The Hidden Road Home — Steve Johnson

London 1939. With a global conflict on the horizon, 19-year-old waitress, Charlotte Reid meets 21-year-old fighter pilot Tom Hammond. They soon realise that they have something special and after a short engagement, they marry, just after war with Germany is declared. The fall of France puts the Luftwaffe within striking range, and Tom in the thick of the action during the Battle of Britain. Both he and his young wife are taken through every nerve-shredding emotion as the fight for air superiority intensifies. If the Germans achieve their goal of totally destroying the RAF, then invasion would be the likely outcome. With fighter pilot casualty rates so high will Tom Hammond be one of the lucky ones or will the future he has planned with Charlotte literally go up in smoke? If that were to happen, how would she cope with grief at such a young age? Could she cope? War asks some tough questions of love. Is it stronger than fear? Stronger than hate? Stronger than death even? As the bloodiest conflict in history got underway, millions of people, including Tom and Charlotte, didn't know the answers. But they were about to find out.