Echoes from the River: A Coming-of-Age Historical Novel

At eighteen, Francesca de la Garza leaves her close-knit family to marry a man she barely knows. She crosses oceans to begin a new life with him in Australia. But the promise of adventure soon gives way to isolation. On a remote cattle station along the Roper River in 1970, Francesca is left to manage the household while her husband, Felix, disappears for weeks at a time, leaving her alone with growing doubts about their marriage—and the secrets he may be hiding. Everything changes when she befriends Alice, an Aboriginal woman, who introduces her to a world of ancient traditions combined with a spiritual connection to the land. As they explore sacred places and winding rivers, Francesca finds herself drawn to the mysteries of the Outback—and haunted by vivid dreams calling her to the river. Beneath the river’s shimmering waters lie long-buried secrets that will shatter everything Francesca believes about her marriage, her new life, and herself.