Best Practice

(The Larkford Series)

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on Waterstones.com
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 1 Sep 2018 | Archive Date 27 Jun 2018

Talking about this book? Use #BestPractice #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

THE BRAND NEW BESTSELLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF OUT OF PRACTICE
Love and laughter with the residents of Larkford is exactly what the doctor ordered!
 
Dr Alice Walker has become accomplished at presenting a façade to the world – to anyone watching, she is the epitome of style, composure and professionalism. But perhaps it was to be expected that the cracks might begin to show at some point. Thankfully Grace is on hand to offer both friendship and support when it’s needed most.
 
Meanwhile, Dr Holly Graham has her hands full both professionally and personally. Planning a wedding with Taffy Jones is challenging enough, even before some surprising news changes everything. At least beloved Larkford resident, Elsie, still has a few tricks left up her sleeve!
 
Dr Dan Carter, on the other hand, has decided to throw himself into his career – the best antidote he’s found to unrequited love. When tragedy strikes in the heart of Larkford, Dan makes it his mission to help the community.

Praise for Penny Parkes
‘A wonderful setting, characters you care about, a page-turning plot, laugh-out-loud funny. I loved it’ Katie Fforde
'Delightfully warm' Jo Thomas

Penny Parkes' first novel, Out of Practice, won the RNA's ROMANTIC COMEDY OF THE YEAR AWARD in 2017.
THE BRAND NEW BESTSELLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF OUT OF PRACTICE
Love and laughter with the residents of Larkford is exactly what the doctor ordered!
 
Dr Alice Walker has become accomplished at presenting...

Advance Praise

‘A wonderful setting, characters you care about, a page-turning plot, laugh-out-loud funny. I loved it’ Katie Fforde

'Delightfully warm' Jo Thomas

Penny Parkes' first novel, Out of Practice, won the RNA's ROMANTIC COMEDY OF THE YEAR AWARD in 2017.

‘A wonderful setting, characters you care about, a page-turning plot, laugh-out-loud funny. I loved it’ Katie Fforde

'Delightfully warm' Jo Thomas

Penny Parkes' first novel, Out of Practice, won the...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781471164002
PRICE £8.99 (GBP)

Average rating from 12 members


Featured Reviews

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.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

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.

Was this review helpful?

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!

Was this review helpful?

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!

Was this review helpful?

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

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: