A Country Affair: A Barleybridge Novel

by Rebecca Shaw

Book Overview

Welcome to Barleybridge, a small village nestled in the Dorset hills of England, where sheep graze on the nearby slopes and everybody knows their neighbors. Young, inexperienced, and somewhat shy,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1400098203
• ISBN13: 9781400098200
• Release Date: May 2006
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press (CA)
• Length: 280 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Good read

The Barleybridge series revolves around the personal and professional lives of the staff of a veterinary practice in an English village. In this first novel of the series, Kate begins work at the hospital. Although she harbors the secret desire to become a veterinarian herself, one failing grade has dashed these hopes and set her to working as an accountant and receptionist instead. However, Kate soon finds that she is not content to work on the fringes of the practice, despite the tight bonds with the other staff, particularly the wild Australian, Scott. The practice is full of interesting characters and cases. Quote: "It doesn't make sense. I'll be off. Where's my billhook? That sparky young lass took it off me." This book is engaging because of a cast of characters that covers all your bases - annoying, endearing, quiet, fiery. The two characters who make up the focus of this novel, Kate and Scott, make you root for their improbable coupling, and the supporting cast also shine.

very satisfying read

I really enjoyed the Barleybridge novels. It felt like the Mitford Series intertwined with James Herriot's wonderful books. I love a good story that's easy to read and makes you like the characters and "feels comfortable". I hope she will finish all the great stories she began in these books.........I want to know what happens to them all~!

claird

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were fleshed out in such a way that I got to know them and was a bit sad when the book ended.

terrific amusing inspirational character study

Reticent Kate Howard arrives in the rural Yorkshire hills to work as a receptionist at the Barleybridge Veterinary Hospital that has a vast menagerie of clients ranging from pets to farm animals. The workforce and most of the customers are friendly to the newcomer. Especially nice and encouraging is another outsider Australian veterinarian Scott Spencer, who pushes her to become a vet too though her one attempt at the test was disastrous. Kate is attracted to her handsome mentor, but is wise enough to know she is out of his league. While Scott encourages her to try again, Kate's boyfriend Adam ridicules her dreams and aspirations saying she proven she can't make it. Kate has decisions personal and professional to make turning to her kindhearted boss Joy, who can commiserate as she too furtively love one of the vets. A COUNTRY AFFAIR, the first of the Barleybridge trilogy (COUNTRY WIVES AND COUNTRY LOVERS are to be released in America later), is a terrific amusing inspirational character study. Kate and Joy are the stars as they make decisions on what they want out of life. The support cast is solid and somewhat eccentric whether they are pet owners, other vet employees or the lead duo's family. Fans will appreciate this upbeat insightful look at two women making the best of a good life in a small English village. Harriet Klausner