An orphan girl's epic journey to womanhood takes her across the world—and back to the man she loves—in this sweeping novel of early twentieth-century Australia.



Western Australia, 1898. In the vast and unforgiving desert, a miner discovers a baby girl in the sand, miraculously still alive. Sent to an orphanage, Leonora is still mute with grief and fear as she slowly bonds with another orphan, James. He fights to protect her until both are sent away—Leonora to a wealthy American family, James to relatives who have emigrated from Ireland to claim him.



Years later, Leonora is given a chance to return to her beloved Australia. There, in Wanjarri Downs, she will again come face to face with James, who's grown from a reticent boy into a strong, resourceful man. Only James knows the truth about Leonora—that her roots and her heart are here, among the gum trees and red earth. And they will fight to find a way back to each other, even as war, turmoil, and jealousy test their courage again and again.