More to This Life
P. J. Marks
Type: ARC
Genre: Historical fiction
Word count: 78,000
Warnings: Swearing
June 8, 1945: a B-17 leaves England, bound for home. It never arrives. At the story’s center is Santo Caruso, who forged deep bonds with his crew before an early injury grounded him. Left behind, he must face loss, courage, and what comes next. Inspired by true events, More to This Life honors resilience and the fragile echoes of memory.
What’s this?
June 8, 1945. A B-17 bomber lifts off from England, carrying twenty men finally heading home after the war in Europe. They never make it. At the heart of this story is Santo Caruso, who forged deep bonds with his crew—brothers shaped by danger, hope, and the strange tenderness of war. But an early injury grounds him, forcing him to watch the rest of his crew continue without him.
Left behind, Santo must reckon with guilt, grief, and the ache of dreams that no longer fit, while he searches for meaning, connection, and a way to live with what remains.
Inspired by true events, More to This Life is a powerful meditation on sacrifice, friendship, and the quiet legacies that endure long after the fighting ends.
PJ Marks is a writer, photographer, and keeper of forgotten stories. A lifelong seeker of meaning in the ordinary and beauty in the broken, she writes with reverence for the past and for the quiet synchronicities of life. Her debut novel, More to This Life, is inspired by a family member’s experiences in the 351st Bomb Group during World War II, exploring resilience, love, and sacrifice. She lives in Florida with her husband, dog, and cat.
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