Good Things Come: A Slow-Burn Horse Racing Drama (Good Things Come Book 1)

If Liv wasn’t such a control freak, it wouldn’t have rubbed her the wrong way when new exercise rider Nate Miller stepped in to revive Chique, the newborn foal she’d just finessed through a difficult birth.

But when she finally works up the nerve to drop out of vet school and get her jockey’s license in New York — intent on being ready to ride Chique in Canada’s most prestigious race in three years — Nate’s the obvious choice to keep an eye on the filly. Just as well she's leaving him behind. Nate's just the kind of distraction she can't afford as a woman trying to make it in a man's world.

She doesn’t expect her career to fall apart, leaving her torn between her dreams and the undeniable bond between Nate and Chique. Even harder to accept are her growing feelings for him — but how many times can she talk herself out of them before admitting their futures are irrefutably entwined?

Content notes: clean, slow-burn romance; some strong language. Suitable for ages 14 & up.

The Good Things Come Series:

Bright, Broken Things (Book 0.5, A Good Things Come Prequel)

Good Things Come (Good Things Come Book 1)

All The Little Things (Good Things Come Book 2)

All Good Things (Good Things Come Book 3)

This Good Thing (Good Things Come Book 4)

Merry Little Things (Good Things Come Book 5)

All The Best Things (Good Things Come Book 6)

Horse of the Year (Good Things Come Book 7)

Shiny Little Things (Good Things Come Book 8)

All The Right Things (Good Things Come Book 9)

What the reviews say:

"This book is about following your passion, even if it is difficult and doesn’t make sense (like most equine professions). It deals with grief, complicated interpersonal relationships, and the trials and tribulations of being female in a male dominated industry. Women in horse racing are the coolest people ever, and Liv is no exception." Pony (Book) Club blog

“Shantz has written a fantastic debut novel set within the behind-the-scenes setting of the Canadian racing industry with backdrops of Woodbine and its Queen’s Plate, Churchill Downs…and Snowbird destinations like Gulfstream and Payson Park.” – Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

"Mixing together hope, heartbreak and romance, a dash of rivalry, and a great deal of excitement, Good Things Come delivers all the goods in terms of top-notch racing fiction. Set in the world of Canadian racing, the story is that of an intense young woman, a troubled young man, and the quirky but talented filly they both love. This is the first book written by an accomplished equine artist and former backside worker who knows her subject well and tells it with a master's hand." - Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award for excellence in Thoroughbred racing literature, finalist 2020.

"What a great read. I instantly fell in love with the characters and experienced every heartbreak and win along with them. The ups and downs of horses with the hope of a happily ever after." asf on Amazon

"If you are a horse person and appreciate a writer that gets the details right you will not be disappointed." E.M.S. on Amazon

"Linda knows this world so well, and offers a delightful story that brings the sights and sounds of the track to life. She writes about Thoroughbreds and the people that work with them in a way that is genuine, and full of vivid detail." A.B.U. on Amazon

"Well written, smart and completely engaging. I have never been on a race horse before, but the way the author writes.....I could feel every stride. A horse racing book for horse people." JulietRHarrison on Amazon

Perfect for readers of equestrian fiction such as The Eventing Series by Natalie Keller Reinert, Horse by Geraldine Brooks, The Horsewoman by James Patterson, Riders by Jilly Cooper, The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Sparks, or books by Sara Gruen (Water for Elephants, Riding Lessons, Flying Changes), Maeve Binchy, Nora Roberts as well as fans of equine non-fiction such as Monty Roberts (The Man Who Listens to Horses), Tik Maynard (In the Middle are the Horsemen), Denny Emerson (How Good Riders Get Good, Know Better to Do Better), Susan Richards (Chosen by a Horse) and lovers of Secretariat, Ruffian, Northern Dancer, Amercian Pharoah and Seabiscuit and Heartland.