Disguised as a boy to guard herself from male attention during her voyage from England to America, Elizabeth Crane finds herself wishing that one man would see past breeches and shirtsleeves and recognize her as the woman she is. Elizabeth was drawn to Malcolm Burns from the first moment she saw him loading cargo onto the ship that would take her to Boston. When she is made to share a room with him for the duration of their voyage, the breeches that protect her female identity do nothing to shield her heart against the growing attraction she feels for her handsome and mysterious cabin mate. Malcolm Burns is running from a shady past. Determined to remain aloof from society, he keeps his secrets close but develops an unlikely friendship with Elijah Crane. Despite their camaraderie, Malcolm never discloses his dark history. Once in Boston, Malcolm battles the delusion that his former partner is seeking revenge. Elizabeth, a trained healer, struggles against the superstition of a community that sorely needs her medical expertise. When Malcolm discovers Elijah is a woman, the deceit and secrecy between them threaten to destroy their relationship.