A gritty, Yorkshire set family drama from bestselling author Diane Allen about broken promises, family secrets and survival. Perfect for fans of Kitty Neale and Katie Flynn

Can an abandoned child survive the painful secrets of her family's past?

Leeds, 1866

Eight-year-old Victoria Wild knows the sting of cruel whispers all too well. Raised in a humble cottage by her devoted Aunt Eliza, Victoria is constantly taunted by the local children for having no father and a mother who left her. Her only comfort lies in her aunt’s warm embrace and the bittersweet letters from New York, where her mother, Mary-Anne, promises they will soon be reunited.

But behind the promises of a new life in America lies a harsh reality. While Eliza starves herself to give Victoria a proper education, Mary-Anne’s letters bring no financial support. When a wealthy benefactor offers Eliza a chance to run a grand shop in Leeds, it seems their prayers are answered.

Yet, prosperity cannot bury the dark secrets of the past. When a sudden return from across the ocean threatens their hard-won peace, Victoria is caught in a storm of family betrayal that could shatter her world forever.

Can Victoria find the strength to reclaim her destiny? Or will the secrets of the past destroy her chance at true happiness?