Do yourself a favor and set aside a morning or an afternoon so you can read this newest book straight through. This being the third book in the series, the people of Bramble Heath feel like old friends and the village feels like home. It's comforting to see familiar faces from the other books as they cross paths with the new veterinarian, Laura. But, and there is always a "but", there is also the fear that this might be the book where we lose some of our favorite characters to the war. Will the long reach of Hitler find its way even to the quaint, timeless village of Bramble Heath?

In this story, the action and the danger aren't taking place at the RAF base located on the edge of the village but on the farms surrounding it. There is a conspiracy to disrupt the food supply for the homefront by damaging the farms and their animals. If you've lived in a small town, you quickly realize that it can't be an outsider since a stranger always stands out. I thoroughly enjoyed the insights into the many Land Girls who came from across England and the sexist attitudes they faced from some of the locals. I loved a new character, Sarah, an indomitable young girl evacuated from London's East End. As in each book, there is a sweet romance that develops slowly, this time between Laura and Commander Alistair Seaton. (And yes, the name should ring a bell from the second book.) The story also includes a thoughtful thread about the effects of PTSD on combat veterans as well as survivors of the Blitz, which affects both the Commander and Laura, a survivor of the hellish bombing of Coventry. So, set aside a few hours, fix a cup of milky tea, and come home to Bramble Heath. You'll be glad you did.

A gripping story of a WWII British female vet who cares for animals in an English village, under siege from blitz bombs and an attack of a different sort on farms producing much needed food. A winner!