Country Wives
by Rebecca Shaw
Published by Three Rivers Press (October 24, 2006 Release)
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Reviewed by Andrea Sisco
Nineteen-year-old Kate Howard's love for veterinary medicine continues to grow and she is seriously considering college in Country Wives, the second book in the Barleybridge novels. Kate also enjoys her current job as receptionist for the Barleybridge Veterinary Hospital and her life happily revolves around the veterinary hospital and her family.
Dan Brown is a temporary replacement at Barleybridge Veterinary Hospital for a vet that returned to Australia. He's brusque and not at all well liked. It's his manner that loses the hospital an important client and that disturbs some of the Barleybridge women.
Just as Kate's life is moving along nicely, she and her stepmother, Mia suffer a personal tragedy with the death of Kate's father. Shortly after his death, Kate's mother, Tessa arrives to meet the daughter she abandoned as an infant. Kate wants to like Tessa, but is torn between her demands and her staunch love of her stepmother Mia, who is more of a mother than Tessa ever could be.
Dan and Kate become friends and he eventually redeems himself with the hospital staff. Kate acts as protector for the strong man who has a tragedy of his own to live with.
Shaw's novel not exciting but is certainly comforting and a nice change from what I usually read. I like the feeling of going to a gentler time with Shaw's books.
Armchair Interviews says: Country Wives is a soothing, sweet, quiet novel of British village life.