By Margaret Mayhew

Corgi £6.99

It is 1941, and whilst Britain is suffering during WWII, life in the Far East remains untouched. In Singapore Susan Roper,in her late teens, is unconcerned about events thousands of miles away and lives life in a whirl
of social engagements, and the odd flirtation with naval officers. On meeting a somewhat rustic doctor from Australia she dismisses his talk of the war coming to them, and continues her frivolous lifestyle. When Japan does invade, Susan becomes an ambulance driver and is taken prisoner by the Japanese. Gradually she realizes that she has fallen in love with the most unsuitable man of all, but she has to overcome some enormous obstacles to get a chance to be together.

This combines two strong stalwarts of romance novels, history and the medical profession. Obviously with foreign invaders, a torpedoed boat and some nasty critters chasing after her, let alone the men, this has plenty of action! As she looks after two orphans, gets turned over by hostile islanders and lives in tough conditions, a far cry from Raffles hotel and her former indulgent lifestyle.