Ariel Lilian Dunsmore has been pledged to Marques Brandon Sutton since birth. She has not seen her betrothed since the age of eleven, thus when they are wed by proxy, their adult appearance is a mystery to each other. She grudgingly accepts her mother-in-law’s outlandish plan believing her husband loathes her for their forced marriage. Hoping for love to blossom, she replaces his dismissed (secretly by her mother-in-law) mistress.

Although Brandon Sutton has always loved Ariel, his pride chaffs at their fathers predestining their lives disregarding their desires. Thus, once wed, he’s torn between worshiping his bride, and proving he’s free to live life as he chooses.

Howbeit, once his wife arrives fully clad in mourning black because of her mother’s recent death, he finds himself intrigued. Despite a clumsy and painful wedding night in the dark, Brandon’s determined to keep his wife.

A series of misunderstanding cause Ariel to flee and begin her reluctant life as her husband’s mistress. While Brandon frantically searches for his wayward wife, he finds himself enmeshing with his new mistress, Lily Wilmington.

Both experiencing rampant emotions. Love, lust, and guilt make it near impossible to escape the webs of deceit they’ve woven. Yet for their marriage to succeed, they must find a way.

1861 Maryland

After her father is killed in the Civil War, Bond Stockard is left homeless unless she’s willing to accept a neighboring man’s offer to become his live in mistress. Refusing, Bond steals one of his coaches and intends to escape to her relative’s home in New Orleans. It’s a dangerous trek, especially with the war going on, yet desperate times require desperate measures, and she’s willing to risk it. However, during a blizzard, her driver loses his way, and the carriage overturns down an embankment.

The following morning, while making their way to Washington to meet with President Lincoln, Major Robert Ashley and his brother Captain Josh Calub come across the coach wherein Bond lies unconscious, nearly frozen to death. After taking her to their nearby home, Robert learns her father, General William Stockard was the dying man he’d promised he’d care for his family. After circumstances beyond Robert’s control finds himself enamored with his young charge, he urges marriage by proxy once she awakens.

Concerned for Bond’s reputation, Robert’s mother forces the wedding to take place immediately upon Bond’s recovery. However, with the aid of a jealous ex-girlfriend, she once again escapes another man’s clutches and hurries south.

A series of misunderstandings, along with the cruelty of war cause Bond’s life to become embroiled with lies, lusts, jealousy, and hatred. Will she ever find a man she can love and trust? You’ll only learn her fate by reading her story…

April 1863 Outside Washington, DC

Having just returned home from the Union captured city of New Orleans, Captain Josh Calub realizes he’s still in love with his sister-in-law. He can’t be. He just can’t allow himself to be. It’s why he immediately heads for Washington to speak to the President about getting new orders. Maybe if he’s away from her, he can get on with his life and not live with the constant guilt. However, on his way through the city, he comes across an elderly man auctioning off his daughter. Seeing the exploited, terrified female on an auction block, makes his sense of decency rage. He outbids all others then learns part of the buying, is marrying the girl. It’s not what he planned on. Not at all. However, mentally debating it, he believes she might be the answer to his prayers; those of finding a way to put his sister-in-law out of his mind and heart forever.

Selene Gray has seen the worst men have to offer. She loathes and distrusts most, including her stepfather Horace Wilby who has abused her much of her life. She’s only known hard work, and little joy. When she unfairly gets fired from a Union Hospital, her stepfather intends to get even by selling her off. Her humiliation reaches its zenith when she’s put on an auction block. But when a handsome captain buys and marries her, she needs to learn how to survive this newest threat.

Josh and Selene’s love story delves into the harsh reality of war, and the raw emotions that it causes. Can they learn to trust? Love? Read their tumultuous story to find out…

1795 England.

Young and unschooled, Sheena Worden must work as a serving maid to support herself and her younger brother. Bitter towards men because of the way her late mother, a prostitute, had been treated, Sheena has no desire to ever fall for honeyed words nor pledges promised in hopes of taking her virtue. In fact, she’s well prepared to live her entire life single.

However, when a determined Captain Brant Branhard decides he wants her, he forces himself into her humble world, and she must find a way to protect her heart against his onslaught of worldly overtures. Their tumultuous love affair takes them from England to the Azores, to Albany, New York. Ah, such is prevailing love….

1768, Maine.

In a time when women are considered property and have no money or assets of their own, young, vulnerable Ashley Hatch is forced to leave the only home she’s ever known in England and travel to Maine in the Americas to marry her late father’s partner if she wishes to inherit a dowry, half ownership of a logging company, WOODLAND. Never having met her parents, Ashley struggles to come to grips with this new bit of betrayal since her father’s Will won’t allow her to wed her current fiancé. More importantly, her betrothed won’t marry her without a dowry.

Owning the other half of WOODLAND, Aaron Chatwell chaffs that he must wed his late partner’s daughter if he wishes to keep control of the business. To make matters worse, the Will states they must live together under the same roof for a year. If at the end of that period Aaron and Ashley have not consummated their vows, they may dissolve their marriage. Aaron is then free to buy out Ashley’s interest in the business and they’re free to go their separate way.

From the beginning, their relationship is tested. Desires and attraction run deep. Superstitious loggers resent Ashley as half owner, and of a female even being present. Then accidents begin happening regularly, making tensions worse.

Can they find a common ground? Do they want their marriage to endure? Are superstitions true or are there more sinister forces at play? Will past relationships destroy them? Will love win out? An emotional story that will keep you guessing until the surprise ending….