Muddy Boots and Silk Stockings

By: Julia Stoneham

Narrated by: Patience Tomlinson

It's 1943 and the country is at war. An unlikely group of land girls are finding out about life, love and loss, forming surprising friendships along the way.

When Alice Todd's husband runs off with another woman, she is forced to find a means to provide for herself and her young son. Accepting a position as a hostel warden at an old Devonshire farmhouse, Alice finds herself looking after ten volunteer land girls. The job is not as easy as it first seems. Not only does Alice have to deal with the uncompromising farm owner, but as her young charges arrive at the farm she discovers every girl has a story - and some have rather dark secrets.

©2008 Julia Stoneham (P)2009 Soundings

Needs Focus and depth

The story wanders from one character to another, and there are too many characters, resulting in development. I also like reading WWII stories that teach me something new about the history of the war, but I didn't get much of that here. This book could have just about taken place anywhere.