A cottage, a secret and a betrayal. For Jennifer Hale, with a rebel sister and ailing mother, a cottage in the small Australian country town of Bundilla holds the key to a dream. Or more correctly her mother's wish, after years of living in church manses as a minister's wife, for a home of her own. For city architect, Sam Keats, his aunt's cottage with its treasure of old letters and diaries unlocks a mystery stretching back to the Vietnam war, exposing long held family secrets and a betrayal of promises. From Australia to America and Malaysia, Jennifer and Sam must each confront their own ideals and personal issues to find the courage to open their hearts enough to build a possible future together.