In the 1850s a young midwife braves the perilous journey west to Santa Fe in this captivating epic from the international bestselling author of Into the Wilderness and The Endless Forest. Over half a million copies now sold of the WILDERNESS series in Australia and New Zealand! 1857- In a bid to outrun her past, Carrie Ballentyne accepts a nursing position with a doctor in the New Mexico Territory. She knows the journey from New York to Santa Fe will not be easy, but she relishes the adventure. However, nothing could have prepared her for the wilderness she encounters. To endure, she must rely on her fellow travelers - and one enigmatic man in particular. The trip west is only the beginning of Carrie's challenges, though. In Santa Fe, she helps women bring new life into the world, making her beloved among new mothers. Soon, however, she realizes that her employer and his wife are keeping secrets from her, and she must ferret out the truth to protect their young daughter. But to save the little girl, Carrie will have to confront the demons in her own past - a feat that will take all of her bravery, and the help of the man she's come to love above all others. With its breathtaking western landscape and its irresistible characters, The Sweet Blue Distance is the unforgettable story of one woman's courage to heal herself, her family, and the women entrusted to her care.