After experiencing the perils of fighting as a soldier in the Civil War, Serena Barlow now faces something far more frightening. She must return to the beginning—a home she did her best to leave behind. Without Sam she is left to confront the past: the painful memories of Caleb's loss, a mother she hardly knows, a father whom she has deceived sorely, and, worse yet, a father-in-law who knows her secret. Impending motherhood overwhelms her even more, and without Sam at her side, she hardly knows who she is anymore.

When word comes that Sam has been captured and is wasting away in the squalid conditions of Libby Prison, Serena can wait no more. She decides she must take action to save him, and leaving everything dear to her behind, she makes her way to the capital of the Confederacy—Richmond, Virginia. Deep within enemy territory, Serena begins to wonder how far she will go to save the man she loves. Time is running out for Sam. Can she find a way to rescue him before it's too late?