Wartime Romances #18

A young woman at Barnard College flies across the country to reunite with her soldier sweetheart, Greg Wilson, stationed at Fort Lawton in Washington—only to find their joy tested when he refuses to go absent without leave, even for marriage. As pride and passion collide during a fateful picnic, Marjorie must reckon with what she's willing to sacrifice for love in "Deserter's Wife," a tale of wartime romance where duty and desire are at odds.

A young woman named Joan joins the WAC during wartime and falls in love with PFC Joe Fleming, marrying him despite their meager circumstances. When Joe ships out for Panama, Joan moves in with his family in Allentown—but his cold sister Helen and the strain of supporting the household wear on her, and she finds herself drawn to a man named Bill who offers her an escape from her loneliness. As her pregnancy becomes harder to hide and her secret life threatens to unravel, Joan confronts the guilt that will haunt her for years to come.

Laurie has been faithfully devoted to her sweetheart Herb since high school, turning down every other boy while he served in the military—until her college roommate Rita reveals that Herb spent his time overseas dating freely. Stung by the discovery, Laurie throws herself into college life and starts dating around, but when Herb returns for the mid-year dance, she realizes her feelings for him haven't changed, even knowing about his infidelities. Now Laurie must reckon with what it means to forgive someone you love, and whether loyalty—hers or his—can survive the truth.

A young woman tending her flower garden during wartime meets Dick Stanley after he's caught in a mishap with her flower pots—but she's already promised to marry Ralph, a soldier due home any day. When Ralph returns from service, Barbara discovers their reunion isn't what she'd imagined, and a moment with the butterfly she's been nurturing becomes a turning point that forces her to choose between the life she'd planned and what her heart truly wants. Written with the delicate emotional resonance this 1953 romance brings to the question of who really understands us, "Butterfly Kisses" captures a woman learning that gentleness matters as much as devotion.

A young woman named Peggy has always had a reputation for playing the field, but when she falls for Phil, she resolves to be faithful—until she spots him shipping off to camp and encounters a charming sailor named Steve Eller. Convinced that her rival Claire has sent him to test her devotion, Peggy decides to turn the tables and play along, only to discover her assumptions have tangled everything into a painful mess. When Phil returns on special leave, Peggy must face the consequences of her "fool's mistake" and decide what comes next.