The Lost Diary

Not all the hurdles are in the ring …

In this surprising and touching addition to the Hillcroft Farm saga, Faye finds an old diary at a tack sale and becomes absorbed in the life of Mary Inglis and her mount Colleen, as they train and ride as show jumpers. It’s a wonderful distraction from Faye’s state of mind. She’s been taking some time off from jumping to recover from a fall. While her shoulder is getting better, her memories aren’t. Every time she recalls the fall, she panics.

Tucked into the diary are some black-and-white photographs—of Mary jumping and of her teacher, Henry, and his wife. And of Colleen, a beautiful silver-tailed palomino. They belong together, but so much stands in their way. Mary and Henry have to fight the rules that say females can’t jump, officials who think Mary’s too young, and finally, Colleen’s rightful owner.

At the moment Mary is on her way to stardom, the diary entries end and Faye is jolted back to reality. Yet she can’t forget Mary. What happened to her ? Faye wonders. And why does it matter so much to me?

The Lost Diary is Julie White’s fifth book and the fourth in the loose series about Hillcroft Farm, following The Secret Pony, High Fences and Riding Through Fire.