I had no idea of the history of the Women's Timber Corps and their efforts to supply Britain with desperately needed lumber for the World War Two effort. I suspect many other readers don't either, and author Leech does a terrific job describing the huge, painful, exhausting physical toll of cutting timber for the women who took it on as their duty, and sometimes, escape from their ordinary lives. Seventeen-year-old Margaret "Maisie" McCall is one such woman, escaping her fractious home life in Glasgow for the great forests in rural Scotland. Leech provides a virtual treatise on the methodologies, dangers, and addictions of the foresting lifestyle. The best of the story lies in the friendships and support the women find in each other as they struggle to evolve into working women who can proudly call themselves "lumberjills." Yes, there are a great many characters milling about the various camps, and they sport names such as Dot, Nancy, Rose, Susan, and even a bad 'un named Violet. But their triumphs and setbacks make for some compelling reading until the inevitable posse of men shows up.
A love affair with the Canadian lumberjack, John, who alternately frowns, limps and recites poetry, takes over the story and frankly, is not as compelling as Maisie's previous forays into independence. Her maturation no longer comes from her experiences working and living with a diverse group of women, but instead from responding to John's behaviors and treatment of her. The physical chemistry between them feels authentic, the shared delight in poetry is a nice touch, and the portrayal of his PTSD feels true. But I found myself agreeing with Maisie's much-maligned mother who urges her daughter to put young love aside and focus on the chances the War has brought young women to break out of the traditional wife/motherhood path. Will Maisie listen? Well, at least she gets the chance to rescue the hero a few times, make some lifelong friendships, and forge new relationships with her mother and sister before she decides her fate. A conventionally happy ending awaits, though the emotional satisfaction from the brief mention that some of the women build their own utopia on their old timber camp's site brought a real feeling of satisfying conclusion for this reader. Leech can certainly pick a good idea, do the research and write well enough to create a pleasant read; if she takes chances with her next book and has the characters follow a less traditional path, she could produce a good one.