When her mother dies, Corrie Bell Hollister is left with four younger siblings to care for. Hoping to find her uncle, she arrives in Gold Rush territory determined to be strong and make her own way. But her long-lost father's so-called land of promise is a dangerous place, and she has never felt so alone.

The Civil War is finally over, and it has been more than two years since Corrie Belle Hollister left her home and family in Miracle Springs, California, to travel across the country at President Lincoln's invitation. Her writing skills and reporting experience have made their own contribution to the Union's success, and now she is on her way home . . . back to the community where she grew to maturity, back to the family she loves. But Corrie is returning a different young woman than the one who left with her journal tucked into her suitcase and the dream of being a writer tucked into her heart. She feels restless as she tries to settle back into the pace of a small town, and the latest letter from Christopher only creates more questions. Perhaps the most relentless among them: Where will she find a home for her heart?

The War Between the States has escalated into a full-scale conflict threatening to tear the nation apart. Having been invited by President Lincoln to come to Washington, D.C., to assist in his reelection campaign, Corrie finds herself a long way from home in a most unusual situation--a young woman from the Wild West, with little education and experience, in the seat of power at the nation's capital. While writing and reporting from the battlefields, Corrie unwittingly uncovers a plot that could change the country's course forever, but taking action will put her very life at risk.

After a shocking discovery in Miracle Springs, Corrie's world is turned upside down. But as the community grows and their cabin becomes a home, she feels the Hollisters are finally learning how to be a real family. Deep down, she knows she isn't old enough to be a true mother to her siblings, but can she trust anyone else with their care?

When Zach Hollister hears stories of the first Pony Express riders, he jumps at the chance to finally strike out on his own and leave Miracle Springs behind. But he soon learns that the Pony Express Trail holds more than the promise of adventure, independence, and great pay. It's a challenging and dangerous road that will lead him to discover who he truly is.