I'll waste no time getting to the point: what a splendid, lovely novel this is! Certainly, it is much smaller in scope than the Barsetshire-novels (logically, there's six of those) and deals with much less loftier themes than the Palliser-novels, but it captures much of what Trollope is all about in just 400 pages. Trollope to me is an absolute genius in analysing (which sounds much too dry to do him justice) human relations, and the inner conflicts of humans in dealing with friends, family and lovers. And in that respect 'Rachel Ray' is a little gem.
Of all the Trollope-novels I have read so far (which is about all of them) this is the most romantic, even idyllic, love-story: Rachel Ray is a girl of humble means living with her widowed mother and (also widowed) sister in the tiny village of Baslehurst. She has just turned 19 when Luke Rowan appears on the scene to claim his (inherited) share of the town's brewery from the current owner Mr. Tappitt. To Rachel's own disbelief he falls in love with her. But there is trouble brewing: in the form of Mrs. Tappitt (who would like to see Rowan married to one of her own daughters), Rachel's sister Mrs. Prime (who thinks it very unbecoming of Rachel to let herself be courted by this young man whom she knows so little about), and diverse others...
Will Rachel succeed in marrying the man who has captured her heart? I will not spoil the fun by giving that away here, but I will guarantee you an absolutely delicious time in finding out for yourselves. In the tiny village of Baslehurst Trollope creates a microcosm with a small cast of characters but each and every one is extremely well-drawn and very much 'alive': the staunch minister Mr. prong, the village gossip Mrs. Pucker, the brewer Mr. Tappitt and his scheming wife Mrs. Tappitt, ... And then of course there's Rachel herself: she is surely one of the most adorable heroines Trollope created.
If you're new to Trollope 'Rachel Ray' is an excellent place to start, and if you've already read some of his books and likes them you will definitely adore 'Rachel Ray'!