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In 1869, Emmalie Gidley-King is born at Chateau Fontenay, a vineyard in the Yarra Valley. After a distressing event involving her older brother their father, Will leaves the vineyard to Emmaline & not Thomas. She is to inherit at twenty-one. Shortly after, Will dies and Emmaline at the age of fourteen is cast out by her mother Madeline.
Emmaline is travelling on the Palmer River track with distant relatives when the party is attacked. She survives, alone in the north Queensland wilderness and eventually attaches herself to an Aboriginal tribe in Princess Charlotte Bay. After years of living harmoniously her life takes an abrupt turn. In 1877 she is rescued and taken to Cooktown, where she is delivered into the arms of civilisation.
Emmaline compares the two disparate lifestyles and questions the hypocritical morals of so-called civilised people. Ostracised by the people of Cooktown she finds love and a haven in the most unlikely of circumstances.
As the years pass she tries to forget her mother’s betrayal but always the spectre of revenge shadows her thoughts. Is there a way she can reclaim what is rightfully hers? Emmaline’s story is told through a series of journals. The journals are carefully handed down through the generations.
Twenty-first century Ellie Jamieson has also been betrayed by her mother, Diana. As a child Ellie is ridiculed by her petite mother and sister. Although academically gifted.she has low self-esteem. After breaking up with her lowlife boyfriend she moves to Brisbane to start a new life with her grandmother Ruthie, and Aunt Annabelle. Ellie’s internal struggles present as attitude. When the secret of Ruthie’s indigenous heritage is revealed Ellie is bequeathed Emmaline’s journals. Two centuries later as the story unfolds it has a profound effect on Ellie, Annabel & Ruthie. Annabel will no longer be dictated to by her mother, Ruthie. Ruthie becomes more tolerant and less elitist. Ellie progresses toward her own future with a new purpose and confidence, even as she tries to get over her hopeless passion for Adam.
