Beneath a façade of palm trees and sunshine, homelessness and addiction are bubbling to the surface.It can be hard to shake the brands others place on you; Derek, currently homeless, knows this better than most. How can a person with nowhere to hide be so invisible? A chance meeting along the waterfront with new mum Jess ignites in him a flicker of hope.Meanwhile, 17-year-old Melissa has a new boyfriend. Her best friend hates his guts but won't say why.Melissa and Jess soon find themselves drawn into a challenging battle for reconciliation between their friends. With their help, painful truths from the past stand a chance of release, and a family the gift of restoration.Told through the eyes of three strangers, Joanna Beresford's 'The Branded Ones' is a poignant story of love, family, relationships and redemption.