A very welcome re-issue of this book originally published in 2001, gives readers like me who have come late to the Red River Valley stories, a chance to learn the background to the books we have already read. Thorliff Bjorklund graduates from the small school in Blessing where he lives with his extended family who emigrated from Norway when he was a little boy. They are a close-knit God-fearing community who have carved out a good life for themselves in this fertile land despite suffering floods and droughts throughout the years. Thorliff’s step-father Haakan, has always thought that Thorliff as the oldest boy, would take over the land, but it is Andrew the younger brother who loves every aspect of farming, Thorliff loves the land and his family but has a passion for writing. Way off in Northfield, Minnesota Elizabeth Rogers is a gifted young lady whose passion is to become a doctor with a particular calling to help Mothers in childbirth and reduce the number of deaths. Her mother and father have other ideas. The story winds its way along these two separate paths until Elizabeth and Thorliff meet, but for what happens next we shall have to wait till Book Two of the series.