Wild Mountain Thyme

Rating:
Summary: A weak heroine & overbearing lout of a love interest . . .
Review: I read the abridged audiobook version and may have missed some important character motivation/nuances. I am reviewing the ABRIDGED version because this is the version I read in its entirety. First off the writing is very lyrical and gorgeous in spots but someone save me from spineless ninny heroine's easily wooed with pretty words and heated glances and selfish, thoughtless nincompoop love interests.

I'd never read Rosamunde Pilcher before this and am glad I had the opportunity to try her work. This book was read by Kate Burton who does an amazingly beautiful job with the Irish brogue and made listening to the story a real pleasure. Unfortuntately, I had many "issues" with the book's heroine Victoria but I tend to prefer the type of heroines and Victoria was way too passive for my taste. Her innocence and kind-hearted acceptance of Oliver's (the love interest) horrendous behavior and attitude annoyed the heck out of me but it was somewhat understandable considering her need for love and connection. Still, I won't be actively searching out the unabridged version of this one.

Rating:
Summary: A weak heroine & overbearing lout of a love interest . . .
Review: I read the abridged audiobook version and may have missed some important character motivation/nuances. I am reviewing the ABRIDGED version because this is the version I read in its entirety. First off the writing is very lyrical and gorgeous in spots but someone save me from spineless ninny heroine's easily wooed with pretty words and heated glances and selfish, thoughtless nincompoop love interests.

I'd never read Rosamunde Pilcher before this and am glad I had the opportunity to try her work. This book was read by Kate Burton who does an amazingly beautiful job with the Irish brogue and made listening to the story a real pleasure. Unfortuntately, I had many "issues" with the book's heroine Victoria but I tend to prefer the type of heroines and Victoria was way too passive for my taste. Her innocence and kind-hearted acceptance of Oliver's (the love interest) horrendous behavior and attitude annoyed the heck out of me but it was somewhat understandable considering her need for love and connection. Still, I won't be actively searching out the unabridged version of this one.

Rating:
Summary: --A visit to a castle in Scotland--
Review: I really enjoy Rosamunde Pilcher's stories. Over the last few months I've been in my car quite a bit and there's absolutely nothing better to help the time pass like a Pilcher book!

WILD MOUNTAIN THYME is the story of Victoria Bradshaw who was jilted by her lover only to have him come back to her several years later. He doesn't come alone; he brings, Thomas, his two-year-old baby for Victoria to care for. Oliver Dobbs is a London playwright and the perfect prototype of a self-centered and egotistical man. Victoria is sweep off her feet for the second time in her life and goes to Scotland with Oliver to visit Roddy, his old friend. Victoria runs into John, who happens to be Roddy's nephew. She had met John before, but only very briefly at party in London. John instantly dislikes Oliver, and takes more than a casual interest in Victoria and how she's destroying her life. I had a pretty good understanding of all of the characters except Victoria. She was just too bland and weak. I think that the story would have been better had she been a little stronger.

The best part of the book is the wonderful and very poetic descriptions of Scotland and the enchanting people who live there. The author really does know how to capture the reader and transport you into a different time and place. Donada Peters did the reading of my recorded book and I can't say enough about her magnificent voice and the way she handled all of the different characters and their individual accents.

Rating:
Summary: Oh to be in Scotland!
Review: Rosamunde Pilcher is one of those authors, at least for me, who never disappoints with any of her books. Like coming home from a hectic day and changing into a favorite robe and comfortable slippers, Pilcher's books take me away to a serene place filled with wonderful characters and a happy ending. And based on the popularity of her books, I imagine there are many other readers out there who also feel the same way I do.

The Shell Seekers was the first book I read by her many years ago. After gulping down this wonderful family saga, I couldn't wait to read all of her previously published titles and wondered how she had eluded me in the years before I found The Shell Seekers. Now I am saving her latest title and supposedly last book, Winter Solstice, for that proverbial rainy day. And I suspect that once I've read all of Pilcher's books, I'll simply begin to reread them once again.

Victoria Bradshaw at 18 fell hopelessly in love with London playwright Oliver Dobbs. But their romance was short lived and Victoria hasn't heard from him in years. She has finally moved on with her life when suddenly who should appear on her doorstep but Oliver with a young child in tow. As if no time had gone by, Oliver proposes that Victoria and he along with the child take a trip to Scotland. At first the reason for this trip isn't at all clear to Victoria and she is somewhat skeptical. But then Olvier is very convincing and Victoria is eventually willing to go along with his proposal. Once in Scotland, Olivers motives become painfully too clear and while Victoria sees Oliver for what he is, we as readers are also treated to Piclcher's special brand of characters and plot developments.

This was another one of Pilchers satisfying reads and one which I hoped would never end.

Rating:
Summary: Oh to be in Scotland!
Review: Rosamunde Pilcher is one of those authors, at least for me, who never disappoints with any of her books. Like coming home from a hectic day and changing into a favorite robe and comfortable slippers, Pilcher's books take me away to a serene place filled with wonderful characters and a happy ending. And based on the popularity of her books, I imagine there are many other readers out there who also feel the same way I do.

The Shell Seekers was the first book I read by her many years ago. After gulping down this wonderful family saga, I couldn't wait to read all of her previously published titles and wondered how she had eluded me in the years before I found The Shell Seekers. Now I am saving her latest title and supposedly last book, Winter Solstice, for that proverbial rainy day. And I suspect that once I've read all of Pilcher's books, I'll simply begin to reread them once again.

Victoria Bradshaw at 18 fell hopelessly in love with London playwright Oliver Dobbs. But their romance was short lived and Victoria hasn't heard from him in years. She has finally moved on with her life when suddenly who should appear on her doorstep but Oliver with a young child in tow. As if no time had gone by, Oliver proposes that Victoria and he along with the child take a trip to Scotland. At first the reason for this trip isn't at all clear to Victoria and she is somewhat skeptical. But then Olvier is very convincing and Victoria is eventually willing to go along with his proposal. Once in Scotland, Olivers motives become painfully too clear and while Victoria sees Oliver for what he is, we as readers are also treated to Piclcher's special brand of characters and plot developments.

This was another one of Pilchers satisfying reads and one which I hoped would never end.

Rating:
Summary: Atmosphere and characterizations equal a good read
Review: This novel is another in a terrific line of Rosamunde Pilcher books. Pilcher is one of my favorite authors because her unique characterizations and modern day Scottish settings are so true to life. In this book, Oliver Dobbs, a snide young egotistical playwright, kidnaps his little toddler son for his own selfish reasons. Then Oliver enlists his old girlfriend, Victoria Bradshaw to help him in his shenanigans, which involve a great amount of Scotch, temper tantrums by Oliver, increasing disgust by Victoria, and the most impressive conflagration since the novel "Rebecca." Pilcher has a way of writing that is comfortable and deft. Reading her novels allows you to enter a unique world, a place I find most satisfying. Thank you Rose of the world.