Devon, 1887. Life has not been kind to dairymaid Tresca Ladycott. She can’t rely on her flighty farmhand father, Emmanuel, so she relies on herself.

Then comes a devastating blow. Tresca is sacked from the dairy and the pair lose their home. She and her father seek a new life in bustling Tavistock.

More hardship lies ahead. The only work to be found is hard labour on the London and South West Railway. Before long, Emmanual is out of work yet again and Tresca is faced with keeping them both in their tiny garret home.

But is her father to blame this time? Tresca can’t help but feel that dashing Irish foreman Connor O’Mahoney had a hand in her father’s dismissal.

TORN BETWEEN HER HEAD AND HER HEART

Even so, she finds herself drawn to this mysterious stranger. A battle ensues between her head and her heart, testing Tresca’s resolve like never before.

Will she keep fighting for her dreams — even when all hope seems lost?

TANIA CROSSE weaves blissfully human stories with impeccable research, giving her characters all the complexity and colour of real life. Tania is the winner of the Best Romantic Saga in the 60th annual RoNA Awards.