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Hope Meadows
The Lost Lamb on Honeysuckle Lane
It's summertime in the little village of Welford. The sun beams down on the rolling green Yorkshire hills, and the scent of freshly cut grass is in the air.
Local vet Mandy Hope and her boyfriend Jimmy Marsh are happily setting up their new home, and life at animal rescue centre Hope Meadows is as busy as ever. When the Welford Garden Committee announces a Midsummer Fair, Mandy is thrilled to be invited to judge the animal-themed fancy dress competition.
The whole of Welford turns out for the fair, and the fancy dress competition is a roaring success. Three-year-old Herbie and eighteen-month-old Kiran come as Bo Beep and her lost sheep and Mandy can't help but melt. Maybe having children of her own isn't such a ridiculous idea after all? But in the euphoric mayhem of the day, little Kiran goes missing and a frantic search ensures.
When the lost lamb is rumoured to have been seen on nearby Honeysuckle Lane, it's all hands on deck to solve the mystery and restore him to his rightful home.
Local vet Mandy Hope and her boyfriend Jimmy Marsh are happily setting up their new home, and life at animal rescue centre Hope Meadows is as busy as ever. When the Welford Garden Committee announces a Midsummer Fair, Mandy is thrilled to be invited to judge the animal-themed fancy dress competition.
The whole of Welford turns out for the fair, and the fancy dress competition is a roaring success. Three-year-old Herbie and eighteen-month-old Kiran come as Bo Beep and her lost sheep and Mandy can't help but melt. Maybe having children of her own isn't such a ridiculous idea after all? But in the euphoric mayhem of the day, little Kiran goes missing and a frantic search ensures.
When the lost lamb is rumoured to have been seen on nearby Honeysuckle Lane, it's all hands on deck to solve the mystery and restore him to his rightful home.
34 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 12, 2018
45 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Daniels
351 books116 followersLucy Daniels is the collective name for the writing team that created the bestselling children's book series Animal Ark, many of the books are also published under the name of the series creator, Ben M. Baglio.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 3, 2019
I enjoyed this, it was a quick read, as it was a just a short story. It was a great intro for me.
I read the children's animal ark books with my kids so enjoyed reading the adult version of Mandy as a grown up.
I intend to read the adult series now.
Fun, light hearted and cosy.
I read the children's animal ark books with my kids so enjoyed reading the adult version of Mandy as a grown up.
I intend to read the adult series now.
Fun, light hearted and cosy.
October 22, 2022
This was such a sweet short read by one of my favourite childhood authors ! This book is linked too the hope meadow series but of course still features animal ark!
In the book Mandy ends up with the tough job of judging the kids costume contest at the fair and of course it isn't going to be smooth running! A short book full of laughs, mayhem and cute animals! Perfect little pick me up
In the book Mandy ends up with the tough job of judging the kids costume contest at the fair and of course it isn't going to be smooth running! A short book full of laughs, mayhem and cute animals! Perfect little pick me up
December 28, 2018
It was amazing. The story was interesting although it is short story. It was about finding the two lost lambs before the competition start. In most of the people mind , off course the competition is more important than finding the lost lambs. But in this story, there is a brave fireman who is also one of the contestant , have a kind heart went to the lost lambs .... did he found it ? What happened after that ? Did he just lose cause he went out before the competition start? .....hohoho go read if you are interested.
But at the end his behaviour influence everyone’s heart 😉
But at the end his behaviour influence everyone’s heart 😉
May 31, 2019
A simply adorable short addition to this series and has increased my anticipation for reading the next full length one the second I have a moment.
Some adorable lambs and cute moments in this, its very quick and easy to read, but still a completely pleasurable way to spend half an hour.
Some adorable lambs and cute moments in this, its very quick and easy to read, but still a completely pleasurable way to spend half an hour.
September 8, 2018
I never read any of the animal ark books so this short story was my first Lucy Daniels book and it didn’t disappoint will definitely be on the lookout for her other books now
February 8, 2021
I have been working my way through a selection of free “reader magnets”, so I grabbed this one. Once I started reading, it was a bit of a surprise. Rather than the introductory story I expected to find, this seemed to be a short sequel to one or more books. While it is certainly possible to read this book without knowing the others in the series, I don’t think I got the full experience. So much of the book seemed to be “tips of the hat” to characters, animals, and places from previous books.
It seems that this is part of a series about a character who used to be the protagonist of some childrens’ books about a local veterinary practice, but is now “grown up” and running the practice herself after her father retired. For someone unfamiliar with the previous books it’s hard to tell which references are from the childrens’ book series, and which are from the grown-up version, so I was left very confused.
I also found the book somewhat derivative. It’s based on a local practice based in a cure village in Yorkshire, which in itself is not an issue. The problem I had was when several characters and situations wandered in which seemed straight out of the pages of a James Herriot book. I would really have hoped that there was a broader vein of creativity in there somewhere, that would not need to so blatantly borrow from a very successful book, TV, and film property.
Once you look past all these issues, it’s not a badly written book. The characters are clearly described, and the setting feels fairly real, although it could do with a bit more description of how the various locations related to each other. The plot is very straight-forward, especially given that the only “twist” is given away by the title. Local vet and all-round heart of the community Mandy is worried about the potentially no-win situation of selecting one of the neighbour’s children as the winner of a fancy competition at a spring fair. Things get complicated when not one but two “lambs” go missing. One real one, and one child in costume. Guess what? Both of them are found in the cutely-named “Honeysuckle Lane”, just in time for Mandy to solve all the problems of grumpy children, competitive adults, and wandering livestock. Cue smiles all round.
This book is obviously aimed at an audience who have grown up with the “Animal Arlk” childrens’ series alongside Mandy and love books dripping with furry friends. Unfortunately the whole thing felt a bit too sickly for me. It may be the case that the full-length books in this series provide a bit more challenge for the main character, but based on this one I probably won’t be reading any of them.
It seems that this is part of a series about a character who used to be the protagonist of some childrens’ books about a local veterinary practice, but is now “grown up” and running the practice herself after her father retired. For someone unfamiliar with the previous books it’s hard to tell which references are from the childrens’ book series, and which are from the grown-up version, so I was left very confused.
I also found the book somewhat derivative. It’s based on a local practice based in a cure village in Yorkshire, which in itself is not an issue. The problem I had was when several characters and situations wandered in which seemed straight out of the pages of a James Herriot book. I would really have hoped that there was a broader vein of creativity in there somewhere, that would not need to so blatantly borrow from a very successful book, TV, and film property.
Once you look past all these issues, it’s not a badly written book. The characters are clearly described, and the setting feels fairly real, although it could do with a bit more description of how the various locations related to each other. The plot is very straight-forward, especially given that the only “twist” is given away by the title. Local vet and all-round heart of the community Mandy is worried about the potentially no-win situation of selecting one of the neighbour’s children as the winner of a fancy competition at a spring fair. Things get complicated when not one but two “lambs” go missing. One real one, and one child in costume. Guess what? Both of them are found in the cutely-named “Honeysuckle Lane”, just in time for Mandy to solve all the problems of grumpy children, competitive adults, and wandering livestock. Cue smiles all round.
This book is obviously aimed at an audience who have grown up with the “Animal Arlk” childrens’ series alongside Mandy and love books dripping with furry friends. Unfortunately the whole thing felt a bit too sickly for me. It may be the case that the full-length books in this series provide a bit more challenge for the main character, but based on this one I probably won’t be reading any of them.
June 8, 2019
Cute additional read to the Hope Meadows series where Mandy has to judge the fancy dress competition at the May Day Fair but then a lamb goes missing...
There wasn't enough animal-focus for me in this one with too much spent on the kids in the fancy dress competition, but it was a very quick read and ties into the rest of the series nicely.
There wasn't enough animal-focus for me in this one with too much spent on the kids in the fancy dress competition, but it was a very quick read and ties into the rest of the series nicely.
January 8, 2021
Local vet Mandy is thrilled to be the judge of the animal-themed fancy dress competition at the midsummer fair. A missing child and a little lost lamb, can the locals find them both so everyone can enjoy the fair? ✨
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This book was short and sweet. A lovely book that lets you escape to the countryside for a while. 3 🌟
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This book was short and sweet. A lovely book that lets you escape to the countryside for a while. 3 🌟
July 21, 2025
I was such a huge fan of the original Animal Ark books growing up, and was thrilled to learn that there's an adult series too! This series truly has just as much heart as the original books did. If you like British countryside settings, All Creatures Great and Small, James Herriot, adorable romance, and wildlife, then you're going to love these! <3
August 15, 2018
If you remember Animal Ark children's stories, then you'll be interested to know that Mandy has grown up and this series is of her adult life, career, and relationship.
You can read this short without any previous knowledge of the Animal Ark stories.
You can read this short without any previous knowledge of the Animal Ark stories.
September 2, 2018
It is an easy read.
However I wasn’t too engaged mainly because I am not to fond of animals, rescues and such. But you might enjoy it if you are.
Beware it’s a short story that I didn’t remember when starting this book.
However I wasn’t too engaged mainly because I am not to fond of animals, rescues and such. But you might enjoy it if you are.
Beware it’s a short story that I didn’t remember when starting this book.
July 12, 2018
What a lovely story! And free too!
November 10, 2018
A fun short story
February 6, 2019
A Lovely Short Story
This was a lovely short story with a brief update on the characters lives and events. A nice add on to the series.
This was a lovely short story with a brief update on the characters lives and events. A nice add on to the series.
August 26, 2019
This was a very short read but very good and gave you more insight into the village and the books that were to follow. Very well written and worth reading.
December 14, 2019
Enjoyed this one but more like a kids book.
March 5, 2020
Egentligen Houndini på rymmen
May 24, 2020
I will give it 4/5 stars because it was an amazing short read with beautiful setting and a capturing story line that will make you fall in love with welford and animals.
December 6, 2020
Enjoyable quick read
Haven't read anything by Lucy before so this was a nice introduction. Such a cute story and who doesn't enjoy a village fair.
Haven't read anything by Lucy before so this was a nice introduction. Such a cute story and who doesn't enjoy a village fair.
February 7, 2021
Quick read
A quick read while waiting at the dentist. A good show for hopefully longer books to enjoy. Just like village life so realistic
A quick read while waiting at the dentist. A good show for hopefully longer books to enjoy. Just like village life so realistic
January 31, 2022
Sweet little short story - so short it took me about 15 minutes start to finish - some cute moments in it.
I'm now looking forward to reading the next full length instalment of this great series.
I'm now looking forward to reading the next full length instalment of this great series.
December 8, 2023
A sweet little short story focused on the village May Day fair, a lost lamb, and a children's costume competition. Cute!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews