1915, Chrisp Street Market, East London.

While the man she loves is fighting on the frontline for his country, Lily Larkin is up at dawn carrying crates of apples to his market stall. Taking charge of Greg's business while he's away, she's grown from a penniless workhouse waif into a shrewd tradeswoman. But the market is a man's world and Lily soon starts attracting unwanted visitors, including Greg's old rival . . .

Luckily, Lily recruits her old friends Margie and Fannie as helping hands. The work is tough, but their friendship pulls them through, and they bear their burdens as cheerfully as their heavy barrows.

But the greatest challenge of Lily's life is yet to come. Before dying, her mother gave birth to a child who was spirited away under the cover of darkness. Searching every corner of the city for her long-lost sister, Lily soon discovers there is a world of wickedness within London's poorest alleys. Will Lily find her sister or will her dreams of a family be dashed forever?

And as the war in France closes in, can Lily dare to hope that Greg might ask her the one question that would seal her happiness forever?