Practice Makes Perfect
Jun 2017 · The Larkford Series Book 2 · Simon and Schuster
4.5star
6 reviewsreport
Ebook
400
Pages
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About this ebook
THE HILARIOUS AND HEARTFELT NEW NOVEL FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF OUT OF PRACTICE!
‘If dishy doctors, cute dogs, hilarious OAPs and idyllic country settings are your thing, you’re in for a treat with this second novel set at a GP practice in the village of Larkford. Funny, moving, romantic and full of characters you’ll love – it’s perfect in every way’ Heat
The Practice at Larkford has suddenly been thrust under the spotlight – and its nomination as a ‘NHS Model Surgery’ is causing the team major headaches. Dr Holly Graham should be basking in the glow of her new romance with fellow doctor, Taffy – but she is worried that the team is prioritising plaudits over patients, and her favourite resident, the irreverent and entertaining Elsie, is facing a difficult diagnosis. Add to that the chaos of family life and the strain is starting to show.
Dr Dishy Dan Carter’s obsession with work is masking unhappiness elsewhere – he can’t persuade girlfriend Julia to settle down. It’s only as Julia’s mother comes to stay that he realizes what she has been hiding for so long. Alice Walker joins the team like a breath of fresh air and her assistance dog Coco quickly wins everyone round – which is just as well, because Coco and Alice will soon need some help of their own. Can they pull together and become the Dream Team that the NHS obviously thinks they are?
Out of Practice won the Romantic Comedy of the Year category of the RNA Awards.
'This book has everything: warmth, humour, drama, laughter and a few tears. I wolfed it down' MILLY JOHNSON
'Perfect book for all. This book is simply wonderful and I read it in one sitting. With wonderful characters, a great story line and lots of laughs, I certainly will be recommending this to all my book friends' Netgalley reviewer
Praise for Penny Parkes:
'A wonderful setting, characters you care about, a page-turning plot,laugh-out-loud funny. I loved it’ KATIE FFORDE
‘A pure delight from start to finish’ JULIE COHEN
‘Delightfully warm’ JO THOMAS
‘This book was an absolute joy to read from beginning to end. It was so easy to start reading and lose complete track of time. A fantastic debut novel that leaves you wanting more from the Larkford bunch’ rachalesreads
‘This was a terrific debut … I will definitely look forward to more books from this author’ Rea’s Book Reviews
‘A great debut novel and a truly delightful read, both laugh-out-loud funny and very touching. A warm and uplifting story of village life, full of lively characters and more than a splash of romance, this is a great book to curl up with on a quiet afternoon - a real page-turner!’ Curious Ginger Cat
‘A promising debut novel … I would love to see a return to Larkford, and The Practice, as the author definitely knows her medical writing’ Rachel’s Random Reads
‘I was blown away by the captivating storyline of Out of Practice as well as the fabulous and well-rounded characters … I will be eagerly awaiting another book by this wonderfully skilled author. I highly recommend Out of Practice for anyone who after a book with a few twists and turns, a story that sizzles with emotion, passion and driving need to love and be loved. A remarkable debut’ Sparkly Word
‘If dishy doctors, cute dogs, hilarious OAPs and idyllic country settings are your thing, you’re in for a treat with this second novel set at a GP practice in the village of Larkford. Funny, moving, romantic and full of characters you’ll love – it’s perfect in every way’ Heat
The Practice at Larkford has suddenly been thrust under the spotlight – and its nomination as a ‘NHS Model Surgery’ is causing the team major headaches. Dr Holly Graham should be basking in the glow of her new romance with fellow doctor, Taffy – but she is worried that the team is prioritising plaudits over patients, and her favourite resident, the irreverent and entertaining Elsie, is facing a difficult diagnosis. Add to that the chaos of family life and the strain is starting to show.
Dr Dishy Dan Carter’s obsession with work is masking unhappiness elsewhere – he can’t persuade girlfriend Julia to settle down. It’s only as Julia’s mother comes to stay that he realizes what she has been hiding for so long. Alice Walker joins the team like a breath of fresh air and her assistance dog Coco quickly wins everyone round – which is just as well, because Coco and Alice will soon need some help of their own. Can they pull together and become the Dream Team that the NHS obviously thinks they are?
Out of Practice won the Romantic Comedy of the Year category of the RNA Awards.
'This book has everything: warmth, humour, drama, laughter and a few tears. I wolfed it down' MILLY JOHNSON
'Perfect book for all. This book is simply wonderful and I read it in one sitting. With wonderful characters, a great story line and lots of laughs, I certainly will be recommending this to all my book friends' Netgalley reviewer
Praise for Penny Parkes:
'A wonderful setting, characters you care about, a page-turning plot,laugh-out-loud funny. I loved it’ KATIE FFORDE
‘A pure delight from start to finish’ JULIE COHEN
‘Delightfully warm’ JO THOMAS
‘This book was an absolute joy to read from beginning to end. It was so easy to start reading and lose complete track of time. A fantastic debut novel that leaves you wanting more from the Larkford bunch’ rachalesreads
‘This was a terrific debut … I will definitely look forward to more books from this author’ Rea’s Book Reviews
‘A great debut novel and a truly delightful read, both laugh-out-loud funny and very touching. A warm and uplifting story of village life, full of lively characters and more than a splash of romance, this is a great book to curl up with on a quiet afternoon - a real page-turner!’ Curious Ginger Cat
‘A promising debut novel … I would love to see a return to Larkford, and The Practice, as the author definitely knows her medical writing’ Rachel’s Random Reads
‘I was blown away by the captivating storyline of Out of Practice as well as the fabulous and well-rounded characters … I will be eagerly awaiting another book by this wonderfully skilled author. I highly recommend Out of Practice for anyone who after a book with a few twists and turns, a story that sizzles with emotion, passion and driving need to love and be loved. A remarkable debut’ Sparkly Word
Ratings and reviews
4.5
6 reviews
Midge Odonnell
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November 17, 2018
Whilst it was nice to be back in Larkford with a cast of characters that I have become familiar with, there was something missing in this second novel about Holly and her fellow GPs. Maybe it was the lack of Elsie because, make no mistake about it, Elsie is the humour in the book; the indomitable spirit that charges all around her to be better, to be selfish. She does appear but in muted form and we spend far more time with Holly and Julia and for a laugh-fest this does not make. Both women are flawed, quite seriously flawed in all honesty and whilst I don't mind this it did all become a bit unrelentingly grim at times. From Julia's alcoholic mother making an appearance to Holly second guessing absolutely everything it all became a tiny bit depressing. This may have been less apparent if I hadn't re-read the first of the Larkford series prior to starting this second offering, but I did so it is what it is. The author is good at getting under the skin of her characters so the different degrees of response to visiting Taffy's childhood home are well described. From the way Taffy responds to the family dynamic to Holly's more removed appraisal of the situation, it is one we can relate to if we have ever met our significant other's family. Unfortunately, this only 2 chapters or so of the whole book and yet they are probably the best (and most realistic) section of the whole book. The main plot this time seems to centre firmly around The Practice and all the personal "stuff" takes second place to it. Maybe this is why I liked it less. The whole things around the model practice just takes up too much page space with the same brow beating from various characters as they come to terms with what this designation means. Frankly I got sick of hearing about it; almost as fed up as I was with the plotline centering around Julia and the TV crew. So much so I started skimming those bits rather than actually reading them. Things are saved a little by the various daft bets Taffy and Dan set up and the glimpses of Elsie. Lizzie is very quiet in this book and she rarely makes an appearance, this is dealt with as she is struggling to "find herself" after quitting her Editorial job. Holly is worried she is being a bad friend to Lizzie and I have to say from my judgmental stool she is. I was left feeling a little disappointed by this book, mainly because the stuff I loved so much from the original is in short supply here - the people.
jo. bowerwright
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October 22, 2017
I do love these books, with so many inner stories
About the author
Penny Parkes lives in the Cotswolds. She has appeared at literary festivals around the country and has written for The Telegraph as well as extensively in her local media. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram as @CotswoldPenny
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