An enthralling new novel of romance and passion by the author of the multi-million copy bestsellers Love's Avenging Heart and Love's Wildest Promise. Young Serena Foster daydreamed of love and wondered when it would happen to her. Suddenly tragedy struck and her parents were killed leaving her totally alone ... with young Rory Clendenning. He too was alone and searching for something. Their one night together was a passionate affair, a mutual grasping for dreams and ideals. It was a first affair ... In the cold light of morning it seemed this brief blaze of passion was not meant to last forever. And when Serena then met the ruggedly handsome and sophisticated Darrel Quick all of her concepts of love and romance became a mélange of emotions that tormented her mind and teased her body ... Into her confused life now came the shattering experience of being sadistically humiliated, beaten and raped by brutal men who held her captive ... with no hope of survival. Despite her misery and pain Serena was able to gain control of herself and see the qualities of the kind of love that she had experienced with Rory and Darrel. In the midst of such anguish and violence she had found a new vision of her destiny as a woman. But could she escape her hideous and deadly captors? And would it be Rory, or Darrel, or still another man who'd finally join her in her quest for a love that would be forever ... and more?