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A Time of Love and Tartan
A Time of Love and Tartan
A Time of Love and Tartan
Audiobook8 hours

A Time of Love and Tartan

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this audiobook

The latest installment of Alexander McCall Smith's perennially popular and irresistibly charming 44 Scotland Street series. When Pat accepts her narcissistic ex-boyfriend Bruce's invitation for coffee, she has no idea of the complications in her romantic and professional life that will follow. Meanwhile, Matthew, her boss at the art gallery, attracts the attention of the police after a misunderstanding at the local bookstore. Whether caused by small things such as a cup of coffee and a book, or major events such as Stuart's application for promotion and his wife Irene's decision to pursue a PhD in Aberdeen, change is coming to Scotland Street. But for three seven-year-old boy-Bertie Pollock, Ranald, and Big Lou's foster son, Finlay-it also means getting a glimpse of perfect happiness. Alexander McCall Smith's delightfully witty, wise and sometimes surreal comedy spirals out in surprising ways in this new installment, but its heart remains where it has always been at the center of life in Edinburgh's New Town.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateFeb 6, 2018
ISBN9781501977916
A Time of Love and Tartan
Author

Alexander McCall Smith

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the award-winning series The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, and he now devotes his time to the writing of fiction, including the 44 Scotland Street and the Isabel Dalhousie series. He is the author of over eighty books on a wide array of subjects, and his work has been translated into forty-six languages. Before becoming a full-time writer he was for many years Professor of Medical Law at Edinburgh.

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Reviews for A Time of Love and Tartan

Rating: 4.027173956521739 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Stay in Aberdeen Irene lol! Great tales from my favorite places,and where I spent my first thirty years!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Alexander McCall Smith's Scotland Street books are always delightful escapism, this one is no exception.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The 12th book in 44 Scotland St series. As always I love Bertie but the development in his parent’s lives is at the heart of this book. The books in the series are full of musings and reflections. I find some quite interesting, amusing and informative, while a few have left me thinking that they were fillers and detracted from the narrative. I have found some lack of continuity in the plot. For example in another previous book, Pat falls head over heels in love with Michael but then he falls completely out of the story and we find her single again with no explanation. But besides a few trifles, the books are full of charm, humor and human observations.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I love the character of Bertie. This, book #12 is as much the warm, lovely book as the other 11. We follow Bertie as he learns about so many things that really matter in life... decency...the character of persons and places...what little boys are really "made" of... respect...taking pains... the look of the sea and sky...how good bacon rolls smell...and how much his family and friends mean in his life. This is the final book in the series and I'm going to miss Bertie. I am not going to miss Irene, whom Bertie has the misfortune to have as a mother. What a snob she has been from book 1. She refuses or just cannot see what a fool she is making of herself or the neglect she is causing when it comes to Bertie's childhood. It is good to have the satisfaction in this final book, to know she has gone, and I say good riddance. We can leave Bertie to enjoy his life in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The 12th novel in the “44 Scotland Street” series, and hooray! This one is really concentrated on Bertie, the most loveable 7-year-old boy you will ever want to meet. Bertie’s perfectly awful mother decides to move to Aberdeen to pursue a PhD and Bertie’s father chuck’s his job as a statistician for the Scottish government. One hopes this means that life will finally hold happiness for both of them.Meanwhile, Pat is considering a relationship with Bruce to which everyone asks, “Why, why, WHY?” Dominica and Angus prattle on about their nonsense, but I have to admit that I skim their chapters because they don’t interest me. And the Duke of Johannesburg finds a “manny” for Matthew & Elsbeth’s triplets. Once again, Alexandre McCall Smith provides the reader with a perfect world in which to forget what’s going on in the real one outside.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I enjoyed the wit and wry humour of this, and of course I am in love with seven-year-old Bertie, a wonderful creation. This was the perfect antidote in what has been a time of tricky situations.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I love these 44 Scotland Street books. Best of all life begins to look up for Bertie and his dad. I highly recommend reading these books in order.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Needs better editing. A conversation starts in one chapter, then one of the parties arrives in the next chapter; Ranald goes to play at Bertie's place but then Ranald's parents are looking after them.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I probably should have started at the beginning of this series, but there you have it. This is a delightful "slice of life" story of the residents at 44 Scotland Street. Such eccentric characters live there to be sure. This charming book was a sweet palate cleanser after some heavier reading. Little Bertie is happy; so all is well with the world.Synopsis (from books back cover):When Pat accepts her narcissistic ex-boyfriend Bruce’s invitation for coffee, she has no idea of the complications in her romantic and professional life that will follow. Meanwhile, Matthew, her boss at the art gallery, attracts the attention of the police after a misunderstanding at the local bookstore.Whether caused by small things such as a cup of coffee and a book, or major events such as Stuart’s application for promotion and his wife Irene’s decision to pursue a PhD in Aberdeen, change is coming to Scotland Street. But for three seven-year-old boys–Bertie Pollock, Ranald, and Big Lou’s foster son, Finlay–it also means getting a glimpse of perfect happiness.Alexander McCall Smith’s delightfully witty, wise and sometimes surreal comedy spirals out in surprising ways in this new installment, but its heart remains where it has always been, at the center of life in Edinburgh’s New Town.