A tale of two lonely souls trying to reach out to one of their kind in order to feel completeness. Jerry, a much-loved only child, grows up in Long Island and is happy to marry his childhood sweetheart. But the Second World War intervenes and he is stationed in England, far from home. About to go on furlough to Scotland, he invites Patches, a WAAF - no strings attached, they have a wonderful time, and part with a handshake as agreed. He finds that what he feels for Patches is real - but will they ever see each other again? On his journey from boy to man, he realizes that there's more to it than growing a dashing moustache or going with girls. Once he returns home, he struggles, realising that he loves Patches, that his parents and his fiancee have invested so much in the plans they had made for a future - and they have no way of understanding that his experiences in both love and war have changed him for life. The emotional turmoil which each character undergoes has been written brilliantly and makes the book worth reading. For each action that is taken, a justification is given, which makes it even more difficult for the reader to decide what can be the end of the story. A most vivid description of the characters and their thoughts makes the reader literally go under the skin of each and relive their moments time and again.