AustLit

'Rachel Smedling is not like other women in her isolated Pennine village: she is taller, stronger and weaves cloth like a man. Without her, the household would fall apart, for her mother is ailing and her vicious drunkard father seems to hate her so much he would happily offer money to any man who would wed her.

'When her mother dies, Rachel is at the mercy of her increasingly violent father. Her only escape is by marrying a kindly man with whom she finds happiness, if not passion, and with the birth of her son, her life seems complete. Rachel's growing prosperity infuriates her father and his cronies, however, and they will stop at nothing to see her destroyed. It begins to seem as though she will lose everything - but other people's lives cross hers, bringing pain and hope and uncovering a long-buried secret.' (Publisher's blurb)