Young horse lovers will enjoy this story, and with adventure, friendship, family secrets, and a little suspense, you’ve got a real page-turner.

The Secrets of Wild Hill: A Pony’s Promise is the second book in Olivia Tuffin’s series, and it has all the ingredients that make horse stories so appealing to young readers.

Lottie Manderson is desperate to rebuild her relationship with her beloved pony, Patch. After a frightening incident at a horse show, Patch has lost his confidence, and Lottie is determined to earn back his trust. She has her sights set on the championships, but getting there won’t be easy.

And horses aren’t her only problem. Her friendship with Felix has fallen apart, but when he unexpectedly reaches out, Lottie wonders whether she can trust him again.

Then there are the secrets surrounding their families. An old photograph raises questions about a long-standing rivalry, and Lottie and Felix are determined to discover what really happened.

As if that isn’t enough, Wild Hill is up for sale, threatening everything Lottie loves about her life with horses.

Plenty is happening, but Tuffin weaves the different storylines together while keeping the horses firmly at the heart of the adventure.

I particularly like that this isn’t simply a story about winning competitions. It’s also about friendship, trust, determination, and learning that things don’t always go according to plan.

Tuffin’s knowledge and love of horses shine through, and young pony enthusiasts will enjoy the riding details as much as the mystery unfolding around Lottie.

While this is the second book in the series, I suspect readers will want to go back and discover how it all began.

A great read for young horse lovers aged nine and over, with enough adventure and suspense to keep those pages turning.