Lauren Brooke

Many years ago, I was heavily into the television series that is based off of this book series. Heartland had a special place in my heart and I would not miss an episode under any circumstance. It was so sweet and heartwarming, plus it had horses! As an animal lover, it just felt like a t.v. series made for me. Then, in walks this book series. I accidentally stumbled across the first book and I was jazzed. So, like any bookworm, I decided I needed to read the series that inspired one of my show more favourite childhood shows.

Just the other week, I found books #3 through #20 at a charity book sale. And yes, dear fellow reviewers, I bought all of those. I am going to slowly but surely work my way through these books and see how they span out. It could be good, it could be bad, who knows! I haven't read this many books in one series since my childhood. It's time to get cracking!

This book didn't woo me like the first two did, but it did have a lot of heart and soul. There's loss and heartbreak scattered in this book, similar to how the first book did - but this one felt so much sadder. My heart aches, but I also have a strong feeling that this series will pick up and bring so many more happy memories (oh boy, do I hope it does... no more heart break please...).

There's trouble brewing in Heartland when less and less boarders are coming in. Business is drying up, and people are even leaving the beloved horse whisperers. With gossip-y teenage girls and rivalries going on, Amy and Lou will have to get crafty to bring in more clientele to keep the business afloat. Meanwhile, romantic feelings may be stirring, illnesses may be around the corner, and everyone misses the woman who started it all. This book is a roller coaster of emotions!

I did peek at other reviews after I finished this book. I don't think this series is purely accurate for how you should train horses, but I do think it's a kind of horse whisperer type of magic that little girls believe in. This book is definitely made for a younger audience (I would guesstimate about eight to twelve years old), and at that age I totally believed in the magic of talking to an animal the right way. It's not veterinarian approved, but it is the kind of magic you want back in your youth. If you have the right connection, it will all work out. Taking that with a grain of salt, this book is not accurate for horse medicine (and if you are reading this book for that purpose... why?...) but I don't think it's meant to. It's to bring out that childhood whimsy we all miss. At least, that's how I take the book.

Now if only I could talk to my cats the way Amy talks to horses... I could solve so many issues...

Three out of five stars! show less

In Breaking Free, Amy’s world at Heartland Farm is shifting. As her bond with her horse Pegasus falters and her responsibility intensifies, Amy must confront grief, loyalty, and the legacy left in her care. With emotional depth wrapped around equine therapy and family healing, this 160-page installment offers an insightful, character-driven read perfect for middle-grade fans of horses and compassionate storytelling.

Ahh, Heartland. This middle grade series gives me series nostalgic vibes with all of it's wonderful writing. Lauren Brooke has crafted such a wonderful and sweet story all mashed in one little middle grade novel. These books make my heart swell and take my back to my childhood (even if I didn't read them back in the day).

I highly recommend this series for anyone looking to get their children into middle grade novels. This book is serious cuteness overload - there's horses, drama and show more education - all throughout this book. It's well written and far better than a lot of the books I was forced to read in my elementary school days. I wish this series was one of the books that was littered throughout my elementary school's library because I would have ate them up.

This book focuses on family and friendships. Amy and her sister Lou, her Grandpa, her friends, Ty, the horses - so many good relationships are presented in this book and they make them all grow and feel so real. While there are dramatic moments in this book, everything grows and feels so affectionately real. The importance of love and friendships is so heavily focused yet it doesn't cheapen the book. And the character development is also starting to take off more... Hopefully it continues with the next book in the series.

Is this book accurate? Not 100%. I don't think a young girl could easily tame a horse as easy as Amy did, but I wouldn't use that against this book. It's for middle grade readers and it's not a horse training non-fiction book. It's a work of fiction.

When I was looking through other reviews I had a good chuckle because Amy talks about how much she misses her Mom. I lost my Dad just before I turned 18, and as a mid-twenty-something I still think everyday how much I miss my dad. Clearly those reviewers have never lost anyone (let alone as a PRE-TEEN and a sudden death...) or don't have an empathetic bone in their body.

Overall, this book is a wonderful little read. It's quick, easy to read and a fun middle grade novel. Being able to enjoy this book as an adult is an absolute gem! It only took me about an hour and a half to read. I can't wait to find the next book in this series and binge the rest of it!

P.S. If you like this book, or this series, watch the television show! It's just as lovely and it's a Canadian production!

Four out of five stars. show less

I absolutely love the television adaption of this book, so it was only natural for me to find the book it's based on! It took me many (and I mean MANY) years to find this book on my wild book hunt but I finally found it! And wow-za it was cute and sweet and everything I could have imagined! Sure, it's not identical to the television show (have you SEEN how many seasons Heartland has?) but it's still an absolute gem!

This book pulled at my heart strings for sure, but it was very sweet! I will show more definitely be continuing with this series when I find the sequels!

Coming Home by Lauren Brooke follows Amy, a young teenager who works on her Mom's horse ranch. Throw in her grandpa Jack, the helping hand Ty and her sister Lou, and you've got an interesting cast! Amy also has a best friend, an interesting neighbour and LOTS of horses! This book is for those young girls who were obsessed with horses... seriously, this entire series is about helping horses heal and get better.

I wish I would have gotten my hands on this book when I was a kid. It's a quick read, very sweet and has lots of heart in it (haha... joke... heart in Heartland... lots of puns...). The book is simplistic in nature, but it's a book for middle grade readers. If you're expecting a master's thesis on horses, this book isn't for you! As a middle grade novel it's absolutely perfect. As an adult I can point out some major flaws, but this book wasn't written for adults. The accident that occurs in this book is the most interesting "flaw", but it's a children's read so seriously, we don't need to break it all apart. Let it be as middle grade novel.

I really want to continue this series since it is heart warming. Even though there's a fair bit of grief in this novel, it felt very real and wonderful. Especially for those middle grade readers!

Side note: FYI... the television series is different from the books. While it's not the same, both are marvelous in their own ways.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I want to read the entire series if possible! And, if you enjoy the book, I highly recommend the television show since it's full of heart too! Ah yes, another pun, what did you expect from me?

Four out of five stars! show less