This eighteen-year-old Chapel boy dotes on his widowed mother and loves the city of his birth and the Londoner’s carefree outlook on life. His attitude to war and life changes dramatically once he experiences the horrors of Normandy and the bloody battles that follow. Sadly, far too many of his friends succumb during these brutal actions and he must draw on hidden reserves to help him survive, mentally as well as physically. Watching his friends fall around him fills him with immense sorrow and gives him much to reflect on. But as time goes on this young man grows in stature, confidence and an unquestionable determination to survive his war. This semi-autobiographical historical novel is a true account taken from the memoirs of a rifleman who served in a London Battalion of The Rifle Brigade and covers a six-year period from enlistment to demobilization. The story, humorous, thought provoking and poignant shows what it was like for those brave young men who answered the call in 1939 to serve King and country.

    His main concern is for his widowed mother, Iris, and, by working hard at Black’s Taxis, he does all he can to provide for her. But Iris just wishes he’d concentrate on finding a nice girl who’d appreciate his worth. If only he had the courage to ask someone out... Meanwhile, in a local firm of solicitors in Leicester, a striking young secretary is realising that her fiancé – a handsome junior solicitor - is not the man for her and, sadly, Harrie knows it’s time to rethink her life. When she takes a temporary position in the office of Black's Taxis, she soon discovers that there are some people who have little respect for the law nor care who they use to carry out their devious plans...

    

    

    

    But the delivery man for the local grain store, Jimmy Knox, had caught her eye and eventually her heart. Following a fateful kiss with Jimmy, Rebecca’s family gives her an ultimatum -she can go with Jimmy and leave their community, or she can stay with her family and lose Jimmy. After days of agonizing, she chooses her faith, but by then, the local village basically shuns her. Rebecca’s parents decide it would be best if she moves in with her grandfather two towns away, to take care of him as his health declines. They feel that by removing her from their home, they will no longer face the condemnation of the community for her relationship with Jimmy, and maybe she can find a man who would forgive her past. Becca moves in with her grandfather, and toils day and night, taking care of his house, the cooking, many of the farm chores, and taking care of his health needs. Sad and lonely, still facing comments about Jimmy, Becca starts taking long walks by herself when her work is done. On one such walk, she meets Noah Flaud, and they begin to court. Rebecca struggles to put her shame behind her, and fully embrace the love and acceptance Noah is offering her.