"If you've ever enjoyed a visit to Mitford, you'll relish a visit to Fairacre." —Jan Karon After many years of teaching in the charming English village of Fairacre, Miss Read settles down to what she hopes will be a relaxing retirement. But, of course, it is not entirely so. Having bid farewell to her pupils at Fairacre School, Miss Read finds herself as busy and in demand as ever: on holiday in Florence, helping with church and school affairs, and offering a kind ear to her often eccentric neighbors. Soon she is counseling Henry Mawne on his thorny marriage; gently resisting her own perennial suitor, John Jenkins; and finally discovering her talent for writing. Once again, Miss Read's affection for the minutiae of village life, her love of nature, and her good humor make her excellent company.ally important. And if we can't live in her world, it's certainly a comforting place to visit."— USA Today