The Maitland family had gone to Australia to seek their fortune. However, the barren and desolate land had destroyed their dreams and left them almost destitute. Young Sarette Maitland has already buried her beloved mother and when a vicious snake poisons her much-loved father, she soon realizes that not only is she poor, but she is also all alone in the world. With nobody to care for her or love her, Sarette decides that the best thing to do would be to wait for the angel of death. However, just when she had given up all hope of ever knowing happiness ever again, English adventurer John Kern comes to her rescue.
After the death of his adored wife and beautiful child, John Kern had realized that he just could not live surrounded by memories of the past, so he had decided to leave England behind and to travel the world in search of adventure. When he had decided to set sail for Australia, he had never envisaged that he would take a young child under his wing. But when he claps eyes on poor, sallow and desperate Sarette – the spitting image of his beloved dead child – John realizes that he cannot possibly leave her to die, so he adopts her and becomes a surrogate father to the lonely child.
John soon begins to grow fond of Sarette, but he knows that the harshness of the Australian landscape is no place to bring up a child, so he decides to send her back to England and become a lady. By launching her into society, John hopes that Sarette will make an advantageous match and live the life which she deserves.
Sarette is thrilled to be returning back to England. Although she’s disappointed that John shan’t be accompanying her, she cannot wait to leave the painful memories of her past behind and to begin afresh and make a better life for herself. However, her new guardian, John’s nephew, Magnus Kern, is not exactly thrilled to be sharing his life with one of his uncle’s waifs and strays. Yet, when he meets Sarette for the very first time, he is drawn to her and finds himself unable to stop thinking about her…
Sarette is no longer a wild child, but a refined, genteel and beautiful young lady who turns heads wherever she goes. Although, rumours about the nature of her relationship with the Kern family refuse to be quelled, Sarette soon begins to blossom in polite society and many men soon begin to set their cap at her. But Sarette has only got eyes for Magnus….
But does Magnus feel the same way about her? Or does his responsibility towards her prevent him from admitting his true feelings to her?
Fast-paced, suspenseful, intriguing and wonderfully romantic, in Hearts of Gold Janet Woods has once again written a captivating tale imbued with plenty of drama and emotion which will keep readers enthralled from start to finish! Set in Victorian Australia and England, Hearts of Gold is another winner from this most talented of storytellers!