My eldest child is due to turn four shortly.  She loves it when I read to her and recently we had the opportunity to look at a My Little Pony book whilst at church.   This one was titled My Little Pony the World’s Biggest Tea Party.

Pink My Little Pony, Pinkie-Pie comes up with an idea to hold the world’s biggest tea party with her pony friends.  Suddenly the various different coloured and named ponies, have ideas about what would make the party great.  Decorations, snacks, dressing up – and of course, tea!  The group of friends go into planning mode, each taking part to make this the best tea party ever.

The book has short sentences for young readers as well as plenty of colourful, pony filled illustrations.  Each pony is able to be distinguished by it’s different colour and a particular symbol found painted on it’s hind quarter.

As the story progresses, all seems to be falling into place.  The location looks wonderful and the tables are set up beautifully.  Decorations adorn the room and there’s also plenty of space for the guests.  Even the various hats and outfits that will be worn are determined.  And yet, Pinkie-Pie is devastated to realise she forgot the most important ingredient: tea!  How can they have a tea party if there is no tea to drink?

My Little Pony the World’s Biggest Tea Party is a lovely, positive and colourful story.  It also shows how when everyone pitches in, that things come together nicely – even the tea is provided by some thoughtful friends!  This short story would be well suited to the pre-primary school aged child and of course to any pony fan.

Author – Jennifer Frantz
Fiction – children
In my library – not at this stage.
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

In the fifth book in the Happy Hollow Stables series, Silence of Snowfall is located mainly in property owner Holly Bridge’s small barn.  On account of a sensationalised warning about upcoming bad weather, the town is in an uproar trying to get supplies before being stuck at home because of a blizzard.

Knowing she should stock up and stay with her horses, Holly heads into town to get some supplies.  The mayhem at the local store surprises her.  She’s not so sure that the impending weather is going to be all it is proclaimed to be.  But that doesn’t stop the locals from buying as many supplies as they can.

Returning to Happy Hollow Stables, Holly is surprised to find her trusty employee McKenzie dealing with a colicky horse.  Holly is quick to call local vet – and her boyfriend – Dustin to come and check the gelding out.  With the cold weather, the poor horse has become impacted due to not drinking enough.

What started out as a typical day in the barn soon turns into a sleepover as the weather makes it impossible to go anywhere.  Holly had forgotten about her planned farrier visit and finds herself the host to McKenzie, the vet Dustin and local farrier Mike.  In time this increases to local journalist Derek Pitts. And the pleasant delivery man, Henry.

Holly battles to deal with the different personalities suddenly forced to stay in her barn.  Whilst keeping an eye on the horses and making sure everyone is warm enough in the freezing weather, she is devastated to find Henry’s body outside his truck.  At first this seems like an accidental death.  But as Holly analyses the situation, she finds herself once again involved in the middle of a whodunit.

Silence of Snowfall for such a short mystery features some great horsey moments and again builds on the relationship of Holly and Dustin.  The conclusion is quick but fitting.

Author – Eve Craig
Fiction – adult
In my library – as an eBook it is.
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

The third book in the Dream Horse Adventures series is Selah’s Painted Dream.  I was given a copy of this book to review in anticipation of its release date – today, May 7!  Although I haven’t read the first two books in this series, it was easy to get caught up in thirteen year old Selah’s world.  The teen is devastated to learn some news that will turn her world upside down: the family is moving.

As a thirteen year old who has her dream horse, Selah cannot think of anything better in life.  Her grandfather lives nearby on a farm, and Selah is able to keep Dream there.  But with the news that her father needs to relocate for work, it looks like she’ll only get to visit her horse on weekends – if that.

Selah is shocked and devastated that she will be ripped from the town she loves, away from the horse she loves and also from the friends that she has at school.  Life couldn’t get worse for the teen, or so it seems.

Selah has an incredible bond with her mare Dream and a recent episode on a television show quickly results in stardom for the pair.  Unfortunately for Selah, it also results in jealousy for the two girls she considered her friends at school.  She cannot fathom how to get through to her best friend Vanessa.  Selah finds herself struggling to be nice when Vanessa is anything but.

Selah’s Painted Dream is a story full of adventure.  As the thirteen year old feels her world is falling down around her, she devises a plan to get her grandpa on side – and to move in with him at the farm.  But many things she tries seem to backfire.  And all this, in amongst pulling a man from a crashed plane with her beloved horse, trying to help rescue a lost four year old girl and saving a neighbour’s stray sheep and lambs!

Selah battles through a constant haze of thinking that no one cares what she wants.  She struggles to be gracious and to look to God for answers.  Most of the advice she is given is to trust in God for the best outcome, but how can she when it seems He’s not answering her prayers?

Her grandfather isn’t interested in her desire to live with him; he has other things on his mind.  Her parents say they can’t change the situation and insist that she needs to accept it for what it is.  Her friends don’t care that she’s leaving – they seem relieved.  Selah questions just how things could get any worse – and then her grandfather drops a bombshell on her.  Selah’s Painted Dream is an interesting and entertaining read that is full of horses and horse facts.  The way it finishes is a delight and also shows a lot of growth in the young teen.

Author – Susan Count
Fiction – early teen
In my library – I have an electronic copy.
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

Emmy Everhart is a unique soul.  She is physically beautiful but shies away from any male interest.  Her heart and soul is devoted to the equine species.  She spends her life looking after her horses and competing.  It is her dedication to horse riding that has allowed Emmy to rise from a struggling stable hand to a Grand Prix winner in Southern Wind.

Aside from her best friend Pam, Emmy feels she can only rely on horses.  If ever they are considered untrustworthy, she knows it is because of something a human has done to them.  They may be misunderstood, but they’re not purposefully mean.  Emmy cannot say the same for people.

With a family that abandoned her when she needed them the most and a coldness towards men, Emmy isn’t sure what to do when she meets Irishman Westly Galway.  The journalist isn’t what she expects and she is amazed to find herself drawn to him physically.

In spite of her surprise at these unexpected feelings, Emmy finds it easy to distance herself from the man.  And in time a chance encounter with him confirms for the red head that all men are only after one thing.

Thousands of miles and even years don’t take away the unexpected attraction that Emmy felt for Westly.  When he returns to America in search of a job – at her equestrian facility – she is floored.  Putting him to the test, she is amazed to find that the man is more than capable around horses – and in the saddle.  The fact that this endears him to her even more, unsettles the young woman.

Southern Wind features horses heavily, is a beautiful romance and touches on the sensitive topic of abuse and how it affects the individual.  The characters are endearing, perhaps because of their flaws that they try to overcome.  This is an incredibly entertaining tale; highly recommended.

Author – Brandy L. Cunningham
Fiction – adult
In my library – I have an electronic copy.
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

 

The third book in the tales of Sylvia and her grey pony Brooklyn is just as enjoyable as the others in the series.  Although I read these a little out of order, I have to say that I enjoyed them all immensely!  Ketchen writes with great sense of humour, causing Syliva’s character to be endearing, amusing and downright honest all at the same time.  In Grows that Way, fourteen year old Sylvia is still adjusting to having been diagnosed with Turner Syndrome.  The short teen who is missing a chromosome finds life is still an interesting journey.

She loves having her grey pony Brooklyn to dote on and learn with.  As her riding progresses, she is rapt to be able to work on jumping.  Though this does come about through a little manipulation of her confidant and instructor, Kansas.  Sylvia is amazed to find Kansas wrapped up in the Irish farrier Declan but finds in time that the horseman has his own merits as a riding instructor.

Whilst out on a secret trail ride with Brooklyn, Syvlia comes across an unexpected animal in the woods.  The pair are surprised – and fearful.  Sylvia is keen to discuss things, but with who?  She wasn’t supposed to be out riding by herself.  In time she concludes Logan Losino is her safest bet.  This leads her on an incredible journey she hadn’t expected.

As Sylvia comes to terms with the fact that Logan may actually like her, she finds herself unexpectedly getting to know his brother Franco, too.  Sylvia is devastated that her cousin Taylor is dating the big, hairy bully and as unusual events unfold, she finds herself struggling to tell Taylor the truth about her boyfriend.

Grows that Way has the usual sense of humour I have come to expect in this series and Sylvia’s journey plays out in a creative and enlightening way.  Highly recommended.

Author – Susan Ketchen
Fiction – early teenage years
In my library – as an eBook it is!  A great read.
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.