As the world begins Facing the Whirlwind sweeping it into a devastating World War II, six valiant people are drawn together, united by love and a determination to halt the tyranny blazing through Europe and threatening to engulf the entire world in the flames of war. While Ted Drummond, an American fugitive, struggles to master flying for the Royal Air Force and survive the Battle of Britain, he meets and falls in love with Englishwoman, Wendy Brookdale, serving as a Wren in the Royal Navy. Facing the Whirlwind begins the story of their complicated romance, for before the war, Wendy was in love with a German submariner, and Ted thought he'd one day marry his high school sweetheart, who just happened to be Jewish.

Across the Atlantic, Americans Scott Hunter and Rose Kitteridge discover love as their neutral nation sheds the blinders of isolationism and prepares for war after the holocaust that was Pearl Harbor. Theirs is a story of young and steadily growing love as these two New England teenagers struggle to find ways to serve their nation, and endure the loneliness and terrors of war, never losing sight of the fact there will come a time when the war is over, and they'll be free to share a life together. But first, they and all the other valorous hearts must stand Facing the Whirlwind as World War II begins.