Sophia is a wife and mother living a mundane and ordinary life in her home in RichmonduponThames But all that changes in an instant when she uncovers a wartime mystery surrounding her great aunt Lily Through a journal a series of letters and old photos all meticulously kept by Lily during World War Two Sophia discovers that her aunt was in love with an Italian man Luigi Leoni from whom she was separated due to the conflict As the letters and journal grow in intensity and her frustration mounts at being kept from the man she loves through a series of misfortunes Sophia sees Lilys chances of happiness gradually slip away until she is left with nothing Now decades on Sophia makes the decision to travel to Salerno Province Italy in a bid to unravel the secret guilt or even murder that has remained hidden for many years and finally allow the ashes of a muchloved aunt to return to the place she cherished the most But with a difficult husband objecting to her decision and intent on selling a family property to the highest bidder Sophia must make a choice not just about her aunts precious dream but of her own happiness too