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|amazonukwebsite=http://www.alexandermccallsmith.co.uk/|cover=0349122059|aznuk=<amazonuk>0349122059</amazonuk> |amazonusaznus=<amazonus>0307398110</amazonus>

This is a charming stand-alone story that is set, for the most part, during World War Two deep in the English countryside. La is a young, well-educated widow who finds herself doing farm work as part of her war efforts and then starts a small orchestra as an aid to lift the spirits of the local airmen and the civilians living in the area. Through this , she meets a gentle Polish man, Feliks, and finds herself struggling with her feelings towards him as well as her suspicions about his past.

I am always excited when I discover a new book by McCall Smith, and I wasn't disappointed with this story. It's a stand-alone work, rather than being part of the [[The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith|Mma Ramotswe]], Isabel Dalhousie or Scotland Street series. He captures the feel of war-torn Britain beautifully, but the book isn't depressing or disturbing. On the surface , it seems a simple story, but as with all his writing , this is a deception. His characters are beautifully drawn and they always seem very alive to me as a reader. La is an interesting heroine, but I found that what I most enjoyed was how McCall Smith evoked the feel of the period through the story. I don't think this book will have the broad appeal that he's had with his other books, but if you'd like a cosy, uplifting read then this is worth a go!

Another book which brings to life the effect the war had on the country is [[The Girl From World's End by Leah Fleming]] although it's not of the same quality as this book. We think you ''will'' enjoy [[Chance Developments: Unexpected Love Stories by Alexander McCall Smith]] but we're less certain about [[The Forever Girl by Alexander McCall Smith|The Forever Girl]] which isn't one of AMS's best books. We also have a review of [[My Italian Bulldozer by Alexander McCall Smith|another standalone]] from AMS. {{amazontext|amazon=0349122059}}{{amazonUStext|amazon=0307398110}}