AustLit

'Lena Hawkins has spent her every waking moment building her reputation as a top chef and when her money grubbing husband takes the credit and tosses her aside she calls it quits for the sake of her son and returns to the country town where she grew up thankful for the support of her close knit Italian family. Coerced by the local community she opens a restaurant in a disused dairy.

'Adam Chapman, one time Sydney lawyer now deer farmer, is more than happy to provide the premises and have an outlet for his produce. Little does he realize that they have unsavory connections that have nothing to do with the restaurant business. Old secrets are uncovered that rock the small town and drag them both into the world they thought they’d left behind them.

'When Lena discovers Adam was involved in her cousin’s court case, she sees red and tries to back out of the lease but her father convinces her to follow through. It wasn’t Adam's fault - his father did a deal to keep him out of trouble. Now Adam feels responsible for Simon’s jail term and joins forces with the local police to set a trap for the people who were ultimately responsible for the money laundering. For it to work though, Simon has to die.

'Lena is rocked to the core when she discovers her ex-husband used her and love never was a part of their all too brief marriage. She was in the right place at the right time, nothing more.

'Can Lena be convinced to start again and conquer her demons?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.