In 1898, under a lone gum tree in the Outback of Australia, Ghan, an old miner making deliveries to the railway, finds a small child. In rags, severely burned by the sun and barely alive, he carries her to his wagon. Thinking there was a hospital in the small town of Leonora, he takes her there only to discover there is no hospital there. Only Dr. Carlton, who works at the mines but lives at the boarding house with his wife, Elsa. Dr. Carlton nurses the child back to health, slowly. The child is mute and does not know her name. The doctor decides to name her after the town so she becomes Leonora. He soon becomes angry by his wife's attachment to the mute child and sends her away to an orphanage.

At the orphanage, Father McIntyre, is in charge. He is a kind and loving priest to all the children there. However, James, is his favorite. James has been at the orphanage since he was a baby. A loner, until one day Leonora is being bullied because she could not talk. James befriended her.and shared her orphanage childhood. She began to speak and as they became close, they form an unbreakable bond that lasts and endures hardships and separation. They are devastated when they are both adopted. Leo to America by a wealthy couple from Pittsburgh, PA. James, to his Aunt and Uncle who came from Ireland to claim him and settle on a farm in Australia. Many years pass but Leo and James are reunited at Wanjarri Downs, the huge bustling station where he and his friend, Tom, get jobs as managers. The spread is owned by Alexander Harrington, who is Leonora's husband. Her adoptive parents introduced him and encouraged their union. Back in Australia, she is now a well bred, educated lady, and must keep James and their past secret. Alex would never approve and he could be mean and abusive, as she has experienced.

DAUGHTER OF AUSTRALIA is a stunning debut, and a beautifully told story of Leonora and James. A saga about a vast country with red earth, the heat of the sun unforgiving and the cold, frigid; wealth, poverty, lies and secrets. In the end, triumph over impossible circumstances. I applaud you Ms. Verna. Your imagery is beautiful and my total immersion in the story brings joy on every page. The finale left me feeling breathless, happy and wanting more.

Harmony Verna transported me to another time, another place. What a special journey! Delightful historical fiction about greed, power, love, longing and second chances with characters you will love or loathe. Brava, I loved it!