This book based in Manchester in 1922 tells the story of Belinda Layton. After losing her fiance and love of her life, Ben, in the war Belinda has spent four years dressed in black and mourning his passing. Now one of the surplus girls, those girls whose men hopes and dreams have perished in the war, Belinda begins to realise that she has to make a new life for herself. Ben's family are not very happy about her moving on but as time goes by they come to see her heart and realise her wanting to move on does not mean she has forgotten him. Having always hoped to work in an office she decides to join a secretarial evening course to gain the skills she needs to get a better job. The evening course is run by two ladies who are right characters and have an interesting story of their own! Belinda is sent to work in a bookshop to gain some work experience and it is here as she finally begins to move on that she thinks she has found a new love in her life.
I am sure there must of been lots of women left in Belinda's position after the war, so it was interesting and sad to consider what their lives must of been like and how difficult to make new lives for themselves. I really enjoyed reading this book, it is a lovely story.
I am sure there must of been lots of women left in Belinda's position after the war, so it was interesting and sad to consider what their lives must of been like and how difficult to make new lives for themselves. I really enjoyed reading this book, it is a lovely story.