Winter Memories

Heartland Special Edition

by Lauren Brooke

It's December, and Amy can't help but remember the last holiday she spent with her mother. Back then, Amy was training Sundance, the feisty pony they had rescued from an auction. While Sundance had proven to be a talent in the show ring, he was still impossible to handle in the stable. Frustrated by the pony's attitude and her mother's rigorous training schedule, Amy is lacking holiday - and Heartland - spirit. But then, Sundance falls ill. As Amy watches over him, she is finally able to glimpse the vulnerable pony's true heart - and understand the precious gift she shares with her mother.

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

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

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

[Dionne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad I read this one last, a great way to end the series. The Heartland books are so dear to my heart and they most certainly are aimed for a much younger audience, nevertheless I'm glad I completed my collection and have them ready for my own kids to read one day

[Cara]

Pure nostalgia. I had the entire set as a teenager, but my mum sold it at a car boot 😭

[Tibbara's Den · Rating 2 out of 5]

The inconsistencies! They have been a problem throughout the series, but this one was extra frustrating. Not only did it go against the background given throughout the whole series, but it also was completely different than what was written in Amy's Journal (which was written two years before this one I checked). The whole background with Sundance is that he was too moody and unpredictable to be rehomed, but he had bonded with Amy. In Amy's Journel, we get more into the background of when they saved him and, at one point, his and Amy's first show where they decided to keep him then. In this one, Amy and Lou reflect back to their last Christmas with their mom. It takes place after the first show Amy and Sundance competed in. At this point, Amy is struggling with Sundance, which is fine whatever. However, multiple times, it is referenced about rehoming him. He also doesn't appear to be moody with Amy's mom or Ty. The whole situation just didn't feel believable after what was portrayed throughout the main series. Plus, how he was acting with Amy should have shown with the other characters handling him as well. Plus, the fact the author went completely against: one, an event that had already happened (Amy already being told they were keeping him) and two, the reason that was given throughout the whole series for why they kept him in the first place. Plus, not once in the whole series did they ever talk about his colic issues. It was always his behavior. That part I could have let go if the rest of the situation wasn't so frustrating. Also, the whole Sundance situation overshadowed the reflection of Lou's visit and their last Christmas with their mom.

[Alex Apostol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one just happened to land in the right time of year as I work my way through the series. I loved this one! It was like a breadth of fresh air having a flashback to when Marion was still alive. I'm really surprised the TV series hasn't done an episode like this. Seeing Amy with her mom when she was alive gives you a better insight into who she is now and what she's going through. And to see Lou visiting from New York and still in that lifestyle is something we just never got to see. I loved it!

[David Burnworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily my favorite in the series. The reason this story takes place with Marion still alive. Amy goes through an ordeal with her horse but does her first join up and everything goes back to normal between them. I won't give anything else away but will say if you have watched the TV series or read the book series this one is one you do not want to miss.

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a special edition book of the Heartland series. It is kind of sad to read, because Amy recounts memories of her dead mother. This really focuses on the last Christmas season they spent together before her death. It was a nice supplemental book to the series.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good view of what things were like before the beginning of the series.

[Olivia H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I liked the way it was written; a flashback, but still with the full story. Definitely recommend it, but you’ll have to read the others first!

[Katie Hildreth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Heartland series. This was another good one!

[Theresa Lange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

[Isabella Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first special in the Heartland books which I read, in-between books 17 and 18. 😊

I did enjoy reading this special edition as we got to see a bit of Amy’s past through her flash backs of her “Christmas/Winter memories” with her Mother. I have to say though that I didn’t quite warm to Amy’s character in this book as much as the other books! 😅 Some of her decisions and chooses weren’t really like the Amy I have grown to know, though I expect as she is supposed to be younger in this book, she hasn't matured as much and is still learning from her mistakes. Still an enjoyable read! 😊

*Feel free to check out my overview for the Heartland series over on my Substack blog:

https://thepaintedcaravan.substack.co...

Isabella Ann of The Painted Caravan ♡

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This holiday season, Amy can't help but remember the last Christmas she shared with her mother. Back then, Amy cared mostly about riding. When Lou comes to visit, Amy lets her anger about Lou's New York life come out. Amy's attitude extends even to Sundance - she doesn't want to deal with his stubbornness. But when Sundance gets colic, Amy learns what is important.

Amy's younger self comes off as bratty, but by the end her attitude change toward her more current, understanding persona appears. It was fun to see the relationships between Amy, Ty, and Matt, and Lou and Scott, before there was any romantic involvement, and also fun to see Sundance as a newly rescued pony. It was also a chance to see Amy's mother, Marion, in action.

I've been reading this series in the order of publication, so I read this special edition after #12 (Sooner or Later), but since that book ended in late summer, and this book begins in late December, I don't think it was meant to be read in any consecutive order. As with all the other special editions, I believe this could be read at any point in the series.

[Amanda Schell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore the heartland series!!!

[AmbWitch · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the Heartland series as a child, but have now outgrown it. Before I got rid of the books however, I wanted to read them one more time for nostalgia sakes. I have now found out there are a few specials I have not read and I am tempted to pick them up just to complete the series.

In Winter Memories we are taken back in time to see a Christmas that Amy spends with her mum. This particular Christmas seems to be a turning point in Amy’s life where she realises the extent of what her mum’s work entails, and decides to follow in her footsteps. We also see how the strong bond between Amy and Sundance forms.

It’s a good edition to the series and it’s always interesting to see more of Amy’s mum and how Amy learnt to do what she does. Please note that my rating is from me reading it as an adult, and not be reading it as a child.

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book... It's hard to put down... It keeps you wondering whats going to happing next.... I am on chapter seven

[aMandalin · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun, adventurous, full of horses and cute.

[Alexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 2 1/2 stars. I didn't feel like this one was up to normal Heartland standards. I liked it all right, but I was a bit bored through about half of it.

[Sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another enjoyable book in the Heartland series. It was great to learn more about Sundance’s and Jasmine’s backgrounds and how Amy’s interest in her mother’s work grew.

[Suzy Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

read as a child.

A good series about a girl working with horses and dealing with grief.

[Alexandra Lindner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series