Essie Summers was a New Zealand author whose vivid portrayals of her native country's people and landscape were so acclaimed that she was offered The Order Of the British Empire for her contributions to New Zealand tourism. Her work draws on a rich tradition of storytelling and a fascination with the lives of pioneers, inspired by childhood tales and her parents' influence. After early experiences working in drapery shops, she channeled these insights into the romantic novels for which she became famous. As a minister's wife and mother of two, she consistently found opportunities to write short stories, poetry, and newspaper columns.
Marty made a thoughtless little joke about going to New Zealand tolook for a susceptible bachelor with a seven-thousand-a-year wool clip, and unfortunately Philip Griffiths overheard and took her seriously. So when she found that she was to settle in his part of the country, she had to work very hard to show him that she wasnot specially interested in men and least of all in him.
Janet's relationship to the ten-year-old orphaned triplets was complicated - she was the daughter of her father's first wife, and they were the children of his second wife - but the tie of affection was very strong. When their grandfather in New Zealand decided to bring the children to live on his farm and sent his nephew Morgan Mackay to fetch them, Janet made up her mind to go too. However, through a series of misunderstandings, Janet convinced Morgan that she bore no relation to the youngsters, and he was less than pleased to discover her deception. He agreed not to send her away immediately if she would agree to a 'pretence' engagement to him to further some scheme of his own. What had Janet gotten herself into now?