As the Second World War enters its final year the spirit of the close-knit community in April Grove, Portsmouth refuses to die Teenager Carol Glaister, forced to give up her baby son, becomes increasingly obsessed by the need to find him again Ambitious, sexy Diane Shaw leaves the aviation factory for a career in the WAAFs but discovers she is up against far more than she bargained for - in both work and love And Olive Harker struggles to stay true to a husband she has barely seen since the war began, her love challenged in a way she would never have dreamed possible