The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan

The men are off to war so the church choir is shutting down.  The women protest but the choir leader tells them they need the men's voices to make it sound good.  Then another woman offers to teach them to sing and says that she will lead the choir.  Sounds simple, doesn't it?  But you don't know the Chilbury women...

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.  It has been published and you can find a copy now.

We learn the story of these women through letters, diaries, and journals.  Secret thoughts are shared in them.  Every woman has some secrets, some more damaging than others.  And no one is as innocent as they look.  The men that are still there have their secrets, too.

Since this is set during WW1, the women are expected to act in certain ways.  With the men all serving in the war, they don't have much choice.  What needs to be done must be done by women.  The women's choir steps up into the gap and helps everyone they can.  Music can heal one's soul.

There's an affair going on here, a baby swap over there, and bombs that kill two important women.  War is no fun.  But the women are resourceful and take care of their own.  There's even a new marriage that was unexpected.

This is enjoyable read about the past done in a form I like.  It reminds me of when I visited my grandparents.  These women are from that time and I think they did a good job.  What do you think?