Rural romance meets Blue Heelers in this cosy mystery about an outback cop, from the author of The Swallow's Fall series.

Can three misfits build a family in this remote Australian town?

Jaxine Brown has made a good life for herself with her café and her animal rescue shelter in Western Australian outback town, Mt Maria. But the homecoming of her secret teenage daughter, Frances, changes everything. At only seventeen, Jax was coerced to give up the baby to Frances's father and his wife. Finally, she has a chance to make it right for her resentful and awkward teenager, and hasn't got time to think about the recently returned handsome former detective, who inexplicably disappeared in the middle of their only date last year.

Detective Senior Sergeant Jack Maxwell arrives in Mt Maria, seemingly back in uniform as Officer In Charge, while his mate Senior Sergeant Luke Weston is on leave. But Jack's real purpose is investigating suspicion of drug trafficking and the man they're watching works in the closest mine to the town. He expects to have this case wrapped up in four weeks, and feels he can take his time, not only with the case but also with Jaxine Brown, the woman he hasn't been able to get out of his mind.

When graffiti and vandalism escalate in an issue involving stolen animals, Jax and Frances are unwittingly drawn into a mystery that suggests a connection to the same mine Jack has under surveillance. Can Jack get to the bottom of the furtive goings–on, and do whatever it takes to protect the would–be family that's wound its way into his heart?