Deep in the rugged landscape of eastern Oregon, a young anthropologist named June Stefanov uncovers an exquisite artifact - a three-hundred-year-old mechanical doll - which is evidence of what she has spent years searching for.

"A story of misplaced expectations from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts. For a change of pace, renowned anthropologist Kasey Wyatt takes a job working for bestselling author Jordan Taylor, who needs helps researching his latest novel about the Plains Indians. Upon arriving at Jordan's impressive Palm Springs estate, Kasey finds all the trappings of a family, but none of the warmth. Jordan's forbidding mother is immediately suspicious...