A famous riverboat singer poses as a slave owner in order to lead runaway slaves to freedom and save her own life in this powerful novel from the bestselling author of 'The Librarian of Boone's Hollow'.

When Fanny Beck, an indentured riverboat singer held captive beyond her term by a captain unwilling to lose his most lucrative entertainer, is swept overboard in a storm, she is presumed dead by the crew. In truth, she is

rescued by a band of escaped slaves seeking freedom. Believing they will be safer traveling together, the intrepid group heads north from Missouri, with Fanny posing as their owner and singing in towns along the way to pay for their journey.

Widower and farmer Walter Kuhn finds himself overwhelmed by responsibility. His mail-order bride hasn't arrived, and he needs someone to care for his little daughter, Annaliese. Could a beautiful stranger seeking to earn some extra travel money be the answer to his prayers?

Meanwhile, Captain Sloan Kirkpatrick has been searching for a new singer as he waits for repairs on his boat to be completed. When he hears about a talented woman performing at local stage stops, he sets off to hire her for

himself.

Fanny has had to set aside her dreams once before at the behest of a man. Now that she is closer than ever to reuniting with her family after seven long years, will she allow herself to do so again? Or does God have a different plan for her?