November 14, 1940, seven year old Rose Sherbourne’s mother was killed
and their home destroyed in a bombing raid on Coventry. Rose was now an
orphan.
Two years earlier, Elenor Cardew had left the farm in Cornwall to assist
her aunt in Coventry. She felt like a country bumpkin in the big
city. It is at her aunt’s place that she meets Rose. Rose’s mother
works for Elenor’s aunt. It doesn’t take long for Rose and Elenor to
form a bond. Elenor also makes a deep connection with her Aunt Maude.
Sadly, that connection doesn’t last as Maude passes away just after the
new year arrives. Elenor has a special friend in Jackson St. John, a
pilot from Canada, which brightens her days. Unfortunately, he has to
go back to Canada, which in turn brings a deep sadness to her and Rose.
By September of 1939, Britain was at war, but it was a quiet war.
Rationing isn’t far behind. Elenor’s brothers join the army and she
considers moving back to the farm. When her brothers are killed on the
beaches of Dunkirk, Elenor becomes the sole owner of the farm. It is a
big task for the young woman to run a working farm by herself.
The task becomes bigger when Elenor’s friend, Alice brings Rose to here
following the bombing of Coventry. It will take some time for Rose to
get over the shock of what she had been through.
What follows is a good description of what life was like for those
keeping the home fires burning in England during the war. How will
Elenor protect Rose from the bad times and get her onto a safer path?
Author Glynis Peters’ novel is a good war story told from the civilian
point of view. A good, quick read.
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