The Dreaming

Set in the untamed landscape of mid-nineteenth century Australia, The Dreaming is a rich and potent tale of hidden passion and broken taboo.Australia, 1871 - Following her mother's sudden death, Joanna Drury sets sail from India and arrives in Melbourne to claim the property left to her by her mother - and to trace the mysteries of her family's past.From her first steps on shore, Joanna becomes entangled with a lost boy who leads her to the fascinating Hugh Westbrook. She agrees to look after the child in exchange for Hugh's help in finding her inheritance. But she falls deeply in love with Hugh and with life at his sheep station, Merinda.When strange nightmares begin to plague her - the same that tormented her mother - Joanna starts to notice the Aborigines' strange reaction to her. Delving into Australia's past, she discovers the tragic events that have marked her family's destiny and her own life, events that happened long ago in the time the Aborigines call "the Dreaming."Full of intriguing historical detail, Wood's compelling story brings the clash of immigrant and Aboriginal cultures to stunning life, capturing the danger, mystery, and romance of an emerging country.Praise for The Dreaming:"A great summer book. It has everything - good characters, love, adventure, mystery and mysticism." - Los Angeles Daily News"Superb storytelling . . . a page turner." - San Francisco Chronicle"Magnificent . . . everything a historical novel should be: big, bold, with larger-than-life characters chasing their dreams, and demons with equal fervor. The Dreaming has all that and more." - Orange Coast Magazine"A master storyteller. She never fails to leave the reader enthralled." - Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey, author of A Woman of Independent Means"An accomplished storyteller." - John Jakes, New York Times bestselling author "Wood shows herself a wizard at juggling action and romance, maintaining the momentum and sparkle of both." - Kirkus Reviews "Wood makes her fiction come alive with authentic detailing and highly memorable characters." - BOOKLIST