Penny Parkes doesn't disappoint in this next installment in the Lark Ford series. All the old favourites are there and Holly and Taffy have their hands full with 2 sets of twins. Holly although busy however is desperately missing her work as one of the partners in the busy GP practice.
A fantastic read and I love going back to Larkford, it's like going home to see old friends.
Brilliant.

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Everyone said it’s like reading up with old friends, reading this book, because it’s book three of a series. For me it was a little different, because I haven’t read the previous books of the series.
I guess that’s why it took me a while to get into it.

I really warmed up with all the characters quickly though and started enjoying the story. The characters are really wonderful, all special in their own way and together they build a strong community. I loved reading about each and every one of them. Penny Parkes created this great world around them and captured it all beautifully.

Sometimes I got a bit overwhelmed by all the characters, but the more I got to know them, the more I loved them. The book has a great mixture of friendship, love, medical stuff and just fantastic scenes and moments.

Penny Parkes is a very talented author with a fabulous and unique style. The book is full of laughs and cries, just adorable!!!

From the first page of "Best Practice" I had a feeling that I'm back with my old friends - it was as if there was nothing between me reading this third instalment in The Larkford series and the two previous books. We are actually immediately thrown into the medical action and it really never stops. Theoretically this book can be read as a stand - alone but I personally think there is too much background to be missed if you jump straight and direct into "Best Practice" without reading the two previous stories.

It was really a great feeling to be able to follow the characters and to see how they moved forwards after the story finished in "Practice Makes Perfect". There is a large number of characters in this novel but the old ones that we've already got to know and like are also there. The brilliant couple Holly and Taffy who are so tender and so brilliant around each other, and I really, really love their relationship. Is the big wedding really what they need? Dr Dan Carter, Taffy's companion in so many silly games is distracted and has to face up a new challenge - the practice manager Grace. The big enigma Dr. Alice Walker, who joined the practice in the previous book is also there, and her plot was probably the one that I've read the most enthusiastically. She has to deal with her own health issues and there is this big question about her assistance dog, Coco. And let's not forget Elsie, who this time showed the most gentle and tender side to her. All those stories were weaving seamlessly and effortlessly into one another.

I must be in a minority here but what bothered me so much was that there run so many parallel stories that I couldn't find the main one. There were so many, many characters in this book, coming to the practice with their health problems, and while they were interesting I just couldn't shake off the feeling that they're drawing us away from the main plot. I think I get where the author was coming from here, emphasize the significance and importance of health service but on the other hand I was never sure if, and which, of those could be a turning point for the plot. Don't get me wrong here, pretty please, I guess thanks to all the accidents and incidents the pace of the book was truly well paced but it is probably why I didn't feel as much a part of the characters'' lives and I just wanted more of the main plot - this about the rural medicinal facilities being shut down and the campaign going to keep them open.

It is truly a book that introduces us to many, many medical conditions and accidents and while it is obvious that the author truly knows what she's writing about, it is all written in such an accessible way. This novelk links many issues and topics together. It touches upon love, friendship, patchwork families and heath. It is full of depth and this lovely, overwhelming feeling of kindness and support. Even though it is also about really serious stuff, there is this feel - good vibe to it and tons of heart.
"Best Practice" is a story that ticks many boxes for being a perfect summer read. There is humour and a lot of funny moments, there are plenty of poignant moments that will make you go weak at your knees and go "awwww", it looks much, much deeper under the surface of politics, money, men in black suits to show what's really important when it comes to deal with ill people. This, as well as this lovely, brilliantly captured sense of community and really well developed characters, must be ones of the strongest points of this novel. The author has also in a great way weaved the romance aspect and romantic sparkles that added lightness and were like a breath of fresh air. Truly recommended!

I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of Best Practice by Penny Parkes in exchange for an honest review. This is a book I’d have been buying on publication day if not as I totally love this series – it’s the third book in the Larkford series following Out of Practice and Practice Makes Perfect (along with the ebook short story Swept Away).. I love these books – I actually think it’s my favourite series at the moment. Before I read the first one I really thought it wasn’t going to be for me but I was proved wrong and three more installments later I’m left hoping there are many more!

Best Practice doesn’t disappoint. It has a brilliant feeling and moments that make me laugh. But it also has it’s gritty heart in mouth moments and others that just make you go “aww”. I really can’t say too much about this book or recommend it highly enough But you shouldn’t read this book if you haven’t read the others, go read those first. I don’t think you necessarily have to read them first as I think there’s enough set up that Best Practice could stand alone. You’d just be missing a couple of amazing books and probably wouldn’t enjoy this one as much.

I love seeing the characters grow and change and develop as real people. It’s just brilliantly done. A few weeks ago I was at the Books and The City Spring Blogger Evening where Penny Parkes talked about Best Practice and how real the characters have become to her. She shared a story about seeing a house for sale and thinking “Elsie’s house is for sale?!” and another about how her phone is full of pictures of info from the Drs surgery (and actually I was waiting at my Drs shortly after reading this and wondering whether the receptionists who get a bad stick were actually anything like the ones in the book and just how true to life it is)

Something else I loved was the fact that it was set rurally and had a brilliant community feel to it. I can’t think of another book I’ve read in the last year or so that does that so well. I think this has a wide ranging appeal and is just brilliant. Best Practice is definitely going to be in the running for my book of the year.

There are so many characters that I would love to write about in the book but I urge you to read for yourself the goings on in Larkford for yourself. I feel as though I am part of the community and know many of the characters as friends because Penny has written about them with such a brilliant descriptiveness. The community makes you feel that you are part of it for real.
Another great book from Penny, can't wait for the next.

The first book I’ve read by Penny Parkes and I was not disappointed. Very entertaining. A good story with lots of believable and lovely characters.

From the moment I started Best Practice I felt as though I was amongst old friends, as I returned to Larkford and the wonderful array of characters there. This is an incredibly well paced book and you are thrown into the action almost from the start, and there is plenty going on with every chapter.

Due to the large number of characters, most of who since it is the third book, now feel like I know them well, there are many many storylines thread amongst this book, while at the heart of it is a campaign to save some services from being completely shut down amongst rural medical facilities.

I am delighted that we got to see a lot more of Dr. Alice Walker who made her debut in Practice Makes Perfect, as she starts to become a vital member of The Practice, and we learn far more about what makes her tick as a person.

Elsie is as always one of my favourite characters, and even I was surprised at the new depths of friendship and kindness she was able to display in this story. Then there are doctors Holly and Taffy, who are a fabulous couple and there were instances involving them that had me welling up with tears, I as was absorbed with their story.

There are a whole range of medical conditions and issues mentioned and discussed in this book, as well as themes of friendship, community spirit, love and just generally its a book that gives off a feel good vibe.

I was so enthralled to be back within the door of The Practice that, I honestly can't comment either way as to whether it works as a standalone book. I will say that the whole series so far has been fabulous, and that I found this one the fastest of the three to read so far, presumably as I am getting used to the writing style and characters.

I am already thoroughly looking forward to and hoping for more books set around this fabulous cast of characters, especially after having just read that ending, and I want to see how they all move forwards from there.

If you are looking for an action packed book filled with both laughs and tears, then look no further than Best Practice.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Reading this book was like putting on a comfy pair of old slippers. I have followed Penny Parkes' Larkford series since the beginning and this one didn't disappoint - it was as good as the (award winning) first book.

I love the lives of the characters and the setting is beautiful. As well as telling their stories, Penny is able to interweave current issues (local issues) in to the story which is brilliant.

I can't wait for the next one, although I sadly feel this may be the last one at Larkford!

I have been with the Doctors of this Larkford practice since the beginning and I have been lucky enough to get another appointment with them all.

Dr Holly Graham was the new girl on the block but is now firmly settled in and has struck up a wonderful relationship with fellow doctor Taffy Jones. It looks like their lives are about to change forever though and maybe a large wedding is not what they need?

Taffy's sidekick for so long has been Dr Dan Carter, forever challenging each other to silly games and pranks to betting on what ailments patients may suffer from. Dan needs to face up to one challenge - his feelings for practice manager Grace. However, Grace has other ideas.

Dr Alice Walker is still feeling very much the new girl, she is a good doctor but she has to also deal with her own health issues and her assistance dog Coco looks like he may be required elsewhere. So how will Alice spend her time and will she let anyone get close to her.

However underneath the black humour, there lies a massive caring heart in the Larkford Practice. With local rural facilities threatened due to politics, men in suits and people with no heart, the doctors along with the residents set to make a difference and raise some money.

I have said in previous reviews about the strong sense of community reflected in this series of novels and that is paramount in this novel. There is a common cause that draws everyone out and we get to see some of the more eccentric residents, such as Elsie who features in all the books. If you want a mad bad lady aging disgracefully then Elsie is your woman!

I am sure there is plenty that could be written about the Larkford community, new characters introduced in this novel, mean that perhaps there is room for another book. An enjoyable read which contains real issues affecting local GP's across the country that we can see reflected in today's newspapers. That doesn't make the book in anyway a political one, just a book with strong writing, characters and a good cause!

An entertaining good book with lovely characters. It makes you feel good.
Many thanks to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley

I tried really hard with this book but it’s fair to say that it’s not one for me. I think it would help to read them in order as there were lots of lengthy references to the previous book which meant noth8ng to me and therefore it felt like they got in the way.
I read a lot, multiple books a week and can read most books through to the end, this one I gave up after 3/4 as it felt like all “setting the scene” but no actual story. I’m disappointed as I was really looking forward to reading it and I know others have enjoyed it

Excellent book with a brilliant storyline and great main characters. I would recommend this book.