Laura Hesse

Canadian author and screenwriter. She has a background as a forester and firefighter, but began writing after recovering from major surgery, and now writes full time. She has written a number of books for both teens and adults, including four horse stories. She runs her own publishing company, Running L Productions, and you can find out more about her and her books on their website.

River Bend /Holiday Series:
Series about a lonely handicapped girl who finds friendship with the aid of horses. Each story is set around a holiday period from Christmas to Easter to Halloween.

1) ONE FROSTY CHRISTMAS
(RUNNING L [CANADA] 2003)
SUMMARY: Hannah is sad and lonely. A car accident has robbed her of her beloved Gran and left her handicapped and the family's new home in River Bend is proving hard to adjust to, especially as the local bully has taken a dislike to her! When she notices a mustang who is starving and freezing she determines to rescue him. Her actions bring the town together and find her friendship and acceptance.
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES
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2) THE GREAT PUMPKIN RIDE
(RUNNING L [CANADA] 2004)
SUMMARY: Hannah and her pony Frosty are eager to join in the local Halloween custom of riding through the woods through a trail of carved pumpkins the locals call Pumpkin Alley. But is the place really haunted?

3) A FILLY CALLED EASTER
(RUNNING L [CANADA] 2005)
SUMMARY: Hannah's friend Linda desperately wants a new barrel racing horse and talks her father into taking her to the local livestock auction in the hopes of finding one there, but when she sets eyes on the beautiful pregnant palomino filly all dreams of barrel racing fly out the window. All too quickly vet Doc Martin becomes a regular visitor to the McCloud family farm, leaving Linda's father to wonder just what he's let himself in for!

Other Editions:

THE RIVER BEND TRILOGY
(RUNNING L [CANADA] 2013)
E-book version only.
SUMMARY: collected edition containing the full series.

Collector's Info:
Paperback originals. Also available in e-book form. All in print and available to buy in Canada, the USA and the UK.  The collected edition is only available in e-book format at the present.

Other Horse & Pony Books:

TWO INDEPENDENTS
(RUNNING L [CANADA] 2006)
SUMMARY: Young adult story, set at an older readership than the River Bend series Californian surfer girl Susie must get to grips with horses, cowboys and a completely new lifestyle when she and her younger half-brother go to stay with their grandmother. Their Gran hopes that she, with the help of her two trusty Fjord ponies can bring the disjointed family back together. But Susie has other ideas!

Collector's Info:
In print and available in paperback or e-book.