A Country Affair

Barleybridge #1

by Rebecca Shaw

Welcome to Barleybridge, a small village nestled in the Dorset hills of England, where sheep graze on the nearby slopes and everybody knows their neighbors. Young, inexperienced, and somewhat shy, Kate Howard arrives in this idyllic setting to embark on a new adventure and begin a job as a receptionist at the Barleybridge Veterinary Hospital. The busy practice sees creatures large and small, from pets to farm animals, and the staff she meets there is friendly and welcoming. As Kate learns the ins and outs of her job (from who to never let through on the phone to which dogs—and owners—need to be kept away from each other), handsome Australian vet Scott Spencer takes an interest in her and encourages Kate to pursue her dreams to become a vet herself. His advice is solid, and his charm is intoxicating, but Kate is well aware that she is hardly the only woman to fall under the dashing doctor’s spell. Add to this the pressure of her longtime but rather dull boyfriend, Adam, who is not at all happy about her newfound aspirations to return to school, and Kate has some decisions to make, decisions that are growing more complex at every turn.

Tender, funny, and full of warmth and simple joys, A Country Affair is the perfect introduction to a delightful place and its witty and lovable inhabitants. Watch for the next two novels in Rebecca Shaw’s Barleybridge series coming soon. You will want to return to Barleybridge again and again.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, British Literature, Animals, Contemporary, Chick Lit

280 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 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

[Bonnie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This series was recommended to me by a coworker. I wasn't such a fan, though, and stopped 2/3 of the way through. I kept reading, but it kept getting less and less plausible.
The story is about a 19 year old girl who gets a job working as a receptionist in a Vet's office in a small town in England. The story focuses much more on the human relations than it does on the animals.
The story did have it's cute moments, for example, an elderly lady, who has recently lost her cat to old age, volunteers to care for abandoned kittens.
The part that bothered me, and ultimately made me quit reading was the main plotline: the girl's boyfriend, Adam, a stick in the mud, goes nuts when she tries to break up with him. In the scene where I quit reading, he forces his way into the house she shares with her parents, has a meltdown, her dad literally throws him out the door, and as he's laying there on her front porch, she discusses which wine would go best with dinner with her parents as if nothing has happened. The whole stalker boyfriend plotline felt out of place in this type of book, and it was clear that the author didn't know how to handle it in a believable way.
Two thumbs down.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely read about the old fashioned English countryside and life. I say old fashioned, but I mean more a traditional country lifestyle. Our characters are beautifully written and we see a life built on the important things rather than superficial niceties.
This novel centres around a countryside vet’s practice and the relationships between the staff and their families. You become invested in their well-being and reading this just feels like being wrapped in the arms of your favourite person.

[Teri-K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't be misled by the peaceful cover, this isn't All Creatures Great and Small, though it is about a vet practice in rural England. The focus here is much more on the large cast of characters, and includes unhappy marriages, miscarriage, poverty, stalking ex-lovers and other problems. There are a few animal visits, too. Despite how many miserable folks there were in this book it ended on an upbeat note for many of them. I'd probably read another some time, but I'm not running out to do it right away, it's not really my type of story. 2.5 stars rounded up because of the mostly positive ending.

[Julie Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book, but with an ending that kind of leaves you hanging, which I hate. It seemed like an awkward place to end a book, but the story was good, and there are two more books in the series, so I'll be reading them.
Kate is trying to qualify for veterinary school. She's passed everything but chemistry and thought she was going to give up. She found a job as a receptionist and doing accounting at a veterinary practice and thought that was the closest she'd ever come.
Her boyfriend Adam doesn't want her to continue her education and doesn't even like that she's working at the practice. Her father thinks she gave up too easily and should go back and try again. Then she meets a visiting Australian vet nicknamed Scott whose opinion comes to mean more to her than it should, and he thinks she should pursue the qualification as well, so she decides it's worth trying again.
During all of this, Adam becomes jealous, possessive, and his erratic behavior becomes terrifying. Her relationship with Scott complicates things with Adam even further.
This book was pretty good. When I first started it, I wasn't sure I'd like it. I love medical stories, stories about animals and romances, and this has a little bit of all three. There are other relationships besides that between Kate, Adam and Scott, too, so it'll be interesting to see how those are worked out in future books.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kate Howard has failed to gain a place in vet school due to a poor chemistry grade. Instead she goes to work as receptionist and bookkeeper at a busy veterinarian practice in a small English village. When her boyfriend starts pressuring her to marry, and as she gets acquainted with her co-workers (especially the dashing Australian vet), Kate decides to try again to enter vet school. This is a gentle story - no mystery, no murder, although there is a scary stalking-- and it was a cozy read. This is the first book in a trilogy about Kate. I will look for the next one.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love English novels, even simple stories like these. I am now reading the second in the trilogy and it is better. Probably because we know the characters more. It is about a veterinary practice in northern
England, but more about the personal lives of the group practice. Don't you just love names like
"Barleybridge"??

[Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate the rather cringeworthy names of the three books in this series, but I enjoyed this first one. A bit fluffy, but all in all a nice, light novel set in the English countryside. I'm going to read the other two in the series as well.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Herriot faces no competition here! However, it is obvious that the author has read his books and pretty much lifted his feelings and expressions that helping to safely deliver a baby animal (especially a calf) is the highest experience a vet can have. Aside from a little imitative plagiarism, it was a fairly enjoyable read. I must say, it was not quite as trite as I thought it would be. Its setting is supposed to be modern-day England (published in 2001,) but it had a much more retro feel than that: the vets still washing up in buckets of cold water, etc! (Of course, it IS England, so maybe they do!)
Basically, it is a coming-of-age story about a 19 year-old girl named Kate who has just taken the job of receptionist/account specialist with an Animal Clinic after failing to get into Veterinarian school. The plot includes her tame boyfriend, a hunky Australian vet, her inconsistent father, her sweet step-mother and several other clinic characters. I forgot to mention that in addition to the James Herriot books, there are echoes of "I Capture the Castle." These similarities show up in Kate's youth and whole-hearted (and painful) foray into real love and in her arty, but supportive step-mother.
The book is clearly set up for a series, but doesn't really hold enough interest for me to pursue the sequels.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was just what I was looking for - something light, fast to read. It was an easy to read story with some interesting characters - or characters with something for us to think about. I liked reading about 2 married couples; one turns out was something of a marriage of convenience/practicality between 2 people who liked each other, and came to love each other. The other, a couple who had both not been giving it their all and came to a turn around on that. But then we have the lead, young Kate out to find her way in the world… She takes a job in the office of a veterinary clinic instead of perusing her own degree… is stuck in a relationship with a dull-as-dishwater-in-all-ways kinda guy, gets her head turned by a good looking happy-go-lucky charming, successful vet… These are the characters I have trouble with. Both men caricatures…. Its so unbelievable when Mr Bland goes off the deep end and becomes bat-shit crazy…and of course Mr Cant-be-Pinned-Down is changed by Kate 🙄. But yeah, a cute quick read and not all bad! They certainly raised the modern perspective that she shouldn’t have to choose between a career and relationship/marriage, and as this is book one, you get to watch her progression if you read further! Perhaps more for a younger reader?

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"It is Kate's first day in her new job, and she is more apprehensive than she though was possible. But there is no time for nerves, and her anxieties soon vanish as she finds herself flung headlong into the hectic world of the busy vet's practice and the clients who visit it.

"But it's not just the animals who win Kate's affections: the staff are friendly and welcoming, particularly Scott, the Australian, whose wicked sense of humour and enthusiasm for life Kate finds hard to resist, despite his rather colourful reputation.

"Before long, Kate begins to feel there are other changes she wants to make in her life -- and her boyfriend, Adam, is not at all happy about it. As Kate struggles to cope with Adam's increasingly erratic behaviour, she realizes she mush make some very difficult decisions ..."
~~back cover

A charming little novel -- the first of a series of six. Nothing revolutionary, nothing shocking -- just quiet life in an English village.

[Reina Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this thinking it had been recommended by a fellow Miss Read fan, but A Country Affair doesn't have the wit and gentleness of either Miss Read or James Herriot (which would be the two most likely comparisons). I read it and liked it, but all the characters expressed views that seemed overly stereotypical and made some choices that seemed ridiculous. Maybe I went into this with too high hopes, wanting to find a new-to-me English country village to read about--my search will continue.

[Rho · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read any books by Shaw - picked up the first and second books in this series up in Maine last summer. The series takes place in a small English village in Dorset and their veterinary practice - vets for large and small animals. Once I got started I could not put them down and could hardly wait to read what happens next. Of course I've already ordered all the books in the series.

[C. Michael]

The ending was frustrating... I actually looked online to see if there were pages missing in the copy of the book I read. It just ended with the heroine at work, wondering what was next, with the man she'd fallen in love with gone. No resolution, really. To that point, though, it was good enough that I would read the next book in the series.

[Diana (diana_reads_and_reads)]

I picked up the first three of these used because I remembered really liking them several years ago. Either my reading tastes have changed or these really didn’t age well or both. Unhauling after DNFing this one at 75 pages.

[Norma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite like Rebecca Shaw's books. A nice easy read.

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice change from English murder mysteries. Reminded me of the Miss Read books.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little read. Would have preferred more animal stories but still enjoyable.

[Sherry Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Reminds me a little of James Herriot and Patrick Taylor two of my favorites. Going to order the next one from the library.

[Michelle Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very unusual ending. But it is a series and so things change. I've always been a big fan of her other series so I'm willing to be patient.

[Kathy Jackson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not complete this novel. Seriously? A boyfriend who doesn't want his girlfriend to attend school? Who lives with his mommy? Then lies about getting a promotion?Flush him down the toilet!

[Julie Akeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A modern day vet service, if you like Herriot's books, try this fictional series.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple plot, easy read..still just as lovely

[Helen Geng · Rating 2 out of 5]

Below average.

Read October 2025

[Laura Leilani · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I like about Rebecca Shaw’s books is that they are peaceful. They are not trying to be anything other than what they are.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book

[Lelia Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Country Affair
Rebecca Shaw
Three Rivers Press, 2006
ISBN 1400098203
Trade Paperback

I’m an addict when it comes to the heartwarming sort of small town story, the kind that involves a large cast of characters living unremarkable lives but you can’t help wanting to know what’s going to happen next. You know the kind of books I mean, Jan Karon’s Mitford, Ann B. Ross’s Miss Julia, Thomas Kinkade’s Cape Light, Jennifer Chiaverini’s Elm Creek Quilts. The geographical setting doesn’t matter too much, although I prefer North America or the UK and, if animals are involved, I like it even more. James Herriot is one of my favorite writers and I never tire of his Yorkshire Dales veterinarian stories so, when I came across this book, I settled down for what I was sure would be a comfortable read. It didn’t quite make it but it came close.

Kate Howard has just taken a job as a receptionist in a large veterinary practice in Barleybridge, a picture-postcard English village where life is generally charming. Most of the novel revolves around the doings of the people, not so much about the animals, and I missed that. I didn’t like all the characters but that’s okay as it would be a bit too sappy if everybody was likable. Still, one of the vets commits a fairly cowardly act and Kate herself is a tad too naive. I reminded myself, though, that she’s just nineteen so she’s allowed to be a bit immature.

I didn’t dislike this book but I didn’t wholeheartedly like it either. Rebecca Shaw is a bestselling author in England so I’ll be reading the next in the trilogy to see if Kate and everybody else in the village will grow on me.

Recommended with reservations.

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, November 2009.

[Barbra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 1st in the Barleybridge series. As good as the Turnham Malpas series. Did enjoy it.

Back Cover Blurb:
It is Kate's first day in her new job, and she is more apprehensive than she thought was possible. But there is no time for nerves, and her anxieties soon vanish as she finds herself flung headlong into the hectic world of the busy vet's practice and the clients who visit it.
But it's not just the animals who win Kate's affections: the staff are friendly and welcoming, particularly Scott, the Australian, whose wicked sense of humour and enthusiasm for life Kate finds hard to resist, despite his rather colourful reputation.
Before long, Kate begins to feel there are other changes she wants to make in her life - and her boyfriend, Adam, is not at all happy about it. As Kate struggles to cope with Adam's increasingly erratic behaviour, she realises she must make some very difficult decisions....

[Linda C · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Kate Howard doesn't get the chemistry grade she needs to get into veterinary college she takes a job as receptionist/bookkeeper at the Barleybridge Veterinary Hospital. Her controlling boyfriend, Adam, wants her to forget becoming a vet and marry. She decides to break with him and get tutoring in chemistry to try again. But Adam proves to be difficult to get away from. The story also revolves around other people working at and visiting the vet hospital and their families. Several subplots are very humorous and a couple are very poignant. Great animal situations, reminiscent of James Herriot's books.

[Rrshively · Rating 3 out of 5]

In spite of the fact that the title has the word "affair" in it, this is not about a steamy love affair. In this case it means "happening" and tells what happens when a young woman takes a job as receptionist and accountant at a vet clinic. It includes her possessive, dull boyfriend, a handsome Australian vet, the stories of the animals and their owners, and the lives of the people working at the clinic.