After visiting rural Scotland in 2001, I longed for a bit of that trip and found it in the book series by Lillian Beckwith. She left the hub bub of city life behind (yes, life was very hectic in the British Isles during and after the war years) to seek the solace of rural life to write. While writing, she fell in love with the Highlands and its' people and did her most memorable work, bring them to life in print. This series was recommended to me by a genealogy pen pal from England and I love her for giving me a look at the primitive life Beckwith led in a cottage by the sea. Beautiful Just is a good introduction to the characters I grew to love and if you enjoy Jan Karon, I know you will want to read all that came from Lillian Beckwith's pen.