A Summer to Remember

Heartland Special Edition

by Lauren Brooke

A Heartland Super Special set in the fabulous Hamptons just in time for summer reading!

After her sophomore year at college, Amy receives an urgent request to help a troubled horse. She is whisked off to the Hamptons to meet Alfredo Escobar, whose Argentinean family is renowned for their involvement in exclusive polo circuits. The Escobars expect nothing but the best - from both their ponies and their riders. But Alfredo's pony, Impala, has been giving him problems. If Alfredo can't learn to work with her they may both be in for trouble. It's up to Amy to find the key to mending this relationship and to help Alfredo meet his family's tremendous expectations.

Genres: Horses, Young Adult, Animals, Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens, Realistic Fiction

208 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 2008

About the author

Lauren Brooke grew up in a ranch in Virginia and now lives in Leicestershire, England. Her husband is a veterinarian who specializes in horses. Her books have been published by Scholastic since Mid-2000, starting with the first book of the Heartland book series. The first book of her popular Chestnut Hill series was published in 2005.

According to an interview on scholastics' website, Lauren Brooke has been riding since before she could walk. She also said she competes in a few local-level horse shows and events.

There may be some other people in books and movies named Lauren Brooke:
Amazon lists the author of "Book of spiritual regeneration" (1995) as Lauren Brooke.
IMDB.com has a record for an Actress named Lauren Brooke. Her only movie is "Wiseguys vs. Zombies" (2003) as Goat Man's Wife.

Reviews

[Harley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was kind of hard to rate because it was enjoyable but I was bitter the whole way through from Amy and Ty breaking up in the previous book.

Okay, this was like my first book series I read. I started it when I was in the first grade, I own almost every single book (except for this one and one or two others), I’ve been shipping Amy and Ty for like 20 years, I love the show...I can be a little bitter alright. Bitter me would give this a 3 or a 3.5 but I was good and put my salty feelings aside to give this a 4 stars.

Also the fact that we weren’t at Heartland makes me sad because I love it there! But it makes perfect sense to place Amy in these outside situations in the special edition books. I just missed the horses and the fam.

So here’s my apology to pasta boy, I’m sure you’re nice and a talented polo player, but you’re just not Ty.

[David Burnworth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This seems to be the end of this series. Sadly it leaves way too many things left undone.
Amy goes off with the Rich and has a summer romance as she takes care of a horse who seems unfixable. Not a lot to say other than this series MUST continue

[kat♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

a bittersweet ending to a series that made my childhood. i cant say as im thrilled about the romantic ending because i was partial to an old flame and the romance aspects werent as well written and blended into the story as they could have been. but all in all, i really did enjoy this series and im said to see it come to an end, but if there’s one thing i was reminded of time and time again during my reading, its that nothing stays the same forever. im definitely glad i read this series and its taught me so much.

[Alex Apostol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally finished the entire Heartland series! I loved it. The books were quick and each one dealt with a new and unique horse issue. I love the show, and reading the book series didn't feel like I was reading the show either. Some of the cases were familiar, but the books are so different that I love them both individually. This last book had Amy learning about polo horses and riders, and helping her new love interest connect with his horse. Amy is in college in these last books and it's nice to see her grown up and finding her own way in life.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was happy to hear that another heartland book had come out, however it wasn't like the other ones as it was never based at heartland it was at a polo yard. you also hear Amy and Ty are no longer a couple which kind of ruined it for me as she is interested in someone else :/

[Sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely addition and conclusion to the Heartland series - although Heartland itself does not feature in this book at all. I liked experiencing yet another aspect of equestrianism in this book and it is encouraging to see Amy’s growth and maturity as she takes on new opportunities whilst retaining her central goal (to help horses). Impala and her troubles were a fascinating addition to the series and I loved her sweet personality. Strangely, I feel that Alfredo was more three-dimensional in this single book than Ty was in the entire series. I definitely warmed to him and his family and am pleased that Amy felt ready to enter a new relationship with him by the end of the book.

I’ve really enjoyed reading all the Heartland books and would rate the series a 3.5/5 overall. A pony mad child would love these books, and although very different from the Heartland TV series, there is much to be enjoyed from both.

[Tibbara's Den · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little sad that other than references and some emails back and forth, this one had nothing to do with Heartland. Especially since it is the final book. At the same time, it was refreshing and a nice change. The events of A Winter's Gift did offer a sense of closure, and this one shows how Amy has really found herself and who she can be outside of Heartland. I liked the setting and the different world of polo. The only thing I didn't fully love was the angle of Alfredo's mom and the situation there. It was a bit over the top, and I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had just focused on the family pressure and the hands-off aspect of an affluent stable. I am glad, though, that this one didn't have any problems with inconsistencies, and I was able to end my complete read of the series without a bad taste being left in my mouth.

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amy's help is requested by Alfredo Escobar, a polo player. He is having trouble connecting with one of his polo ponies, and Amy rushes off to help out for her summer break. This is one of my least favorite books in the series, simply because it was not set around Heartland. I did like that it was a supplemental book to the rest of the series though.

[Tash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it a few years ago but I remember loving it!!!!

[Olivia H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just absolutely wonderful! This might be one of my favorites of this series. There’s no heartbreak, just a real cute guy and a summer of fun and horses! Definitely recommend it!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amy, having only visited home during spring break since the last book, is spending her summer earning riding instructor credits when an amazing opportunity comes her way. A polo player named Alfredo invites Amy to his family's horse farm in the Hamptons so Amy can help his mare Impala, who is perfect anytime but when she's on the polo field. Alfredo's father opposes Amy's techniques and instead blames the mare's bad behavior on Alfredo. Amy has to learn how to play polo in order to figure out what is really wrong with Impala, and there's a little romance as well...

While I enjoyed reading about Amy's time diagnosing Impala and learning about polo, I feel like the whole "Heartland" aspect of the series has disappeared since Amy entered college. Of course the special editions are called this because Amy is away at college and not working at Heartland anymore. But when Amy decided to go to college, I did not expect her to spend most of her college breaks off on adventures rather than visiting her home and family and friends. She is in the summer before her junior year and according to the special editions, Amy has been home to visit about 3 times, if you can include the few days she spent before flying off to Arizona in Beyond the Horizon. I also feel sad that Amy and Ty are not together. I guess after 20 books in the Heartland series about their perfect relationship, I'm upset that in the first special edition they broke up and remain broken up. Amy and Alfredo's relationship seems a bit forced to me - she's there and he's there and they're at a beautiful mansion, so why not have them get together? Amy just doesn't seem to care about Alfredo in any kind of romantic way. Again, it mirrors my issues with her and Ty's relationship.

I wonder if there will be any more Heartland books. I feel like the age group is difficult here, because Amy is in college and an adult, and this is a series for middlegrade readers. There were a few references to Chestnut Hill in this book, so I feel like the author will continue with that series and not return to this one.

[Amanda Schell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore the heartland series!!! All of them! And in case you were wondering the TV series is pretty good too <3

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a hard book to put down. it was so captivating and interesting. when amy is invited to go to the escobars, a promonte polo riders family, to cure one of the polo horses of her fear. in the end everything turns out ok and amy ends up in love with the owner of the horse she cured, it ends to suddenly for me but others might like it.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book doesnt have alot of action but it was one of my favorites in the series.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favorite series! I just wish they gave a little more detail into some things.

[Twyla]

my favorite part was when impala was acting good at playing polo.the worst part was when Amy just about couldn't fix impala.the best character is amy.there was no worst character.auryn 9 years

[Christina]

One of the books that made me fall in love with the english language and widen my horizon