When fate dismantles her world, a young woman discovers the strength to build a new life in a wild land.

In tumultuous mid-19th century England, Mary Ann Turner’s life transforms irrevocably when her father arranges her marriage to Richard Evans, a former convict seeking redemption in Australia’s unforgiving wilderness. Leaving behind the familiar rolling hills of Bedfordshire, Mary Ann embarks on a perilous journey to the Castlemaine gold fields, that will test her courage, resilience, and capacity for love.

Against the backdrop of Australia’s harsh and beautiful landscape, Mary Ann and Richard forge a life together, confronting extraordinary challenges that threaten to tear them apart. Pauline Wilson’s sweeping historical saga explores the depths of human endurance, the complexity of family bonds, and the remarkable strength required to build a new life in an untamed land.

A powerful, immersive tale of hope and survival.