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Barleybridge #6
Love in the Country
Love in the Country Shaw, Rebecca
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 22, 2009
11 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Shaw
74 books110 followersSunday 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 30, 2019
Not a huge fan. Despite reading it in its entirety I had a hard time connecting to any of the characters. They didn’t seem to have depth or realism which made it even more difficult to invoke any emotion towards the relationships they had with each other. I kept waiting for something to happen .... and believe me I gravitate towards light airy reads as a form of escapism but this just wasn’t it.
March 2, 2010
As with the rest of Rebecca Shaw's novels this was a nice accessible read. It was easy going and the perfect before bed reading that required little intellectual input but passed by in a pleasant way.
March 5, 2021
This was a light and easy read. The characters felt a bit empty and the love story itself was highly unrealistic. It was cute at times but didn’t really satisfy me or give me what I was after at the time.
February 23, 2016
All a bit simple and trite. Except for a few moments, one wonders if it's written for children because the language is so basic.
October 9, 2016
Enjoyed all of the 6 books in this series but this one was a bit lacking compared to the other 5.
All of the books are an easy read, just what I needed before bed.
All of the books are an easy read, just what I needed before bed.
August 30, 2019
I came to this book secondhand as a light read out of my usual comfort zone - I usually prefer fiction that has tension, mystery, suspense, high emotional stakes and strong plotting. I knew this would be a cosy read about English village life, and was willing to try a new genre, but wasn't aware it was book no. 6 in a series (it says nothing about that on the book cover). So some of my comments seem slightly unfair, given that I had not read this author before.
The first half of the book was slow, gentle and quiet with no mystery or tension. I never felt I really knew the main character, Seb; he was just a pleasant young man in his first job in Barleybridge veterinary surgery, a bit over-cautious and strait-laced in his dealings with women. Apart from this I disliked the author's tendency to rapidly change viewpoint without warning, and this seemed to keep her characterisation on a superficial level. My favourite character was the Senior Partner and skilled surgeon, crisp, plain-speaking Mungo.
Later the story picks up emotional stakes - and this is all to do with the clients and their animals. The human romantic element feel as if it lacks something. I never felt really convinced, or that I knew enough of the characters to fully engage with them.
Later on though, the story picks up with genuinely emotional and stirring scenes involving the animals and their owners, sometimes very moving at other times heartbreaking.
The story draws to a sweet and touching end. My reflections on this book include my feeling that I'm probably doing it an injustice because I haven't read the previous 6 in the series. It makes me wonder, though, about the tension that exists between the need to make a novel "stand alone" even if it is part of a series; and if it doesn't work as a standalone, the publishers should clearly identity the book on the cover as being part of a series.
The first half of the book was slow, gentle and quiet with no mystery or tension. I never felt I really knew the main character, Seb; he was just a pleasant young man in his first job in Barleybridge veterinary surgery, a bit over-cautious and strait-laced in his dealings with women. Apart from this I disliked the author's tendency to rapidly change viewpoint without warning, and this seemed to keep her characterisation on a superficial level. My favourite character was the Senior Partner and skilled surgeon, crisp, plain-speaking Mungo.
Later the story picks up emotional stakes - and this is all to do with the clients and their animals. The human romantic element feel as if it lacks something. I never felt really convinced, or that I knew enough of the characters to fully engage with them.
Later on though, the story picks up with genuinely emotional and stirring scenes involving the animals and their owners, sometimes very moving at other times heartbreaking.
The story draws to a sweet and touching end. My reflections on this book include my feeling that I'm probably doing it an injustice because I haven't read the previous 6 in the series. It makes me wonder, though, about the tension that exists between the need to make a novel "stand alone" even if it is part of a series; and if it doesn't work as a standalone, the publishers should clearly identity the book on the cover as being part of a series.
July 2, 2025
"When Seb moves to Barleybridge, the last thing on his mind is romance/ Keen to settle into his new job and make a good impression, he embraces life as a country vet, and is soon dealing with an assortment of cases.
"Meanwhile, Australian vet and his wife Zoe have a new baby to care for. Practice owners Mungo and Miriam organise a posh dinner party at The George where a surprise announcement delights everyone; and there's controversy and divided opinion about a potential new client.
"Seb's expertise with animals and his interaction with their owners mean he is welcomed into the community and relationships bloom -- friendship with upper class Jilly, passion with actress Maggie, and the possibility of future love ...
~~back cover
And of course Kate is now a vet and has come back to the practice where she started as a receptionist, much to everyone's delight.
I was a bit disappointed with this last book in the series. Somehow it lacked the depth of relationships and tensions that the previous books all had. Perhaps because the author was already plotting the next series? Seb's various relationships seemed a bit superficial, coming as quickly as they did.
But I have enjoyed the series, and am looking forward into diving in to The Village, which has a grand total of 19 books!
"Meanwhile, Australian vet and his wife Zoe have a new baby to care for. Practice owners Mungo and Miriam organise a posh dinner party at The George where a surprise announcement delights everyone; and there's controversy and divided opinion about a potential new client.
"Seb's expertise with animals and his interaction with their owners mean he is welcomed into the community and relationships bloom -- friendship with upper class Jilly, passion with actress Maggie, and the possibility of future love ...
~~back cover
And of course Kate is now a vet and has come back to the practice where she started as a receptionist, much to everyone's delight.
I was a bit disappointed with this last book in the series. Somehow it lacked the depth of relationships and tensions that the previous books all had. Perhaps because the author was already plotting the next series? Seb's various relationships seemed a bit superficial, coming as quickly as they did.
But I have enjoyed the series, and am looking forward into diving in to The Village, which has a grand total of 19 books!
December 9, 2019
In spirit of the month of December where I read only fuzzy and cute love stories I picked this one.
The story is a love quadrilateral of our protagonist who is a veterinary doctor and has not one ,not two but three love interests!
I picked up this book from a book sale and was a total cover buy . The plot was so loose that it can barely be called a plot. What I enjoyed most was the day to day life description of the doctors job. All the cute animals with their minor or serious injuries. And how each and every character was an animal lover.
I was zero percent interested in the love story loop of this book. But I still gave three stars because I loved the pet doctor profession and descriptions .
There was a case of a puppy who stopped walking completely because he thought that his human loves her more when he acts lazy 😂😂 and that was the cutest thing.
If you love animals maybe you can give it a try.
The story is a love quadrilateral of our protagonist who is a veterinary doctor and has not one ,not two but three love interests!
I picked up this book from a book sale and was a total cover buy . The plot was so loose that it can barely be called a plot. What I enjoyed most was the day to day life description of the doctors job. All the cute animals with their minor or serious injuries. And how each and every character was an animal lover.
I was zero percent interested in the love story loop of this book. But I still gave three stars because I loved the pet doctor profession and descriptions .
There was a case of a puppy who stopped walking completely because he thought that his human loves her more when he acts lazy 😂😂 and that was the cutest thing.
If you love animals maybe you can give it a try.
June 24, 2024
Sorry, another one not for me.
Very twee, light and fluffy with what could have been interesting topics skated over.
I know this is one of a series and I've not read the other books but it made no difference as you can easily get to grips with the cast of characters.
I have no intention of reading any of the other books in this series.
If you want light mush then this is the book for you. It's certainly not for me.
Very twee, light and fluffy with what could have been interesting topics skated over.
I know this is one of a series and I've not read the other books but it made no difference as you can easily get to grips with the cast of characters.
I have no intention of reading any of the other books in this series.
If you want light mush then this is the book for you. It's certainly not for me.
September 18, 2020
I did and didn't enjoy this book. It is a nice gentle read but it did feel a bit predictable. The whole book seemed a bit like a chick lit version of all creatures great and small.
A good holiday read.
A good holiday read.
August 23, 2022
It was quite a cute little story but there’s not much plot, its easy to read but can get a bit boring if you’re the type that likes fast paced books. personally I thought it was good and just an easy read
December 31, 2022
Poor. Everything was so easy- someone has problems, someone has a 'chat' with them and they suddenly turn their lives around! Did not believe in the main character either somehow- he just didn't have anything there for me to latch onto. Not a keeper.
October 14, 2025
Below average.
Read October 2025
Read October 2025
December 18, 2022
It's written to make you feel lighthearted. Not much to the plot or the Characters, all in all a short sweet summary.
P.S: Didn't know so many vets are on demand in countryside, with littlest of staff.
P.S: Didn't know so many vets are on demand in countryside, with littlest of staff.
January 13, 2014
The last one in the series? Written in 2009, so that is my assumption. Another pleasant, easy read, if a little disappointing in general story lines. Kate returns this time as a qualified vet and another new vet, Sebastian also begins working at the Barleybridge Practice. Rather too 'perfect' a story and outcome, but Rebecca Shaw has left it open enough that there could be a seventh in the series. Overall a nice set of six stories about the vets and their goings on.
October 9, 2014
A lovely, gentle read that is utterly relaxing and takes one away in to the life of quiet business in the English countryside. I want to live in a village like that imagined by Shaw. Her world does have the pain and suffering of modernity, and yet, it is tempered by kindness, honesty and straightforwardness. Beautifully done. A perfect antidote for the bustle of city living.
December 28, 2014
another fantastic book by rebecca shaw, and the thing that I like most about it was that it brought in characters from her other series of books (turnham malpass) as customers at the vets, hence bringing her books together. definitely recommend her books
October 12, 2020
I have lived this series and I loved particularly the little link to Turnhsm Ma
loss another series by the same writer that I have read again Rebecca Shaw is a great author and I recommend her books to everyone
loss another series by the same writer that I have read again Rebecca Shaw is a great author and I recommend her books to everyone
March 13, 2012
nice book, but a bit "jumpy" in the narrative a bit as if there were some story lines almost missing.
Read
November 20, 2012Just couldn't get into it. Might try another time.
March 21, 2014
Great Series....I might embark on her other series....a bit sad this was the last in series...I wish the series continued....it was really a jolly good bed time read!!
June 10, 2014
Good holiday relaxed reading, always enjoy Rebecca Shaw's novels.
February 7, 2017
Well read my first book of 2017, I love this author and normally read the other series she has done but this book us how I picture country life
April 22, 2022
Refreshing morals and love to simply enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews