Cirrus@Austlit

'Keara Michaels doesn’t want to leave her family in Ireland, but fate sends her first to Lancashire, where she works for the Mullanes, then later across the sea to Australia. And Theo Mullane, the man who loves her, is married with an ailing baby son, so cannot follow her as he longs to.

'Mark Gibson left Lancashire to avoid marriage, but found gold-prospecting in Australia a dangerous pursuit. When he settles in a country town, his gentle young wife dies in childbirth and his father-in-law kidnaps the baby. So Mark runs away again, this time to Western Australia, where he employs Keara in his country inn.

'But danger threatens them all, even Keara’s sisters in Ireland. Theo is eventually free to come looking for the woman he loves, and Mark at last confronts his past.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'In 1863, Irish orphans Ismay and Mara are sent to Australia against their will by the authorities. Even worse, they’re separated on arrival. While Ismay is forced to take a job as a maid in the country, Mara must stay in the care of the Catholic mission.

'Desperate to be reunited with her sister, Ismay flees. But there is danger in the bush – and when she finds a saviour, he brings with him new problems.

'Mara too has run away – and though she finds shelter, it is in a place with its own perils.

'Meanwhile their elder sister Keara is looking for them. But the trail is growing cold. Will they find each other again or will their old enemies triumph?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'1863: Recently widowed, Hannah Firth is still young enough to dream of a new life, but her spiteful daughter-in-law wants to use her as an unpaid servant. When Hannah tries to leave, Patty’s malice puts her in a dreadful position, from which she can only escape by going back to act as a servant in her son’s household. It’s a miserable life and she’s determined to escape.

'Nathaniel King’s life is ruined when his landlord’s son lays waste to his market garden for a prank. The shock kills his invalid wife and leaves him with a young son to raise. But the resulting feud puts not only Nathaniel’s livelihood at stake, but his home.

'Eventually Hannah manages to escape, but has only a few coins and her dreams of a happier future to sustain her as she tramps the roads and tries to evade pursuit. When she meets Nathaniel, the attraction between them cannot be denied and they join forces. But their enemies have money and powerful allies on their side and will stop at nothing to get rid of them . . .'

Source: Publisher's blurb.