I love the Maeve Binchy novels -- slice of life about folks in Ireland. I've read all her books numerous times.

Many moons ago, I also really enjoyed "The Australians" series. The author had about 12 out when I got away from reading them in the late 80s. I don't know how many he has now. He combined fiction with actual historical 'personages'. The series started in England with the first boatload of criminals deported to Australia. Each successive book progressed through history. When I finally stopped reading them, he was at the Boer War. I'm sure the series has gone through WWII by now.