In the epic tradition of Nancy Cato and Colleen McCullough, Patricia Shaw’s newest novel is the story of a young woman’s struggle to find love and fortune in Australia during the 1860s.

Laura Maskey’s daring expedition to watch the gentlemen bathe at Murray Lagoon is the final straw for her exasperated parents: Their wayward daughter must be married off at once, and Bobby Cope is just the man. But Laura has other ideas, and when she runs away from her own engagement party, the family rift is complete.

In spite of the fact that their fathers are deadly political rivals, Laura’s best friend Amelia Roberts gives her sanctuary. But when Laura’s father dies, Boyd Roberts, Amelia’s father, decides Laura should have another role in the household—as his wife.

Laura’s own romantic inclinations are firmly fixed on Paul MacNamara, the owner of the Oberon cattle station, and the tragic death of his wife brings him within her reach. But Paul has many battles to fight: against the unscrupulous men who are determined to divide Queensland for their own gain; on behalf of the ancient Aboriginal tribes whose lands are at risk; and with his own personal demons/

Inspired by the tumultuous history of Rockhampton, a goldrush town on Queensland’s Fitzroy River, Patricia Shaw’s vivid and dramatic new saga is a tale of the fiercely driven men and women who carved out a future for themselves from the beautiful but unforgiving land.