Wartime for the shop girls - Joanna Toye

War brings changes three friends could never foresee

'Highly recommended' Anna Jacobs
'A warm domestic drama' People's Friend

It's 1942 and as shortages of staff - and goods - begin to bite, young Lily Collins is nervously stepping up to sales junior at Marlow's department store.

Bombs are still falling and Lily and fellow shop girls Gladys and Beryl need a stiff upper lip to wave boyfriends, husbands and brothers goodbye, especially with a baby on the way and grim news on the wireless. Jim, who works with Lily at the store, seems restless, and nothing can prepare Lily for the secrets that come tumbling out when her favourite brother comes home on leave

Somehow, she must keep smiling through. Community, family and friends rally round as her home town - and the whole country - is tested once again.

Joanna Toye joined the production team of The Archers after reading English at university, and became a scriptwriter for the programme for over twenty years. She has also written a number of spin-off books about the long-running radio drama. On television she has written for Crossroads, Family Affairs, Doctors and EastEnders.

Acclaim for Joanna Toye:

'Captivating…a triumphant debut novel' Women's Weekly

'A warm domestic drama' People's Friend

'Highly recommended - an engrossing story with a charmingly forthright heroine' Anna Jacobs

'Jo writes with a sure hand and a light touch…a real page-turner with a spirited heroine.' Veronica Henry

'Cheerful and uplifting…I thoroughly enjoyed it' Katie Fforde