Country Wives

Barleybridge #2

by Rebecca Shaw

Welcome back to Barleybridge, the picture-postcard English village where everybody knows their neighbors . . .

Kate Howard is still working as the receptionist at the Barleybridge Veterinary Hospital, but now she is determined to attend veterinary college. Things are running smoothly, both at work and in Kate’s life, especially now that Scott Spencer, the handsome Australian vet who stole Kate’s heart, has left town. But Scott’s replacement, Daniel Brown, is quickly making enemies of the staff and clients alike with his abrupt style and unreasonable demands. When Dan causes the loss of an important client, the wives connected to the practice determine that something must be done to stop him.

For her part, Kate secretly appreciates Dan’s no-nonsense approach, despite everyone else’s ongoing annoyance. When Kate is faced with a devastating tragedy, Dan reveals a sad secret of his own and helps her through her crisis. But what will the rest of the town think of their newfound friendship?

Delightfully warm, engaging, and filled with the simple joys of small-town English life, Country Wives will inspire readers to return to Barleybridge again and again.

Genres: Fiction, British Literature, Romance, Chick Lit

279 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Sunday Times bestselling author Rebecca Shaw is known for her heartwarming tales of country life.
Rebecca grew up in Yorkshire and attended a Quaker boarding school before becoming a teacher of deaf children.
She wrote 28 novels. Her biggest series of 19 books set in a fictional English village called TURNHAM MALPAS chart the lives and loves of the village inhabitants.
A further six novels tell the stories of the vets, veterinary nurses and animals at a veterinary practice in the fictional English market town of BARLEYBRIDGE.
She also wrote three standalone novels.
Rebecca lived with her husband in a beautiful Dorset village where she found plenty of inspiration for her contemporary stories about rural life. Rebecca sadly passed away in 2015, but her stories continue to be enjoyed by readers across the globe.
Rebecca has been translated and sold in Denmark, Germany, Hungary and Norway. She is also published in the US.

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this without having read the first book in the series. I'll go back and read the first and probably finish the series. It's a nice easy read. Reminds me of the Mitford and Lumby books. Though it could be considered "G Rated" the characters and story line are interesting. It's nice to read something that isn't dark and doesn't include a lot of unnecessary details about sexual encounters.

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still trying to decide if I like the writing style of this book. There were quite a lot of characters which makes some parts of the book hard to follow, but I really liked the book setting of being in a vets practice in an English village. So had lots of different animal tales.

[Linore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book, great, deep characters, fun British speak (for this American) and truly heart-touching situations. Echoes of James Herriot with its veterinary office setting, too. Unfortunately, the ending was a huge disappointment for me. Can’t say more or it would be a spoiler. (The author gets five stars for writing so well, despite my disappointment with the ending.) And by the close of the book, you’ll be very fond of the cast and of Barleybridge, feeling like you want to return for another visit. Time to look up the next in the series!

[Sanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Country Wives was an interesting read; something a little different in flavour from the novels I usually read. Kate Howard wants to become a Veterinarian but for now is still a veterinary nurse. When the Australian vet Scott, leaves to return to Australia, her heart is broken and she is wary of becoming involved or allowing her emotions to become part of another's life for now so doesn't open up to anyone, except Mungo's wife.

In bowls the larger-than-life new replacement vet Dan Brown, whose abrupt and direct manner has already wrankled the nerves of some of the wives of the veterinary clinic. Most do not like that he is a newby with a few ideas of his own in how the clinic can make a little better cash flow. The head vet Mungo's wife, and Kate are the only two to see the potential of Dan Brown and they upset the other wives, because they like the man.

However, Dan upsets the wives even more when he loses the contract of the local Lord and while the wives give him the cold shoulder for it, gossiping behind his back and causing more friction within the clinic, the local farmers love him and he becomes the hardest working of all the vets in the practice.

When tragedy strikes Kate, Dan is there for her offering a sympathetic shoulder, and when he becomes sad about his well hidden past, he opens up to Kate, and their friendship bonds.

Dan decides that the clinic needs an injection of funds so comes up with an idea, which gets Mungo's backing, to put a small display cabinet in the front of the clinic to sell animal toys, pet foods and the like, but the wives are totally against it, simply because the idea came from Dan. However, it goes ahead and proves the wives wrong.

Then another rather serious event occurs whereby the local Lord requires help and asks for Dan personally, despite he not even liking the vet.
Many other events occur during this read and then just before it all winds up, a few surprise events happen....but I'm not going to spoil it for you; you'll have to read it and find out.



I really enjoyed this book and being from a 'small town area' in the country, I could relate to all those characters in an easy way, because that is exactly what small town people are like. Rebecca Shaw has done another fine job.

[Bee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was very just so-so for me. Sure, it's a cute series but everything felt very wooden and predictable and I kind of had to force myself to finish it. I really wanted to enjoy this book because it's a premise I like, but it fell flat. It's one of my 'lunch hour' books, which are usually quick reads that will keep my attention in lots of little spurts. I may or may not read the third in the series -- not because I'm invested in the storylines, but because I always have this weird compulsion to finish series that I start. I need to learn to let them go!

[Catherine Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book. It read easily and quick. I didn't like the ending though.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Welcome back to Barleybridge, the picture-postcard village where everybody knows their neighbor ...
"Kate Howard is still working as the receptionist at the Barleybridge Veterinary Hospital, but now she is determined to attend veterinary college. Things are running smoothly, both at work and in Kate's life, especially now that Scott Spencer, the handsome Australian vet who stole Kate's heart, has left town. But Scott's replacement, Daniel Brown, is quickly making enemies of the staff and clients alike with his abrupt style and unreasonable demands. When Dan causes the loss of an important client, the wives connected to the practice determine that something must be done to stop him.

"For her part, Kate secretly appreciates Dan's no-nonsense approach, despite everyone else's ongoing annoyance. When Kate is faced with a devastating tragedy, Dan reveals a sad secret of his own and helps her through her crisis. But what will the rest of the town think of their new-found friendship?

"Delightfully warm, engaging, and filled with the simple joys of small-town English life, Country Wives will inspire readers to return to Barleybridge again and again."
~~front & back flaps

Another charming slice of English small town life -- one of my favorite genres. Nothing gruesome happens, people muddle through everyday life, and the sun mostly shines. What more could anyone ask for?

[Laura Zaharia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no clue this was part of a series when I picked it up to read. I did feel at parts that I was missing something, the ‘Scott’ plot line as he kept getting mentioned, but it didn’t really affect the experience of reading the book. Dan is very mysterious in how he presents himself and how he carries himself. Some of the ladies in this book were insufferable at times!
I’ve enjoyed this book, as a city girl, having spend summers in the country side, the small town politics and dynamics. And remembering having dealt with farm animals as a you g girl, it was a nice little read. I though the book would be more romance based (judging a book by it’s cover - ha!) but I have really enjoyed it.
The only true ‘twist’ of the book is the ending - which I did enjoy.
I’ll need to get the other books in the series now!

[Addy Singh]

Loved it, and found to be a very light read. Having been a city kid, it was magical to be transported to the small town of Barleybridge with it's villages and the veterinary hospital and it's residents. I liked the plot, it was unpredictable and kept me coming back for more. I couldn't have asked for a better ending. Dan, one of the protagonists, I found shared some of the character traits of Howard Roark, protagonist of Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead, in that Dan's ego made him a loathed character but it also benefited the Veterinary practice immensely and took it to new heights.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a truly delightful book, it was a gift from a friend who grew up on a farm. The story is about a local Veterinarian Clinic in a farming community and how the employees click or don't click. One gets to grow to like or dislike the employees. Feeling for the animals, and cheering at the love stories.

I really enjoyed this book, and passed it on to another friend who has animals and a farm, knowing she would enjoy it also.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book even more than the first of the series. This one centres around the females, either staff or wives of the partners and the new locum vet come in to fill Scott’s shoes. We get the highs and lows of veterinary life and advancement in our understanding of the character introduced in book one. A gentle read so suitable to the days when even turning a page makes you feel sticky. Love, love, love this series!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this one was better than the first one in many ways. It could be that the characters in Barleybridge are getting more fleshed out. As a gentle read, it's perfect. And Rebecca Shaw is pretty great in throwing in little twists that you don't see coming. My mother-in-law likes this series so far, and so do I! Added bonus - if you're currently watching the new All Creatures Great & Small (season 3 just started) and have a yen for something in that vein, these books are a wonderful choice. A Country Affair is the first one.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy reading a series as you get know the characters. This series doesn't disappoint and is a typical day in the life which I enjoy so much. a veterinary practice in Yorkshire - what could be better!

[Kubeshnee Tulsee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Halfway through. But finding it, very hard going from now. Don't think I'm going to finish this one. There seems to be no point, or Rhyme and reason, to any of the storylines.The book is just dragging aimlessly!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a pleasant series about a veterinarian practice in England.

[Mildred Rupert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book to read, loves these books by Rebecca Shaw.

[Marciamvk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Light, easy reading

[Charlotte Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice read of things going wrong but can turn out alright in the end

[Carole M · Rating 4 out of 5]

P

[Julie Akeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another charming tale of modern day village life centered around a veterinarian service.

[Julie P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good series, light reading.

[Kathlyn Miyashiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book. After reading the first book Country Affair, I had to continue reading more. Loved both books. I felt like I was there in that village. Now I am reading Country Lovers and enjoying the continuing saga! I've also ordered other books by Rebecca Shaw. She is my new favorite author.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is second in the Barleybridge series, but was fine as a stand-alone read, although probably some things would have been clearer had I read the first book beforehand. There seemed to be rather a large cast - several vets, nurses and receptionists - although there was a helpful list at the front.

I found the plot and many subplots interesting, but rather too fast for my liking: in only a little over 250 pages there was a vast amount of action which could easily have filled a novel twice as long.

But as well as feeling that a lot was missing, I found the writing style a bit irritating at times. There was a lot of informal English, and some rather careless editing. I realise this does happen in a lot of modern books, but it's usually the 'chick-lit' variety, and this story had the potential to be something more. James Herriot it's not - by a long chalk - but it could still have been a well-characterised, well-written insight into life in a large country vet practice. Unfortunately, it wasn't.

[Barbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 2nd in the Barleybridge series and I liked it just as much as the first. Different to the Turnham Malpas series (of course).

Back Cover Blurb:
There's trouble afoot in Barleybridge. The vet's practice, which normally runs so smoothly, is disrupted by the new locum, Dan, who seems to be annoying just about everyone with his abrupt manner and unreasonable demands. And when he succeeds in losing an important client through his arrogant attitude, the wives connected to the practice are determined that something has to be done.
But Kate, who works at the practice, finds she rather likes Dan's no-nonsense approach, despite what everyone thinks of him.
Kate is determined to go to veterinary college and has already made some difficult decisions to fulfil her dream. Then, when she is suddenly confronted by a devastating tragedy at home, it is Dan, with a sad secret of his own, who helps her come to terms with her new situation.....

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the gentle Barleybridge series. Kate Howard is still working as a receptionist at the Barleybridge veterinary clinic while hoping to get into vet school. She's still recovering from her disappointment at a former vet's return to Australia. The new interim vet, Dan Brown, is causing a series of upsets, from losing a valuable client, to making enemies of a partner and another partner's wife. Kate's life also takes a huge hit with two traumatic events, but with the support of Mia and friends in the practice, she manages to find an even keel. I enjoyed this installment, and will be looking for the next book in the series.

[Bonnie McHenry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good 2nd installement of the Barleybridge series. So far, each of the novels has had some secret that has been revealed. It keeps you reading and guessing just what is going to happen next. I love how the author has incorporated the lives of the farmers with the veteriarians. You get to know the farmers and the veterinarians on a personal basis and come to feel for what they endeavor. Can't wait to read the 3rd in the series.

[Krisz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca Shaw writes interesting books about interesting, yet nothing special characters. It makes a peaceful, light reading and I will search out her other novels too.
This is the second of her writings I have read, the first being Talk of the Village, and that genuinely surprised me with its clear and enjoyable voice. Country wives was the same. I wish it was longer though, and I didn't feel the title had anything to do with the contents.

[Jenny L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike the first in the series, this book is more about the vets, than Kate. Rebecca Shaw delves deeper into the lives of the Barleybridge residents and you become more involved and invested as a result. I now await the arrival of book 3 - which is only available in the UK, so it will take a while to reach me here in the US !

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a child, I spent five years in James Harriot country. I recognized the speech and the scenery in both the books and the movies. I didn't get this book at all.

Everything about this book felt so forced and contrived. I wasn't expecting another Harriot series, but I was expecting quite a bit more than this book delivered.