Wild Mountain Thyme (Hardcover)

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.

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.