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A Scent of Lavender
A captivating tale of forbidden passion and wartime friendship from the bestselling author of THE WILLOW POOL and ONE SUMMER AT DEER'S LEAP. It's 1940 and the threat of invasion hangs over Britain. But in the isolated hamlet of Nun Ainsty it is the arrival of the Army that turns things turned upside down -- especially for two young women. Lorna Hatherwood, married to a man ten years older, lives a quiet life. Then she volunteers to read to blind soldiers at the nearby Manor and everything changes -- because of a handsome medical officer named Ewan MacMillan. But their relationship could spell disaster! Then there is Ness Nightingale. A Land Girl billeted with Lorna, Ness is trying to forget a disastrous love affair. But when she meets Mick Hardie, a conscientious objector, she has to remind herself that she has vowed never to trust a man again !
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First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 7, 2011
What a lovely read. Set in War times (WWII) in a small village outside of England called Nun Ainsty. Lorna waves her husband off at the train station, he is going to join the war at Aldershot. William is a very stuffy & un-romantic sort of guy and ten years older than Lorna, who is only 23. On arriving home a neighbour comes to visit and asks if Lorna would help out the war effort by agreeing to accommodate a land girl that will be working at a nearby farm. Lorna agrees without speaking to William, who will not be happy about having someone living in the house. Ness Nightingale is the Land Girl and the two women quickly become the best of friends. This is were the story begins of two ladies who become life long friends and the ups and downs of life & marriage (for Lorna) in War times. Secrets, love, sadness and happiness is all to follow.
I really enjoyed reading this book, it was very easy to read and I found the characters very likeable. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.
I really enjoyed reading this book, it was very easy to read and I found the characters very likeable. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.
May 14, 2022
A captivating tale of forbidden passion and wartime friendship.
It's 1940 and the threat of invasion hangs over Britain. But in the isolated hamlet of Nun Ainsty it is the arrival of the Army that turns things turned upside down – especially for two young women.
Lorna Hatherwood, married to a man ten years older, lives a quiet life. Then she volunteers to read to blind soldiers at the nearby Manor and everything changes – because of a handsome medical officer named Ewan MacMillan. But their relationship could spell disaster…
Then there is Ness Nightingale.A Land Girl billeted with Lorna, Ness is trying to forget a disastrous love affair. But when she meets Mick Hardie,a conscientious objector, she has to remind herself that she has vowed never to trust a man again...
The Ainsty was a historic district of Yorkshire,England,west of the city of York.Originally a wapentake(hundred) or subdivision of the West Riding of Yorkshire it later had a unique status as a rural area controlled by the corporation of the city.A priory is a monastery of men or women under religious views,headed by the prior/prioress.
Meltonby is a hamlet in the civil parish of Yapham, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.
In WWII England,Conscientious Objection Tribunals were set up to deal with claims for exemption, but this time there were no military representatives acting as prosecutors.
The political and moral views of the tribunal chairman was vitally important. It was very difficult to get a fair hearing in London, especially during the Blitz.
Conscientious objectors were supported by the PPU.As the war progressed fewer and fewer men objected to serving in the armed forces.
The Middle East Land Forces commanded British land forces and coordinated with the relevant naval and air commands to defend British interests in the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean region.
On 18th December 1941, the National Service Act was passed.This legislation called up unmarried women aged 20-30 for war work. Later this was extended to married women, except pregnant women and mothers with young children.A Janner is a person coming from Devon, especially Plymouth city.
It's 1940 and the threat of invasion hangs over Britain. But in the isolated hamlet of Nun Ainsty it is the arrival of the Army that turns things turned upside down – especially for two young women.
Lorna Hatherwood, married to a man ten years older, lives a quiet life. Then she volunteers to read to blind soldiers at the nearby Manor and everything changes – because of a handsome medical officer named Ewan MacMillan. But their relationship could spell disaster…
Then there is Ness Nightingale.A Land Girl billeted with Lorna, Ness is trying to forget a disastrous love affair. But when she meets Mick Hardie,a conscientious objector, she has to remind herself that she has vowed never to trust a man again...
The Ainsty was a historic district of Yorkshire,England,west of the city of York.Originally a wapentake(hundred) or subdivision of the West Riding of Yorkshire it later had a unique status as a rural area controlled by the corporation of the city.A priory is a monastery of men or women under religious views,headed by the prior/prioress.
Meltonby is a hamlet in the civil parish of Yapham, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England.
In WWII England,Conscientious Objection Tribunals were set up to deal with claims for exemption, but this time there were no military representatives acting as prosecutors.
The political and moral views of the tribunal chairman was vitally important. It was very difficult to get a fair hearing in London, especially during the Blitz.
Conscientious objectors were supported by the PPU.As the war progressed fewer and fewer men objected to serving in the armed forces.
The Middle East Land Forces commanded British land forces and coordinated with the relevant naval and air commands to defend British interests in the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean region.
On 18th December 1941, the National Service Act was passed.This legislation called up unmarried women aged 20-30 for war work. Later this was extended to married women, except pregnant women and mothers with young children.A Janner is a person coming from Devon, especially Plymouth city.
March 31, 2021
its was a cosy read... very slow paced
November 6, 2012
This isn't the sort of book I read, but someone recommended it so I thought I would give it a try. It's the type of book my late mother-in-law used to enjoy, especially since it is set in Yorkshire. It's one of those books that's meant to be slow paced. There were times when I felt it was a bit too slow, but I would just have to remind myself that this was just one of those types of books. It's like driving hundreds of miles to see family, you can either take the motorway and not see very much but get there quicker or take the B-roads and enjoy the scenery. This is a B-road type of book and all the better for it. As someone whose parents weren't even born yet by the end of WWII, it was nice to see the war from the point of view of those that had to live through it, something that rarely comes accross in TV dramas and movies set in the period. This book deals well in the realities of life during the war. The main characters are sympathetic and I enjoyed reading about them. However, I felt with the male characters, you could tell that they were written by a female author. Despite that, I did enjoy it and I'm glad I read this book.
February 13, 2016
The feeling I got, during the early stages of this book, was how the story was going to pan-out. That being so, I still felt it was very well written and gave me the feeling of how life was in a small village during WW2 England.
May 20, 2009
magical,couldn't put it down
July 30, 2012
A lovely old fashion novel, which I neeeded and I have returned to her writing many many times for a favourite read to relax the mind and just enjoy a typical english novel!
January 1, 2014
Classic puff beachside reading. It's main virtue is that it passes quickly and easily with no engagement/thought required.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews