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Patsy #1
With Vacant Possession?
This is a charming book that will appeal to anyone with a dream to follow however long it takes. Gillian Baxter is the author of a series of popular pony books and now after a break here is her first novel for a slightly older readership but still about horses and set in her new home country of West Wales. When Patsy became a widow at sixty she decided to follow a lifelong dream and buy a farmhouse in Wales to make a new life for herself and her two elderly horses.
Things do not turn out quite as expected since Patsy discovers that her new home already seems to have an invisible occupant with a horsey history of his own and who resents her arrival. Then Patsy buys an almost wild welsh cob mare in foal at a local market and soon begins to find that the other occupant can sometimes be helpful.
Things do not turn out quite as expected since Patsy discovers that her new home already seems to have an invisible occupant with a horsey history of his own and who resents her arrival. Then Patsy buys an almost wild welsh cob mare in foal at a local market and soon begins to find that the other occupant can sometimes be helpful.
128 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2018
4 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Gillian Baxter
40 books7 followersGillian Baxter was a British writer of children's books. Her books were mainly pony books about horses, although one book, The Knightsgate Players, was about acting. Baxter also wrote under her married name " Gillian Hirst".
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 7, 2018
I picked up this book purely because I saw it recommended on a horse blog and back in the days when I devoured pony books as a kid, Gillian Baxter was an author I really enjoyed. This book, though, did definitely not disappoint.
Patsy, a widow in her sixties, fulfils a long-held dream and moves to a remote farmhouse in Wales with her two elderly horses. She's a tough old bird, Patsy, and she knuckles down to renovating the long-vacant farmhouse and slowly getting to know the locals. But it seems that she may not be as alone as she thinks she is--the spirit of the last owner, a solitary farmer, seems to resent Patsy intruding on his home.
The book is a gentle ghost story--no horror here. Believe me, I'm the biggest chicken for bailing out of scary stories, and I read this cover to cover in one sitting, by myself in a rural setting, on a cliche of a dark and stormy night. It has a lot of good horse detail as you'd expect from a pony-book author, and it has some simply beautiful descriptive writing of the Welsh setting interwoven into the tale. Side characters added to the plot, and there were a few pertinent social issues included, such as Welsh resentment of the English moving into their country and grown-up children making a mess of their lives. The horses were important to the plot, the mood and the characters.
It's not perfect, there were a couple of spots where it would benefit from an editorial eye, but it doesn't detract from the tale.
I'm very glad Gillian Baxter is still writing, and still writing horse stories. I'm off to see if I can hunt down some of her older pony books on Ebay for a nostalgic re-read.
Patsy, a widow in her sixties, fulfils a long-held dream and moves to a remote farmhouse in Wales with her two elderly horses. She's a tough old bird, Patsy, and she knuckles down to renovating the long-vacant farmhouse and slowly getting to know the locals. But it seems that she may not be as alone as she thinks she is--the spirit of the last owner, a solitary farmer, seems to resent Patsy intruding on his home.
The book is a gentle ghost story--no horror here. Believe me, I'm the biggest chicken for bailing out of scary stories, and I read this cover to cover in one sitting, by myself in a rural setting, on a cliche of a dark and stormy night. It has a lot of good horse detail as you'd expect from a pony-book author, and it has some simply beautiful descriptive writing of the Welsh setting interwoven into the tale. Side characters added to the plot, and there were a few pertinent social issues included, such as Welsh resentment of the English moving into their country and grown-up children making a mess of their lives. The horses were important to the plot, the mood and the characters.
It's not perfect, there were a couple of spots where it would benefit from an editorial eye, but it doesn't detract from the tale.
I'm very glad Gillian Baxter is still writing, and still writing horse stories. I'm off to see if I can hunt down some of her older pony books on Ebay for a nostalgic re-read.
March 18, 2021
Couldn't put this book down. It was refreshing to have the main character as a mature lady in my age group. Ha ha , there's plenty of excitement to be had in your 60's you know.
Loved everything, the ghost bits reminded me a little of that gorgeous classic film, The Ghost and Mrs Muir. Funny, lovely and sad. The description of that beautiful area of Wales had me wishing I could get back there, perhaps next year we'll all be able to travel round the UK without any hassle, here's hoping. So in the meantime I am whisking myself and my dog away into the books with dreams of horses, countryside, seaside and freedom away from some of the horrible things going on in the world today.
Loved everything, the ghost bits reminded me a little of that gorgeous classic film, The Ghost and Mrs Muir. Funny, lovely and sad. The description of that beautiful area of Wales had me wishing I could get back there, perhaps next year we'll all be able to travel round the UK without any hassle, here's hoping. So in the meantime I am whisking myself and my dog away into the books with dreams of horses, countryside, seaside and freedom away from some of the horrible things going on in the world today.
July 14, 2020
Must admit I really enjoyed reading this story.
It ticked all my favorites,Wales once of my all time favorite country's. And horses. Loved our 4 legged friends since I was young.
It's 1 of those stories that just gripps you from page 1.
I would dearly love to read a follow-up story.
It ticked all my favorites,Wales once of my all time favorite country's. And horses. Loved our 4 legged friends since I was young.
It's 1 of those stories that just gripps you from page 1.
I would dearly love to read a follow-up story.
October 3, 2020
Welsh treat.
Well written with wonderful description of Welsh countryside.
Ghost tale as well. Makes us who have similar dreams about taking on a farm ,want to do it. Didn't want to put book down.
Looking for the Rayburn and cosy chair.
Well written with wonderful description of Welsh countryside.
Ghost tale as well. Makes us who have similar dreams about taking on a farm ,want to do it. Didn't want to put book down.
Looking for the Rayburn and cosy chair.
January 7, 2021
Great story line
I enjoyed the characters and the plot very much. The main character is a mature woman, which is inspiring. I get sick of stories of teenage girls and horses. Well developed and interesting...even surprising! I will hope for more.
I enjoyed the characters and the plot very much. The main character is a mature woman, which is inspiring. I get sick of stories of teenage girls and horses. Well developed and interesting...even surprising! I will hope for more.
April 25, 2019
Loved It
A feel good ghost story proof that age has no real impact on dreams. If you want to live your dreams then you can.
A feel good ghost story proof that age has no real impact on dreams. If you want to live your dreams then you can.
September 21, 2020
A gem
Absolutely delightful. Funny, sad, and very well written. So glad to have chanced upon it, was quite bereft when it finished
Absolutely delightful. Funny, sad, and very well written. So glad to have chanced upon it, was quite bereft when it finished
February 23, 2021
I loved this book I loved the idea of escape and starting again
I loved Patsy and her openness to Emrys
I also found the loss pieces so valuable
In short a complete hug in a book
I loved Patsy and her openness to Emrys
I also found the loss pieces so valuable
In short a complete hug in a book
March 12, 2021
Interesting
Unusual - but good story
Certainly kept my interest
Could easily have been a true story as many people retire to Pembrokeshire
Unusual - but good story
Certainly kept my interest
Could easily have been a true story as many people retire to Pembrokeshire
August 13, 2021
A short but sweet book.
February 1, 2020
Couldn’t put it down
Gillian has a way of writing that is so comforting I loved the story of Patsy and was sad when I came to the end
Gillian has a way of writing that is so comforting I loved the story of Patsy and was sad when I came to the end
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews