Brought to you by Penguin.

The new tale of female camaraderie and romance in an idyllic setting from beloved saga author Rosie Meddon

When one woman's second chance at love comes under threat, will she find happiness again?

Sussex, 1943. When Veronica Clairmont becomes widowed and loses the running of the family estate to her son Philip, she calls on her old friend Julia Nance. Julia runs a guesthouse in Slipscombe, Devon, and Veronica hopes that time away from home might be a fresh start.

She soon finds a voluntary role driving a canteen van to troops stationed in the area, and things look unexpectedly brighter when she catches the eye of Major Felix Emerson.

But a distressed phone call from Phillip brings Veronica home for a few weeks, and by the time she returns, Felix has disappeared without trace on a secret mission.

Will he make it back to Slipscombe alive? Or has Veronica’s chance of renewed happiness been snatched from her before it even began?

© Rosie Meddon 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026