“‘I’m not ready for this,’ I said looking around. And then I squared my shoulders, put my chin up. ‘But that’s okay.’”
― Natalie Keller Reinert: Ambition
Today on Book Club I am introducing you to book one of a large series of books. I’m a slow reader so I haven’t yet read the whole series but I’m working on it!
When I heard there was a fiction novel all about the eventing world I was skeptical at first. I have seen train-wrecks of movies that are wildly inaccurate about horses. Surely could it be possible there is an ACCURATE book that is also entertaining? It was worth a shot. As it turns out this is book one of an eight part series.
Ambition by Natalie Keller Reinert
This book is NOT part of the Trafalgar Square publishing group, it is published by Flatiron books. The first book Ambition was first released in 2013. The story takes place across 358 pages and twenty nine chapters. Luckily no chapter is wildly long. I found myself managing to read one chapter per night before bed. They were a bit too long to manage two most days but someone who has more time to dedicate to reading might have no issue.
You can get your copy directly here at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Bookshop!
You can also visit her at her website: https://nataliekreinert.com/
“My toes curled up in my boots at her pony-book plattitudes. I hadn’t been seen as brave and ambitious and worth a second look at all. To Ronnie, to all three of them, I was just a headstrong girl who couldn’t take advice and didn’t put her horse first.”
― Natalie Keller Reinert: Ambition
Juliet “Jules” Thornton is a young trainer in her early 20s. She’s headstrong and hellbent to make it in the sport of Eventing but as most trainers she is always on the verge of financial (and emotional) collapse.
We begin our story at the ACE grant competition. She’s working in the heat to show off her skills to a board of judges in order to be selected for a grant. The grant awards significant financial assistance and an advanced level prospect horse. Her competition includes a boy…Peter Morrison. Pete was a well known and handsome equestrian who grew up in a family of horses. As far as Jules is concerned he had the life. He was the rich kid who rode horses all his life…his family were Olympians. He wanted for nothing. Jules tells herself these stories about Peter and resents him for it.
Peter, on the other hand, is drawn to Jules’ love of her horse Dynamo. He persistently walks over to talk with Jules to ask her out. Even Jules’ veterinarian is urging her to date and have a social life. Jules wants nothing of it. No dating. No Life. All Jules can think of is making it to the top of the sport. No time for silly games.
Jules’ headstrong and one-track mind is off-putting to many of the people around her. Her family. Her working students.
One of the ways Jules brings in money is to bring in training clients. She finally landed a client training the horse of her dreams, Mickey….and tall grey thoroughbred gelding. Mickey arrives on her farm and immediately things begin to go off the rails.
“It was the owner who concerned me: she seemed like she might be a bit of a crazy woman.”
― Natalie Keller Reinert: Ambition
Jules’ begins to earn herself a reputation after a few dramatic outings at horse shows. She loses a client with not one but TWO horses and to rub salt in the wound has to deliver the horses to none other than Pete Morrison.
I struggle in this book because I find Jules to be extremely unlikable. She’s bitter. Selfish. Immature. Headstrong. She won’t accept advice or help from anyone. I honestly question her abilities and knowledge especially when she receives no mentorship of her own. Even the best of the best acknowledge they need coaches. Not Jules. She apparently knows it all and I find it really off-putting…and dangerous. Everything about Jules is a red flag to me.
“I’d missed an event I’d been aiming for with Dynamo. It was the worst. I remembered the disappointment, wandering around the ship, missing my horse, feeling completely unable to have fun, to talk to anyone, to connect with anyone.”
― Natalie Keller Reinert: Ambition
Although I dislike Jules, I enjoy the read. Unlike the atrocities of Hollywood Natalie proves that she is a horse person through and through (she’s actually friends with one of my friends, too!). She’s in our world and knows about it. She knows about horse-care and eventing. She knows the dynamics of the horse world. The world Natalie has created here is realistic and accurate. I LOVE THAT. I also had a chance to meet Natalie at Equine Affaire this past year (Nov 2025) and what a fun person to meet!
“It was hot-late September, dry and sunny, and the temperature was around ninety degrees. I reflected on the supposed joys of an upstate New York summer. It was probably so cold folks had to blanket their horses at night. What utter bliss, I though, managing to forget that I started to shiver uncontrollably the second the temperature dropped below seventy-five.”
― Natalie Keller Reinert: Ambition
Being a trainer in Ocala and having lived in Florida her whole life Jules is acutely aware of hurricane season, but has never lived through one that was bad enough to drive her away. She had her preparations available and ready at all times but never worried much about it. Until this current season. A hurricane threatens to take everything away from her and the path of the storm is aimed directly at her farm and mobile home trailer.
Through the rest of the book we watch as Jules learns everything is not what it seems. Jules gets humbled and begins to soften. We see character growth.
I don’t want to give much more away because after we establish the characters and the setting things speed up and get very interesting very quickly. I suggest you read more to find out on your own!
If you want to check out the Eventing Series, you’ll want to start with Ambition. The series read order is as follows:
- Ambition
- Pride
- Courage
- Luck
- Forward
- Prospect
- Home
- Flight
“Becky kept going, ‘I’ve learned a lot from both of you, but I think what I’ve learned most of all is to appreciate how hard trainers work, and for how little thanks, most of the time.’”
― Natalie Keller Reinert: Ambition
Natalie turns out to be a very prolific author of many horse books. You can visit her website and browse the Library. Series abound!
- Newly released is The Jump
- The Eventing Series (Eventing)
- The Alex and Alexander Series (Thoroughbred Racing)
- The Ocala Horse Girls Series (Light Hearted equestrian stories/romance)
- The Grabbing Mane Series (Getting back to horses after a break for professional life)
- The Sea Horse Ranch Series (Sun, Saltwater, and Horses)
- The Hidden Horses of New York (NY Stories in a different perspective)
- The Show Barn Blues Series (Horse Barn Drama)
- The Catoctin Creek Series (Small town charm with romance)
- Non Horse Books Too!
- The Settle Down Society
- Sorry I Kissed You
- You Must Be This Tall
Final Word:
Ambition is a very well written book that follows a young developing upcoming eventing trainer in Ocala, FL. The book is so accurate you sometimes forget it is fiction. I love that Natalie understands the setting and the eventing world so much to make this possible. If you’re not into eventing, Natalie does work in enough dialogue so you can still understand what is happening. With that said this makes for a great read for anyone. There is nothing inappropriate for young readers (maybe a couple cuss words in dialogue but not many) but as an adult in my upper 30s I found it an excellent read for any time of day.
Snuggle up with this book before bed. Or enjoy it with your morning coffee (or tea). Spend a lazy afternoon on the couch with this book or take it outside and get some fresh air reading.
Happy reading, friends!
The Green Horseman 
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