Customer Reviews

Rivals

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first heard of Jilly, when I bought the book Apassionata at a second-hand store. I started to read it but found out that many of the characters in this story, were in her earlier books. I decided to buy all her books written before Apassionata. I wanted to read them in order. Unfortunately, Rivals (which by the way is the same book as "Players")came first and I could not resist. I started reading and could not stop. This is a first for me because I am the type of person that has to be reading 3 books at one time. With Rival, I tried picking up other books to read but could not concentrate on them. It was awesome. Unlike other reviewers, I won't give the plot away but I will tell you that the book is about 4 men vying for control of the British Televison Franchise. The villain in this book is Tony and his 3 adversaries are Declan, Rupert and Freddie. Of course the book has the usual love triangle, backstabbing and name dropping as in other books of this nature but Jilly has the awesome talent of either making you like or hate a character, no in betweens. The book up wraps up very nicely at the the end and who does not like a happy ending? Can't wait to read her other books. Way to go Jilly............

I do admit that this is the trashiest book I've ever read. But that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it! My roommate gave it to me when I was looking for something to read that was light. This was exactly the sort of book I was looking for. I loved the characters. I loved the tangled webs of deception. I loved the sex. There was so much going on in this book that I never wanted to stop reading it... I even went so far as to compare my life to that of one of the characters in the book. I like it when I read a book and all I want to do is talk about it--that is certainly the mark of a good book.

Another great book with Rupert Campbell-Black and the gang. If you haven't already read RIDERS, do so at once. That goes for POLO as well. I liked the various characters in this book-a little more interesting perhaps than those that revolve more around show jumping...Declan and Maude O'Hara are wonderful characters, and that goes for the kids as well. I would like to have seen more of Rupert's kids also...but maybe that's the next book. Jilly's books have taken me across the pond and back again. I wish they were readily available in the US!

The continuation of the saga of Rupert Campbell-Black and co. in the Cotswolds. He's given up show jumping and is now Minister for Sport in the British Thatcher Government - he's divorced and as irreverent and unapologetic as ever.

Cooper takes us well away from the world of show-jumping into Campbell-Black's home territory, the Village of Penscombe which is home to the local television station run by loathed Tony Baddingham. It doesn't sound all that promising a plot - how Rupert bid for the contract to run the Television station, but it is told with the usual cast of wonderful Cooper-esque characters who brighten up the pages with their wit and verve.

It is full of scheming, double crossing, clipped upper class accents, vulgar upwardly mobile shrews and romance in buckets. Rupert also finally finds out what despair in love is all about when their are no guarantees you will succeed.

You can certainly read Rivals without reading the first book - Riders - it is a stand alone novel and many new characters are introduced. Still old favourites turn up like Billy and Janey.

This has to be one of my favourite books of all time. I have read it so many times I could probably do a degree in it. It is so warm and funny and wonderful without being at all corny. Some of Jilly's one liners are classics. I have persuaded all my friends to read it and none of them have been disapointed.

Please read this book - you really will not regret it!

This is a great follow-up book to Jilly Cooper's first novel, "Riders". It continues with Rupert's story after the high-drama ending of the Olympics in LA, and now finds him retired from show-jumping and into politics. He meets Declan O'Hara, the brooding, poetic Irishman who has just moved to town. Together they form a group to take over the local television network, and this tale follows that frustrating, funny, exhausting process. Throw in an ambitious career woman, an unsatisfied wife, and a young innocent who Rupert is stunned to find himself in love with, and you've got a great story.

My first read by Jilly Cooper was Riders, which I picked up at a used book store! Can you imagine how suprised and happy I was to have "stumbled" across this great writer? Anyway, my second read Rivals was every bit as entertaining as the first! Such outrageous characters and interesting plots.

WOW!! I love Jilly Cooper.."Rivals" was so fabulous!!! I adored Rupert and Taggie..the tension building waiting and waiting for it to work out with them was unbearable!!!! I loved this story and all of the colorful characters!! What fun to see so many of the familiar faces from "Riders"!! I highly recommend this..what an entertaining read with an unbelievably satisfying ending!!! READ IT!!!

While Riders is still my favorite book, I am incredibly pleased with Rivals. Having great characters like Rupert Campbell-Black and Billy Lloyd-Fox back, and with the introduction of racy, sexy new characters, this is a book you won't be able to put down.

The book reads fast, involves the reader right away and makes you want to follow these characters throught the rest of Ms. Coopers novels.

I highly recommend.

Jilly Cooper's RIVALS has got to be the funniest book I have read in years. It is true to life, absolutely hilarious and Rupert Campbell-Black was back in true form. The O'Haras were amazing and Cameron Cook, the die-hard feminist, is an inspiration. Wonderful, brilliant, I couldn't put it down!