In 1862, Mercy escapes a bleak future in London and joins a bride ship. Wealthy and titled, Joseph becomes the ship's surgeon to avoid the pain of losing his family. He has no intention of settling down, but when Mercy becomes his assistant, they must fight against a forbidden love.

"In 1863, upon discovering an abandoned baby, Pastor Abe Merivale cares for the infant along with Zoe Hart, one of the newly arrived bride-ship women. With mounting pressure to find the baby a home, they hastily marry--but soon realize their marriage of convenience is not so convenient after all" -- Provided by publisher.

"With the cotton mills closed and hunger rampant in Manchester, England, Willow Rhodes's family encourages her to join the bride ship bound for the Pacific Northwest, where she is assured of employment. Willow agrees to go with the hope that eventually she can save enough money for her family to join her. Rebellious knuckle-boxing champion Caleb Edwards loves Willow more than life itself. But Willow has been adamant that she sees him as a friend and...