Member Reviews
I enjoyed this book and look forward to the follow-ups.
The Vets At Hope Green part 1 by Sheila Norton was absolutely delightful. At only seven chapters, it drew me in and left me wanting more, more, more!
It was written in the first person in the voice of Sam, a young woman living in London but dreaming of an idyllic life in the country. Escaping from the city to a visit to her Grandmother in the country opens Sam's eyes to the possibilities of a new life. I 'saw' life through Sam's eyes and I too, wanted that life. Sheila Norton's style of writing is warm and engaging. It feels more like a narrative from a friend than reading a novel.
At times I smiled. At times I cried. I 'lived' the action.
An absolute delight and highly recommended.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
I was allowed to read an ARC of The Vets at Hope Green Part One, the prequel to a new series by Sheila Norton.
This story is a nice short 'teaser' and makes you hope that there will be many updates on the loveable main characters' everyday lives, the developments in the veterinary surgery and maybe a new baby!
This a really sweet, gentle book - perfect for a rainy Sunday afternoon.
The Vets At Hope Green - Part One by Sheila Norton.
I've just read The Vets At Hope Green - Part One in ONE sitting because it was really good! 5 Stars! I got this book through NetGalley so thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read it.
We follow our lead character Sam as she deals with job and relationship drama in London. She works as a vets receptionist but has always had the dream of becoming a vet herself.
We learn very early on that Sam is pregnant with her boyfriend's baby. They're having drama, as I said about whether or not they want to be together. Her boyfriend, Adam tells her that he doesn't want children, when it's clear that she does, even before she's pregnant.
She goes away to Hope Green, a village in South England to recuperate a little bit. She stays with her nan who has an old dog called Rufus. Sam helps care for him. Sam also meets a new vet, Joe Bradley while she's there. Not everything has been revealed about him yet, though. I can definitely see a romance happening between Sam and Joe though.
I look forward to hopefully continuing the series of part novels.
First of a series of four, this begins with Sam living in London and working as a vets' receptionist where, despite her best efforts she has only the minimum of contact with the animals. Having always wanted to be a vet, she hankers after more. Add in to the mix a long term relationship going nowhere fast, and it seems a far better idea to visit her Grandma for two weeks at Easter instead of the planned break at her boyfriend's family home.
Hope Green is a village which sounds exactly as you would expect of a close-knit community, and this beginning leads into a wealth of possibilities for the rest of these books.
A short, but oh so enjoyable read which left me feeling bright and breezy ... definitely a series to stick with and one to recommend.
I received an arc copy via Net Galley for my honest and unbiased review.
A lovely light hearted novel. Will definitely read more of this author.
I just got into this book and it came to an abrupt halt, which was rather disappointing. It looks a good start to a new series and if the others are a reasonable length, I will continue to read.
A solid story with a promise of great things to come from the premise of a disgruntled veterinary receptionist, aching for more responsibility and yearning for a quieter life. In a vain attempt at dealing with a bombshell that will impact her entire life, she returns to the village that featured in her childhood. Becoming the subject of village gossip within hours of arrival she meets a man who is abrasive and acerbic in personal interactions, but just a delight when dealing with illness and infirmity in animals. She is repulsed and attracted simultaneously.
This has all the right elements to be a lovely romantic, village story, but it ends too quickly This is my one and only complaint.
The characters are fab, the setting perfect for a comforting read and Another two or three chapters would have rounded it out perfectly Now I know the whole saga is destined to unfold over three volumes, so this is more of an amuse bouche to the rest, but for me this was just first book was too short! We can guess where it is going, but personally needed more plot before we got close to the central portion
Honestly, this is all the things I wouldn't find interesting a book, I mean it's marketed as a chick-lit/romance and I really don't read them, however this had one thing that peaked my curiosity.. The title.
Having worked at a vets myself for a short while and currently pursuing my dream of working with animals by studying a degree, I was instantly curious. The synopsis roped me in and I found myelf really excited to read it and it sounded like something I really wanted to enjoy.
I also read that the author lives around my area and I think it's awesome to support local/indie authors and give them the praise they deserve.
From the very beginning I found myself really enjoying the writing style. It was really nothing complex or super amazing but I loved the simple and easy flow of it. It felt layed back and I didn't have to try too hard to understand it. It actually reminded me of a matured version of the Animal Ark books that I loved as a child (and kind of want to go and collect now!).
The storyline felt very realistic and kind of resonates a little with my own (albeit minimal) experience in the veterinary world, so I found myself really connected with what was going on and was fully invested with our main character, Sam, and her life. I'm glad the romance side wasn't too much and that it mainly focused on Sam and her love for animals. I hope this theme is kept for the rest of the books, but in saying that, the little romance we did have I actually enjoyed!
I adored the characcters, but from the get go Adam (Sam's boyfriend) sounded like a right prick. He didn't seem to care about Sam at all and her doubts about him were so realistic! I totally understand! Sam on the other hand I found an insant connection with. Her dream of a country cottage house is just like mine, with all the animals and kids running about in the garden. I like her personality a lot! And Nana was amazing!
The only fault I found was a random repeated line, which was actually repeated before it was supposed to be, so initially I was rather confused. Aside from that there were the odd mistakes in spelling but those are really just minor editing errors that can easily be amended. I've just mentioned those in the hopes that they could be fixed before the proper release, if that hasn't already happened. Oh and I would prefer more diversity in cast, but it kind of makes sense for the traditional old-fashioned village this story is mainly set in.
This was a wonderful book that I flew through and enjoyed every moment of. I read the last half to my partner and even though he didn't have the background of the earlier events in full he really enjoyed it too.
I'd totally recommend this book and can't wait to go onto the rest of the books!
This book was just what I needed after a bookhangover the size I had. It was fun and fluffy and it made me feel happy again when I thought I'd be stuck. Thank you for providing this copy for me!
This story is about Sam who is unhappy with her boyfriend and her job. She works as a receptionist for a London vet but her dream is to be a vet, she discovers her boyfriend doesn't like children only to find she is pregnant. She decides to take a break from London and visit her nan in Hope Green.
This is a great start to the series and am anticipating the next book to see what happens next
I received a Kindle version of this book through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
This was a delightful read with detailed and interesting characters. A lot of time was devoted to the comparison between life in London, a huge faceless, friendless metropolis and a somewhat idealised take on village life.
This is a light read with a real feel good atmosphere and whilst I realised that this was Part One, with it being an ebook, the abrupt end came as somewhat of a shock but it did indeed leave me wanting more.
If you liked Rebecca Shaw I think I can honestly say that you will love Sheila Norton.
Sam has always wanted to be a vet and being the receptionist at a Vets practice is not quite enough, Feeling dissatisfied with life she goes to stay with her Nana and her dog Rufus - her boyfriend Alex is blowing hot and cold and she needs some rest and relaxation in the country.
Hope Green is a lovely traditional Dorset Village and in true village style everyone knows everyone and everyone's business! Sam soon meets the village vet Joe and finds him unfriendly compared to the rest of the villagers and so she is intrigued and soon totally immersed in the village life
A great start to a new series, setting the scene and the main characters so definitely looking forward to the next instalment
Sam has booked a holiday away from her job as a receptionist at a busy Veterinary Practice in London. She knows that she must escape from the city, recharge her batteries and make important life decisions. She visits her Nana Peggy and her beloved old dog Rufus in the scenic countryside, just the sort of area she dreams of settling down in. Her fantasy is of living in a country cottage with her husband and children, even possibly becoming a vet. She can just see herself with a dog of her own in these peaceful surroundings. But all that is a long way off and her long term relationship is not as happy and fulfilling as it once was. It seems that they both want different things so perhaps it is time for a change?
This short extract of the novel is part one of the story, published in January, Part Two comes out in February, Part Three on March and finally Part Four in April, so at last the story will be completed as each part continues Sam’s story. I have enjoyed reading Part One and look forward to continuing with the series. I have read other novels by Sheila Norton, most lately two books about the cats Charlie and Oliver, both heart warming stories. Her easy style and beautiful way with words make for a lovely read and her characters are well rounded and interesting. I would like to thank NetGalley and Ebury press for my copy of ‘The Vets at Hope Green Part One’, sent to me in return for an honest review. I would have preferred to read the story as a whole novel, I must admit, but as the periods between the publications are so short, perhaps the anticipation of carrying on with the story will make the wait worthwhile. We’ll see about that.
I haven't read a Shelia Norton books before, am not really sure why? If her other novels are so cosy and lovely written as "The Vets at Hope Green" than I've missed tons and am going to make up for this as soon as possible. Moreover, I love animals so this novella being about vets could work really well for me. Well, this is what I hope for, at least :) And, as it turned out, it was a great introduction to the series, a feel - good, quick read. Tad predictable, tad too sweet but overall a nice, cosy novella, offering you a few moments of relax, rest and escapism.
Our main character, Sam, always wanted to be vet but right now she's working as a veterinary receptionist in London. She's dating Alex - they've been together for a while but Sam starts to think that this relationship doesn't have a future - that is, until something happens that makes her to think everything over. A visit to her grandmother couldn't be planned for a better moment, then - Sam is hoping to recharge her batteries and make some important decisions in the countryside. Long walks with her grandmother's spaniel Rufus, sea air, Nan's company is all what she needs right now. What she doesn't need is problems and a new village vet, Joe Bradley...
The story ends, of course, with a cliff hanger, as it well can be expected in a series, and naturellement it made me want to read the story further. Moreover, I fell for the characters and I like Sam very much - I found myself keeping my fingers crossed for her, admiring how she dealt with the stressful situations, how she was around other people and animals. You could feel she has a big heart made of gold. There was some jumping to conclusions on her side, I suppose, as I think that one of the plotlines is going to turn a little differently than she thinks, but let's just wait and see. Joe, on the other hand, the enigma vet in the town, was driving me crazy - he may be good around animals, and it is something already, right, but his hot/cold blowing was incomprehensible for me and it annoyed me a little. I am guessing there must be a perfect reason for him being like this but as yet it was not revealed. So patience, my friends, patience.
I also loved the setting of this novella - the gorgeous, coastal countryside of Hope Green in Dorset where everybody knows everybody else, and the feel - good community spirit was visible there. Heck, when people say how sorry they are because your dog has just died, they must be lovely folks to live around, right? No wonder Sam felt immediately at home there - I felt immediately at home when reading it!
So yes, it was a very promising start to the new series, methinks. What is great is the fact that as much as I am guessing how some things are going to develop there is also a lot of potential and the story can really go in multiple directions. It was a light, easy, sometimes too far - fetched, yet interesting read and I am looking forward to reading it further. It was not a story full of twist, turns and fireworks but it is clear that it was not meant to be like this, and sometimes it's great to read such an easy, light novella. There is this overall feel - good factor to it, cosy atmosphere and even though it looks predictable, it didn't bother me so much. Looking forward to part 2!
What a lovely start to a series!
In this story we meet Sam, who is a veterinary receptionist in London and after her nana Peggy invites her to come and stay a while.
I never like to go into story details in a review because i always feel i might somehow spoil the story on someone else. What i will say is if you like stories set in little villages based around cute animals and one very sexy vet then perhaps this might be for you!
Now I just have to wait impatiently to find out what happens next
I received a free ebook from the author and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sam lives in London with her boyfriend Adam. She is a receptionist at a London vets. One day, an emergency makes her feel ill, and she realises something important, something that she knows her boyfriend will not like. Needing to get away, she goes to stay with her Nan and Rufus, her nan's dog, deep in the countryside, in the village of Hope Green. She immediately knows that she is meant to live in the country, but there is one problem: her boyfriend does not share the same dream as her.
I enjoyed this book. It is the first in a series, more of a novella. It was a fast paced start to this series. Sam is a really likeable character, she really enjoys her job, although she would rather be a vet than a receptionist. The only character I 'disliked', although that is a very loose word, was Joe Bradley. I am hoping we learn more of his past and present in the next few books.
I would like to thank netgalley and Penguin Random House UK-Ebury Press for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
This book is part one of a four part series which in my view is the only thing that lets this book down as this is a short book and took me less than an hour to read it, so I felt I was just getting to know people at hope green when the book suddenly ended on a cliffhanger making sure you buy the next!
Sam is the main character in this book and she is a very likeable character. Sam works as a receptionist in a vets in London with not much money and a not very good boyfriend, Sam decides to spend two weeks at Easter with her nana in hope green to try and sort her head out. You get to know some characters around hope green and a couple of incidents happen then the story ends! It is a nice easy read and will be reading the next part.
Review: Ever since I read Cathy Bramley’s Wickham Hall I have enjoyed these four part short stories. When I came across this on Netgalley I was intrigued, this year I vowed to read and blog/vlog more and I thought shorts would help in between reads.
Part one sets the scene where we meet Sam (who I already like a lot, she’s passionate and caring and she wants the dream). Although working as a receptionist at a vets in London wasn’t exactly her plan but it was a means for an end. Plus the chance to step up and work with animals, her life changes and she sees a way out that takes her to Hope Green to visit her Nanna Peggy.
I won’t be posting any spoilers about her situation but I honestly didn’t see that coming. I don’t really like Adam and he’s only said a few actual words. I love Sam’s Nanna and bits about their relationship made me smile and remember my beautiful Nan, they are very different but the whole being lonely after her grandfathers passing was very similar to how my Nan was.
I can see a friendship forming and I think there’s more to what Sam was told by the elusive Joe (stressed out vet at Hope Green) there’s definitely more than meets the eye. I look forward to seeing what happens next. It’s been a funny old story so far and I believe there’s lots more for these two.
Part one was full of friendship, love, lust, loss, family and community. A beautiful read that has me begging for more. I will be pre-ordering part two as I cannot wait to see what happens next.
Thank you Ebury via Netgalley a wonderful start to a story. I look forward to seeing what happens next for Sam st Hope Green plus I will definitely be reading more from Sheila.