At nineteen, Julia Steele's future seems bright. She has a steady and kind boyfriend, is enrolled in the college of her choice, and currently is on a two week tour of Germany. Enter Sam Lyons, a thirty- year- old, down-on-his-luck, handsome and charming British actor whom Julia falls for. They steal away to London for a brief love affair until Julia must return home. They promise to reunite in London in the fall. But when Sam encounters financial ruin and blackmail at the hands of the spoiled, misunderstood socialite Deirdre Lamont, he finds his only option is to marry her. At home in Chicago, Julia discovers herself pregnant with Sam's child. Devastated by Sam's marriage, and determined to keep her baby, she marries her high school boyfriend, who offers to raise the child as his own. Years later, Sam and Julia accidentally reunite in New York, and when misunderstandings clear, the flame of passion rekindles. But will Julia sacrifice her family for another chance to be with Sam? Will Deirdre tire of her ceaseless attempts to hold onto Sam, or finally give in to the one who truly loves her? When Sam is diagnosed with cancer, decisions become imperative. Spanning twenty-six years in the intertwining lives of Julia, Sam, their friends and enemies, A Lonely Sky explores desperate choices and infinite emotions of the heart.