The Vets at Hope Green: Part One

Escape to the Country

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Pub Date 19 Jan 2017 | Archive Date 26 Jan 2017

Description

PART ONE of a heartwarming and inspiring story about living the simple life and the joy of animals. Perfect for fans of Appleby Farm, Ivy Lane and Alfie the Doorstep Cat

Working as a receptionist in a London vets, Sam is living far from her idea of a simple life. She’s always broke, rents a tiny flat and is constantly arguing with her boyfriend. But the worst part is that her career is going nowhere. She wants to be a vet, but the most contact time with the animals she has is a quick hello when she books in their next appointment.

Something’s got to give, so when her parents suggest visiting her Nana Peggy in a small quiet picturesque village, she agrees, thinking a bit of R&R could do her good.

But rest and relaxation may not be the order of the day. Poor Nana Peggy’s lovely dog Rufus is unwell, and Sam can’t help but grow fond of him. With the help of Joe the local vet, a charming yet strangely distant man, Sam sets out on looking after him, despite her London life trying to call her back…

Look out for Part 2 coming soon!

PART ONE of a heartwarming and inspiring story about living the simple life and the joy of animals. Perfect for fans of Appleby Farm, Ivy Lane and Alfie the Doorstep Cat

Working as a receptionist in...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9781473550148
PRICE £0.99 (GBP)
PAGES 80

Average rating from 76 members


Featured Reviews

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I was really pleased when I was able to read an ARC of this book, the cover grabbed me initially and I started reading it pretty much as soon as it came down. I read enjoyed the characters and I want to see where the story is going to take them. The book is set in the lovely setting of Hope Green and it sounds a lovely place and somewhere I'd love to live away from the hustle and bustle of London, I can definitely see what draws Sam there. Looking forward to the second part. Definitely one for animal lovers who want to read a nice book to take them away from the normal mundane day to day.

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I'm really not sure why I haven't read a Sheila Norton novel before but after reading this novella I feel like I've found a new favourite author. I devoured this part one of the new series by Sheila Norton, The Vets at Hope Green: Escape to the Country it's a wonderful start to a blossoming new series.

I love animals and to work with them seems like one of my ideal jobs so this series looked perfect for me. We are introduced to Sam who is a receptionist at a city centre vets in London. Sam is in a relationship with Adam but feels like something is missing; for starters their dream lifestyles don't seem to match. Sam also feels she wants more out of work.

To try and recharge her batteries Sam set's off to the Dorset countryside to visit her Nan in the gorgeous coastal village of Hope Green. Sam is hoping the sea air, taking her nan's dog Rufus for walks and enjoying her nan's company is just what she needs to take stock of her life. Sam didn't expect a life changing event in her personal life to cause her some more heartache and decisions need to be made personally and possibly professionally. Whilst in the village Sam makes an acquaintance with the new village Vet Joe Bradley who ruffles feathers with his animal owners but has the most wonderful charm and patience with their animals. This man seems an enigma to Sam, one minute she is so alarmed with his rudeness and the next she is swooning over his kindness to the animals.

Escape to the Country has left me wanting more and I can't wait to read the next (and all) in the series. We are left with questions unanswered and situations need to be resolved. This start to the series which sets to be a wonderful feel good romance is full of charm, gorgeous countryside coastal settings, life's struggles in a more serene setting away from the hustle and bustle of the city, characters to learn and love and animals to fill your heart. Perfect read to start the New Year with.

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The Vets at Hope Green: Part One Escape to the Country is a lovely heartwarming short story.

Getting tired of London life and feeling thatcher relationship with Adam has run its course, Sam heads to the pretty seaside village of Hope Green to spend Easter with her beloved grandmother. She thinks a couple of weeks of relaxing will solve her problems, but will it as it seems that her life in London is Cali g her back.

This is the first instalment in this series was a pleasure to read and I look forward to finding out what happens to Sam.

Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Random House UK, Ebury and Sheila Norton for the chance to review.

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Thank you very much NetGalley, and Penguin Random House for giving me the opportunity of reading this delightful book. Sam is a lovely character, and in fact all the characters are well written, you can visualise and understand them all. Hope Green sounds a delightful place, indeed Dorset is a lovely county and the bits that are not so easy to get to are especially pleasant. You can feel the small town in the country vibes throughout the book. Joe Bradley is very well written, you know there is a sad story to be told about him. I really want to know what happens, so I will be looking out for the rest of the series. Well worth reading

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Having enjoyed Sheila Norton’s debut “Oliver the cat who saved Christmas”, I was delighted to see this new series.
Sam is a receptionist at an upmarket vet’s practice in London, but she’s not really happy there, as she wishes she had more involvement with the animals. Her boyfriend Adam thinks she lives in a fairy-tale when she talks of the things she dreams of, a cottage with a garden, an apple tree, dogs and children. When she decides to spend her Easter holiday with her nana Peggy, and dog Rufus, in Hope Green, Sam realizes that her fast-paced life in London is not what she wants at all.
This is a lovely start to the series, although short at around a hundred pages. It is warm, gentle and easy to read. It has so much potential and a friendly, idyllic village setting. It would be enjoyable to anyone who likes a gentle and cosy sort of story and is similar in style to Bella Osborne/Tilly Tennant. The possible love interests and the animal characters make this really appealing to me, and I’m looking forward to the next instalment!

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This was a lovely start to The Vets at Hope. A great range of loveable characters some more friendly than others but a good mix.

I really enjoyed it and cant wait to see what's next for the characters and whether Sam stays in Hope Green or returns to London.

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Absolutely loved this first book in the series can't wait to see what the future holds for Sam and hopefully getting to know the residents of Hope Green a bit more

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The start of a lovely vets in the county series. Sam is a twenty-something girl living in London and working as a vets receptionist, though she has ambition for more...a better job, a life in the country away from the urban grime and a rose coloured cottage with family all around.

This first part of the series sets up the story nicely with two potential heroes already identified and an annoying boyfriend in the background.
The book tackles not only romance but also single motherhood and career/life changes,

It also ends with a slight twist. I want to know more...when is the next part available?

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Having been a practice manager at a vets I was interested to see how this was portrayed. So far, there have been no faux pas! Thoroughly enjoyed it and wait for follow up.

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I loved the book,about a women going to stay with her Nana because she not happy with her boyfriend,I won't spoil it,a must read

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This is a lovely little short story about Sam, a woman who is feeling a bit fed up of London life. Her relationship with her boyfriend isn't as great as it used to be, her job as a vets receptionist has lost its appeal, and she finds herself yearning for the more simple and quiet life in a pretty rural village, living in a cottage with pets and eventually kids. The only problem is her boyfriend wants the opposite. He loves life in London and doesn't particularly like kids or animals. So Sam decides she needs time to think. Is the relationship with her boyfriend really worth sacrificing her own happiness and dreams for, or should she put an end to things? Instead of spending Easter at her boyfriends parents house, she instead decides to go to stay with her grandmother, Nana Peggy, who lives down in Hope Green, a picture perfect, pretty little Dorset village. However, before she leaves for London she makes a surprising discovery which could have a huge impact on her future.

This is the first book in a series and it's only short. It ends with Sam finding out more about one of the locals of Hope Green, which definitely makes you curious about where the series will go. The book is slightly too short to have really got into the story and the characters. Although saying that, it does end with so many possible scenarios and unanswered questions/cliffhangers; about Sam, her grandmother, Joe the mysterious moody vet, David the cheery dog walker, and Sam's boyfriend, that it makes you want to read the next book.
If you enjoy books about escapism and starting afresh in little villages, such as Lucy Diamond, Jenny Colgan etc, then I think this series would be a perfect uplifting read. I am looking forward to the next book to find out what Sam decides to do, and whether she goes back to London or decides to escape to the country forever.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Penguin Random House UK-Ebury Press for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

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This first instalment of the story manages to pack in so much emotional turmoil, taking the reader into the story from the very start. It is told from the point of view of Sam, who works as a Vets’ receptionist in London. She’s moved to the city four years ago and is starting to feel unsettled with all aspects of her life, including her relationship with her boyfriend who seems to have very different aspirations and expectations for the future.

Disgruntled, Sam decides to go to stay with her Gran in the picturesque Hope Green for a fortnight. She makes a startling discovery just before setting out, giving her lots to consider. Anticipating having time for thinking, rest and relaxation, village life has its own amazing characters and scenarios which are brought to life in the reader’s imagination. It is a great start - and I can’t wait to read the subsequent parts to the story as this, obviously, leaves so many questions awaiting answers and I just want to know more about what happens next in Sam’s life!

If you love to read about animals, human interest, emotional quandaries and superb scenery, look no further, this story starter, set in the glorious Dorset countryside, will take you there!

Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC of this novel. This is my honest review.

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I have loved every book of Sheila Norton and have read them for years. Her characters are really well written and I can often recognise them in people I know. The Vets At Hope Green is quite good. Sam is a receptionist in London, a job she loves even though she really wants to be a vet. Instead of going with her boyfriend to stay at his parents she goes to Dorset to stay with her Nan in Dorset. While there she meets the vet. Why is he so rude and dismissive? How can she find him so attractive? Sam has her own problems to face up to but still can't help trying to find out more. A good start to a solid story.

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What a truly delightful novel this is, although it is only Part One so really just giving you a chance to sus the place out and a who is who for the story line. Little Sam, as her family affectionately still call her, loves her job as a receptionist at quite an exclusive inner city Vets. London though isn't a cheap place to live so she decides that she has had her fill of the rat race and her obnoxious boyfriend but the icing on the cake is when she discovers something she wasn't expecting to find, enough is enough and she decides on a break away from it all. An Easter visit to her Nan at Hope Green on the Dorset coast sounds like the perfect retreat.
Little Sam is such an easy character to like, a lady with an huge love of animals and compassion for people. There is such a wonderful array of people in the village. A place where everyone knows everyone else and all of their business too. Brilliant colourful characters that have already established themselves in my mind. There are a couple of story lines that have taken off quite nicely and although some of this story seems predictable (I will see) it is making perfect reading. A lovely story so far with exciting times ahead.
I wish to thank Netgalley and Penguin Random House Ebury Publishing for an ARC of this book which I have chosen to review.

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Lovely feel good book. Enjoyed reading it and am very interested in following up with the rest of the series

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A very enjoyable well written albeit short read. It's easy to tell the narrative skill of the author, I just wish the story hadn't ended on such a cliff hanger because of course I'm eagerly awaiting the follow up

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Lovely Sunday afternoon read - gentle story with characters you both identify with and care about.
Can't wait to rear Part 2 now!

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a lovely, easy read book with well described characters, with whom its easy to connect . The ending is left in the air, I am keen to read the next in the series to see what happens. The author has cleverly left the ending open to provide the opportunity for many sequels.

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Ever been between books and fancied something light and cosy; which didn't make you start questioning your IQ level? I'm sure you have! I most CERTAINLY have, this being one of those times. I had just finished a book that left me with goosebumps where goosebumps ideally should not be. I wanted a story which wrapped my mind in a soft blanket and fed me marshmallows, but it's those types of books you'll only know once you see the cover.
Sheila Norton's book was THAT sort of books. I knew from the moment I laid eyes on the cover that it would be the book that I could cosy up with. Isn't it amazing how you just know that a book is going to be just...right?

Of course, a part of me was concerned that my expectations were too high to begin with. But honestly? I needn't have worried, at all.

Sam works as a receptionist for a city vets. The thing is, she doesn't want to be a receptionist for the rest of life and is adamant that she wants to become a vet. The thing is, her boyfriend thinks that she is living in a dream world. A girl can dream though, right? Nana Peggy to the rescue! Well, Sam is hopeful. A change of scenery, a wise woman; just what the doctor (or vet) ordered..or is it?

I really did feel sorry for Sam at first as she oozed innocence and just wanted to be happy, but things seemed to be going from bad to worse for her. Seeing as 'Escape to the Country' is the first part to the Hope Green series, we only get to find out so much. The majority of the story consisted of background information and mainly getting to know Sam. It was such a comfortable read, so comfortable in fact it seemed to end far too quickly haha! I really am looking forward to seeing where Sam's life is headed and getting to know more of the characters.

A very promising start to a highly intriguing serial. Definitely the cosy read I had hoped for!

Thank you Ebury Publishing!

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Oh how I enjoyed this book - except for Rufus!

It is well written, the pace is spot on and the characters are truly believable. Can't wait for the next one! Hope Green is a place I want to visit again and again!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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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

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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.

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