A Risk Worth Taking

by Robin Pilcher

Dan Porter had it a big house in suburban London, a beautiful wife, three children in private school, and a high-paying job. But then, it all collapsed like a house of cards. Now Dan stays home while his angry wife pursues a career, and his marriage falters. Returning to his old profession could mend the rift, but Dan needs to do something else, something more...

Then, Dan hears about a company for sale in northern Scotland, and the temptation is too great to resist. With his son Josh and two dogs in tow, he lands in a primitive cottage above a frigid loch. As he takes stock of his past, he discovers a community who desperately needs his help, a new chance for the future, a risk that requires a leap of faith...and an astonishing love.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Scotland, Chick Lit, Family, Relationships, British Literature

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Robin Pilcher was born on 10 August 1950, the eldest son of author Rosamunde Pilcher, née Scott (aka Jane Fraser) and Graham Hope Pilcher.
He has been a cameraman, a songwriter, and a farmer, co-managed a mail order business, and has had numerous other jobs.
He lives with his wife and children near Dundee, Scotland, and in the Sierra de Aracena mountain area of Andalusia, Spain, where he plans to establish a writing institute supported by the Pilcher Foundation of Creative Writing.

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still think Robin Pilcher writes great stories, and I like his characters. I have decided that I'm a little tired of the fact that many of his books include infidelity/adultery. I think I will choose very carefully which of his books I read in the future.

[Lorrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dan, the main character, was a really noble, sweet guy. He was without work for quite a bit, which really bothered his wife, Jackie. This would bother me too! Jackie complained that Dan's lack of a job/not looking for a job--caused her to lose respect for him. She was unfaithful, not a great mother, not much of a homemaker, and an average businesswoman.

Dan left their home in London to venture to Scotland to see about buying an up and coming clothing business. He ended up befriending a wonderful family there, and instead of buying the clothing company, he ended up helping the husband run his business. Dan & Jackie's children (Josh, Millie, & Nina) also seemed to enjoy Scotland and the family even became closer....but not with Jackie's help because she had an affair and took off with the sexual partner like a little twit.

This book ran much like a soap opera and was nearly as shallow. I enjoyed the references to Scotland's weather, mountains, and people. I also enjoyed the small, rugged house Dan, Josh, and their 2 dogs lived in while living in Scotland.

Although Dan returned to London, it's interesting to note that Josh remained in Scotland finding his way. Josh seemed much better off after having moved to Scotland, found work in the factory and began dating one of the women at the plant. Dan seemed better off after Jackie left. He even brought his mother to live with them. She wasn't too happy in her retirement condo.

The end of the book leaves one wondering what happens next. Sort of like a soap opera.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book, it was a nice light read. While the story had great possibilities they were not fully explored and the ending was too abrupt.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Risk Worth Taking is about Dan Porter, recently laid off from a lucrative job in London and is now drifting about the house and hanging out with other laid off friends. He takes care of the family duties including ensuring his teenaged daughters get to school and activities, and also caring for the house. His unenthusiastic job search is irritating his wife Jackie who works for a high powered clothing designer. She can't believe he's gotten no job offers, no job interviews. What is he doing? He's looking for a different position than the white collar, hard pounding job he had.

Just when it seems as though nothing will come up, he sees a magazine at his mother's home and reads an article about Katie Trenchard. The article about Katie's business doesn't exactly speak the truth, but Dan doesn't know that when he travels to Scotland to meet her. What does he learn? How does this experience change his life? His family's lives?

A Risk Worth Taking is great read delving into family dynamics, including how one partner in a marriage handles the success of the other partner and how sibling relationships evolve; how real friendships are vital to our lives; how trust is necessary for our survival and love - we really need love - all types - to be complete.

Try Robin Pilcher - he is very much his mother's son (Rosamunde Pilcher). You won't go wrong.

[Charley Rains · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting British story!

[Jess Van Dyne-Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this. I liked it because it was simple, and heartwarming, and really miles away from being as good as his mothers stuff (the author is Rosamunde Pilchers son) - so it stood on it's own.

You could climb into this book and pretend you were shivering on a wet Scotland meadow, trying to learn how to run a new business and fit in and finding comfort in your children and your sense that this was where you were supposed to be.

I read it in a day. A quick novel.

[Kelli Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Rosamund Pilcher. My favorite part of reading her books was to get to know another country with its unique people and customs. Secondly because of her interesting characters. With Robin, I don't always feel like the characters are fully developed or believable. The best part of this book was the description of the country, the businesses he discussed...but the story was a bit lackluster. I didn't really feel that the story or the characters were believable.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is gripping. This couple is in a difficult place in their relationship, and they both make choices and take risks.

I really enjoyed this book. It was exciting but not at all predictable. Nothing turned out as I had expected.

The main character, Dan took quite a journey and more than one risk.

I highly reccommend this book.

[Pamela Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my idea of an easy-going good read. It is a STORY which is quite different to some books where we have to concentrate in case we miss something! No one really gets hurt, but Robin Pilcher writes in such a way that I wanted to pick the book up again as soon as possible to find out what happens next. I would recommend it for a holiday read.

[Sandy Denholm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am always drawn to books like this one. The characters are so well rounded and easy to like. The description of life in both Scotland and London make me want to hop on a plane and go myself. Writing like this always leaves me feeling satisfied and happy.

[Myrna Mendez · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is forgettable. None of the main characters were likable; too shallow. As a result, I didn't care what happened to any of them. It read like a Lifetime type of movie...predictable and boring.

[Janis · Rating 4 out of 5]

To the average bystander Don Porter seems to have a great life. He commutes to his banking/ investment job in London, lives in a posh suburb, has an attractive wife Jackie who manages a high-end clothing designer shop, two daughters in private schools, and a son in college; that is, until he makes a high risk investment in the blooming dot.com market. He had sensed a feeling of slowly approaching distance from his family even though they take two fancy vacations each year and say and do everything that is expected of them. When he loses his job and becomes a stay at home dad, Jackie, his wife, who must have never heard Tammy Wynette's song, "Stand By Your Man" or Kelly Clarkson's What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger," quickly becomes impatient with his lack of finding another job and resuming their old lifestyle. His daughters, forced to transfer to public education, blame him for their lack of adjustment to their new surroundings and lack of new friends, and his son leaves college and spends most his nights clubbing. About fourteen months after his dismissal he sees an ad for the sale of a business in Scotland. On a whim he visits the site in Scotland only to find that the company has already been sold. Saddened, but not disheartened, a new opportunity which involves a new found friend and a salary way below his pay grade offers a new purpose in his life. Although he works temporarily at this job in an industry in which he must learn as he goes, it creates a new meaning to his life. I really liked this book. The reader will have an optimistic outlook for Dan Porter's life as the book ends. This is the first time I have read a Robin Pilcher book, but I could easily read his other ones. He touches all facets of an adult's life: loss, teenagers, friendships, and change with an easy reading and sometimes humorous story.

[Deanne Newman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to read this since I love his mother's books but he is no match for her. I probably would not read another book by this author. The writing itself was ok but I don't know that I ever got interested in the story and not sure it really ended. Dan is married to Jacki and they have 3 kids. He loses his job so she is supporting the family. She is clearly a bitch and the reader never gets to know anything about her except that she's cheating on her husband. Dan goes up to Scotland with his son Josh to work at a prawn company for a few months. He seems like he finds himself and so does Josh. But then Dan sleeps with his friends wife and has to go home only to find another man in his house. I think we are supposed to be happy that Dan slept with Kate because she needed it????? Her husband was withering away from MS and she was stressed about it?????? In the end the guy with MS, Patrick is killed in a plane crash. Didn't see that coming. Then it just kind of ends

[j joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up at a library book sale. While the cover referenced the author's status as a NYT best seller, I was disappointed in the book. I found the writing pretty pedestrian. I was looking forward to reading how the author tackled the idea of a man losing his job and what happens in the wake of that. The story seemed very strained and hard to believe. I just couldn't believe the protagonist going to Scotland, having been a once high flyer investor, and working a shrimp business as a hands-on worker. I felt the relationships were not fully developed, and the author sort of took the easy way out. Let's just say that I expected more.

[Andrea George · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Risk Worth Taking" by Robin Pilcher, is the first book that I have read by this author. I found the novel to be well-written with a good plot, interesting characters, and settings that were very well described. The settings take place between England and Scotland, which I enjoyed. At first, I wasn't a fan of Dan, the main character. However, as I continued reading, I felt that he was perhaps a little depressed. His character does grow on you. His wife, Jackie, wasn't the warmest character, but I believe her frustrations led her to act the way she did. Overall, a good read. My only negative comment is that the ending was too abrupt.

[JodiP · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read by Pilcher, and I really like the stories he tells. They are deceptively simple but grapple with ideas of ability, loyalty, following one dreams, and relationships. I only wish he was a more prolific author. There are only two that are available as audio books at the library so I'll have to read the rest of them. This is a pity because they are wonderful to listen to.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short and fairly pleasant read that I got through on Audiobook in a day at work. Even though the struggles of the main character might not have been super clear, it felt like it did a good job of showing and not telling how the sudden change of scenery, new friends, and opportunities to reconnect with his kids made a difference in his life. It's a simple story with an expected conclusion and I enjoyed it.

[Ireland · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book moved at a snails pace and really never went anywhere. The main character went from London to Scotland and that was the biggest movement. I didn't believe some of the turns the story took and never really felt anything for the hero. His son was sort of interesting, but his daughters were cliche teenage girls.

[Helen Dundas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy Robin’s novels almost as much as his mother’s. Not quite. I thought this novel busy, romantic & interesting. Loved Patrick, Dan & Josh. Found Katie a bit of a drag along with the two sisters of Josh.
Most people in Dan’s position would have “lost it” he is portrayed as extremely patient......or clueless. The reader must decide. In the end Jackie got exactly what she wanted.

[Jeanne (love2cook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I can't believe it's taken this long to get this off TBR mountain. This is a great story. Loved Dan, Patrick, and Kate, they'd be the kind of people who would be special friends. I thought Jackie was a snob. Dan deserved a better wife than her. Thank goodness, his prospects took a turn for the better. Great read.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

What makes this book totally different for a “romance” novel? I think it’s because the men in it are all handsome honest and brave. Except one who is a true villain. And the women are not as smart, weaker and/or silly and deceptive.
The author being a man would probably have nothing to do with this! Lol.

[MRS.F.J.McKINLAY-CLARK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like mother, like son

Having read, i think all of Rosamunde Pilchers books, i discovered Robins books. Not dusapointed. They are very like his mothers writing, gentle, well observed into the Scottish prawn industry. He obviously has a love for Scotland, brought back memories of places that i remember as a child being on holiday. Looking forward to my next read

[Ailsa Britain · Rating 3 out of 5]

I note that I purchased this book more than 10 years ago - and that was 10 years after it was written - so I'm trying to make allowances for why it feels so 'dated' (e.g. casually objective comments about body shapes etc.), but I still think I would struggle to award it any more than 3 stars. Many of the characters were odious - the wife, & the daughters in particular.

[Dorothy Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book. The characters are well developed and likable (except Jackie). There was no shooting and nobody was murdered. I even liked the open ending that let me decide what would happen when Dan returned to Scotland.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A marital spat ended Dan and his son in Scotland so I got a taste of that area is the wilds of the West. Fun because some of the movies/TV series I have recently watch were mentioned! Met fun characters.

[Patricia A. Worth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book!

I so enjoyed this wonderful story. What a great cast of characters each uniquely different. I will remember them all for a long time. I have read and enjoyed. all Robin Pilcher’s books, and this one doesn’t disappoint.

[Kathy Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh...

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way Robin writes. It is enjoyable to move seamlessly along the story as he develops each character's personality. His descriptions of the setting add depth to the book.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I previously read this book in 2008 and really enjoyed reading it! It went just as well the second time around. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Woo Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow to start but a pretty good quick read