What do you think?
A Season Of Leaves
For over 40 years, Rose Pepper has kept her own counsel about the story of her past, wanting the truth to stay hidden from her two daughters. But the discovery of some unopened letters threatens to betray all her secrets... Evacuated to Cornwall during the Second World War, Rose falls in love with a young Czech soldier, stationed at the local US army base, both of them trying to forget that Rose is already engaged to a cold and controlling friend of her family. In the chaotic aftermath of the war, Rose and her lover flee to Prague, only to face a greater danger.
10 pages, Audio Cassette
First published January 1, 2008
About the author
Catherine Law
14 books85 followersCatherine Law is the author of eight historical romantic novels, set during the first half of the 20th century, inspired by the tales our mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers tell us, and the secrets they keep.
Her new novel, The Girl From The War Room is out now.
Catherine lives 10 minutes from the sea in Kent.
Her new novel, The Girl From The War Room is out now.
Catherine lives 10 minutes from the sea in Kent.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 2, 2021
Four and a half stars.
A find of a bundle of unopened letters leads elderly Rose Pepper and her two adult daughters, Nancy and Lara to Prague. Will they find the truth of what happened to Krystof, the Czech soldier Rose fell in love with and was parted from? Set largely during the period of world war 2, the story takes place on a farm at Cornwall where Rose is a land girl. She is also engaged to Will, an arrangement her parents are happy about. But Rose is having more than a few doubts about that relationship, especially after meeting Krystof and losing her heart to him. She wants to call the engagement off but Will has other ideas. How will life play out for Rose? Will Rose find happiness?
The setting of Cornwall and Prague are beautifully presented and the characters are believable and likeable, except for those who are not. This lovely story really drew me in in and I lived every moment with the characters and felt their love and their pain. A little different view of the war years and beautiful setting, I loved this book. Recommended to those who like historical novels especially concerning world war 2. And the romance story will stir your heart as well. Well worth reading, I loved it and would heartily recommend it.
A find of a bundle of unopened letters leads elderly Rose Pepper and her two adult daughters, Nancy and Lara to Prague. Will they find the truth of what happened to Krystof, the Czech soldier Rose fell in love with and was parted from? Set largely during the period of world war 2, the story takes place on a farm at Cornwall where Rose is a land girl. She is also engaged to Will, an arrangement her parents are happy about. But Rose is having more than a few doubts about that relationship, especially after meeting Krystof and losing her heart to him. She wants to call the engagement off but Will has other ideas. How will life play out for Rose? Will Rose find happiness?
The setting of Cornwall and Prague are beautifully presented and the characters are believable and likeable, except for those who are not. This lovely story really drew me in in and I lived every moment with the characters and felt their love and their pain. A little different view of the war years and beautiful setting, I loved this book. Recommended to those who like historical novels especially concerning world war 2. And the romance story will stir your heart as well. Well worth reading, I loved it and would heartily recommend it.
July 29, 2009
One of my books of the year, and I just couldn't put it down. The research done on being a land girl and post-war life in Prague is excellent, the descriptions draw you in from the first page, and the love story that underlies it all really puts your emotions through the wringer. It has a superb baddie, and Rose herself is a very strongly drawn character who you don't always like or sympathise with entirely, but who you can identify with totally, and there are some excellent supporting characters. It's not multi-layered or over clever, just a really strong story, well told - loved it.
February 9, 2022
A secret kept for a lifetime.A love that never died.
September 1992:For over 40 years Rose Pepper has kept her own counsel about the story of her past,wanting the truth to stay hidden from her 2 daughters.But the discovery of some unopened letters threatens to betray all her secrets.
January 1943:Evacuated to work as a land-girl in Cornwall during WWII,she falls in love with a young Czech soldier,stationed at the local US army base-both of them trying to forget that Rose is already engaged to a cold and controlling family friend,who will not let her go.In the chaotic aftermath of the war,Rose and her lover flee to Prague,only to face a greater danger.The Communists are taking over and it is every man and woman for themselves in a city riddled with informers.
Trelew is a hamlet in south west Cornwall in England,UK. It is in the civil parish of Mylor.Polperro (Cornish: Porthpyra,meaning Pyra's cove) is a large village, civil parish, and fishing harbour within the Polperro Heritage Coastline in south Cornwall, England.Polperro, through which runs the River Pol, east of Fowey and west of the neighbouring town of Looe and west of the major city and naval port of Plymouth.The Czech defence force was disbanded following the German takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1939. During WWII the Czechoslovak Army was recreated in exile, first in the form of the new Czechoslovak Legion fighting alongside of Poland during the Invasion of Poland and then in the form of forces part of the UK and US.After the war Czechoslovak units fighting alongside the Allies returned to Czechoslovakia and formed the core of the new, recreated Czechoslovak Army. However, with the Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia, it was being increasingly Sovietised.
Charles Bridge (Czech: Karlův most)is a medieval stone arch bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague, Czech Republic.Charles Bridge was the most important connection between Prague Castle and the city's Old Town
and adjacent areas.This land connection made Prague important as a trade route between Eastern and Western Europe.
September 1992:For over 40 years Rose Pepper has kept her own counsel about the story of her past,wanting the truth to stay hidden from her 2 daughters.But the discovery of some unopened letters threatens to betray all her secrets.
January 1943:Evacuated to work as a land-girl in Cornwall during WWII,she falls in love with a young Czech soldier,stationed at the local US army base-both of them trying to forget that Rose is already engaged to a cold and controlling family friend,who will not let her go.In the chaotic aftermath of the war,Rose and her lover flee to Prague,only to face a greater danger.The Communists are taking over and it is every man and woman for themselves in a city riddled with informers.
Trelew is a hamlet in south west Cornwall in England,UK. It is in the civil parish of Mylor.Polperro (Cornish: Porthpyra,meaning Pyra's cove) is a large village, civil parish, and fishing harbour within the Polperro Heritage Coastline in south Cornwall, England.Polperro, through which runs the River Pol, east of Fowey and west of the neighbouring town of Looe and west of the major city and naval port of Plymouth.The Czech defence force was disbanded following the German takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1939. During WWII the Czechoslovak Army was recreated in exile, first in the form of the new Czechoslovak Legion fighting alongside of Poland during the Invasion of Poland and then in the form of forces part of the UK and US.After the war Czechoslovak units fighting alongside the Allies returned to Czechoslovakia and formed the core of the new, recreated Czechoslovak Army. However, with the Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia, it was being increasingly Sovietised.
Charles Bridge (Czech: Karlův most)is a medieval stone arch bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague, Czech Republic.Charles Bridge was the most important connection between Prague Castle and the city's Old Town
and adjacent areas.This land connection made Prague important as a trade route between Eastern and Western Europe.
October 17, 2022
Could say “yet another” WWII struggle and romance novel, but this was inspired by the author’s great aunt which gives it a bit of a different flavor. i liked the way this story was told - starting with a teaser in the present, then the long back story, and finally, wrapping it up, with more of the past revealed. It was hard to read the aspects of the controlling, bully, = abusive boyfriend…with the parents thinking he was Mr Wonderful. I know the aspect of his ‘charm’ as perceived by others causing them to encourage the woman to rethink her instinct is not a thing of the past…wish it was. It would have been ruined by a ‘story book’ ending, but this is “life plays dirty” - but its good when your friends have your back at least!
April 27, 2018
This is about a woman who is pushed around by an older man who wants to marry her but she doesn't love him. She goes off to do farmwork during the War and there meets a Czeck and they fall in love, while still engaged to the other chap. The story takes you from Cornwall to Czechoslovakia and back, and shows the restricted life of normal citizens during the Communist takeover overseas. Found this book a bit intense, and felt quite sorry for the woman.
August 4, 2020
This novel was published in 2008, and I suspect I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I had read it then. It has merit, particularly the section set in post WW2 Prague and it excludes the 'happy-ever-after' cliché. Its strength lies in the fact that it is based on real characters ( relatives of the author). What it lacks-unsurprisingly-is the sharpness and energy of a modern-day novel.
March 19, 2020
Set in WW II. Good but had to go back and re-read.
March 14, 2010
The tale, in three parts, of Rose Pepper, a young girl from Devon who moves to Cornwall to be a land girl and do her part in the WWII war effort. Here, she discovers the nature of this punishing manual work with long hours and makes friendships that will last her whole life and play a key part in her future. Rose is lucky enough to meet her soulmate, Krystof, a Czech soldier fighting with the US army. But the course of their true love is destined to hardly ever run smooth. There are the distractions of work and duty, the unkindness and malice of a former lover, the death and destruction and chaos of war, wreaking havoc on Rose's psychological state at a crucial moment in her life. And just when a new future seems possible, when the Nazi's have lost the war, the new threat of the communists in the East is poised to put another twist into the tale of these two lovers.
The novel consists mainly of the central part, telling us of the story of Rose and Krystof, and is bookended by parts one and three, which introduce us to Rose as an elderly lady with her two grown up daughters planning a return trip to Prague, one that she has not made since just after the end of the war. The novel also begins with the discovery of some hidden, unread letters from the same time period.
An engrossing, lovely, romantic, yet tragic and heart-breaking novel.
I loved it. I was in tears at the end of this novel, but so glad to have read it. I had to keep reading just another chapter because I couldn't bear what was happening and yet had to know what would happen!
The novel consists mainly of the central part, telling us of the story of Rose and Krystof, and is bookended by parts one and three, which introduce us to Rose as an elderly lady with her two grown up daughters planning a return trip to Prague, one that she has not made since just after the end of the war. The novel also begins with the discovery of some hidden, unread letters from the same time period.
An engrossing, lovely, romantic, yet tragic and heart-breaking novel.
I loved it. I was in tears at the end of this novel, but so glad to have read it. I had to keep reading just another chapter because I couldn't bear what was happening and yet had to know what would happen!
February 13, 2010
Brilliant book !
October 22, 2012
An absorbing story with some really likeable characters. The portions set in Prague are vividly depicted and chilling. An all-round good read.
January 26, 2013
Well written and absorbing, but I kept wishing something would go right for her - it got rather endless bleak....
October 12, 2013
A very good story during WWII and after in Czechoslovakia and England.Characters are truly amazing.A love story at it's best.Loved it !
September 11, 2016
It's so sad...
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews