The sway of playful palm trees and never-ending sunshine seem like a fantasy compared to the smog and filth of 18th century London. Thrilled for a new life in the exotic West Indies, privileged seventeen-year-old Tessa Monroe eagerly embraces her father's reassignment to the fledgling Caribbean colony of St. Kitts where she can stake her claim as an up-and-coming socialite. But that dream unravels when a hurricane downs their ship the passage from England, leaving Tessa as the sole survivor. Rescued by a passing ship, Tessa's grief soon turns to terror as she realizes she isn't a passenger - she's a captive. With a future of slavery in the offing, Tessa must rely on Nicholas Holladay, a charismatic sailor with uncertain loyalties. Trusting him could mean Tessa's freedom - or a fate worse than death.