Will the Red River nurture the dreams of its young–Or will it fence them in?

Thorliff Bjorklund has been writing since he was a young boy and now longs to study journalism. But his father has other plans for him and refuses to agree. Loving and respecting his parents, Thorliff dreads going against his father’s wishes and cannot imagine any honorable way to leave home. To make matters worse, the threat of a crop failure may mean there’ll be no money for college anyway. Thorliff is torn between love for his father and the pull of his dream. Must he choose between the two?

Elizabeth Rogers has been raised in a life of privilege, yet she has an unwavering determination to become a doctor. Though she has the blessing of her family, society is not as kind, for it is nearly impossible for a woman to enter medical school. Has she misread her heart?

They never imagined following their dreams would be so costly

A passion for writing has burned brightly in Thorliff Bjorklund’s heart for as long as he can remember. But college life is not as he had imagined. Both time and distance have created a rift between him and his childhood sweetheart, and the only bright spot in his life is his job at the newspaper.

When summer arrives, things are looking up at school, but Thorliff must return home and confront his faltering relationship with Anji. Will he find the bonds of love still strong?

For Elizabeth Rogers, marriage seems out of the question. Since learning that her mother died giving birth to her, Elizabeth has determined to become a doctor in order to save the lives of other women in childbirth. Will she achieve her dream when it is nearly impossible for a woman to enter medical school?

All he’d hoped for was finally within his reach, and then?

Thorliff’s desire to become a writer fills his mind and heart as he attends college. He earns his way writing newspaper reports and magazine articles–good experience on the way to his goal. Then catastrophe upon tragedy hits his beloved hometown of Blessing, North Dakota, and family and friends are left reeling from incredible losses. Thorliff returns home to help shoulder the burden and assist in the recovery efforts, and too soon his writing seems only a distant dream.

After graduation from college, Elizabeth takes a nursing position in a Chicago hospital for women while waiting to hear if any of her applications to medical schools are accepted. She soon comes face to face with the vast gulf between her life of affluence and privilege and the poverty-stricken patients under her care. Then a devastating experience on the hospital ward puts her faith in God and her very life on the line.

They had followed their hearts and God’s leading–why was it all turning into ashes in the wind?