In this sixth volume of Smith's 44 Scotland Street series, we see Matthew getting s shock when he finds out that Elspeth (nee Miss Harmony) is going to have Triplets, Angus and Domenica plan a trip to Italy with Antonia a and discover new feelings for each other, Bertie goes fishing with his father and then loses his mother for a while when she is mistakenly sent to Romania in a shipping container full of household donations, and Big Lou is overheard discussing cosmetic surgery. Pat returns to work in Matthew's gallery and Bruce makes a cameo appearance as a bumbling housing surveyor.

As always, the continuing story of these Edinburgh residents is told with gently humor, kindness and love. These books are the perfect antidote to the toxic news we hear every day. ( )

Another strong link in the chain of the series.This one includes an eventful trip to Italy, an excellent father-son fishing trip, Irene getting lost and arrested (seriously), Matthew and Elspeth both fainting for 3 good reasons, and a long-awaited proposal. Oh, and good news about Cyril's 6 pups - performing in a circus!

The books in this series make me chuckle out loud. If you'd like to do the same please read each and every book.

This was my favorite Scotland Street book to date. Good things happened for a number of well-loved characters, and a couple of the irritating ones got at least a small dose of what was coming to them.

Most of the action takes place in Edinburgh or nearby, but one storyline moves to Italy towards the later half of the book. Unlike some of the others, this one had a decidedly happy ending, even though all the storylines remained very much open at the end, as always. ( )

We return to 44 Scotland Street, and Bertie Pollock is longing to be seven. He believes he'll be treated with more respect and have more autonomy. Meanwhile, he continues to cope with his well-meaning but overbearing, pompous mother, and the endless round of therapy visits, yoga, Italian classes, and saxophone lessons.

His father, Stuart, though, is starting to assert himself, and take small but crucial actions to give Bertie opportunities to just be a six-year-old boy.

Our other friends are back, and art dealer Matthew and new wife, Bertie's former teacher, Elspeth Harmony, get some startling news about their future. Artist Angus Lordie and anthropologist Domenica Macdonald, along with Angus' dog Cyril, cope with the interference and romantic intentions of Antonia.

This is an episodic novel, written as a newspaper serial, and it is light and entertaining. There is no major, overarching plot; it's a series of visits with old friends we've gotten to know over the course of the earlier 44 Scotland Street novels. If you are all about the plot, this book is not for you. If you enjoy character sketches and upbeat, gentle storytelling, this is definitely your book.

Recommended.

I bought this book. ( )

Domenica. Magnus. and ? the neighbor go to Italy together. James has met Elspeth in the previous book and they have married. They have triplets in this book. I found the baby part boring and Elspeth to be passive aggressive. ( )