Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Ambition (Eventing, #1)” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Ambition

(Eventing #1)

Natalie Keller Reinert (Goodreads Author)

4.23 · Rating details · 459 ratings · 47 reviews

Jules Thornton didn’t come to Ocala to make friends. She came to make a name for herself. Young, determined, and tough as nails, she’s been swapping stable-work for saddle-time since she was a little kid - and it hasn’t always been a fun ride. Forever the struggling rider in a sport for the wealthy, all Jules has on her side is talent and ambition. She’s certain all she ne ...more

Get A Copy

Or buy for $4.99

Paperback, 1, 368 pages

Published July 10th 2014 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (first published May 18th 2014)

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Ambition, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about Ambition

Lists with This Book

Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

Best Horse Books

529 books — 348 voters

Horse Series

37 books — 4 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 4.23 ·

Rating details

· 459 ratings · 47 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Ambition (Eventing, #1)

Jun 08, 2014 Jennifer L. rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: horse-fiction

I am avid reader and read everything from horse books to young adult books to training manuals. There isn’t much I won’t give a try, but when adult horse fiction gets into my hands, I’m pretty ecstatic. Natalie Keller Reinert recently released her newest novel called Ambition, and once I found out it was about eventing I was even more intrigued! If you haven’t read anything by Natalie yet, it is time!

Ambition is about a young woman, Jules Thornton, who has spent her life as a working student and I am avid reader and read everything from horse books to young adult books to training manuals. There isn’t much I won’t give a try, but when adult horse fiction gets into my hands, I’m pretty ecstatic. Natalie Keller Reinert recently released her newest novel called Ambition, and once I found out it was about eventing I was even more intrigued! If you haven’t read anything by Natalie yet, it is time!

Ambition is about a young woman, Jules Thornton, who has spent her life as a working student and trying everything she can to make it to the top. Growing up, that meant riding any horse that came through her barn and cleaning up after the more privileged girls she went to school with. Instead of attending college, she broke out on her own, bought an old farm in Ocala, and began her training business. She had rescued an off the track Thoroughbred from an auction who slowly became her eventing star but didn’t quite have what it took to make it to the Advanced level in eventing. Would she push him too far?

The story follows Jules’ experiences as she slaves trying to reach the top in the eventing world as both a rider and a new trainer. She is extremely ambitious and the underlying theme throughout the whole book is “will it get the best of her?” I completely identified with her character, and Natalie has written this character in such a way that you feel for her, get irritated with her, want to shake her, and want to jump up and down when she achieves something. There is a love interest in this story that might make you want to swoon, but I don’t want to give anything away here (read the book)! You will have clear feelings about the other key characters (ie Becky-don’t care for her, Lacey-like her, Eileen-I know this type of owner). I was also completely sold on the story with the Thoroughbreds playing a key role. They are such special beings, and Natalie has a gift in portraying them and their wonderful little quirks. You will feel as though you know the horses as well as the humans in this book!

This is definitely a must read for equestrians. It’s a fabulous work of horse fiction that could easily translate to real life, and I am really hoping there is a sequel in the future. I would love to continue Jule’s story and see where life takes her and the horses next. ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Oct 01, 2015 Virginia Anderson rated it liked it

Review: Natalie Keller Reinert's Ambition
Juliet (Jules) wants most of all to beat the big riders in the dangerous and highly competitive world of eventing. Working herself nearly to death on a shoestring, she's furious to be shut out for a prestigious grant by rich-guy Peter Morrison. Life keeps getting worse as her working student abandons her, a promising horse turns out to be suffering from an apparent psychosis, and a disastrous show experience starts sucking her clients away—and sending the Review: Natalie Keller Reinert's Ambition
Juliet (Jules) wants most of all to beat the big riders in the dangerous and highly competitive world of eventing. Working herself nearly to death on a shoestring, she's furious to be shut out for a prestigious grant by rich-guy Peter Morrison. Life keeps getting worse as her working student abandons her, a promising horse turns out to be suffering from an apparent psychosis, and a disastrous show experience starts sucking her clients away—and sending them to Morrison. The major chip on Jules's shoulder doesn't help. The stage is set for a battle that doesn't turn out to be quite the one Jules has been training for.
It's with great relief that I can give Ambition three stars and wish I could give it three and a half. I was worried for a while. For the fact is, this book starts at Chapter 13.
I did need a lot of the information in the first 12 chapters: the source of Jules's maniacal drive for success, where she got the money for her farm, what her days were like. Obviously I needed to see the meeting with Peter and to learn about Jules's first disaster, and I needed to meet Mickey (the horse), of course. I didn't at all mind being taken back to some of the atmosphere of an outdoors working life in Central Florida, having ridden and taught riding in Tampa for 23 years. But by Chapter 13, I was skimming the text, muttering, "I know this already!" I was thinking, "When is something going to happen in this book?"
Fortunately, it did. Peter showed back up, Jules went to a show, we found out a little of the challenge she faced in Mickey, and we saw just how ferociously she sabotaged herself. I got caught up in Jules's struggles, even though I kept wanting to give her a body shake and shout, "Girl, get a read on yourself!"
Despite my impatience with her, I found Jules well-drawn, believable. I had a little more trouble with Peter, who comes across as flatter, more of the Good-Looking Guy Who Is Misunderstood requisite in romances than a flesh-and-blood person. I couldn't understand why he kept coming back to someone who treated him so brutally. He wasn't painted as a masochistic type.
The writing is lively, capturing the train wrecks so often characteristic of a life with horses with humor and insight. I know whereof Reinert speaks when she takes us through a horse person's learning curves: For example, like Jules, I somehow internalized the idea that it was my job to place the horse's feet at exactly the right take-off spot. The day the trainer I'd found late in life (too late) said to me, "Your job is to set the tempo, pace, and frame; it's his job to jump the fence" was the beginning of one of the most unsettling psychological leaps I could imagine. As a confirmed control freak, letting the horse make his own decisions? Really? Reinert knows her stuff; all the horse-handling in this book rings true.
I did raise an eyebrow once or twice. Two people taking full care of 13 horses, riding 9 a day? A trainer as far along as Jules not recognizing a bad shoeing job and a sore-footed horse? On the former point I'll have to cede to Reinert; she's been around a lot more than I have and maybe people can manage that schedule. The latter point I attribute to poetic license; it gives Peter a chance to show his stuff. But still. That said, the completion of Jules's character arc was fitting and worked well.
Anybody who has been where Jules and I have both been, watching other people ride while we clean stalls, trying to negotiate personal relations when differing views of what ought to be done with a horse intervene, hanging on to a precarious dream without the basic wherewithal it requires, will have a lot of fun with this book. As will those who dream of being rescued by Peter—not a bad fate.
...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

May 20, 2014 Brittney rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: horse-books-read

I 100% understand why Reinert titled this book "Ambition." I couldn't think of a better word to describe the main character, Jules, who is a broke, insanely-hard-working horse trainer trying to make her mark on the eventing industry. Jules drinks Diet Coke like a fiend, has a working student that doesn't respect her, rides through lightning storms so she can get all her horses worked, and vows to never date a horse trainer because she's certain he'd just tell her how to ride her horses. Yet she' I 100% understand why Reinert titled this book "Ambition." I couldn't think of a better word to describe the main character, Jules, who is a broke, insanely-hard-working horse trainer trying to make her mark on the eventing industry. Jules drinks Diet Coke like a fiend, has a working student that doesn't respect her, rides through lightning storms so she can get all her horses worked, and vows to never date a horse trainer because she's certain he'd just tell her how to ride her horses. Yet she's making it work. Well, kind of. Jules is hard-headed and set in her ways and sometimes I wanted to give her a little shake to let her know she was being an idiot, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching her story unfold (along with her antics). Actually, I loved watching her story unfold -- the good, the bad, and the ugly were highly entertaining.

Something that really surprised me about Ambition -- a major plot twist involves a hurricane and this was probably my favorite part of the story. Growing up in the Midwest and now living in the Northwest, I've never experienced a hurricane and, after reading Ambition, I hope I never have to. I cannot imagine the horrors of a hurricane as a horse owner, but Natalie does an amazing job of describing the preparations, the fears, the destruction, and the emotional rollercoaster before, during, and after the storm. I was choked up over and over, fearing for the characters (human & animal).

Furthermore, I thoroughly enjoyed the I-don't-want-to-like-him-but-I-really-do-like-him relationship between Jules and Peter and was delighted to have this weaved in as a major story line in the second half of the book. I was rooting for Peter all along. :)

By the end of the book, the stubborn Jules completely warmed my heart. She learned her lesson -- but you'll have to read the book to find out what that lesson is.

Looking forward to reading more of Natalie Keller Reinert’s books!

For more equestrian-fiction reviews, check out Brittney Joy's Blog at:
http://brittneyjoybooks.squarespace.c... ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

May 20, 2014 Linda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: horses

This one grew into a page-turner for me, and I ignored chores and work of my own to find out what would happen. Why? Because I became so engrossed in the characters, both human and equine, that they felt very real to me, and I cared about them. Even Jules, the main character, whose behavior at the beginning of the story is less-than-stellar (and who we occasionally want to strangle)is a compelling character, because we want to see her grow, change, and learn to accept advice, criticism, love, an ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 27, 2019 Erika rated it it was ok

I am astonished that this book has the average rating that it does. I suppose that if you are aged 12-20, the reading experience is different. The purported heroine, Jules, is emotionally constipated and completely paralyzed by indecision (but not in a compelling way like Hamlet). She is completely self absorbed and unable to see beyond her own, extremely limited experience. But the reason I really disliked her was that her entire focus is on winning and not on her relationship with her horses. ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 16, 2018 Joy rated it really liked it

Shelves: library-2018

I listened to the audio version of this book while driving my daughter cross country for a working student job. This was my first book by this author and we loved it. Immediately started the second book.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 03, 2018 Stephanie Pereboom rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Fun read for horse lovers

This is a great book for the horse lover who grew up, but still loves to read about horses. It’s a great fiction story of a young female trainer trying to make it in the eventing world.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 16, 2020 Avery NightRoad rated it it was ok · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I'm not gonna lie, I found myself prickling at Jules' demeanor in the first few pages. But as I kept reading I found myself hoping, that maybe I'd find some reason to really root for this girl.

I mean, I know exactly what it's like to ride nothing but horses that came straight from the auction. Those "30 days under the saddle" was usually more like 10. But that's where her relatability ends for me.

Putting your horses in dangerous situations against the advice of multiple people is not ambition. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jul 14, 2014 Brittney rated it it was amazing

Shelves: horse-books-read

I 100% understand why Reinert titled this book "Ambition." I couldn't think of a better word to describe the main character, Jules, who is a broke, insanely-hard-working horse trainer trying to make her mark on the eventing industry. Jules drinks Diet Coke like a fiend, has a working student that doesn't respect her, rides through lightning storms so she can get all her horses worked, and vows to never date a horse trainer because she's certain he'd just tell her how to ride her horses. Yet she' I 100% understand why Reinert titled this book "Ambition." I couldn't think of a better word to describe the main character, Jules, who is a broke, insanely-hard-working horse trainer trying to make her mark on the eventing industry. Jules drinks Diet Coke like a fiend, has a working student that doesn't respect her, rides through lightning storms so she can get all her horses worked, and vows to never date a horse trainer because she's certain he'd just tell her how to ride her horses. Yet she's making it work. Well, kind of. Jules is hard-headed and set in her ways and sometimes I wanted to give her a little shake to let her know she was being an idiot, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching her story unfold (along with her antics). Actually, I loved watching her story unfold -- the good, the bad, and the ugly were highly entertaining.

Something that really surprised me about Ambition -- a major plot twist involves a hurricane and this was probably my favorite part of the story. Growing up in the Midwest and now living in the Northwest, I've never experienced a hurricane and, after reading Ambition, I hope I never have to. I cannot imagine the horrors of a hurricane as a horse owner, but Natalie does an amazing job of describing the preparations, the fears, the destruction, and the emotional rollercoaster before, during, and after the storm. I was choked up over and over, fearing for the characters (human & animal).

Furthermore, I thoroughly enjoyed the I-don't-want-to-like-him-but-I-really-do-like-him relationship between Jules and Peter and was delighted to have this weaved in as a major story line in the second half of the book. I was rooting for Peter all along. :)

By the end of the book, the stubborn Jules completely warmed my heart. She learned her lesson -- but you'll have to read the book to find out what that lesson is.

Looking forward to reading more of Natalie Keller Reinert’s books!

You can read more of my equestrian-fiction book reviews at:
http://brittneyjoybooks.squarespace.com/
...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Apr 22, 2020 Brooke rated it did not like it

I kept waiting for this book to get better, but it never did.

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 M ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 29, 2015 Mary Pagones rated it it was amazing

While I'm not a professional equestrian, I do ride and one of the things I liked best about this book was the fact that the heroine Jules was such a tough broad and not afraid to be unlikable at times. This reflected the reality I've seen in the horse world: to survive you need to have a very tough skin. All too often in horse-themed books, the woman or girl has a very emotional and sentimental attitude towards animals in a way that I never see in real life among professional horsewomen. I also ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 11, 2016 Ingrid rated it really liked it

While I admit that the main character's stubborn ambition and insistence on independence to a fault irritated me, I appreciated her character development. Nothing like a hurricane to take away your false pride and leave you left standing with who you really are. Trauma has a way of revealing our innermost character. Additionally, the author Natalie knows horses, eventing, and dressage and her knowledge shows through. She also knows people and the characters in her books certainly come across as ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 04, 2018 Julia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The perils of ambition

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, appreciating the author's view and comments on ambition. She writes as if she's experienced it all. I did not enjoy the excessively long, oft repeated lessons on JuleS
stubborn insistence on getting to top alone. Enough already! And Jules blindness to Peter's intentions seemed a bit contrived. In contrast, the writer must have experienced a hurricane herself because she described it perfectly. I will definitely follow this author. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jan 18, 2015 Susan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: horses

As much as Jules annoyed me, Peter, Mickey, Dynamo, Lacey, and Marcus made this a really fun read!

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 15, 2019 Christie Bane rated it it was amazing

This book showed up in my suggestions on Kindle Unlimited. It had good reviews and it was free to read, so I thought, why not? I wasn’t expecting anything great. And then... I loved it.

Basically, this is the horse version of the book I want to write about dogs and dog training. The author’s expertise and years of working with horses is infused in every sentence. Reading this book, you know you’re in the hands of a master of her subject. She lets you see the world of horsemanship from the inside ...more

flag Like · see review

Jan 15, 2021 Selina Mist rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, animals

This novel suffered from a lot of the pitfalls of beginner writers: not enough plot, telegraphing the plot, main character being unrealistically dense and not getting the most obvious clues the reader sees from a mile away, and so, SO much over-explanation (AKA showing your research). Yes, the average reader might not know all the horse terms and need a little help. But no, they don't need to know every tedious step of every single chore and every single horse interaction. It would have been a m ...more

flag Like · see review

Aug 11, 2020 Maeve rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I started this book and thought "oh, no." It's exposition-heavy, especially in the first five or so pages, and it didn't have me excited for what was to come. Something kept me going, though; I pushed through my initial dislike for the protagonist, Jules, and I'm really glad I did. Keller Reinert's writing style is amazing. She has a superb ability to draw the reader in and hook them, and hooked I was.

One flaw of horse books is that, too often, the protagonist is a horrible Mary Sue who can Do N ...more

flag Like · see review

Nov 07, 2020 Dale Leatherman rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I actually finished this book some time ago and became a fan of the prickly, exasperating, driven Jules. The book is aptly named, because Jules is consumed by ambition--to reach the upper echelons of eventing in Florida, and to prove to everyone, including herself, that she belongs there. Hers is a hardscrabble existence, living hand-to-mouth and trying to keep a roof over her head--and her horses' heads. I have seen this so often in real life, and it rings true. Natalie knows her horse sports, ...more

flag Like · see review

Feb 20, 2019 Moriah rated it really liked it

At first the main character Jules annoyed me because of her attitude. As a horse professional myself, I couldn’t help but be jealous of the fact that she’s 22 and has all these things that most people can only dream of: a farm, a working student, an upper-level horse, and owners. But all she does is complain about how rough she has it. She’s also so ambitious she’s blind to the times it’s too much and ends up being detrimental to success. Then I realized that that’s half the point of the book, a ...more

flag Like · see review

Jul 03, 2020 Cynthia W rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, horses

Finally - equestrian fiction that is not about teenagers and written by someone who knows how to walk the walk and talk the talk! Loved it even if the heroine is not the most sympathetic of characters. She actually reminded me of my riding instructor when I was a teenage working pupil! Brought back many memories of my time there - some good and some, not so much.

Minor quibble, Ms. Reinert: please learn when to use "you and I" and "you and me" - you used "you and I" incorrectly throughout the bo ...more

flag Like · see review

Dec 07, 2019 Corynn M Cackler rated it it was ok · review of another edition

If two stars means "it was okay", that's exactly where I am. I hated the main character in this book and never really developed any warm feelings towards her. And because she was so difficult, it was hard for me to respect her love interest relentlessly chasing after her despite her bad behavior. Nevertheless, the horse stuff is SPOT ON. Which is exceedingly rare. I picked this book up looking for the horse world, and I found it down to the tack squeaks and scrolled pine shavings and night check ...more

flag Like · see review

Apr 05, 2020 Intellectual Magpie rated it really liked it

Well written book based in the world of eventing. 4/5 stars. I did have some issues connecting with the main character... her horsemanship and attitude made me want to reach within the pages and give her a throttle... and take those horses away from her. The end of the story seemed to rake a turn so I’m curious if the next books in this series show her becoming a better horsewoman, one who takes better care of her horses.. but I greatly enjoyed the look into the show world and eventing sport.

flag Like · see review

Oct 26, 2016 * COAL rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Extremely well written

I was addicted to this book. I could definitely relate to Jules, even though I participate in showjumping and not eventing. The language is so fluid and descriptive. Really wonderful read. Will be picking up the rest of the series as well!

flag Like · see review

Jul 25, 2017 Franci Wayland rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Eye rolling

Some of this novel works but I found myself rolling my eyes constantly at the narrator and her approach to life. She's so sour and pessimistic and while it works in some respects to explain the motivation - she's such a pill that I just didn't care anymore. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 15, 2019 Karina L Pozza rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wonderful

I loved this book and am very excited to start the 2nd book! I love reading books that have a major conflict, and this one had many. An amazing book has love and hurt and of course, horses. Would definitely recommend.

flag Like · see review

Mar 28, 2020 Karen Vandenbosch rated it liked it

The main character made me crazy, her know it all attitude honestly almost made me stop reading but I hung with it due to the topic and the other characters. I hope the next book in this series makes her a more likable character.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 29, 2020 Teresa A. Mauk rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I love "horsey" stories and this one doesn't disappoint! It's refreshing to read an author who truly knows the highs of eventing competition as well as the lows of daily muckout. Her knowledge and appreciation of horses shines through. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series! ...more

flag Like · see review

Nov 23, 2020 Robin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

So nice and "horsey"! I am enjoying this series because of the attention to detail as it relates to the horses and riding. So many adult novels with horses have horses in them, but are not really books about horses. This one is. ...more

flag Like · see review

May 21, 2018 Mindy Beebe rated it really liked it

Great series for horse crazy grown-up women!

flag Like · see review

Jul 02, 2018 Corinna Lewis rated it really liked it

Shelves: horse-themed

Liked the 4 books in this eventing series a lot!

flag Like · see review

« previous 1 2 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Horse Book Lovers: New Equestrian Novel Exploring Eventing	2	26	Jul 24, 2014 07:12PM
I Love Horses: New Equestrian Novel Exploring Eventing	6	17	May 20, 2014 10:06AM

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Animals > Horses

21 users

Animals

3 users

Fiction

2 users

See top shelves…

About Natalie Keller Reinert

Natalie Keller Reinert

160 followers

Natalie Keller Reinert is the award-winning author of more than a dozen books exploring love, human nature, and the passions which make us tick. With an extensive equestrian background, many of her books are set in the world of horses and horse-people. Drawing on her professional experience working with Thoroughbred racehorses, mounted patrol horses, therapeutic riding, three-day-eventing, and man ...more