About the Book: Allegra Dixon, who grew up feeling unloved by her detached parents, finds solace in books and her imagination. When she marries her childhood sweetheart, Shepherd Williams, her life seems to improve. However, Shepherd is consumed by the horrors he witnesses in military combat, transforming him into a dangerous stranger. Seeking a fresh start, Allegra leaves her job and moves to California to work as an assistant for Henry Platt, a brilliant but intense film score composer.