Country Lovers

Barleybridge #3

by Rebecca Shaw

At the busy veterinary practice in Barleybridge, it's not just the animals who need loving care and attention...The lively Barleybridge Veterinary Hospital is bustling with energy. Everyone is working hard to make sure that sick animals in the surgery and on the farms are treated. But at the same time, some of the staff are coping with crises in their personal lives. Kate is worrying about her exam results and hoping she can get into veterinary college. Dan's wife's baby is due any moment. Letty is worried that she may be terminally ill but is afraid to tell anyone. Joy finds that she is still in love with Mungo, a fact that finally compels her husband Duncan to leave home. Rhodri is deeply in love with Megan, a local farmer's daughter, but she can't marry him because she is committed to caring for her elderly father. A wonderfully pacy, funny but tender novel about life in the country.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, British Literature

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 20, 2003

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

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m loving this series. The difficulties of caring for a disabled person are very accurately portrayed here. Both carer and patient have their frustrations to deal with and they can have much deeper roots than just the obvious.
This novel centres around couples’ relationships, in particular Rodri and Megan. The usual cast of other characters flit in and out, and we get a handful of new ones to add some interest. I can’t wait for the next instalment,,

[Ajanta Rezwana · Rating 1 out of 5]

This particular book in the series annoyed me, to say the least. There should be a limit to how much you can drag a book. A very selfish person being unreasonable and everyone else simply tiptoes around him? Ridiculous! No one should be given so much power, no matter who he is!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"For Kate, life in Barleybridge is as busy as ever. She loves her job at the veterinary hospital, and is desperate to fulfill her ambition to start training as a vet, but she's worried her exam results won't be good enough for the coveted college place.

"Kate is the only one who is preoccupied. Dan and his wife are due to have a baby at any moment; and Letty is worried that she may be seriously ill, but she's too frightened to tell anyone.

"But it is matters of the heart that really take their toll in Barleybridge: Rhodri is deeply in love with farmer's daughter, but doesn't know how to cope with her invalid father; and Joy, the Practice Manager, is married, but struggling with her feelings for another man . . ."
~~back cover

Another lovely not too demanding read -- a nice gentle escape from real life, where mostly everything works out for the best.

[Jane Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd forgotten how good Rebecca Shaw's books are - I haven't read them for years! Found this one in a fair so thought I would get it and read it. It's set in a vet's practice in a, possibly, Cotswold village-type place with lots of different characters and it's all about their lives and what happens to them. She does characters very well, and you really get quite into their problems and so on, although you really need to read them in order I think to get the best out of them. I have read all of her other series about village life, think I got most of them out of the library, but they are very good as well.

[Angela Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful quick read about a veterinary practice in rural England for both small and farmland animals. The staff are all committed to the practice although having some issues that keep them from being as balanced as needs be. Rhodri is a typical example who with his dedication to his beloved is held back by her disabled father and sees unfairness in his colleague Dan, and Kate, working frontline is desperate to peruse her goal as a vet and awaiting A level results to secure her future.

[Flor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This the third in a series about a veterinarian clinic in rural England. Light, airy yet with some romantic complications, it is a pleasant read. There is list of characters in the front of the book and it is most helpful because of the love that abounds not just with the animals. Enjoyable and provides a different view of animal care overseas. We all love our animals!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another lovely book about animals and romance. Who could want more?

[Sherry Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just realized I’m sitting here missing the characters in this book. Already ordered the next one from the library.

[Charlotte Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book from rebecca shaw. Must admit though I prefer the other series compared to this one.

[Rho · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book three of 6. 2.5. One and two were good quick reads with good character development. This book dragged. Interesting was the animal auction.

[Helen Geng]

Read October 2021

[Michelle Benoit · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming little series.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved revisiting the folks of Barleybridge. It's a quirky gang of folks in the town and at the veterinary hospital. Sometimes I found the writing to be somewhat old fashioned, even though it was only written in the early 2000s.

[Rrshively · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, don't let the title cause you to think this is some type of racy novel. It does have love in it, even a bedding down, but it doesn't go into details. Second, this book is third in a series. I would recommend for anyone interested to get the 3 books so far in the series from the library and read them one after another. I had forgotten some of the details about the characters' lives because it had been months since I'd read the last one. Third, just because I gave this novel 3 stars doesn't mean I am not enthusiastic about this series. I would read a 4th novel in this series if it came out. What is this novel about? As the Goodreads review says, it is about a veterinary practice and the stories of some of the animals and the vets, their families, and some clients. It is a good device to tell several stories at once. Also, I got it from the library on Friday and finished it late Saturday night. Towards the end, I couldn't put it down. Yes, there are some dramatic scenes in this book.

[Jenny L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely series of books, all about the vets at the Barleybridge Vet practice. Each book - this is the third in the series, focuses on the different characters in the practice and you become more and more involved in their lives. Loved this story and now I can't wait to begin book number four.

[Babs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Life in the Barleybridge Series marches on. Kate in school, Dan and Rose married with child, Rhodi and Megan on the verge in spite of her father, and Joy and Duncan at odds. The Practice is busy as ever with the animals taking center stage at times.

No graphic or 'fowl' language. A light read.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca Shaw's books are nice comfy reads. This series is set at a Vet's practice and follows the various members of staff and their family along with the clients. I have read and enjoyed her other series aswell.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Working at a vet hospital I could completely relate to it all. The characters are wonderfully developed. GREAT read!!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

really enjoying this series of "The Barleybridge Novels" - easy to follow soap opera style fiction.

[Janinne]

I didn't want it to end!

[Talma · Rating 5 out of 5]

very cute series - lots of humor - a fun read - especially for animal lovers!

[Jovana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting plot,a lot of characters...real life situations.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light, comfy, quaint read. Enjoyable when you need to escape. Particularly good if you're an animal lover although this one had less focus on the animals and more on the people of Barleybridge.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in the Barleybridge series. Wonderful story, kept me reading until I finished the book at 2 am.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice read a mixture of James Herriot and modern village life.

[Nina Levison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read as always from Rebecca Shaw. The characters always seem very true to life.

[Neelima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written to build curiosity on how it all pans out!!

[Dpic]

very pleasant

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This doesnt feel like the end of the Barleybridge saga, but unfortunately I think it is. Start at the beginning of the series, and enjoy this sweet mild story of life in small town England.

[Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

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