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A Song at Twilight
It is 1943 and the quiet of Harrowbeer, in Devon, is disrupted by increased activity at the nearly airfield, built at the beginning of the War. Alison, married to a pilot and newly pregnant, soon makes friends with the locals, particularly with May, who finds herself watching and waiting as the pilots and crew carry out their dangerous missions. Then, on the night when Alison's baby is born, her husband is reported missing and Alison and May find themselves facing a dilemma all too familiar to the wives and sweethearts of those who flew the Spitfires, Hurricanes, and other aircraft to protect their country during this time of war.
- GenresHistoricalWorld War II
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
About the author
Lilian Harry
67 books71 followersaka Donna Baker, Nicola West
Donna Thomson was born in Gosport, near Portsmouth Harbour, England, UK. Growing up during the terrifying years of the Blitz in a two-up, two-down terraced house, the youngest of four, she aspired to be a writer from an early age.
As a young woman she worked in the Civil Service and moved to Devon to be near her sailor husband. They had a son and a daughter. When the marriage ended, she and her two children moved to the Midlands, where she happily married again to her second husband. After living in the Lake District for twelve years, she finally moved back to Devon, and now lives in a village on the edge of Dartmoor. She lost her son Philip in 2008, and has two grandchildren. A keen walker and animal-lover, she now has a dog and three ginger cats to keep her busy, along with a wide range of hobbies she enjoys.
She started signing her romance novels as Donna Baker and Nicola West, now she also writes as Lilian Harry (inspired by the first names of her grandparents). Among her works are historical novels, romances and even two books giving advice on how to write short stories and novels.
Donna Thomson was born in Gosport, near Portsmouth Harbour, England, UK. Growing up during the terrifying years of the Blitz in a two-up, two-down terraced house, the youngest of four, she aspired to be a writer from an early age.
As a young woman she worked in the Civil Service and moved to Devon to be near her sailor husband. They had a son and a daughter. When the marriage ended, she and her two children moved to the Midlands, where she happily married again to her second husband. After living in the Lake District for twelve years, she finally moved back to Devon, and now lives in a village on the edge of Dartmoor. She lost her son Philip in 2008, and has two grandchildren. A keen walker and animal-lover, she now has a dog and three ginger cats to keep her busy, along with a wide range of hobbies she enjoys.
She started signing her romance novels as Donna Baker and Nicola West, now she also writes as Lilian Harry (inspired by the first names of her grandparents). Among her works are historical novels, romances and even two books giving advice on how to write short stories and novels.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 27, 2018
Really enjoyed reading this book by Lilian Harry. Storytelling at it's best. Recommended.
December 6, 2022
Allison always watches the planes take off from Harrowbeer airfield, knowing that her husband, Andrew, is doing his part in the war as a fighter pilot. She makes friends with the locals, including May whose beau is part of Andrew's squadron. But soon after giving birth to their second child, Allison learns that her husband is missing.
This book is beautifully written. You can tell that the author really loved Devon because of how well done the descriptions are. I felt as if I was right there with the characters.
Though Alison would be dubbed the 'main character', the book is told from many different points of views including her husband, May and the Polish pilot, Stefan.
I loved May and Ben's story the best. I found they were an even better couple than Alison and Andrew and seemed more fleshed out as characters.
The only thing keeping it from being five stars is the ending. It was a bit too fairytale-y for me.
This book is beautifully written. You can tell that the author really loved Devon because of how well done the descriptions are. I felt as if I was right there with the characters.
Though Alison would be dubbed the 'main character', the book is told from many different points of views including her husband, May and the Polish pilot, Stefan.
I loved May and Ben's story the best. I found they were an even better couple than Alison and Andrew and seemed more fleshed out as characters.
The only thing keeping it from being five stars is the ending. It was a bit too fairytale-y for me.
November 27, 2016
To be honest, this is not a literary jewel. Nothing special about its style or used words. Its uniqueness lies in the power of the story. It captured me. The story of Alison, May, and other women who had their relatives and sweethearts fighting in World War II was an emotionally strong one as it unveiled still more and more layers of everything in the background. What I liked most was the relationshipo between Stefan and Alison. I really, really recommend reading this book to anyone interested in what it was like for people left behind who lived in the constant fear of losing their relatives - just to recall and never forget the cruelty and uselessness of (any) war. It is very important. And the story is a pleasure to read.
February 25, 2023
O carte puternica din punct de vedere emotional, ce dezvaluie ce se afla in fundalul unui razboi. Nu ororile din lupta, ci tragediile celor ramasi: iubite, sotii, parinti, copii.
"In spatele fiecarei morti se ascunde o tragedie. Nu este vorba numai despre barbati morti, soldati, aviatori, marinari, ci de golul pe care l-au lasat in urma lor, in vietile celor care-i iubeau. Si unii dintre acestia nu-si mai reveneau niciodata."
Retraim cu fiecare pagina, teama constanta a celor de acasa, de a primi vestea mortii celor dragi. Merita citit acest volum chiar si pentru simplul fapt de a nu uita cruzimea si inutilitatea unui razboi.
"In spatele fiecarei morti se ascunde o tragedie. Nu este vorba numai despre barbati morti, soldati, aviatori, marinari, ci de golul pe care l-au lasat in urma lor, in vietile celor care-i iubeau. Si unii dintre acestia nu-si mai reveneau niciodata."
Retraim cu fiecare pagina, teama constanta a celor de acasa, de a primi vestea mortii celor dragi. Merita citit acest volum chiar si pentru simplul fapt de a nu uita cruzimea si inutilitatea unui razboi.
July 5, 2021
A story of war and the many lives affected as young men and women give their lives to serve while parents, wives and girl friends wait at home always, always fearing that dreadful telegram delivery or the unexpected knock on the door at unusual hours of the day or night.
This author writes in a poignant, detailed style and the lives of the characters in her story will resonate with you as you feel their pain and their joys.
This author writes in a poignant, detailed style and the lives of the characters in her story will resonate with you as you feel their pain and their joys.
March 22, 2024
It was not amazing, not bad, just fine. It didn’t keep me on the edge of my seat, I felt like it missed the “what’s going to happen next” factor. The storyline was pretty linear, a little predictible and it lacked in excitement.
One thing that really bothered me was the way Alison responded to Stefan’s affection. I mean, she is married to Andrew but she kisses Stefan with no trace of remorse or shame, like it was nothing. Her husband is at war, maybe dying fighting the enemy and she kisses his subordinate. It was just messed up for me.
All in all, it was good enough read to pass the time.
One thing that really bothered me was the way Alison responded to Stefan’s affection. I mean, she is married to Andrew but she kisses Stefan with no trace of remorse or shame, like it was nothing. Her husband is at war, maybe dying fighting the enemy and she kisses his subordinate. It was just messed up for me.
All in all, it was good enough read to pass the time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2019
O carte superba cu povesti de viata minunate! Recomand!
August 3, 2020
An enjoyable read.
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October 4, 2013Actiunea romanului de fata se petrece in timpul celui de-al doilea Razboi Mondial, o perioada ce a avut un impact puternic asupra multor destine.
In octombrie 1943, Alison Knight, impreuna cu sotul si baietelul lorse muta la noul aeroport din Harrowbeer, unde Andrew a fost numit comandantul unei escadrile. In curand casa lor se va transforma intr-un loc cald si primitor pentru toata lumea. Aeroportul, cu zgomotul asurzitor al motoarelor si forfota specifica unui asemenea loc va schimba radical viata multora. Toti impart veselia, speranta si cel mai adesea tragedia, caci razboiul purtat pe calea aerului secera multe vieti. I se poate intampla chiar si lui Andrew...
Alison se apropie foarte mult de o localnica pe nume May Prettyjohn, care-i devine atat prietena buna, cat si confidenta. Atunci cand ramane insarcinata cu fetita lor, Alison se bucura mult de toata dragostea si atentia lui May. Dar si Stefan este langa ea, un soldat polonez din escadrila lui Andrew. Cei doi ajung sa se intalneasca din ce in ce mai mult si isi deschid sufletul unul altuia...Stefan este cel care vede primul fetita abia nascuta si ii aduce vestea lui Andrew, care nu poate parasi tabara datorita unui nou bombardament - iar Stefan este adus la maternitate fiind ranit usor intr-un raid. Cand in sfarsit soldatilor li se acorda permisii pentru a pleca acasa, Andrew este dat disparut si crezut mort.
Acelasi destin pare sa-l aiba si May, care se indragosteste de Ben Hazelwood, un tanar soldat, mai mic cu trei ani ca ea. In ziua in care isi anunta logodna, cei doi sunt binecuvantati de familia lui May. Parintii lui Ben fiind prea indurerati la vestea mortii baiatului lor cel mai mic Peter, nu primesc vestea casatoriei lui Ben cu entuziasm, spunandu-i sa mai astepte. Ben este dat si el disparut....dar revine cand cele doua familii pun capat neintelegerilor si decid sa se alieze pentru fericirea copiilor lor, May si Ben.
Cei doi au parte de nunta pe care si-au promis-o, Andrew revine si el, accidentat si fara un brat, dar deja circula vestile ca razboiul se apropie de sfarsit !
In octombrie 1943, Alison Knight, impreuna cu sotul si baietelul lorse muta la noul aeroport din Harrowbeer, unde Andrew a fost numit comandantul unei escadrile. In curand casa lor se va transforma intr-un loc cald si primitor pentru toata lumea. Aeroportul, cu zgomotul asurzitor al motoarelor si forfota specifica unui asemenea loc va schimba radical viata multora. Toti impart veselia, speranta si cel mai adesea tragedia, caci razboiul purtat pe calea aerului secera multe vieti. I se poate intampla chiar si lui Andrew...
Alison se apropie foarte mult de o localnica pe nume May Prettyjohn, care-i devine atat prietena buna, cat si confidenta. Atunci cand ramane insarcinata cu fetita lor, Alison se bucura mult de toata dragostea si atentia lui May. Dar si Stefan este langa ea, un soldat polonez din escadrila lui Andrew. Cei doi ajung sa se intalneasca din ce in ce mai mult si isi deschid sufletul unul altuia...Stefan este cel care vede primul fetita abia nascuta si ii aduce vestea lui Andrew, care nu poate parasi tabara datorita unui nou bombardament - iar Stefan este adus la maternitate fiind ranit usor intr-un raid. Cand in sfarsit soldatilor li se acorda permisii pentru a pleca acasa, Andrew este dat disparut si crezut mort.
Acelasi destin pare sa-l aiba si May, care se indragosteste de Ben Hazelwood, un tanar soldat, mai mic cu trei ani ca ea. In ziua in care isi anunta logodna, cei doi sunt binecuvantati de familia lui May. Parintii lui Ben fiind prea indurerati la vestea mortii baiatului lor cel mai mic Peter, nu primesc vestea casatoriei lui Ben cu entuziasm, spunandu-i sa mai astepte. Ben este dat si el disparut....dar revine cand cele doua familii pun capat neintelegerilor si decid sa se alieze pentru fericirea copiilor lor, May si Ben.
Cei doi au parte de nunta pe care si-au promis-o, Andrew revine si el, accidentat si fara un brat, dar deja circula vestile ca razboiul se apropie de sfarsit !
April 13, 2015
One of Lilian Harry's special talents is to depict totally believable characters: this book may have been set over 60 years ago, but the native Devonshire characters n this are so well drawn that you wouldn't be in the least surprised to bump into them on the moor - or in Tavistock - even today.
January 25, 2024
Having stayed at Yelverton on a number of occasions and explored the remains of the airfield this story was of especial interest. The tale was well written and the characters believable. The story was an Insight into how war changed people's
lives In an instant.
lives In an instant.
April 22, 2017
A lovely book with so much historical research behind the human story. Very evocative of Dartmoor right down to the delicately done local accent.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews