It's 1942 and at nineteen years old Hannah Compton has the world at her feet. But with World War II raging, the country is in turmoil, and Hannah decides to do her bit for the War effort. Her beloved grandfather taught her to grow vegetables in his market garden, so to make him proud she becomes one of over 200,000 women to join the Land Army. Posted to Salhouse Farm on the outskirts of Norwich, Hannah is excited for the adventure ahead of her.
But soon reality hits. Hannah is a city girl at heart and life in the countryside is not what she'd imagined. It's cold, she hates the hard work, she misses her friends back in Manchester, and she has to share a double bed with a stranger. As Hannah gets used to the punishing farm work and makes some friends, she starts to settle in. But she simply can't get used to living side by side with the German prisoners of war. She tries to avoid them at all costs, convinced they must be trouble. Then a young German doctor steps in to save Hannah and she is swept off her feet.
In a country at war, will Hannah be prepared to risk everything for the enemy?
Another brilliantly written book from Shirley Mann. I get completely immersed in her page-turning narratives and the life-like characters she creates and this book is no exception.
I’m somewhat reading this series out of order but it hasn’t been too much of a bind. I started with Lily’s War and love that there’s a book dedicated to a character and their experience with their respective wars.
In this one, we join the rather reserved Hannah who, not only young and naive, has a lot of fear to overcome. She joins the Land Army and it was truly the making of her! It was so nice to see her go from strength to strength and to read how much she grew from the girl we met at the start.
She won me over with her heart of a trier attitude and I was rooting for her so hard. I also enjoyed getting to know the other characters that she worked alongside with. I’m excited to start the next one in the Women at War series.
I’m a long term lover of Shirley Manns writing. She is a lovely lady and I’m blessed to have shared a conversation or two with her regarding her books.
Without any spoilers…this is just as good as Lily and Bobby. It’s so lovely to see the different sides of the war and now there were SO many different roles for women.
It’s wonderful to hear of how the LA girls made or found their fun out of the simplest things. There is friendship, love, trust, heartbreak and what I love is the serious family incidents / traumas that are mentioned that remind you that not only are these girls working in a war but they also have their own issues going on physically or mentally. It makes me feel so grateful for being in the times we are now and having so much to be blessed for. Please pick it up and read but read Lily and Bobby first - all 3 books you won’t put down!! Bring on Bridget’s War in 2023.
One last thing is….the last line of the book….say no more!!!! Xx
I read the previous books by this author and they are all linked by characters. This was my least favourite but I look forward to Bridget's War which is apparently the next book.
The third book in Shirley Mann's series about women during WW2 is even better than the first two! The author transports you right back to wartime in the 1940s and her attention to detail brings it to life, making you feel like you are there. This book is complicated by Hannah, the Land Girl, falling in love with a German prisoner-of-war, so it is very different from the others, but definitely just as compelling. A great read!
These books are so intense and draw you in the the story straight away Showing you how the girls who join the ATA the land Army A must read of the 4 books so far with a new one coming out in 2025 Have so enjoying reading them and my first books with this Author