Good Things Come (Good Things Come, #1) by Linda Shantz

Good Things Come (Good Things Come, #1) Reviews

• 
  Hannah Carey

  Rating: 5 Stars
  
  Highlights:
  ⭐️ Horses, drama, and romance? I am there 😂😍 Definitely hooked on continuing on with this series!
  ⭐️ This is one emotional read and it’ll rip your heart out a little, but I still loved it.
  ⭐️ Again the authenticity of someone who has been around horses and been jn the industry shines through here. The horses, in particular Claire and Chique, take on a pivotal role in the story.
  ⭐️ Liv and Nate. There’s so much to say here, but I’m trying to keep it spoiler free. They were on one roller coaster of a journey, but seeing them get together at the end was so worth it.
  ⭐️ There were so many other secondary characters I enjoyed and I’m really glad to see that Faye gets her own novella. Looking forward to picking up that one next!
• 
  Tina Collins

  Reading a good, long book is so important in these unsettling times, and author, Linda Shantz has certainly delivered with her debut novel, Good Things Come. Set in the world of Canadian racing, this novel will take you deep into the very heart of this truly extraordinary existence for both horses and humans alike.
  
  Just lying behind the beautiful cover is the heart-warming arrival of a new foal, a filly. Will she eventually become the star of the racetrack? How ever her life turns out, this is just one book that will allow you to experience the drama of romance and the excitement of the races as if you were right there with them.
  
  Ms Shantz draws on her professionalism and obvious love of horses to relay this truthful life tale to you and aspiring equestrians everywhere.
• 
  Bonnie Sogoloff

  I’ve obsessively read horse stories my entire reading life, as long as they are authentic, I will continue to read them the rest of my life. Good Things Come was interesting as it was about Canadian horse racing and that was new for me. I also appreciated the love story in the novel, which more was about a shared experience with no lurid sex scenes to clutter up the narrative.
• 
  Teresa Bryce

  As a lifetime lover of all things horse, a series centering on the racetrack is a terrific find for me. The characters feel real, the racing scenes filled with tension (I closed my eyes during one scene which works really well with a book), and the challenges faced by those in the story palpable. The equine characters are as alive on the page as the humans, particularly one quirky, unpredictable little mare named Chique. Linda Shantz shares an obvious intimate knowledge of horses and racing for those who love the sport, and tells a great tale, for those who just enjoy a good story. I'm not typically a series reader, but have already purchased the next book in this series, and pre-ordered number three.
• 
  Michelle Lopez

  I’m not a horse girl. (Buuut, I have to admit that I did enjoy horse stories and movies as a young girl). Either way, I am a story girl. If there’s a good story, I am there. And this story is a must read. Good Things Come is a book that takes you on a horse racing journey with believable, well-developed characters.
  
  I could relate to Liv even though there were times I wanted to shake her. I liked Nate (most of the time, haha). I, also, liked Faye, a lot, and I’m so glad there’s a side story with her as the protagonist.
  
  I am thrilled to find out what is next for Liv and have high expectations on her in the sequel. I enjoy the no nonsense female characters that lead their path, even if sometimes things might get a bit muddy. My favorite line from her: "It's so cliché. Smart horse girl has to go to vet school, right? Don't get me wrong, I'm a total science geek. I love it. I just love this more."
  
  The level of detail the author entails in the story without overwhelming the reader is done rather well in this book. Details are executed full circle.
  
  Horse girl or not... horse person or not… this story will leave you wanting for more.
  
• 
  Diana

  A warm and realistically-drawn racetrack tale, stuffed with every aspect of Thoroughbreds we miss the most. More thoughts and a chat with the author here:
  https://tinyletter.com/ReadersUp/lett...
• 
  Karla

  As a horse racing fan and horse lover, I enjoyed this book for it's realism of details and the characters' love of the sport. It includes mild romance in the storyline and made me hopeful of a "match made in heaven" between the main characters throughout the book. Linda Shantz did a good job keeping my interest and I look forward to the next book.
• 
  Carly

  After reading The Dressage Chronicles series (and loving it), I wanted to find a new series that revolves around equines and tells a story with realistic detail. Not only does the book focus on its human characters but the horses also have a spotlight and personality. This book definitely got my attention and is true to what real life on the track is like. Love the romance between Nate and Liv. Definitely looking forward to the next book.
• 
  Julie

  5 stars
  
  Looking forward to the next book in the series that releases soon! The author clearly knows horses and horse racing. Love, love, love!!!
  
• 
  Amanda

  Canadian horse racing done right. What’s not to love? I’m eagerly awaiting the second book in the series. Come on spring 2021!
• 
  D.

  I really like this book. It is set in my hometown province and it is really, really interesting. The equine world is a world of its own and I learned new things reading the book. Don't forget Liv and Nate...these two are so, so interesting. I really liked this first book and I'm looking forward to the next one!
• 
  Andrea Harrison

  SO good. A little Dick Francis, a little Maeve Binchy.
  It's been a while since I haven't wanted to put a book down - so thank you for that!
  My copy is paperback and I am so glad as I know I will reread it
• 
  Linda Shantz

  I see a lot of authors reviewing their own books, which I always thought was weird, but now seems like a good way to help introduce a book to the Goodreads universe.
  
  Set in the world of Canadian horse racing, it's a story about dealing with grief, letting go of the past, and reframing dreams when things don't turn out the way they were supposed to. And while there is what I like to call a reluctant romance, it's just as much a story about Thoroughbreds and the people who build their worlds around them.
• 
  Shawnee

  Only 4 stars because I had a difficult time liking the main character. Liv had issues, sure, but she didn't have to be such a total beast. I loved the horses!🐎
• 
  Laura Holt-Haslam

  If you love the sport of Thoroughbred racing, this book is for you!
  
  As a lifelong horse lover, it’s hard to resist a book with a pretty horse on the front, especially one featuring Linda Shantz’s gorgeous painting. I received an audiobook copy of Good Things Come from the author, and am offering my honest review.
  
  While I’m an avid equestrian, I don’t know much about the horse racing industry. This novel brought me behind the scenes, painting a vivid picture of everyday life on the breeding farm and the backstretch, and the many ups and downs of training and racing. I appreciated that the horses didn’t always win their important races, and that Liv (the protagonist vet student turned jockey) struggled to succeed, often failing in both her riding and her personal relationships. Of course, there are also moments of triumph, but they feel realistic and well-earned. I enjoyed the fillies, Chique and Claire, with their distinct personalities, and rooted for them as their lives, training, and racing progressed. Liv and Nate’s affection and devotion to them are the heart of the book.
  
  The novel begins at Chique’s birth and ends when she is a three-year-old, so the story takes place over three-plus years. My one frustration with the book is that during this long time period, Liv cycles through the same pattern of thoughts and behaviors toward Nate, who she is attracted to. She continually pushes him away, is snappish and rude, and rejects his kindness and concern for her. It made it hard for me to want long-suffering Nate to get together with her, and I often found myself frustrated with Liv’s choices.
  
  The audiobook is well done. The reader uses some different voices and accents, but there were a few places where it was hard to distinguish between the various characters’ dialogue.
  
  Overall, it was a great book, and I recommend it to horse lovers and fans of racing.
  
• 
  J. L. Linn

  ✨Good Things Come✨ This one is a roller coaster! This follows Liv who drops out of vet school to fulfill her dream of being a jockey. She has a horse from her farm that she believes she can do great things with. A new exercise rider, Nate, has the potential to distract Liz - if she allows it but she is always in control. Tragedy strikes Liz on more than one occasion and life doesn’t go like she had planned. But good things come…
  
  This story is on the move as it follows the horse racing circuit, and I thought it depicted racing life well. The characters were written in a way where you just wanted to shake them! Haha! Open your eyes, Nate and Liv! Are they ever honest with each other about their feelings? You’ll have to read to find out! This is ultimately set in Canada which I enjoyed, but they do travel around for the races. Overall, I enjoyed the story and do recommend it.
  
  I received an ARC of the audiobook which I thought was done well. I would’ve like a bit more theatrics and change in voice for characters as it was a bit flat at times. I enjoyed it overall.
  
  Available on Amazon and Audible.
• 
  Paula Dyches

  Turbulent Horse Drama
  
  Parents: not for under 18. Mature content.
  Language: R‐ fbombs, heavy language
  Violence: none
  Sexual content: R‐ lots of sleeping around
  
  A turbulent storyline with an interesting look into the depths of being a jockey. Overall felt very “start/stop” or choppy. Still intriguing but might be tough to understand if you aren’t into the horse racing world.
  
  Narrator was ok.
  
  —I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
• 
  Dlora

  I read Good Things Come by Linda Shantz on my Kindle. Really great details about the horse racing business and running horses and this was set in Canada, which was intriguing too. Reading on Kindle was a bit distracting because there were jumps in the narrative timeline that weren’t signaled well by, say, a double line break between the paragraphs. Not my favorite horse-themed story but I'd read more because I find the racing setting and connection with horses so fascinating.
• 
  Annie Voguer

  I enjoyed this story based in the Canadian racing world. A writer who knows a lot about her subject with a good pace that continued building on the plotline to the end. I'll be reading more from Linda!
• 
  Denise

  I appreciated that the author seemed to know horse racing but none of the characters worried about money so that's an omission. I also had a hard time caring about the characters.