Monday 15 May 2017

Book Review - Summer with the Country Village Vet by Zara Stoneley - Rachel Reads Randomly Book #63

Amazon UK
Title: Summer with the Country Village Vet
Author: Zara Stoneley
Format reviewed: Ebook
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: Harper Impulse
Publication Date: 2nd June 2017
Rating: 4 Stars

Fall in love with a brand new cosy romance series from bestselling author Zara Stoneley

When Lucy Jacobs is made redundant from her inner-city teaching job she fears her career is over. Teaching is all Lucy knows and she's determined to get back in the classroom as fast as she can.

Except the only job on offer is at an idyllic village school in the middle of nowhere – Lucy's idea of hell. Where are the disadvantaged kids who need saving, where is the challenge?

But as Lucy finds herself welcomed into the warm-hearted community of Langtry Meadows, she begins to realise new challenges await – like frogs in the classroom, a rather difficult donkey, and a very brooding local vet…

Local boy Charlie Davenport has his own issues about living in the close-knit village of Langtry Meadows. His private life is already fuel for the well-meaning gossips and the very last thing he needs is to get close to the new school teacher…no matter how lovely she is.

But as summer days drift away Langtry Meadows weaves its magic, Charlie and Lucy both get the chance to turn over a new leaf and start anew…maybe with each other?

A fun, romantic story to make you smile and long for your own country escape.

Idyllic country village setting - check
Gorgeous vet - check
Cute and funny animal antics - check
Two characters who you want to bang their heads together - check
Some adorable children - check
Woman in the village who seems to know everything while being slightly manipulative - check
Flirty dog owner that seems to be determined to embarrass her poor dog - check
Characters with complicated pasts - check

I think that pretty much would be the Summer with a Country Village Vet check list. The book contains all of that and a whole lot more, wrapped up in a stunning cover, and some lovely writing. 

Despite Lucy Jacobs being a school teacher, I found myself a bit surprised at how little I got to know the children in any of her classes. That being said there were a couple that spring to mind, and I loved seeing what random animals they would pull out of their pockets to show Miss Jacobs, and also what one of the kids "mums" says about everything! 

Charlie is the locum village vet, and seems to have a huge female fan club, but senses in Lucy a kindred spirit of people in Langry Meadows for the short haul before being able to escape again. Nether believe they are suited to village life, but are both trying to make the most of things. 

What I noticed and frustrated me a lot was Lucy and Charlie seemed to have a fair few conversations where what I thought they were saying was different to what they were saying, which was different to how each other was interpreting the conversation.  It is clear they may be attracted to each other, but the will they-won't they finally get their acts together just dragged on a bit for me. That being said they had their reasonings and I could completely understand various bits of reluctance. 

I loved Lucy's massive conversation with her mum, as she finally asks not be protected like she was a child to try and make sense of her own interpretation of her childhood which coloured her adult perspective on things. 

There are some absolutely fantastic animals in this book, from Gertie the Goose, to the horse that almost runs Lucy over, to Molly an adorable dog, to a pig that is running around looking like a drunk. Plenty of moments that will raise a smile and a giggle. 

Langtry Meadows is the sort of village I would love to visit, picturesque with plenty of just incredible people living there that just want the best for the village. I loved getting to know them and can't help but be excited with the groundwork that has been laid in this first book of Zara Stoneley's new Love in Langtry Meadows series. I am already looking forward to my return. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Impulse for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Thank you to everyone that voted on the basis of a hunky vet, you won't be disappointed! So glad this book won last week, partly as its a review copy and partly as I had been looking forward to it since I did the cover reveal a few months back. So let's see how this week's vote will go! 

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