April Grove

From the outbreak of World War II to the evacuation of Dunkirk, this book follows the fortunes of the people who live in a working class street in Portsmouth. The joys, sorrows and friendships of April Grove are played out against the backdrop of a seaport arming for war. Book 1 of series.

May 1941 - and the people of April Grove, Portsmouth are beginning to feel the war will never end. Yet as the war irredeemably changes their lives, the families of April Grove learn to endure - and even to keep smiling through.  Book 3 of series.

Set in World War Two, this is the story of the close knit community of April Grove, Portsmouth.  Book 4 of series.

Dan Hodges is devastated when his wife Nora dies during the early days of the war. Working long hours in a Portsmouth shipyard, how is he to look after his two sons, Gordon and Sammy? Then Sammy is evacuated to a village near Southampton and Ruth Purslow, a young childless widow, takes him in. Slowly, as they grow closer, Ruth begins to dread the time when Sammy must return to Portsmouth...  Book 5 of series.

Life is anxious for the Taylor family, as it is for everyone in Portsmouth during the early days of 1941. During a Luftwaffe raid, the Taylors lose their home, and when Judy's fiancé is killed a few months later, she is befriended by the Lady Mayoress who invites her to join her team of WVS workers. As they work on various projects for the WVS her grief heals, and she finds love in the least likely manner...  Book 6 of series.

As the country braces itself for D-Day, three young munitions workers at Priddy's Yard near Portsmouth, all face their own very personal problems. Kate is terrified that she carries a jinx, Maxine makes a discovery that changes her entire view of her family, while Elsie is bitter over the death of her son. Each dilemma brings the women face to face with her own strengths and failings and, ultimately, her own destiny.  Book 7 of series.

Ruth, Lizzie and Heather each have their own reasons for greeting the end of the war with mixed feelings. With the coming of peace, life changes more than anyone had expected as the 'love and laughter' that had been promised turn to bewilderment, anger and disappointment. Yet although nothing is quite as they had hoped it would be, they are able to move into a future without war, and learn to live with peace.  Book 8 of series.