When Seb joins Barleybridge, the last thing on his mind is romance. Keen to settle into his first real job and make a good impression he embraces the working life of a country vet. He has almost forgotten his high maintenance ex-girlfriend Carly and concentrates on settling down to a job he really loves. He is welcomed by the other members of the Practice and is soon contending with a menagerie of very diverse clients. There is a man starting a budgie breeding enterprise who believes that Seb is a top specialist in birds and a woman from Turnham Malpas intent on the legendary Mungo Prices expertise to save her wounded dog. The alpacas with TB and the need to destroy a pony injured in an accident in front of his heartbroken young owner are all part of Sebs steep learning curve. Seb is to find that his expertise with animals and their owners leads to a friendship with the upperclass Jilly and rather more than that with Maggie whose family is heartbroken when he diagnoses their alpacas with TB. But when a surprise meeting in the Practice itself turns his head and touches his heart, he knows that these dalliancies are nothing but youthful romps. Rebecca Shaws warmth and compassion combine with her natural humour as she draws the reader into the lives of the members and clients of Barleybridge.