Review & Giveaway: 'A Country Practice - To Everything a Season' by Judith Colquhoun (2015)

The rural community of Wandin Valley is divided over the arrival of seasonal workers for the harvest. While some welcome their help at a busy time of year, others feel they pose a threat to the small town. For many of them this will be a harvest like no other, and several lives will be changed forever before the season ends. 
When Molly throws herself into country life, she discovers that it can bring both danger and heartache. Meanwhile, Brendan continues to win over patients and staff at the hospital. 
Dr Simon Bowen befriends a spirited elderly patient. But what secrets is Emily Page hiding, and what plans does she have in mind for Simon? 
Will Dr Terence Elliott's interest in a young family help to save a life? 
As Vicky and Molly's friendship grows, Frank continues in his quest to win Shirley's heart. 
Meanwhile, a young widow and mother must face her demons. Can she learn to let go of the past and love again? And one of Terence's patients must decide whether to stand up to her overbearing father and make a life for herself.
Last year I received a review copy of author Judith Colquhoun’s novel ‘A Country Practice’ (click here to read my review), a new series based on the award-winning TV series ‘A Country Practice.’ I have to admit I was not familiar with the TV show before I was contacted about the new book series last year, but really enjoyed stepping into the world of Wandin Valley Bush Nursing Hospital and meeting the various characters, and I was curious to read more. So, when I got the chance to also read and review part 2, ‘To Everything a Season’, I straight away said yes. I looked forward to once again travel to Australia with Judith Colquhoun and discover what the characters had been up to since the end of book 1. Thanks to publisher Corazon Books I am able to host a giveaway today as well, so if you want to be in with a chance to win a copy of the first part of the ‘A Country Practice’ series, be sure to scroll down and enter the giveaway!   
‘A Country Practice: To Everything a Season’ takes its readers back to Wandin Valley Bush Nursing Hospital to catch up with some familiar faces that also made an appearance in the first part of the ‘A Country Practice’ series. Molly and her husband Brendan are still busy settling in in the farm house they bought. With Brendan working long hours as a nurse in the hospital, Molly is left to her own devices and tries her best to make farming life work for her. Doctor Simon Bowen befriends elderly lady Emily Page; a lovely woman who seems to be hiding a secret, while doctor Terence Elliott tries his best to help out a new family that has come to town to help with the season’s fruit picking. All villagers are dealing with everyday life in their small country town in their own way, showing that no matter the season, there’s always something going on in Wandin Valley...
Last year I got the chance to check out the first part of Judith Colquhoun’s ‘A Country Practice’ book series, based on the same-titled TV-show set in the early 1980s, and it was great to once again travel to Wandin Valley and catch up with all the familiar faces. It’s easy to warm to characters such as doctors Simon and Terence, local vet Vicky, and my personal favourite couple, Molly and Brendan. However, some new characters were also introduced such as Alex and his daughter-in-law Silvia, who have come to town to help with the fruit picking. There are numerous characters the book focuses on, continually switching from one storyline to another, which definitely held my attention and made me curious to keep on reading.   
As mentioned before, this book series is based on the award-winning TV-show ‘A Country Practice’, and I have to admit I felt like the book was also still written as a TV-show. The story is fast-paced and continually switches from one storyline and group of characters to another, just like a TV-drama. Unfortunately, the book also doesn’t provide too much in-depth detail and background stories on the characters, which I think is a real shame. I’d love to learn more about these characters and why they do and say specific things. I guess I’d love the book to read more like a novel than as a TV-show turned to paper. However, I still really enjoyed this second part of the series; it was an entertaining and fast-paced read, and I am already looking forward to visiting Wandin Valley again for the third time sometime soon, hopefully!  

Rating:7,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Giveaway of 'A Country Practice' - Book 1!
I'm incredibly excited to be able to make a reader very happy with an e-book copy of the first part of Judith Colquhoun's 'A Country Practice' book series! Just follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter below; good luck to everyone! :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: 'A Country Practice' by Judith Colquhoun (including competition!)

'A Country Practice' follows the dramas, loves, secrets and dilemmas of the people in an Australian small country town. There is romance, humour and tragedy for the medical staff of the local hospital, and the rural community it serves. 
A desperate woman arrives at the Wandin Valley Bush Nursing Hospital in the final stages of labour. Can Dr Terence Elliott overcome his demons to save both mother and baby? 
Simon Bowen, the newest doctor in town, is frustrated at being seen as an outsider by the tight knit country people. Will he succeed in winning them around ‒ especially young vet Vicky Dean? 
Vicky’s mum, Sister Shirley Dean, is courted by widowed police sergeant Frank Gilroy. But is he the man for her? 
Young married couple, Brendan and Molly Jones arrive in Wandin Valley. Are they prepared for the realities of country life? 
Meanwhile, a teenager in love clashes with her father and a serious car accident reveals a surprising secret about two of the town’s residents. 
Based on the award-winning, international hit television serial 'A Country Practice', this new series of novels follows the lives and loves of the rural community of Wandin Valley, South-Eastern Australia. Set in the early 1980s it is a nostalgic look at country life, yet with all the same joys and problems we face today.
Today I am excited to be part of the blog tour for the first part of an exciting new book series from Corazon Books! 'A Country Practice' was an award-winning and international hit TV series years ago which focused on the community of Wandin Valley in New South Wales, Australia, in the 1980s. One of the writers of the show, Judith Colquhoun, decided to bring the series back to life but in a new form, namely as a collection of books and the first part of the book series, 'New Beginnings', is available now. You can not only read my review below, but there's also a competition to take part in so be sure to scroll down!
'A Country Practice: New Beginnings' is the first part of a book series set in the 1980s in the town of Wandin Valley in New South Wales, Australia. Like every other town, all the inhabitants have their own stories to tell and secrets to hide. There's new doctor Simon Bowen, who is trying to find his place at Wandin Valley Bush Nursing Hospital, while also trying to win over charming vet Vicky Dean. Brendan and Molly Jones have just moved into the area, living the dream of having their own farm house. However, Brendan has some crazy working hours as a nurse at the hospital and Molly starts to doubt their decision realising she's alone in a strange house most of the time. And when two of the town's inhabitants are involved in a serious car crash, things get even more exciting and surprising for the residents of Wandin Valley.
Before I received a review copy of Judith Colquhoun's 'A Country Practice: New Beginnings' I have to admit I didn't know anything about the TV series the book is based on. Luckily, this didn't form a problem because I was able to just dive into the story without any prior knowledge. The story is set in a town in Australia in the 1980s and focuses mainly on the town hospital. There are a lot of different characters who each have their own storyline and I personally really enjoyed the fast pace of the book and the switching between the different storylines. All characters had something interesting to share, resulting in an entertaining and enjoyable read. My personal favourites, though, are young vet Vicky Dean and married couple Molly and Brendan who have just moved to the area. I immediately warmed to these characters and can't wait to hopefully read more about them in the upcoming parts of the book series.
While the book is easy to get into and comfortable to read, I do think it shines through that the story is based on a TV show. Some scenes are described like made-for-TV situations and I definitely would have liked a bit more background information on the different characters; their histories, their personalities, etc. Even though I missed the detail in places, it was still a really enjoyable read and I am already curious about what will happen in the next part of the series! Overall, ‘A Country Practice’ is an enthralling, entertaining, fast-paced read that managed to hold my attention until the very last page; a promising start to this new series!

Rating:8,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Competition!
The 'A Country Practice' series of novels set in sunny Australia are perfect for curling up with on a cold winter's day or evening! And to celebrate the release of the first two books in the series, Corazon Books is offering you the chance to win something else to keep you entertained on a cosy night in! One lucky UK-based winner will receive an Amazon Fire TV stick* - which lets you stream loads of TV programmes, films, games and music through your TV. To be in with a chance to win simply answer the following question, and send your answer to [acp@greatstorieswithheart.com] by midday UK time on December 11th 2015. The winner will be announced on December 14th at www.acountrypractice.info.
PLUS Please state the name of the blog where you read about the competition - all visitors' names from each blog on the tour will be put into a hat and the first name pulled out for each blog will win paperback copies of the first two 'A Country Practice' novels!
*This competition is organised and run by Wyndham Media Ltd. Judges decision is final. Amazon Fire TV Stick only available for UK residents. If the overall winner resides outside of the UK they will receive instead a bundle of Corazon Books paperbacks to the same value as the UK prize. Entrants details won't be kept or shared with third parties. Good luck!

Review & Guest Post: 'A Country Practice' by Judith Colquhoun (2015)

It’s 1981 and a desperate woman arrives at the Wandin Valley Bush Nursing Hospital in the final stages of labour. Can Dr Terence Elliott overcome his demons to save both mother and baby? 
Simon Bowen, the newest doctor in town, is frustrated at being seen as an outsider by the tight knit country folk. Will he succeed in winning them around ‒ especially young vet Vicky Dean? 
Vicky’s mum, Sister Shirley Dean, is courted by widowed police sergeant Frank Gilroy. But is he the man for her? 
Brendan and Molly Jones arrive in Wandin Valley. Are they prepared for the realities of country life? 
Meanwhile, a teenager in love clashes with her father and a serious car accident reveals a surprising secret about two of the town’s residents.
Today I have a review of the first part of an exciting new book series from Corazon Books to share with all of you! 'A Country Practice' was an award-winning and international hit TV series years ago which focused on the community of Wandin Valley in New South Wales, Australia, in the 1980s. One of the writers of the show, Judith Colquhoun, decided to bring the series back to life but in a new form, namely as a collection of books. The first part of the book series, 'New Beginnings', was released on the 12th of June and I was lucky enough to get a review copy. You can not only read my review below, but also a special guest post from Ian Skillicorn from Corazon Books to tell us a bit more about the original TV show on which the book is based!
'A Country Practice: New Beginnings' is the first part of a book series set in the 1980s in the town of Wandin Valley in New South Wales, Australia. Like every other town, all the inhabitants have their own stories to tell and secrets to hide. There's new doctor Simon Bowen, who is trying to find his place at Wandin Valley Bush Nursing Hospital, while also trying to win over charming vet Vicky Dean. Brendan and Molly Jones have just moved into the area, living the dream of having their own farm house. However, Brendan has some crazy working hours as a nurse at the hospital and Molly starts to doubt their decision realising she's alone in a strange house most of the time. And when two of the town's inhabitants are involved in a serious car crash, things get even more exciting and surprising for the residents of Wandin Valley.
Before I received a review copy of Judith Colquhoun's 'A Country Practice: New Beginnings' I have to admit I didn't know anything about the TV series the book is based on. Luckily, this didn't form a problem because I was able to just dive into the story without any prior knowledge. The story is set in a town in Australia in the 1980s and focuses mainly on the town hospital. There are a lot of different characters who each have their own storyline and I personally really enjoyed the fast pace of the book and the switching between the different storylines. All characters had something interesting to share, resulting in an entertaining and enjoyable read. My personal favourites, though, are young vet Vicky Dean and married couple Molly and Brendan who have just moved to the area. I immediately warmed to these characters and can't wait to hopefully read more about them in the upcoming parts of the book series.
While the book is easy to get into and comfortable to read, I do think it shines through that the story is based on a TV show. Some scenes are described like made-for-TV situations and I definitely would have liked a bit more background information on the different characters; their histories, their personalities, etc. Even though I missed the detail in places, it was still a really enjoyable read and I am already curious about what will happen in the next part of the series! Overall, ‘A Country Practice’ is an enthralling, entertaining, fast-paced read that managed to hold my attention until the very last page; a promising start to this new series!

Rating:8,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Guest post by Ian Skillicorn
I'm really happy to have a special guest post to share with all of you today from Ian Skillicorn from Corazon Books in which he tells us a bit more about 'A Country Practice'!

Welcome to Australia's Best-Loved Country Town For more than ten years, millions of viewers were glued to their TVs each week to see the latest episodes in the lives and loves of a small Australian country town. The action in A Country Practice centred on the Wandin Valley Bush Nursing Hospital, the doctors and nurses who worked there, and the local townsfolk. The programme was a hit because of its mixture of drama and comedy, and the likeable characters who became well-loved around the world. This was long before Neighbours and Home and Away had arrived on our screens and when, here in the UK, daytime telly consisted of a stream of popular Aussie soaps.
Like Doctors and Holby City/Casualty today, A Country Practice combined the ongoing stories of the regular characters with guest characters who would leave after their storyline was resolved. Regular cast members included Shane Withington and Georgie Parker (who now play John and Roo in Home and Away), and some of the guests were young actors who went on to international fame, such as Nicole Kidman, Simon Baker and Delta Goodrem. But it wasn't just the people on the show who became hugely popular. According to our Facebook page it seems one of the best-remembered stars was the wombat called Fatso!
Corazon Books has been publishing popular medical fiction for a while now, and I was delighted when the creator of A Country Practice gave us a licence to publish a series of novels based on the programme. Shortly afterwards, I was thrilled when one of the show's original scripwriters, Judith Colquhoun, agreed to write the novels. For the first novel, A Country Practice: New Beginnings, we've gone right back to the start of the story, to introduce readers to the inhabitants of Wandin Valley.
A Country Practice is set in the early 1980s in what now seems, in some respects, a gentler time – before the internet and mobile phones had taken over our lives. But the issues faced by the characters are just as relevant to us today: love and hate, family and friends, life and death, secrets and lies – it's all there!
When I was a schoolboy I would record A Country Practice (shown in the afternoons) during the day on our video recorder, and watch it in the evening while I did my homework. [Ahem] years later … it's a great privilege to be part of this new chapter in the life of an Australian television institution. I hope you'll enjoy your visit to Wandin Valley and meeting the engaging characters whose lives revolve around A Country Practice.
Thanks so much, Ian!