Rating: 
Summary: A Bright New Voice
Review: "A summer in the Country" is UK author Marcia Willett's second offering for the U.S. market, and like her first, "A Week in Winter," it's a keeper!In a style similar to Rosamunde Pilcher and Maeve Binchy, and yet uniquely her own, Willett once again weaves a tale that draws the reader in on the very first page, and never lets go. The plot concerns a small group of very likeable people whose lives and problems intertwine in the most interesting ways... Bridget is the very attractive, 50-something owner of a bed-and-breakfast business just on the edge of England's moor country. The business consists of a number of cottages on an estate she has inherited from her late father. Bridget's husband of 30 years, Humphrey, is an officer in the navy, and so away for many months at a time--and Bridget values her privacy as much as she loves her husband. Into this serene and lovely mix comes Bridget's gadabout mother, Frummie (short for Freda), well into her 70s, but still the young flirt she used to be--at least in her mind. Frummie needs a place to live, and Bridget, who has never gotten along with her mother, has grudgingly given her one of the cottages. The issue between Bridget and her mother is Jemima, the daughter born to Frummie after she left a young Bridget and her father to flee with a lover. Bridget's mixed feelings about her younger sister Jemima (who is a wonderfully portrayed free spirit and just irresistable) and her mother, combined with a secret she cannot reveal, make up a large part of the book--but not all. We also meet Louise, a regular boarder at the bed and breakfast who has become friends with Bridget--and who seems dangerously near to a breakdown over a secret of her own. We don't know what it is, but we start to worry about Louise as much as the rest of the characters do. Hilarious comic relief to the sometimes heavy plot is provided by Frummie and her equally old but equally vampish longtime friend, Margo. The interplay between the two old harridans is truly inspired. In short, this is a simply delicious book--the second wonderful surprise from Willett. Read it and see!
Rating: 
Summary: Satisfying Summer Read
Review: A very enjoyable read, this story follows the fortunes of four women over the course of a summer: Brigid, a naval wife who lets a few select summer guest cottages on her rural property, her mother, Frummie, half-sister Jemima, and cottage guest, Louise. Ms. Willet artfully develops their characters, such that you grow to care about each of them increasingly as the story unfolds. The only reason for four stars rather than five, is that I found the character of Martin rather unbelievable. His actions move the plot along nicely, but I find it hard to accept that anyone would actually behave that way! But this is a minor quibble, and the story remains thoroughly entertaining.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: After reading Marcia Willett's first wonderful novel, A Week in Winter, this book was a real disappointment. Willett spent far too much time trying to make us understand the psyche of the characters and way too little time with cozy descriptions which is what gives English books their charm and magic. There were spurts of that magical quality throughout the book but it was tiresome to wade through boring and tedious psychoanalytical descriptions of each character to get to these glorious and sparse tidbits. Instead of wanting to settle in with a cup of tea and a scone, I wanted to put the book down and do anything else I could think of. I hope that Willett will aim for a cosier book her third time around because she definitely has the potential as evidenced by her first novel.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: After you read all Pilcher, Karon and Binchy's books, you need to find another great author with the same style -- well, you have found it in this author. I loved this book!
Rating:
Summary: A gentle untangling of relationships
Review: Author Marcia Willett has an uncanny ability to see deeply into her characters and to communicate their essence to the reader. In this book Brigid is a woman who has always resented her mother for deserting her as a child, but who always adored the father who raised her. Upon his death, she inherited his estate and converted it into guest cottages which she and her husband rent out. Despite her resentment towards her mother, Frummie, she allows her to live in one of the cottages. She also resents her half-sister Jemima who lives nearby and who seems utterly irresponsible to Brigid. Brigid's husband Humphrey is in the navy and is gone most of the time, but they still manage to have a loving marriage. Humphrey has a difficult relationship with his father Alexander, who remarried very soon after Humphrey's beloved mother died. Alexander comes to stay for a few weeks and he proves to be the catalyst to healing relationships between Brigid, Frummie, and Jemima. Another important character is Louise, a boarder, who has become good friends with Brigid. She is trying to heal from a painful family experience and finds the quiet English countryside a good place to do so. Willett's strength lies in the development of deep characters and their interaction with one another. The book moves somewhat slowly at the beginning, but the pace picks up a bit as the reader comes to know the characters better. This is a very good read for those who like books about relationships.
Rating:
Summary: A gentle untangling of relationships
Review: Author Marcia Willett has an uncanny ability to see deeply into her characters and to communicate their essence to the reader. In this book Brigid is a woman who has always resented her mother for deserting her as a child, but who always adored the father who raised her. Upon his death, she inherited his estate and converted it into guest cottages which she and her husband rent out. Despite her resentment towards her mother, Frummie, she allows her to live in one of the cottages. She also resents her half-sister Jemima who lives nearby and who seems utterly irresponsible to Brigid. Brigid's husband Humphrey is in the navy and is gone most of the time, but they still manage to have a loving marriage. Humphrey has a difficult relationship with his father Alexander, who remarried very soon after Humphrey's beloved mother died. Alexander comes to stay for a few weeks and he proves to be the catalyst to healing relationships between Brigid, Frummie, and Jemima. Another important character is Louise, a boarder, who has become good friends with Brigid. She is trying to heal from a painful family experience and finds the quiet English countryside a good place to do so. Willett's strength lies in the development of deep characters and their interaction with one another. The book moves somewhat slowly at the beginning, but the pace picks up a bit as the reader comes to know the characters better. This is a very good read for those who like books about relationships.
Rating:
Summary: summer in the country
Review: I agree with one of your reviewers that this book was not as well written as her earlier. Too many of the characters are always having their guts clutching with terror, fear or other over the top sensations. A little less of these over the top feelings would be much better. Also more descriptions of the countryside, cooking, hominess in general would be great.
Rating:
Summary: A book length therapy session
Review: I bought this book while delayed in the airport figuring it'd be a throw away since I don't make good decisions amidst airline debacles. It was a bit confusing at the beginning since there are quite a few characters and their names are a bit wacky. The author being English served up a lot of unfamiliar names and expressions for things too.
Let me tell ya, once into it I could not put it down. But I did because it's one of those books that you never want to end. I say it was one long therapy session because the experiences were ones that many of my friends or I have lived and the author did such a great job of helping everyone come to grips with their lives and the decisions they made. They all helped each other do this and I learned so much that helped me personally. I would love to quote some lines here but IMO it would ruin your discovering all this for yourself.
I think the absolute best part was that everyone got a second chance. I don't know about you, but my second chances have been sorely lacking. There was a happy ending for everyone.
I've started reading A Week In Winter and it promises to be just as much fun and insightful as this one. Now that I'm familiar with her writing style and the English words and expressions, it's easy reading.
If you want enjoyment and a bit of therapy, this is a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent read!
Review: I discovered this book by mistake - but what a great read! Her style is a little more descriptive than I like, but I was so lost in the characters I didn't care. For a novel that is essentially about relationships, the tension was incredible! A compelling read. I have to admit to snatching time to read it in bizare places - I could not put it down!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent read!
Review: I discovered this book by mistake - but what a great read! Her style is a little more descriptive than I like, but I was so lost in the characters I didn't care. For a novel that is essentially about relationships, the tension was incredible! A compelling read. I have to admit to snatching time to read it in bizare places - I could not put it down!
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