and Alexander series and the eventing series. Not 100% necessary to read prior, but I recommend it so you can relate better to the characters.
This starts out with Jules post baby. Jules is one of my favorite characters and here we see her continue to grow. Once blindly ambitious, it is refreshing to see her struggle with fear and doubt in a new way. She is a multi-faceted character and I love that the author is not afraid to let her grow and change with her life. I won't spoil it but I like how she uses her friends more in the series, showing no one can do it all alone.
We also get to check in with Alex. I like this side of her and Gigi as a balancing point for her calm, organized life. I'm glad to see her finding herself outside of racing and Alexander.
Kit and Gigi play a bigger role, and I loved their stories. Kit tackles often unspoken issues in the equestrian world and I love the unexpected twist in her story and the representation which is often missing in horse stories. I can't wait to see her growth and hope she is a bigger character as the series progress, I would love to see her find her voice and this book is the start.
I want a happy ending for Clay somewhere, although unsure yet what that would look like.
Overall, this book is engaging, well written, and the different perspectives keep it fresh while highlighting that the equestrian world is made up of so many types, paths and personalities, even though most stories lean heavily on one or two tropes. This does not and that is what makes me want to know more about the characters.
The technical aspects of horses are also on point as the author is a real rider as well.
If you like horses, read it. If you like gooe writing, read it. If you like well thought out characters who aren't afraid to grow and change, read it.
Cannot wait to read book 2!
First, this continues the Alex and Alexander series and the eventing series. Not 100% necessary to read prior, but I recommend it so you can relate better to the characters.
This starts out with Jules post baby. Jules is one of my favorite characters and here we see her continue to grow. Once blindly ambitious, it is refreshing to see her struggle with fear and doubt in a new way. She is a multi-faceted character and I love that the author is not afraid to let her grow and change with her life. I won't spoil it but I like how she uses her friends more in the series, showing no one can do it all alone.
We also get to check in with Alex. I like this side of her and Gigi as a balancing point for her calm, organized life. I'm glad to see her finding herself outside of racing and Alexander.
Kit and Gigi play a bigger role, and I loved their stories. Kit tackles often unspoken issues in the equestrian world and I love the unexpected twist in her story and the representation which is often missing in horse stories. I can't wait to see her growth and hope she is a bigger character as the series progress, I would love to see her find her voice and this book is the start.
I want a happy ending for Clay somewhere, although unsure yet what that would look like.
Overall, this book is engaging, well written, and the different perspectives keep it fresh while highlighting that the equestrian world is made up of so many types, paths and personalities, even though most stories lean heavily on one or two tropes. This does not and that is what makes me want to know more about the characters.
The technical aspects of horses are also on point as the author is a real rider as well.
If you like horses, read it. If you like gooe writing, read it. If you like well thought out characters who aren't afraid to grow and change, read it.
Cannot wait to read book 2!
August 11, 2022
Assembling a team! This book reminded me of the first instalment of a superhero series, only instead of people with supernatural powers, it's about a bunch of kickass women equestrians, each of whom is in a different stage of life or has somewhat different competitive aspirations/background in horses.
I particularly liked the way that Jules's readjustment to life in the saddle after motherhood was handled. Instead of resorting to cliches about a woman being afraid of riding and leaving an orphaned child behind, it's much more about the nitty-gritty that most competitive lady riders REALLY struggle with, namely the physical adjustment back in the saddle, which can be very challenging (so I've heard, I don't have kids).
As always, a great, realistic, but fun read and can't wait to see where this series goes. I also loved the new horses we were introduced to, especially Bentley & Steve, whose different personalities were such a memorable contrast (despite being owned by the same lady).
I particularly liked the way that Jules's readjustment to life in the saddle after motherhood was handled. Instead of resorting to cliches about a woman being afraid of riding and leaving an orphaned child behind, it's much more about the nitty-gritty that most competitive lady riders REALLY struggle with, namely the physical adjustment back in the saddle, which can be very challenging (so I've heard, I don't have kids).
As always, a great, realistic, but fun read and can't wait to see where this series goes. I also loved the new horses we were introduced to, especially Bentley & Steve, whose different personalities were such a memorable contrast (despite being owned by the same lady).
August 2, 2022
It’s abundantly clear whose point of view we’re seeing in each chapter, and the author gives some background on each character to keep us oriented without disturbing the flow of this story. However, I think readers will enjoy it more if they have read the series that lead up to this book, where the characters are fully developed and we have “grown up with them,” so to speak. Sure, that’s a lot of reading, but it’s a real treat to be able to binge through a whole series without having to wait for the next book to be published. All of Reinert’s series are entertaining and unfailingly accurate in the disciplines in which they take place.
Jules, the star of the Eventing series, is a complex character, and I’m not alone in feeling some irritation early on at her caustic personality and relentless drive. She wasn’t very likeable, especially compared to mild-mannered Pete, whom she views as her main rival. It’s wonderful to watch that rivalry develop into a romantic relationship as both of these top level eventers go through some harrowing setbacks. Foaling Season opens with the couple celebrating the birth of their son and the opening of their own farm—but you need to know their backstory!
Alex pops into the plot as Jules’ friend and foaling coach, but her history, as chronicled in the Alex & Alexander (Thoroughbred racing) series, is such a delightful read, it should precede reading Foaling Season. Everyone should know everything about Alex before reading this book—and they will also learn all they need to know about Gigi in the process.
I’m happy to see Kit’s character emerging and trust we’ll see more of her in this new series. She’s an emerging event rider who’s dealing with issues that can tank her career if she doesn’t make the right decisions. Fortunately, she has the support of the Briar Hill Farm/Alachua Eventing Co-op family. We also get a clearer picture of long-time barn managers, grooms and students who have been constants in the Eventing Series—the secondary characters who keep everything running smoothly. Without them, the main characters would be lost. Clay, the charismatic rock star/horse owner/father also makes an appearance in Foaling Season. What is it with this guy? He seems too good to be true—but maybe he’s not. Are we going to find out?
And, true to the series title, we learn a lot about foaling--along with Jules, who is as enchanted with the birthing and the new foals as any of us would be.
This book is a welcome addition to the NKR impressive library—and leaves me, as always, wanting her to write faster.
Jules, the star of the Eventing series, is a complex character, and I’m not alone in feeling some irritation early on at her caustic personality and relentless drive. She wasn’t very likeable, especially compared to mild-mannered Pete, whom she views as her main rival. It’s wonderful to watch that rivalry develop into a romantic relationship as both of these top level eventers go through some harrowing setbacks. Foaling Season opens with the couple celebrating the birth of their son and the opening of their own farm—but you need to know their backstory!
Alex pops into the plot as Jules’ friend and foaling coach, but her history, as chronicled in the Alex & Alexander (Thoroughbred racing) series, is such a delightful read, it should precede reading Foaling Season. Everyone should know everything about Alex before reading this book—and they will also learn all they need to know about Gigi in the process.
I’m happy to see Kit’s character emerging and trust we’ll see more of her in this new series. She’s an emerging event rider who’s dealing with issues that can tank her career if she doesn’t make the right decisions. Fortunately, she has the support of the Briar Hill Farm/Alachua Eventing Co-op family. We also get a clearer picture of long-time barn managers, grooms and students who have been constants in the Eventing Series—the secondary characters who keep everything running smoothly. Without them, the main characters would be lost. Clay, the charismatic rock star/horse owner/father also makes an appearance in Foaling Season. What is it with this guy? He seems too good to be true—but maybe he’s not. Are we going to find out?
And, true to the series title, we learn a lot about foaling--along with Jules, who is as enchanted with the birthing and the new foals as any of us would be.
This book is a welcome addition to the NKR impressive library—and leaves me, as always, wanting her to write faster.
July 11, 2022
Natalie Keller Reinert is one of my favourite authors and I have read and immensely enjoyed everything she has written. Her Eventing series (featuring Jules and Pete) is my favourite series, period. Foaling Season is the first book in the Briar Hill Farm series, which follows Jules and Pete at their new farm and into the next chapter of their lives as first time parents. With the birth of her child, Jules re-evaluates her life and her goals and has to decide whether motherhood will take her in a different direction, away from eventing and coaching
The author injects Alex (from the Alex and Alexander Series) into the Briar Hill mix as she rekindles her love of showing horses and trains with her friend Jules. We get to see Alex away from the race track and her husband Alexander's Cousin Gigi comes to town, creating chaos and clashing with Jules as only Gigi can. The author also takes Kit, a more peripheral character from the Eventing Series and gives her bigger role in Foaling Season and as I read the book I became invested in her story and began to care more about her life, future and dreams. I can't wait to read further books in this series!
A first time reader can read this book and enjoy it as a stand alone novel, but my bet is that after reading it they will want to go back to read the Eventing and Alex and Alexander series for the rich character backgrounds they provide.
Note* I received a free copy of this book to review before it was released (I was to eager to read it and couldn't wait until the July 26th release date!). Receiving the book early in no way influenced this review.
The author injects Alex (from the Alex and Alexander Series) into the Briar Hill mix as she rekindles her love of showing horses and trains with her friend Jules. We get to see Alex away from the race track and her husband Alexander's Cousin Gigi comes to town, creating chaos and clashing with Jules as only Gigi can. The author also takes Kit, a more peripheral character from the Eventing Series and gives her bigger role in Foaling Season and as I read the book I became invested in her story and began to care more about her life, future and dreams. I can't wait to read further books in this series!
A first time reader can read this book and enjoy it as a stand alone novel, but my bet is that after reading it they will want to go back to read the Eventing and Alex and Alexander series for the rich character backgrounds they provide.
Note* I received a free copy of this book to review before it was released (I was to eager to read it and couldn't wait until the July 26th release date!). Receiving the book early in no way influenced this review.
October 2, 2022
I'm a huge fan of Natalie Keller Reinert and have read most of her series. I have the privilege of receiving advanced readers copies of her books in exchange for an honest review. I'm so thrilled to be part of this writer's ARC team!
Foaling Season is, obviously, about the birth of baby horses but it's also a metaphor for new beginnings for the characters in this book. I've come to know the various characters through other books in the different series and am so happy to see them interacting together in this book. They feel like family members and, as a fellow equestrian, I understand where they're coming from.
This book starts out following Jules after the birth of her first child. It's easy to relate to her as a first-time mother and the struggle to balance every aspect of her life - work, family, horses, and new barn. I can also relate to her fears of returning to riding - something that is usually as natural as breathing to her - when she considers all the things that could go wrong and deprive her new baby of his mother. Thankfully, she is surrounded by friends and family who help her regain her place in the saddle.
Tbe reader also gets to visit with Alex and Alexander, Lacey, Lindsay, Gigi, Kit, Vane, Maddox, Clay, and others while enjoying getting to know the characters better. We're also introduced to some new horses and catch up with old favorites. Each character has some new beginnings to work through. I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series and can't wait to continue this adventure.
I highly recommend this book!
Foaling Season is, obviously, about the birth of baby horses but it's also a metaphor for new beginnings for the characters in this book. I've come to know the various characters through other books in the different series and am so happy to see them interacting together in this book. They feel like family members and, as a fellow equestrian, I understand where they're coming from.
This book starts out following Jules after the birth of her first child. It's easy to relate to her as a first-time mother and the struggle to balance every aspect of her life - work, family, horses, and new barn. I can also relate to her fears of returning to riding - something that is usually as natural as breathing to her - when she considers all the things that could go wrong and deprive her new baby of his mother. Thankfully, she is surrounded by friends and family who help her regain her place in the saddle.
Tbe reader also gets to visit with Alex and Alexander, Lacey, Lindsay, Gigi, Kit, Vane, Maddox, Clay, and others while enjoying getting to know the characters better. We're also introduced to some new horses and catch up with old favorites. Each character has some new beginnings to work through. I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series and can't wait to continue this adventure.
I highly recommend this book!
November 17, 2023
Thank you.
Thank you for writing a horse book that includes a romance between two women - this is the first real horse book I’ve ever read (that wasn’t just a romance with a horsey backdrop) that included people whose lives look like mine. The joy this brought me is something I’m not sure I can put into words. I am a fan for life.
I loved seeing this beautiful community of characters from previous books come together into one story. Each character’s personal journey felt real. I love character growth and seeing how everyone changes and develops over time is lovely. This is a fantastic feel good story - just what I needed.
Can’t wait for more eventing action in following books! I want to feel like I’m on the course as they fly over jumps! :) (And can’t wait for more kit and vane :D)
On to buy the next one!
Thank you for writing a horse book that includes a romance between two women - this is the first real horse book I’ve ever read (that wasn’t just a romance with a horsey backdrop) that included people whose lives look like mine. The joy this brought me is something I’m not sure I can put into words. I am a fan for life.
I loved seeing this beautiful community of characters from previous books come together into one story. Each character’s personal journey felt real. I love character growth and seeing how everyone changes and develops over time is lovely. This is a fantastic feel good story - just what I needed.
Can’t wait for more eventing action in following books! I want to feel like I’m on the course as they fly over jumps! :) (And can’t wait for more kit and vane :D)
On to buy the next one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2022
Professional horse life in Florida
Briar Hill Farm is bringing together a diverse cross-section of the Florida horse community in the lives of four professional horsewomen. It is a more challenging story to follow than Ms.Rienert's prior seeies, due to dividing the POV between all these individuals. These women are all at different stages in both their careers and personal lives, which gives a varied perspective of horses as an industry. But, despite the differing aspects of equine careers, these women have each other's backs and push one another to be their very best.
I received an ARC copy of this story from the author via Amazon and voluntarily chose to share my review.
Briar Hill Farm is bringing together a diverse cross-section of the Florida horse community in the lives of four professional horsewomen. It is a more challenging story to follow than Ms.Rienert's prior seeies, due to dividing the POV between all these individuals. These women are all at different stages in both their careers and personal lives, which gives a varied perspective of horses as an industry. But, despite the differing aspects of equine careers, these women have each other's backs and push one another to be their very best.
I received an ARC copy of this story from the author via Amazon and voluntarily chose to share my review.
September 16, 2022
I’ve read the entire eventing series more than few times and enjoyed every moment of the read. Jules was such an interesting fully developed character.
Unfortunately this latest book was a great disappointment to me. The story focuses mainly on a group of women, most of them being characters from previous books. and nothing of any particular interest happens. I kept on hoping for the story to improve but gave up after reading the first three chapters. I deleted the book from my Kindle and hope that I can delete from my mind the changes the author made to her characters in order to write a book about a group of typical, ordinary women doing typical ordinary things.
Unfortunately this latest book was a great disappointment to me. The story focuses mainly on a group of women, most of them being characters from previous books. and nothing of any particular interest happens. I kept on hoping for the story to improve but gave up after reading the first three chapters. I deleted the book from my Kindle and hope that I can delete from my mind the changes the author made to her characters in order to write a book about a group of typical, ordinary women doing typical ordinary things.
July 16, 2022
Omg love love loved this! All of my favorite characters (and probably yours too if you’ve ever read any of Natalie Keller Reinheart’s other books) all swirled into one book. Each character has their turn narrating giving each of them a voice and viewpoint of each other and the events going on. I can’t wait for the next book(s) in this series! Genius concept and as always amazing writing.
July 20, 2022
Favorite characters collide in this new series by Natalie Keller Reinert. See how a new eventing life and juggling different hats unfold for favorites from previous series. There are trials, love woes, and so much more.
Natalie once again hits it out of the park with book 1 in her newest series. I look forward to reading book 2 in the fall!
Natalie once again hits it out of the park with book 1 in her newest series. I look forward to reading book 2 in the fall!
October 2, 2023
These are the books I read for fun - they're not weighty and they're horsey enough to be truly enjoyable. I really liked that this series brings all of the characters from Reinert's other books together.
August 3, 2022
I read all of Natalies books..enjoy them immensely..but this one was different..in a good way..horses,yes..but i really enjoyed the female connections,growth and energy of the characters....
January 2, 2024
Enjoyed, but didn't really like how it jumps from one person to another.
December 14, 2022
I so enjoyed this story. Love the characters, their stories, and the story line that grabs you from page 1 until the end. Another from a really talented author. I get my horsey fix from Ms Reinert. Thank you so much!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews