Just a Bunch of Bluebells

When Mary stumbles upon a small village on a stormy night, the place stirs something inside her heart.

The name Bursledon has a deep and resonating ring to it that carries her back in time. Mary falls into the memories of her childhood and the life of her mother, Joanna Busher, in 1941…

Joanna, Terry, and their daughter, Mary, are the perfect trio. Mary has the strength and loyalty of her father and the magnetic spirit and beauty of her mother. But when national duty calls Terry to fight in WWII, their family is forced apart. With mother and daughter left alone, Joanna must decide if home is the safest place for Mary. Their life in Kent is full of the daily struggles of war. Regular bombings, living on rations, and treacherous journeys in and out of London.

With city children evacuating, Mary might be safer in the countryside. But the war has impacted the entire country, from the small villages of Derbyshire, to the Land Army in Topsham, to the marine bases of Hampshire, and, of course, the devastated streets of London.

With no place entirely free from war, are they safer apart or together?

Joanna also has other people to consider. A stubborn mother who chooses the comfort of her home over the safety of the bomb shelter. A loving father who would rather risk his life than upset his wife. A friend, Nina, who is facing her own domestic strife, far darker and more dangerous than Joanna’s problems at home. All the while, German bombs are growing bigger and crueller, and Joanna and Mary often find themselves crossing their destructive paths.

So much of their survival is based on luck. But their resources are growing thin.

Terry, Joanna, and Mary share the same simple dream, to reunite their trio and to live a happy life in peace. But the dangers of war extend far beyond the front lines. Even if Terry survives, will he have a home and family to return to?

Yet, throughout the daily struggle, Joanna’s strength and defiance deny the misery of war. Her small but continuous good deeds give energy and hope to a united community. Through tenacious bravery, she is able to prioritise family, community, motherhood, and friendship above her own survival. Mary is trying to experience as much happiness as possible during a turbulent childhood. But she is an intelligent girl aware of the reality of war. Although she values the protection of her mother, she knows Joanna needs someone to look after her too.

The stories of Joanna and Mary embrace the emotional kaleidoscope of human experience. From the struggles of marriage to the survival of bombings. From everyday sadness to huge events that shake your world. The domestic routines during a world crisis. The struggles and bravery of those on the Homefront. And, most importantly, the bliss of everyday moments as small and beautiful as a bunch of bluebells.

Grab a copy of Just a Bunch of Bluebells, and lose yourself in a world of wonder, bravery and courage.