December 1942. The tide of war has turned at last, with an Allied victory looking increasingly certain, but all is not well for the residents of Silverdale.
Newlyweds Bobby and Charlie find themselves back in civilian life after Charlie is given a medical discharge from the RAF.
But the village of Silverdale has been forever changed by World War Two, and the memories of their young men lost to war cast a long shadow.
It’s not just the village that has been transformed by the war.
Although Bobby is full of joy to finally begin married life, Charlie’s experiences in the fight have left their scars, and at times Bobby finds herself reminiscing on her busy life in the WAAF, the career that was cut short by returning home to join her husband.
But with a new arrival on the way, there’s no time to dwell on the sadness of the past. Will a baby and the end of the war bring Charlie and Bobby the joy they deserve?
Brighter Skies in the Dales by Betty Firth is published on 12 March, 2026.
For more new historical fiction, have a look at Historia’s list of books coming out in 2026 — 130 of them.
