two troubled people in a turbulent world. in july 1940, gwen collingwood drops her husband at the railway station, knowing she may never see him again. two days later her humdrum world is torn apart when the sleepy english seaside town where she lives is subjected to the first of many heavy bombing attacks. in ontario, canada, jim armstrong is debating whether to volunteer. his decision becomes clear when he uncovers the secret his fiancee has been keeping from him. a few weeks later he is on a ship bound for england. gwen is forced to confront the truth she has concealed about her past and her own feelings. jim battles with a bewildering and hostile world far removed from the cosy life of his canadian farm. war brings horror and loss to each of them - can it also bring change and salvation? from the author of a greater world, kurinji flowers, letters from a patchwork quilt and the green ribbons.