Undiscovered Scotland

 

"On a Wing and a Prayer" by Ruby Jackson, is the fourth book of a series following the lives of twins Daisy and Rose and friends Grace and Sally. The girls have grown up together in Dartford in Kent, but become separated during the years of the Second World War with each one choosing to make her own, very different, contribution to the war effort. Following the pattern of the previous three, "On a Wing and a Prayer" focusses on one particular girl, in this case Rose, who has been the stay-at-home of the group, going to work in the local munitions factory. Meantime, Daisy, her twin, has realised her dream of becoming a pilot, friend Grace is a landgirl and Sally, having given up the chance to go to university, is pursuing a career in acting.

By 1944 Rose is getting itchy feet, but is mindful of her role in supporting her parents for whom she is the only child to have stayed at home. Having lost a brother to war, had another interred in a prison camp and suffered injury herself, Rose is unsure of how to realise her own dream without upsetting her mother in particular. When her lifelong friend and sweetheart Stan joins up, Rose does some serious soul searching and decides to enlist in the Women's Auxiliary Service in the hope that she can become a driver. She dreams of chauffeuring a luxurious limousine, of moving round important players in the theatre of war, and of finding true love.

The reality of life for Rose is very different to all that she imagined, but she is optimistic and makes friends wherever she is posted. Her initial training sees her leave new friend Cleo behind as she is posted to York as a trainee mechanic. There she meets Francesca, a local girl, whose family have a restaurant in the city. They form a close bond and this endures through tragic circumstances and a move back to London, which sees Rose get one step closer to realise her dream. Rose also experiences falling in love. After a disastrous liaison in the early days of her posting to York she meets an American, Brad, who steals her heart. Will book four have a happy ending? Will it be the last of this extremely enjoyable series? You'll have to read it and see for yourself.