This is an interesting book that starts off in England where a young Rebecca is a street waif is taken in by a madame who takes pity on her. As she ages Rebecca convinces the madame to let her service customers instead of being a maid. Life is pretty good but one thing leads to another and Rebecca finds herself in distress as she is now a convict on board a ship bound for Australia to help populate the new colong.

Rebecca has difficult decisions to make does she "put out" to gain food or favour or does she stick to her principles. In Australia she is drawn into a web of intrigue at the request of the governor. This leads to her becoming pregnant whilst still in prison.

Rebecca gets out of prison when she is chosen by a free settler to be his wife. But it is not a life of bliss as her husband beats her savagely and eventually rapes her daughter Mary. Rebecca's husband sells Mary to a total stranger for fifty pounds. This is when the "pursuit for Mary McBride: begins. Rebecca is determined to resuce Mary from the brute who her husband has sold her to.

How will Rebecca get away from her husband? How will she find Mary again in such a vast continent?

I won't spoil by giving everything away except to say quite an enjoyable read but please be warned some of the sex scenes are a bit graphic.