Book 5

The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan

As England becomes enmeshed in the early days of World War II and the men are away fighting, the women of Chilbury village forge an uncommon bond.  They defy the vicar's stuffy edict to close the choir and instead "carry on singing," resurrecting themselves as the Chilbury Ladies' Choir.  This story tells the home-front struggles of five unforgettable choir members: a timid widow devastated when her only son goes to fight; the older daughter of a local scion drawn to a mysterious artist; her younger sister pining over an impossible crush; a Jewish refugee from Czechoslovakia hiding a family secret; and a conniving midwife plotting to outrun her seedy past.

I enjoyed this book although a lot of it was very predictable.  It is written as a series of letters and diary entries by different characters in the story.  Through these letters and diary entries we see how the women in the village change and grow.  They seem to draw strength from one another.  For the most part the men are away at war and so it is left to the women to step up and take charge.  Easy reading.
Edit: Somehow this post ended up in my drafts and it should be dated sometime in March.