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MR MACGREGOR
Rob MacGregor, hired to recapture the declining audience for a daytime gardening programme, quickly becomes Britain's latest heartthrob. The only trouble is, Rob's co-presenter is not at all pleased to see his thunder stolen. Nor is Rob's longterm girlfriend, Katherine, pleased to find out that Rob's been having a steamy affair with one of the TV station's newsreaders...Rob's career goes from strength to strength, but he finds the in-fighting and TV politics harder and harder to cope with - and he's becoming increasingly concerned about his recently widowed father, who seems to be in danger of losing the small nursery the family has run for generations. Somebody is desperate to buy that land, and Rob is determined to find out why...
Hardcover
First published September 7, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 2, 2024
Was ok, a decent read if you're on holiday as zero concentration required and not very engaging.
Two stars.
Two stars.
June 3, 2020
This was an nice easy light read. Alan Titchmarsh proves again that he can write a good story to appeal to all people, regardless of if you are a keen gardener. There are some great characters in this story, one of the most colourful has to be Bertie, a larger than life annoyance who creates havoc and gets under people's skin. There are several layers to this, including a bit of romance and some rather dodgy dealings, all set around a TV show, a newspaper and surprising other occurrences...This book is probably best known for the fact that the author added a bit of sex to the storyline. Although this certainly does happen, if you bought it specifically for this, you will be very disappointed, as it is discreetly done and not often (No Lady Chatterley or 50 Shades here).
I would recommend this to anyone who doesn't let genre define them and wants a book that is warm, light hearted and has a fun sense of humour, with a bit of mild intrigue to keep you reading to the end.
I would recommend this to anyone who doesn't let genre define them and wants a book that is warm, light hearted and has a fun sense of humour, with a bit of mild intrigue to keep you reading to the end.
March 5, 2024
Hunky gardening guy cheats on his girlfriend, hosts the Chelsea flower show, and helps his old man save his nursery. Nice story.
March 29, 2018
I liked the light tone if this book and that it had a lot happening. It's a lot like real life- when something happens, it causes a rippling effect and you'll never know what will come out of it. I liked the characters, even the "baddies", because they were all just human beings, caught in their own demises, trying to get by- some in a more decent fashion than others, granted, but still they were very three-dimensional. Also, for a book that's 20 years old, this did not read "outdated"- except that today, one would text the other person to tell them, that we miss them, nothing really has changed that much ;-)
November 7, 2020
Ive has this book for a long time sat on a tbr pile, but think I read it once a long time ago!
Rob McGregor is a Yorkshire amateur gardener, writing for his local paper, helping his dad with his garden nursery and bumbling along enjoying life. He has a stint on a garden TV show, but after the main host has a breakdown is taken on as the main host. The novel follows his journey as he's developing his garden career with a few spills along the way. A nice, twee book but a bit of a slow burn read for me.
Rob McGregor is a Yorkshire amateur gardener, writing for his local paper, helping his dad with his garden nursery and bumbling along enjoying life. He has a stint on a garden TV show, but after the main host has a breakdown is taken on as the main host. The novel follows his journey as he's developing his garden career with a few spills along the way. A nice, twee book but a bit of a slow burn read for me.
March 2, 2021
Loved the weaving in and out of a gardener , his mother the nursery his girlfriend and how they are all coping with the death of the mother, the decline in the nursery and a relationship under strain. It was lovely to see the story weave in and out of each scene. I like this author as the book is about gardening which is a passion of his and so it has a real strength
September 28, 2017
I didn't finish reading it. I found it dull and couldn't get into it.
August 29, 2019
Not my thing..
Borrowed it from my step mum but not enough grit for me
Borrowed it from my step mum but not enough grit for me
May 21, 2021
Easy read. Enjoyed it
January 15, 2023
Unintentionally hilarious
December 27, 2023
Gaf het wellicht iets te veel sterren maar was top amusing, feel good story met descriptieve Engelse humor
May 14, 2024
Fairly predictable but rather a nice jaunt
February 26, 2025
Slow start, but quite nice.
September 10, 2025
Opposite read to hard to put down. Good bedtime reading!
December 26, 2014
The original review, and many other reviews and features, can be found at http://www.thebookeaters.co.uk
A few weeks ago whilst waiting for an appointment in town I looked for some reading material in a charity shop. I noticed a novel by Alan Titchmarsh. I know of him from gardening shows on television. Intrigued I picked it up and read the blurb on the back cover. It read similar to other romance stories, but Alan Titchmarsh … I did not know he wrote stories. From the inside of the back cover, I noted that he had written a few others.
As both a budding writer and a dabbler in plants I thought I’d give the book a whirl. Nothing much to lose (it was only a pound) and I might learn something new. So clutching my purchase I set off for one of the coffee shops and started reading “Mr. MacGregor”.
Right from the start you are pulled into the story, immersed in it. The story is not only about Rob MacGregor and Kathleen, but also about those people who touch their lives. In each encounter with a character, the character comes over as distinct in both character and voice. Alan’s descriptions of situations and people are done with a light touch; just enough to allow you to form your own picture.
After reading the first few chapters I had to attend my meeting and it was with some regret that I closed the book. Over the next few weeks, I only had a few snatched moments to continue reading about the life and adventures of Rob MacGregor. Finally, I could not face it anymore. I had to know. Does Rob get the girl? Does Jock recover? What happens to Bertie Lightfoot and Guy D’Arcy? These were but a few of the questions that were nagging at me.
So disregarding all the other activities clamouring for attention I took a day off. Finally, I could indulge in an absorbing read with no interruptions. Within moments, I was immersed in the world of Rob MacGregor. I could now experience his family, friends, adversaries and the plants that form the backbone of the novel.
Make no mistake Alan Tichmarch is a story craftsman with a deft and light touch who from the start pulls you into the story and takes you on a ride through all the highs and lows of his characters. I have purposely not told you much of the story as I have no wish to destroy any of the fun you will experience when reading Mr. MacGregor for yourself.
As the tagline states: When Rob MacGregor is picked as the new presenter of a struggling gardening programme, he quickly becomes a favourite with everyone. And that’s half his trouble …
5 bites
A few weeks ago whilst waiting for an appointment in town I looked for some reading material in a charity shop. I noticed a novel by Alan Titchmarsh. I know of him from gardening shows on television. Intrigued I picked it up and read the blurb on the back cover. It read similar to other romance stories, but Alan Titchmarsh … I did not know he wrote stories. From the inside of the back cover, I noted that he had written a few others.
As both a budding writer and a dabbler in plants I thought I’d give the book a whirl. Nothing much to lose (it was only a pound) and I might learn something new. So clutching my purchase I set off for one of the coffee shops and started reading “Mr. MacGregor”.
Right from the start you are pulled into the story, immersed in it. The story is not only about Rob MacGregor and Kathleen, but also about those people who touch their lives. In each encounter with a character, the character comes over as distinct in both character and voice. Alan’s descriptions of situations and people are done with a light touch; just enough to allow you to form your own picture.
After reading the first few chapters I had to attend my meeting and it was with some regret that I closed the book. Over the next few weeks, I only had a few snatched moments to continue reading about the life and adventures of Rob MacGregor. Finally, I could not face it anymore. I had to know. Does Rob get the girl? Does Jock recover? What happens to Bertie Lightfoot and Guy D’Arcy? These were but a few of the questions that were nagging at me.
So disregarding all the other activities clamouring for attention I took a day off. Finally, I could indulge in an absorbing read with no interruptions. Within moments, I was immersed in the world of Rob MacGregor. I could now experience his family, friends, adversaries and the plants that form the backbone of the novel.
Make no mistake Alan Tichmarch is a story craftsman with a deft and light touch who from the start pulls you into the story and takes you on a ride through all the highs and lows of his characters. I have purposely not told you much of the story as I have no wish to destroy any of the fun you will experience when reading Mr. MacGregor for yourself.
As the tagline states: When Rob MacGregor is picked as the new presenter of a struggling gardening programme, he quickly becomes a favourite with everyone. And that’s half his trouble …
5 bites
June 6, 2015
This was a comfortable read, without that sounding patronising. Very little happens to be honest there's only minor conflict within the pages, however the story potters along at a steady pace. I would have thought that considering the book was published by such a high profile publishing house that the spelling mistakes and editorial errors had been ironed out by now. This is a suitable book for anyone interested in gardening and needing alook behind the scenes of TV shows, I did find the descriptions of the show production's and other parts of the protagonists career a tad dull and used as filler. Titchmarsh is a gardener so the odd cliche does creep in as do passages of purple prose, this said they make for a enjoyable read and there are some gems in and among the text like, 'The curtains, pulled back, reavealed a soft grey mist hanging like cows' breath over the water-meadows. Beyond them the sun, no brighter than a torch with a fading battery, was doing its best...' Overall this is a good summer book for anyone looking for some light entertainment.
February 29, 2020
September 2019--This is the 3rd time I have read this book. I remember very little from the previous readings, except that I enjoyed the book and was comfortable with the situations and the characters.It is a romance, but it is also a commentary on the people who make their living doing DIY shows on gardening and on the world that supports the garden hobbiest: flower shows, chemical companies, nurseries. The book seems to stand the test of time as I find the commentary as relevant in 2019 as in 1999. Alas.
February 19, 2011
Another light read from Alan Titchmarsh. When Rob MacGregor is picked as the new presenter of a struggling gardening programme, he quickly becomes a favourite with everyone. The expert he replaced isn't happy, a TV rival Guy D'Arcy isn't happy. His relationship has problems but as usual there is a happy ending. I am tending to read fairly lightweight books at the moment as I get constant interruptions throughout the day including in my two hour break.
January 8, 2015
Not Alan's finest I'm afraid. A lot of insight into TV gardening and the Chelsea Flower Show, which interests me more than most, but I felt the book forgot about the relationships I was interested in for a large part. Hard to put down at the end but nearly gave up in the middle.
September 12, 2011
Another comfortable warm read from this author. It seems that whatever subject Alan decides to put his hands to comes up smelling of roses.
July 31, 2011
Another very easy read from Mr Titchmarsh, good if you have just finished a long novel and need something easy to read.
August 9, 2011
I was quite surprised when I read this a few years ago on what a goo well written story this is. A funny romantic which is a good light hearted read.
February 16, 2013
Pretty awful, picked it up and thought it might appeal to me as a passionate gardener. No. Dull cliched and tedious.
April 13, 2013
This is the first Alan Titchmarsh book I've read, having bought it for £1 in Asda. I was pleasantly surprised. Nice, lighthearted, well written book for when that's just what you fancy!
September 9, 2013
Lovely and harmless romance.
August 6, 2013
this is a great romantic novel. Read it ages ago but after spoting the review on goodreads I would like to re-read this great story.
November 10, 2013
An easy, harmless read that is a little predictable but fantastic for a holiday that needs gaps filling.
May 31, 2014
Lighthearted, easy read, suitable for a long journey. I much prefer listening to Alan Titchmarsh the committed gardener.
July 13, 2014
Really liked this book great story, I am really keen to read more from Alan Titchmarsh!!
January 4, 2015
I find Alan's writing of fiction easy going, funny, hard to put down until the end and I just wish he could write more . Have a few ideas - would be good to get together with him!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews