This wonderful book describes one memorable summer for Miss Read, and her friends in the little village of Fairacre. The descriptions of the village gardens just jump off the page. You can almost smell the honeysuckle and the roses in her garden. Most of these books cover all four seasons but this one is centered on Spring and Summer. Miss Read's elegant friend Amy is still playing matchmaker, but unfortunately the two gentlemen she sets her sights on end up engaged to someone else. This pleases Miss Read immensely since she has no desire to get married. She's quite happy being a spinster schoolmarm and is free to do what she wants. Mrs. Pringle the curmudgeonly cleaning lady is back in fine fettle and at her most annoying. The old negative grouser decides she can't clean the school or Miss Read's home, since her bad leg is acting up worse than ever. She claims the doctor wants her off her feet. Problem is, she won't tell Miss Read whether this is a temporary or permanent situation.Miss Read knows that the minute she places an ad for a cleaning person, Mrs. Pringle will start yelling about how it's her job and how dare she give it to someone else. Reading about her dealings with the nasty old woman is fun. She has become very adept at not rising to the bait, and not reacting to the negative and outrageous remarks made by Miss Pringle. Mrs. Pringle is not the only outstanding character in these books. There are many more, including Mr. Willet the handyman, the Vicar and his wife, Mr. Lamb the postmaster, and Miss Dolly Clare the former teacher at the school. It's fun to visit this lovely little village in England and spend time getting to know the very quirky and interesting inhabitants.
"We were at college together many years ago. She is now married to a businessman who seems to earn a great deal of money. This busy life involves much travelling, and Amy is often left alone while he is away either here or abroad. James is a charmer, and devoted to the opposite sex. Personally, I am sure that he adores Amy, but whether he is wholly faithful to her, I have my doubts. Although Amy is far too loyal to voice her suspicions, she is pretty shrewd, and I think she knows quite well that some of these so-called business trips include other interests.
