About the author
Lauren Brooke does not exist: she is a publisher’s construct. Two series, Heartland and Chestnut Hill, have been produced under the name. The initial idea for the books came from a British author, Linda Chapman, who originally set the series in Cheshire, England. When an American publisher picked Heartland up, the location was changed to Virginia, USA. Most of the books were written by Linda and fellow British author Gill Harvey, with the remainder by Elisabeth Faith.
The Heartland series is set at an American horse sanctuary run by teenager Amy Fleming, her grandfather, sister and boyfriend. Amy is a realistic teenager, if immensely talented at time management (not only does she heal horses, and help run the family business, she gets through school and has a relationship). The series relies heavily on modern theories of re-schooling, like Monty Roberts’ join-up and Linda Tellington’s T-touch. More traditional methods of re-schooling don’t tend to be looked on particularly positively.
The series starts in tragedy, when Amy’s mother is killed, and progresses through 20 titles and five special editions until Amy is in vet school. The series has been immensely popular, and is still in print. CBC have made a television series called Heartland.
Having installed Amy at vet school, Lauren Brooke then produced a new series: Chestnut Hill. Linda Chapman and Gill Harvey are no longer responsible, with Catherine Hapka joining Elisabeth Faith as series authors. Chestnut Hill revolves around a quartet of heroines, who go to an incredibly well equipped American boarding school, where riding is very much on the curriculum. The emphasis is different to Heartland’s: boys certainly feature, but in a less serious way. Shopping, however, is much more important.The series lack the emotional pull of Amy and her tragic situation, and its concentration on material possessions begins, after you have read several titles, to seem cynical. Chestnut Hill appears to have stopped at twelve titles; it doesn’t seem to have been as popular as Heartland.
There have been no further titles under the Lauren Brooke name. Although the publishers had a Lauren Brooke site, with biographical details, these were just as much a story as the books. Scholastic now appear to have dropped the site; an ‘interview’ with the author also appears to have disappeared from the net.
Finding the books
All are still in print, and are easily available on the secondhand market.
Links and sources
Conversations with Linda Chapman
More on Linda Chapman and her books
My review of Heartland
My review of Chestnut Hill
The CBC television series
A note on the bibliographies: I’ve mostly shown the early editions of the books, as that’s what I have. Both series are being reprinted with different covers. Thanks to everyone on my Forum and Facebook page for their help with this page.
Series
Heartland
Coming Home
After the Storm
Breaking Free
Taking Chances
Come What May
One Day You’ll Know
Out of the Darkness
Thicker than Water
Every New Day
Tomorrow’s Promise
True Enough
Sooner or Later
Darkest Hour
Everything Changes
Love is a Gift
Holding Fast
A Season of Hope
New Beginnings
From This Day On
Always There
Special Editions
Winter Memories
Amy’s Journal
Beyond the Horizon
Winter’s Gift
A Summer to Remember
Chestnut Hill
The New Class
Making Strides
Heart of Gold
Playing for Keeps
Team Spirit
All or Nothing
A Time to Remember
Chasing Dreams
Helping Hands
Racing Hearts
A Chance to Shine
Far and Away
Bibliography
Coming Home
Scholastic, London, 2000, 134 pp.
Written by: Linda Chapman
Amy has always watched her mother deal with frightened and abused horses, and she has inherited her gift. When a tragic accident results in the death of Amy’s mother, Amy has to cling to what her mother taught her as she tries to make her way through her grief.
After the Storm
Scholastic, London, 2000, 158 pp.
Written by: Linda Chapman
Amy has not seen Spartan since the accident that killed her mother. Now Spartan is coming to Heartland, but he is not the same horse. He is filled with anger, and it seems to be directed at Amy.
Breaking Free
Scholastic, London, 2000, 135 pp.
Written by: Linda Chapman
Pegasus is all that remains of Amy’s past, but he is growing weaker, and all the time Amy’s trying to hold Heartland together, as well as care for him. Everything is beginning to unravel.
Taking Chances
Scholastic, London, 2001, 157 pp.
Written by: Linda Chapman
Ty is important to Amy. He’s the only other person who truly understands the meaning of Heartland, but their friendship is thrown off balance by the arrival of a new stable hand, Ben. Has Amy wrecked everything with Ty?
Come What May
Scholastic, London, 2001, 150 pp.
Written by: Linda Chapman
Amy’s sister, Lou, is trying to get in touch with their father, from whom they’ve been estranged for years. Amy is not willing for her father to come into their lives again, and she buries herself in working with the mare Melody.
One Day You’ll Know
Scholastic, London, 2001, 179 pp.
Written by: Linda Chapman
Amy and Ty share the responsibility for Heartland. Although a lot has changed about them, Amy refuses to believe that her relationship with Ty has changed too.
Out of the Darkness
Scholastic, London, 2001. 144 pp.
Written by: Gill Harvey
Race horse Gallant Prince will never race again after a fire at his stables, but if Amy and Ty can’t heal his mental wounds, he will be put down.
Thicker than Water
Scholastic, London, 2002, 170 pp.
Written by: Linda Chapman
Amy hasn’t seen her father for years, but he’s due to visit Heartland. Horses are her father’s life too, so can that link bring them together?
Every New Day
Scholastic, London, 2002, 137 pp.
Written by: Gill Harvey
Show jumper Mercury now refuses even the smallest of fences. Amy is convinced she can improve him, but she’s failing. Amy takes Mercury to a horse healer who once knew her mother, despite Ty’s dislike of the idea.
Tomorrow’s Promise
Scholastic, London, 2003, 158 pp.
Written by: Linda Chapman
Daniel really loves his horse, but he certainly doesn’t seem to love humans. As Amy begins to get to know Daniel, she begins to understand that he won’t give in to the demands of the show circuit. Nevertheless, how far will Daniel go to win?
True Enough
Scholastic, London, 2003, 150 pp.
Written by: Gill Harvey
Ashley Grant shows up, uninvited at Heartland, and Amy is suspicious. Ashley has never had much love for Amy, but now she wants Amy to do her a favour: help her train Bright Magic. As Amy works with the pair, she begins to see her old rival in a whole new light.
Sooner or Later
Scholastic, London, 2003, 137 pp.
Written by: Linda Chapman
Amy and her horse Storm are finally making a name for themselves on the show circuit. But life at Heartland is not unruffled bliss: when Amy finds herself getting angry with a colt, she realises that things are going wrong. Amy’s doing too much, and something’s got to give.
Darkest Hour
Scholastic, London, 2003, 137 pp.
Written by: Gill Harvey
Heartland is under quarantine when equine flu breaks out. Disaster follows disaster: Amy feels her relationship with Ty is under threat, but when the weather breaks, a whole new level of threat erupts.
Everything Changes
Scholastic, London, 2004, 140 pp.
Written by: Gill Harvey
Now Ty isn’t at Heartland to help, Amy is struggling. She longs to connect with the mustang, Dazzle, who’s just arrived, but he doesn’t seem to want to do have anything to do with people. Amy is desperate for Ty’s help, but he’s still in a coma.
Love is a Gift
Scholastic, London, 2004, 142 pp.
Written by: Elisabeth Faith
Amy’s Dad has invited her and Lou to spend a month with him on his Australian ranch. It’s an amazing opportunity, but how can Amy leave Ty and Heartland? And does Amy really want to build a relationship with her stepmother Helena, who took her mother’s place?
Holding Fast
Scholastic, London, 2004, 2004 pp.
Written by: Gill Harvey
The same storm that left Ty in a coma injured a police horse, and he is coming to Heartland. His arrival brings back painful memories for Amy, as she waits for Ty to come round.
A Season of Hope
Scholastic, London, 2004, 143 pp.
Written by: Elisabeth Faith
Ty’s father has never understood why his son loves horses. Brad’s job as a truck-driver is online, and then he finds he has a cargo of horses to transport across the country. The trailer they’re crammed into is illegal, and Brad calls into Heartland for help.
New Beginnings
Scholastic, London, 2004, 141 pp.
Written by: Gill Harvey
Amy may understand horses, but she doesn’t always understand people. When she returns to the Indian Reservation, her friend Huten has died, and Amy can’t understand why his grand daughter is so hostile to her.
Winter Memories
Heartland Special: Scholastic, London, 2004, 173 pp.
Written by: Elisabeth Faith
A prequel, this is set before the death of Amy’s mother, and looks at what happens when she first got her horse Sundance.
From This Day On
Scholastic, London, 2005, 143 pp.
Written by: Elisabeth Faith
Amy’s sister Lou is getting married. Things are changing in Amy’s life too: she’s done a lot better than she thought in her SAT tests. She’d never thought of going to college, but perhaps she should.
Always There
Scholastic, London, 2005, 152 pp.
Written by: Gill Harvey
Amy is graduating from school, but she just can’t concentrate on how well she’s done. Although college is only weeks away, Lou, Joni and Ty are already making decisions without her.
Amy’s Journal
Heartland Special: Scholastic, London, 2006, 113 pp.
Written by: Linda Chapman
Amy’s journal describes how she learned her techniques from her mother, and offers tips for all horse lovers.
the new class
Scholastic, London, 2006, 208 pp.
Written by: Elisabeth Faith
Four new girls are going to Chestnut Hill, a prestigious American boarding school which features riding on the curriculum.
Making Strides
Scholastic, London, 2006, 202 pp
Written by: Elisabeth Faith
Malory doesn’t feel she really belongs at Chestnut Hill; she’s a scholarship girl, and some of the others make her feel it. When a new pony arrives called Tybalt, Malory feels an instant connection to him.
Heart of Gold
Scholastic, London, 2006, 201 pp.
Written by: Elisabeth Faith
Honey is keeping a secret from the other girls.
Playing for Keeps
Scholastic, London, 2007, 185 pp.
Written by: Catherine Hapka
Beyond the Horizon
Heartland Special: Scholastic, London, 2007, 171 pp.
Amy is in the pre-vet programme at college, and has new challenges to face.
Team Spirit
Scholastic, London, 2007, 163 pp.
Reprinted in the USA as The Scheme Team
Written by: Catherine Hapka
The riding team blame Ms Carmichael, Dylan’s aunt, for their failure in a competition. Dylan starts a campaign to support her aunt.
All or Nothing
Scholastic, London, 2007, 176 pp.
Written by: Elisabeth Faith
Malory is thrilled to be asked to try out for a team, but then she finds out Caleb, a boy she’s keen on, is trying out for it too. Will their rivalry spoil their friendship?
a Winter’s Gift
Heartland Special
Scholastic, London, 2008, 204 pp.
Written by: Gill Harvey
Amy returns to Heartland during a break from college. There’s a mare who needs both her help and Ty’s, but how will that work since Amy broke up with Ty to concentrate on her collegework?
A Summer to Remember
Scholastic, London, 2008, 224 pp.
Amy has to help Alfredo Escobar, a renowned polo player, with his horse.
A Time to RememberScholastic, London, 2008, 166 pp.
There are rumours of cheating at Chestnut Hill, but Lani has problems of her own.
Chasing Dreams
Scholastic London, 2008, 169 pp.
Written by: Elisabeth Faith
It’s rumoured a show jumping star is going to join the riding team.
Helping Hands
Scholastic, London, 2008, 171 pp
There’s a lot to prepare for this term, but then old rivalries come to a head….
Racing Hearts
Scholastic, London, 2009, 169 pp.
Lessons in love are being learned the hard way.
A Chance to Shine
Scholastic, London, 2009, 192 pp.
Honey loves Chestnut Hill but then she’s offered the opportunity of a lifetime, and also gets the worst news ever.
Far and Away
Scholastic, London, 2010, 170 pp.
Lani wishes Honey didn’t have to move back to England – how will they keep their friends hipon track?
