The last days of 2025 saw the self-publication of my 4th novel with the title in the headline above.

The story of the novel has been with me over many years. The scope of the novel tells of Alice Hallet’s wartime teenage affair with an American Airman, Joseph Cornelius Carew, stationed at a UK airbase far from his South Dakota, USA, home. The airbase is close by Alice’s home village of Bramlesham, Suffolk. Joe serves as aircrew on regular daylight B-17 Flying Fortress missions over nazi Europe. In October 1943, Joe’s bomber, limping home, badly shot up, is lost, with all crew, ditching in the North Sea.

Alice’s harsh father left home years ago; her mother, Helen, who disliked Joe, was glad he was out of the way. Alice runs away from home seeking refuge in Battersea, London, at the home of Gertrude Denley, the sister of Bramlesham’s serving vicar, Reverend Denley. Alice has got to know Miss Denley on her gregular summer visits to stay with her brother, the Vicar.

When Alice at last finds her way to Miss Denley’s Battersea house she is taken in, but told she must return home. Alice refuses, finding a job at a workshop sewing British uniforms. In May 1944, Alice gives birth to Joe’s daughter, Jojo. Later in 1944, a V1 flying bomb, a doodle bug, falls on Battersea close to Jojo’s babyminder’s house. Jojo is amongst the many missing. With no news and little hope, Alice runs away again, this time joining the ATS and becomes an Army driver chauffeuring senior officers all over the country.

After being unfairly dismissed from the ATS, Alice having retaliated against an officer’s unprovoked sexual attack, supported by Miss Denley, Alice finds work in The Civil Service.

As the years pass Alice wild-plants tree saplings in random places, recording the location and tree species of her plantings, creating her Register of Joe’s Trees in memory of her lover Joiseph Carew and his place amongst the lost wartime American servicemen

Over many years Alice and Gertrude Denley become close friends; Alice caring for Gertrude in her old age. As Gertrude’s sole heir, Alice can retire from work and reconciles with her mother, Helen.

As the years pass and Alice settles into her extended childhood home – Farthings Cottage, Bramlesham – things happen that bring order and happiness into Alice’s later life,