A compelling tale of secrets and betrayal, friendship and trust, and the legacy of war.

Plymouth, 1954.

The future seems rosy for Plymouth schoolgirl Anna Millington, as she prepares for teacher training college.

But Anna’s life is not what it seems. Her family is hiding a cruel secret that resulted from the worst night of the Plymouth Blitz.

Now, the devastating consequences are about to erupt again.

Fearing for her life, Anna leaves her dreams behind and flees to nearby Dartmoor.

It isn’t long before Anna secures a position as a serving girl at Ashcroft Hall. It isn’t the teaching career she longed for. The staff are rude and make no effort to befriend her. But she finds solace in loving Sir Gilbert, Lady Ashcroft’s son, who calls her his ‘little smoky eyes’.

It soon becomes clear that Anna’s not the only one with secrets.

Will she learn who she can really trust? And can she find the courage to seek out the happiness she truly deserves?

Fans of Nadine Dorries, Rosie Goodwin, Dilly Court, Freda Lightfoot, Anna Jacobs, Rosie Clarke and Catherine Cookson will adore this compelling tale of secrets, betrayal and friendship set in the 1950s.