Amid the chaos of war, will a new chapter begin?

September 1942. Esme Donaldson is still grieving the devastating loss of her husband, Anthony, when she's forced out of her dream job by wartime budget cuts.

Left with few options, Esme faces an uncertain future - until a chance encounter sends her to Redcliffe Manor, a grand estate deep in the Somerset countryside, and an unexpected role as the manor's librarian.

As Esme settles in, she discovers the house is no ordinary country estate. The grounds have been requisitioned by an American military hospital, while the house is sheltering a displaced girls' boarding school. And as the halls echo with the feet of giggling schoolgirls, the grounds bustle with convalescing soldiers.

When she meets a handsome American colonel, the attraction between them is instant. But Esme holds a secret that may ruin everything. Will she find the strength to face her past or be kept from the happiness she deserves?