Bryce Trevarian loves one thing--his life as the first mate on a clipper ship sailing the waters between Massachusetts and China. But his life gets much more complicated when a woman claiming to be his captain's half-sister seeks their help. Beautiful Lian with her sleek, black hair and blue eyes is desperate to escape before she is forced into a brothel. When Captain Catherwood asks for Bryce's assistance in saving Lian, Bryce agrees reluctantly. He doesn't believe Lian is a Catherwood, and he is unsettled by how drawn he is to her. The rescue goes awry. Lian is saved, but the captain suffers a mortal wound. Before he dies, he exacts a promise from Bryce to see Lian home to his family in Stormhaven, Massachusetts. The long journey is difficult for two people who are in mourning and blame themselves and each other for the captain's death. Yet, when Bryce leaves Lian with her new family, both wonder if they will ever see each again. When they do, several years later, Lian has become Lianne Catherwood, an even lovelier woman, and the attraction that always existed between them explodes with a passion that threatens to consume them. Treachery works to tear them apart again, and they try to resist a love that could destroy their dreams . . . or make every one of them come true.