Freed

Joann Canter's life had never been easy, but for almost twenty years now-while imprisoned in Australia's Freemantle Prison for the murder of her husband-it has at least been predictable and structured. When she unexpectedly receives a letter from the High Court of Britain informing her that she has been cleared of the unlawful murder conviction and is to be immediately released from prison, she doesn't know what to do. Her routine life has been upended and the only guidance she is given is to live one day at a time. Frustrated with that advice, Joann tries to cope in her old ways. She takes matters into her own hands but quickly finds her old habits do not suit her new situation. So, having no prospects for employment in Australia, she sets sail for England, hoping for a new life in her birth country.

To her surprise, she is accompanied by a new acquaintance, Joe Winter, whom she met a few days after her prison release. Joe, the local mercantile proprietor in Freemantle, has been called back to England on family business. Even though his gentle manners and good looks tempt Joann to get to know him better, she is wary of getting too close. They have different plans for their lives, ones that will keep them far apart. So, not knowing the dangers lying ahead of her, Joann presses on with her own plans, which do not include Joe. She only finds out after a devastating event that God had a different, and better, plan for her life. It was only then she learned that she was freed to live or . . .