Thicker Than Water

Heartland #8

by Lauren Brooke

Eleven years after her father deserted her, Amy must face the fact that he is coming to Heartland. Thicker than Water, the eighth Heartland title, is a story of family and discovery and acceptance.

Amy's father is scheduled to visit Heartland. Amy hasn't seen him since he abruptly left the family following his debilitating accident. Eleven years and countless tragedies later, Amy doesn't know how she feels about him. She wonders if he could even be her father after having been absent for so many years. But his arrival affects Amy in a way she had not anticipated. She sees so much of who she is in him. And when she watches him work with horses, she realizes that what they share goes beyond blood.

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

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

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

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amy and Lou's estranged father Tim is coming to Heartland to see his daughters for the first time in 12 years, and Amy is nervous. She's angry that he waited so long to contact them. Amy's got enough on her hands, dealing with a horse that won't let anyone touch her ears and a pony that keeps rearing. Plus Lou has come up with a business plan to start a riding school.

There are a lot of storylines in this short book, but they all work together seamlessly and continue subplots from previous volumes. Amy and Ty's relationship is only referred to a few times. I read #7 maybe a year ago, but I had no problem following the action.

[Priscilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every book stays amazing to me. I love this series so much!

[kat♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ahhh this was such a good read too!!! these books just keep getting better and better story-wise and i just wanted to keep reading. of course, certain things were changed in the tv show and while i LOVE the tv show, the book version is a close second. fears were conquered, old regrets were healed, and in the end, this book proved family and love is exactly like the title: thicker than water

[Alina Nieminen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jälleen hyvä kirja ja seuraavaa vaan odotellessa

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is where the next few books really start hitting me in the feels. It's been a while since my last re-read, but I always forget quite how much Amy and Lou have this idea in their head of what their father will be like and what might happen between them all- and how wrong both sisters are.
There's a lot of healing in this book- Amy and her family, of course, but also Jo-Ann and her mother, whose horse Feather is one of the new ones Amy is trying to help. I love how all the little things tie these two families together for this book and it always makes me tear up.
One of the most emotional scenes is when Amy takes Tim to Pegasus' grave- but that's nothing compared to the crying I will do in the next book (despite it also being one of my favourites in the series)!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

With this one, I knew the hesitation that Amy was feeling as I felt it myself, and still do at times. Great book!

[Phil Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Thicker Than Water" is number 8 in a series of 25! short novels centred on the people and horses involved in a centre for rescue and/or rehabilitation of horses with problems (mostly behavioural issues). It is the first book of the series that I have read. Not knowing the background from previous books in the series didnt pose any difficulties for me./ "Thicker Than Water" than water is the uplifting tale of two sisters who work with horses at their grandfathers farm, about the horses and peole that they help, and how they are re-united with the father who left them and their (recently deceased) mother twelve years ago. Jo, the older sister, loves horses but is nervous around them; she handles the accounts and business side of the enterprise. Amy is only 15, and still at school, but she puts many hours into working with the horses. / Although Amy resents her father Tim for abandoning his family, they are able to bond around their shared interest in and understanding of horses. Tim even helped point out further avenues to explore in treating the two most recent clients at Heartlands (the probable reason one horse occasionally reared was evident to me very early on; I couldn't understand why Amy didn't think of it). It seemed to me, in fact, that Tim was more interested in the horses than in his daughters. But he did love his wife and his girls, and by the end of the book he has explained why he left the family. /I suppose I was also most interested in the equine aspect of the tale. I knew that horse training methods have become kinder and more horse-centred than they were when I when I was much younger, but it is a long time since I have had direct involvement with horses. I was surprised at the "join-up" of bonding with a horse, that the horse would come and nuzzle the person who had been working the horse on a long line. I remember that when I fed horses at stables tid-bits, typically they would allow me to stroke their necks briefly but were only interested in the food. The description of "join-up" in the book wasnt enough for me. I hope soon to visit some ponies who do therapy - they visit hospices and nursing homes, spend time with autistic children, etc. I dont know if I will get to see anyone doing "join-up", but there are videos of the technique available on youtube, for instance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYtTz... and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1dtf...

[Luisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series is written for a younger audience but I really like to read them as an adult because I am a huge fan of the tv show.

In the beginning of the book Amy gets two new client horses at one go. Rosie is an Appaloosa mare which is scared to get touched her head and Feather is a sultry pony which is sometimes rearing when his little owner is riding him.
Amy wants to focus on the work with the horses but there is one big thing awaiting her that she is not excited about: Her and Lou's dad Tim is going to visit them after a long time of abstinence on the upcoming weekend. Lou is very excited about that, but Jack and Amy aren't. Amy at first is very annoyed about the visit and distances herself from Tim. But as she recognizes all the things she has in common with her dad, they even start working together with Rosie and Feather. They share an intimate moment on Pegasus' grave together and Amy feels a strong connection to her dad that she didn't see coming.
Lou on the other hand imagined the visit of her dad to be very cheerful, but as she isn't that much around the horses as Amy, she fails to connect with her dad and withdraws herself from them. Somehow she seems to be jealous and focuses on the project to turn Heartland into a riding school.
In the End Amy pesuades Lou to do a Join Up with the little pony Sugarfoot to face her repressed fear she is feeling, when she is around horses. Tim is very happy to see Lou around horses again and when he has to leave the Heartland farm everyone is happy and united. Even Jack is somehow happy that Tim has a built a bond with his daughters now.

[Jackie Weissman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this one! I loved seeing Amy continue to work with the horses. Loved seeing Lou find her place at Heartland. Amy so naturally fits in with the country lifestyle and working hands on with the horses. Lou doesn’t have that personality trait so she sometimes feels like an outsider. Her role on the business side of things is equally as important and I’m glad she’s finding her groove. It was nice to see her admit her fear of riding horses and try to conquer it. I loved the join up with her and Sugarfoot, so sweet!

My favorite part of this one was the girls building their relationship with their father, Tim. He’s been out of the picture for 12 years and it’s hard (especially for Amy) to just welcome him back with open arms. It was nice to see them bond with their shared love of horses.

The storyline of the horses Amy helps in this book (Feather with his rearing, and Rosie with her head shyness) were special because Amy figured out the issues with the help of her father, making their relationship grow stronger. Her witnessing her dad be able to read the horses like she can made her see him a little differently.

Another cute, wholesome, feel-good book in the series!Family relationships was the main focus in this one and I enjoyed seeing how Amy and Lou navigated their relationship with their father.

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Kirsty McCracken · Rating 3 out of 5]

I seriously always feel like I've got whiplash when I read one of these books, from the emotions of the characters. It's crazy. But I am determined to finish this series at some point in the future, just for the nostalgia that reading them gives me. I made it through the 180 degree emotional flips before, so I'll make it through them again.

[Tara Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the message in this story. It’s a tale of redemption between Amy and her father. Then we also have the other part of the story with Amy helping a classmate with her horse problem all while trying to help Lou. I enjoyed that we got a look into the relationship between Amy, Lou, and their father.

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amy and Lou have found their estranged father...and he is coming to Heartland. The mixed emotions and anger towards the father is certainly reasonable. He absconded years ago and has had no contact with his children. Why wouldn't they be hurt and angry? Why wouldn't they hope for some type of relationship from their only surviving parent. This was a pretty decent addition to the series.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a soap opera, this series is addicting, but in a good way. With the relationship issues, I can only recommend this book for readers over 13. There isn't anything inappropriate or any foul language.

[Clemence D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lu en 2004 au format papier.

J'ai bien apprécié ce tome ou on peu enfin voir les retrouvailles tant attendu et redoutées entre Laura et son père.


Comme d'habitude lancez-vous et vous ne serez pas déçus !

[Meg R White · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was pretty good but once again, join up cured everything and Amy was all 'rearing is dangerous' you're a horse trainer Amy...

[Adriana Bosma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book!

[Nicole Mosley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed these as a kid.

[Juniper Schaefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional, really good, and enjoyed.

[Lily]

Great book

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

wie fan is van paarden moet dit zeker lezen!
het gaat om een familie die een paarden manege hebben soms hebben ze probleempjes maar ze lossen het altijd op!

[Ciara H.]

i love heartland

[Katie Hildreth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is good series. I like being able to see the differences between the books and movies.

[Olivia H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book and it’s series! Totally recommend!

[Ksiazki_zycie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naprawdę mocno wciągnęła mnie seria Heartland i mocno ja polecam

[Kati]

Kirjassa oli välillä hieman turhauttavia juonenkäänteitä, mutta kepeytensä takia ne eivät haitanneet niin kovasti. Mukavaa luettavaa.

[Evida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tapaaminen isän kanssa 12 vuoden jälkeen toi tunteet itsestäni hereille vaikka en ole kokenut samaa

[Julie Schipper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lou is finally getting over her fear of horses. Glad that Tim is back in their life.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoying the re-read of this series.

[AmbWitch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eugh, another review for this series. I think part of the reason I don’t like reviewing these books is because I review them too late after I’ve read them and forget what happens in them. There is also a lot of these books and not much to say about each one that hasn’t been said about another.


In this I found it funny how it was Lou that wanted to see their father so much whilst Amy wanted nothing to do with him, yet when they did meet him, it was Amy that got on well with him due to their connection with the horses whilst Lou had to face some home truths (the fact that she’s scared because of what happened to her dad).


It was good that they could start to work through their problems and this could only happen when the cause of Amy’s anger came out and she could confront him. Then they could start the healing process and like I said in the last review, it shows that the books aren’t just about the horses but helping the people as well.


What turned out to be wrong with Promise (is this the right horse?) made me laugh. It was so obvious and all the way through Amy was ruling out physical problems because she’s been checked out by a vet before she wacked her head. Now come on Amy, get it together.


So yeh, that’s it. Maybe I should make notes as I read so that I can remember better... Ha, like that’s going to happen.

[Amanda Schell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore the heartland series!!!