Complete list of the Rutshire Chronicles

Synopsis

the steamiest in the series, follows the intense rivalry between Jake Lovell, a brooding gypsy with a talent for taming both horses and women, and Rupert Campbell-Black, a privileged and reckless show jumping star.

Their bitter feud, fuelled by stolen horses and romantic entanglements, escalates to a dramatic showdown at the Los Angeles Olympics, where personal and professional conflicts come to a head with explosive consequences.

Synopsis

Rivals, part of Jilly Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles, takes readers into the cutthroat world of Corinium Television, where glamour, ambition, and scandal abound. Declan O’Hara, a charismatic star with a beautiful but irresponsible wife, a handsome son, and two stunning daughters, joins the network, quickly discovering that its Managing Director, Lord Baddingham, is corrupt. Declan’s show is being produced by the strong-willed and beautiful Cameron Cook, whom he immediately clashes with, sparking tension and controversy.

Meanwhile, Rupert Campbell-Black, now a divorced and dissolute Tory Minister for Sport, stirs up the drama with his characteristic recklessness. As rival groups vie for control of Corinium, the plot unfolds with plenty of romantic entanglements, betrayals, and steamy encounters. In both the boardroom and the bedroom, the stakes are high as the battle to win the Cotswold Crown heats up, bringing love, scandal, and intrigue to the forefront.

Synopsis

we are introduced to Ricky France-Lynch, a brooding and powerful man with a crumbling estate, a prestigious nine-goal polo handicap, and a wife who is easily lured away by wealth. Ricky also holds the admiration of 14-year-old Perdita MacLeod, an ambitious girl dreaming of becoming a top polo player.

As Perdita idolizes Ricky and yearns to join the wild and glamorous polo scene, Ricky’s life spirals into tragedy, shattering his world. Perdita, growing up into a headstrong young woman, becomes fiercely dedicated to her horses—and to Ricky. Meanwhile, Ricky is consumed by an obsession to win back his wife, while Perdita is equally determined to win Ricky’s heart and a place as a world-class polo player.

Their journeys take readers across stunning locations, from Argentina’s estancias to Palm Beach, Deauville, and the royal polo fields of England. The climactic showdown on California’s polo pitches is more than just a game—it’s a heroic battle for love, redemption, and a coveted silver cup. The novel offers a thrilling blend of passion, sport, and high-stakes drama.

Synopsis

Lysander Hawkley is a devastatingly handsome and kind-hearted man who can’t resist coming to the aid of neglected wives. His rescues often lead to passionate affairs, much to the displeasure of their unfaithful husbands. At just twenty-two, Lysander is already facing a mid-life crisis—struggling with the death of his glamorous mother, excessive drinking, and crippling debt.

His friend Ferdie devises a clever solution: Lysander could make a living by stirring jealousy in negligent husbands, a role he fits perfectly. Unleashed upon the neglected wives of Rutshire’s elite, Lysander creates chaos, but things take a more dangerous turn when he crosses paths with Rannaldini, a notorious and promiscuous international conductor. Rannaldini’s wife, Kitty, may be the only unglamorous woman in his life, but Lysander becomes convinced she needs rescuing. To take on Rannaldini, Lysander enlists the help of the legendary Rupert Campbell-Black, resulting in even more mayhem. Filled with passion, drama, and witty escapades, the novel is a wild ride through Rutshire’s ritzy high society.

Synopsis

Abigail Rosen, known as “Appassionata,” is a stunning and passionate violinist adored by fans and desired by men. Despite her fame, Abigail is lonely and feels exploited. After a dramatic suicide attempt ends her violin career, she embarks on a new path, determined to become a conductor. Given the chance to lead the Rutminster Symphony Orchestra, she is thrilled—unaware that the orchestra is drowning in debt and filled with an unruly, promiscuous group of musicians.

Abigail faces the daunting challenge of turning this chaotic ensemble into a legitimate orchestra while fending off the advances of Viking, the irresistibly charming French horn player. As she navigates the drama, lust, and intrigue within the orchestra, Abigail’s journey is a rollercoaster of sexy, humorous escapades, offering classic Jilly Cooper fun at its best.

Synopsis

A wildly successful but despised conductor, has two obsessions: seducing his stunning 19-year-old stepdaughter, Tabitha Campbell-Black, and cementing his legacy by creating the ultimate film adaptation of Verdi’s opera Don Carlos. Rannaldini gathers a volatile mix of talent at his haunted abbey, including Tristan, a charming French director, along with a difficult cast and unruly French crew. As tensions rise, the filming is marked by passionate affairs, fiery arguments, and cunning schemes.

While everyone loathes Rannaldini, no one expects him to be murdered. But when the Maestro meets his end, the aftermath is as chaotic as the production itself, with strange and mysterious events continuing to unfold. Packed with Jilly Cooper’s signature humor, drama, and intrigue, Score! delivers a thrilling mix of romance, rivalry, and murder in the glamorous world of classical music and film.

Synopsis

Raphael’s masterpiece, Pandora, discovered in a Normandy chateau in 1944 by Lieutenant Raymond Kelvedon, has captivated his artistic family for fifty years, hanging in their picturesque Cotswold home. The painting silently witnesses the tumultuous lives of Raymond’s wife, Galena, who juggles multiple lovers and raises their four children: Jupiter, Alizarin, Jonathan, and the rebellious Sienna.

When a mysterious woman arrives, claiming to be a long-lost daughter, tensions rise among the Kelvedon brothers, further complicated by her glamorous boyfriend, who harbors a suspicious interest in the Raphael. During a lavish fireworks party, Pandora is stolen, setting off a thrilling chase across Vienna, Geneva, Paris, New York, and London. The suspense culminates in a gripping court case and a high-stakes Sotheby’s auction. In the end, love triumphs, and the painting is restored to its rightful home in a story full of passion, intrigue, and international adventure.

Synopsis

Trouble brews at Bagley Hall, a prestigious yet wild independent school brimming with the children of the rich and famous. The school’s charismatic and scheming headmaster, Hengist Brett-Taylor, devises a plan to share facilities with the struggling Larkminster Comprehensive, or “Larks,” a financially strapped school facing closure. Hengist’s motivations are primarily financial, but he is also drawn to the prospect of working closely with Janna Curtis, the bold and attractive new head of Larks, who is determined to save her school.

While Janna fights to turn around the demoralized and underfunded Larks, many parents and staff from both schools are wary of the proposed merger. However, for the students, it presents a thrilling opportunity for even more mischief and chaos. The story is filled with Jilly Cooper’s trademark humor, romance, and schoolyard drama, as the ambitious scheme brings about unexpected challenges and opportunities for all involved.

Synopsis

Etta Bancroft, a kind-hearted and elegant woman, finds herself uprooted from her beloved Dorset home by her selfish children after the death of her bullying husband. Moved to an unappealing modern bungalow in the Cotswold village of Willowwood, Etta’s life seems bleak until a fateful discovery in the nearby woods: a severely injured filly, which she names Mrs. Wilkinson.

Etta nurses the filly back to health, and to everyone’s surprise, it turns out that Mrs. Wilkinson is a well-bred racehorse. After a tense court battle, Etta is awarded ownership of the horse, angering its previous trainer. A quirky group of village characters forms a syndicate to train the filly, and under the guidance of Rupert Campbell-Black’s stunning goddaughter, Amber, Mrs. Wilkinson charms crowds and achieves remarkable success on the racing circuit.

As Mrs. Wilkinson rises through the ranks, the story culminates with her entry into the prestigious Grand National, where she has the chance to make history as the first mare in over fifty years to win, ridden by Amber, who could become the first female jockey to achieve victory in this legendary race. The novel is a heartwarming and exciting tale of second chances, redemption, and the unpredictable world of horse racing.

Synopsis

Rupert Campbell-Black is fixated on one goal: having his beloved grey stallion, Love Rat, crowned champion stallion, defeating his rival Cosmo Rannaldini’s horse, Roberto’s Revenge. This obsession drives Rupert to leave his Penscombe estate and his beloved wife, Taggie, behind, as he pursues victory in prestigious races across the globe, from Dubai to Los Angeles to Melbourne.

Back at home, Rupert’s assistant Gav, a horse expert with a troubled past involving alcoholism and a toxic marriage, keeps the operation running. However, everything changes when Gala, a stunning Zimbabwean widow mourning the loss of her husband, arrives at Penscombe to care for Rupert’s difficult father. Both Gav and Rupert are drawn to Gala, especially as she begins working with the horses.

Meanwhile, a strikingly handsome South African man, who claims to be gay, takes over Gala’s role as carer, but his attentions toward the sweet and innocent Taggie raise suspicions. Amidst this, a series of mysterious and increasingly malicious sabotage attempts threaten Penscombe, as romantic tensions and intrigue swirl around the stables in typical Jilly Cooper style.