Heart of Gold

Chestnut Hill #3

by Lauren Brooke

Lauren Brooke brings the emotional depth of Heartland home with the third title in her exceptional new boarding school series, Chestnut Hill.

As the girls of Chestnut Hill become closer, they learn more about one another's lives before boarding school. But Honey has a secret too close to her heart to share. She hasn't told anyone yet that she has a twin, so how can she bring him up now, when he's so sick? Then, when Patience's new pony, Minuet, is injured, Honey finds herself wanting to nurse the mare back to health. She pours all of her emotion into caring for the pony, even though she knows Minuet will never be her own. No one understands her dedication to Minuet, least of all Honey herself.

Genres: Horses, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Boarding School, Animals

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2006

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

[Forest-nymph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg i loved this series !!!! i read the first 5 or 6 books and enjoyed every moment of them ! i didnt continue because i needed a change because i read all of them one after the other in a short amount of time because they were so brilliant ! . perfect for horse lovers x

[Alice Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book , even at 16 years old, is my favourite book of all time. It is intended towards a tween audience, but is written in a style that all ages can enjoy ; probably from about nine or ten up
The plot:
12 Year- old Honey Harper wanted to keep it a secret that she has a twin brother with cancer; after all the last thing she needs in special treatment in school. However, she can't stop worrying about her twin and feeling guilty that she's not there with him. She tries to busy herself in day to day school life: Lessons, riding, getting her friend ready for her first date and preparing for the school's big Christmas party; but keeping a secret is becoming more and more impossible and her friends are noticing. Things get especially awkward as Honey's way of coping is to care for the horse of her best friend's worst enemy. If Honey doesn't explain things soon, some big misunderstandings will occur ; and meanwhile her brother is getting more and more seriously ill, and the horse who she has turned to for comfort is in danger of leading because of an irresponsible owner..
My thoughts
This book is not a book about teen rivalry although that is a theme. It is a gentle introduction to tweens and teens about the realism of having to balance living a normal life when facing a loved one being very unwell, a lesson on the importance of confiding in friends and a beautiful outlook on how animals and humans can heal each other. It has tear jerking moments, but it is by no means depressing as the author is also to deal with the emotional bits sensitively and ensure the book is sprinkled with humour too. It's a truly beautiful story that will transport all readers into another world of a boarding school for 12-18 year old girls

As a Christian, I will do the 'caution' bit for all Christian (or non-Christian) parents who are very careful and select in choosing books for their child
This is hard! I'm so biased it's hard to criticize this. There is rivalry in it, as it's part of the plot. It's nothing too graphic, but words like 'revenge' are used and there are a couple of arguments between characters in the book
Dating is mentioned a lot in the book. There's not even a suggestion of sex or a mention of kissing , but boys and relationships are a big thing in this story.
There is a hint of superstition when Honey buys her mum a good luck necklace in an auction as her family 'need' the good luck- but that's not a focus point at all in the book, and when she buys the necklace it's not mentioned again- though like many tween/YA books the ending is happy..

[Twyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

my favourite part was when Honey decided to tell her friends that her brother is sick. My least favourite part was when honey decided to sneak away to be able to see her brother. My favourite character was Lani because she was trying to be helpful to Honey. My least favourite character was Patience, because she didn't care at all about her horse.

[nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

i would die for my kids

[Annie Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

[Eadrinor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want to like this one, but I liked it less in the reread. The plot is dumbed down by Dylan’s pettiness and Honey refusing to speak up for herself.

[Mehsi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, this was a disappointment.

I was really excited to see a book with Honey in the spotlight, but it turned out to be a big disappointment. This was 98% Honey's fault, and 2% Patience/Lynsey.

Honey seemed like such a great character in the other 2 books, but I am not sure what happened to her, but in this one she was a pain in the ass, I didn't like how she kept stuff secret, how she stalked, how she butted in while she had no RIGHT to do that. I don't care that she was doing something right. She NEVER gave that girl a chance. She just saw that freaking horse, and claimed ownership over it. She stalked, she kept ignoring what everyone said, and so much more. I hated that she just couldn't keep her nose out of other people's business. That horse had enough other people to care for it, and otherwise I am sure Ms. Carmichael would have taken action. I also don't understand why no one took any action towards Honey, well with the occasional remark from Patience/Lynsey/Ms. Carmichael, but I had hoped for more.
If there is anything more annoying than someone taking bad care of a horse, it is a girl who can't understand the word no or this is not your horse.

Also while I can vaguely understand her keeping her brother/what happens to her brother a secret, I wish she just had told them honestly. Did she really think they were stupid enough to not notice that something was going on? That something took most of her mind? Are you sure these are your friends? I am sure they will understand if you explain you don't want them to fuss over you. You never gave them a chance. :|

The parents, I disliked them too. How they didn't include Honey in all that was going on. How they didn't tell her until weeks after things were revealed. I hope the parents learned a wise lesson.

Was there anything good in this book? Oh yes, the riding parts were good, and when Honey acted like she used to in the previous books, but other than that? No.

I do hope the other Honey books will be better, otherwise I might just skip them and go straight to the next one, just making sure I read the blurb on the Honey books.

Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[LadyMuffinchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Band drei geht es um Honey und insbesondere um ihre Sorge um ihren Zwillingsbruder. Tatsächlich fand ich es ganz schön mehr über Honey zu erfahren und auch etwas über ihr Leben vor Rose Hill zu erfahren. Sie ist ein liebes Mädchen, was sich jedoch zu sehr mit sich selbst beschäftigt und zu viel Angst vor den Reaktionen anderer hat, was ihr selbst nicht gut tut. Dahingehend ist sie leider blind ohne Ende, was mich schon sehr genervt hat.

Ihre Beziehung zu Minnie dagegen fand ich wunderbar. Warmherzig und berührend. Generell sind die Szenen mit den Pferden immer am schönsten in dieser Reihe :-)

Auch die Story mit ihrem Bruder fand ich emotional und schön, aber hier war sie mir zu engstirnig und kopflos. Wobei sie alles durchdenkt und niemanden sonst belasten will, was verständlich wäre, würde sie auch Argumente vortragen, welche sich nicht nur auf "meine Eltern würden es nicht wollen" stützen würde... Das hat die Story etwas gezogen und mir persönlich hat deswegen etwas gefehlt.

Im Endergebnis dennoch ein nettes Kinder-/Jugendbuch und eine schnelle Lektüre für Pferdefans.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd in the series, and i am not very far, but already enjoying it. In each book, it is from a different girls point of view. In the 3rd, it is in the view of a girl, who had to move from england, sell her pony, and suffer her brothers cancer.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, a good addition to the Chestnut Hill books. Honey is an amazing character: a sweet yet sassy little English rose. I would love to have a horse like Moonlight Minuet! Even her name is dreamy.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good so far.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

i liked it.

[Cate Efford]

I loved it the best one of the series (even though i haven't read the others)

[Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this series I am currently on book number three I totaly recomend them

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is anouther of the series, really good.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the heck am I doing, reading a 4th grade level book? Enjoying myself, that's what. :)

[Karijean31 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put this one down.