The Civil War is over --she wants to help the South heal and repent of its past --he swears never to forgive the North for what they did to his family. When Elizabeth Harris lands on the docks of New Orleans from her prestigious home in Boston, her welcoming party has been diverted and only a rough and raucous throng greet her. She is rescued by the handsome Andre Beauchamp, who quickly recognizes her predicament--and her remarkable beauty--and makes sure she is safely escorted to her new home. Elizabeth has traveled to this war-ravaged city to minister to the people devastated by the conflict--having been a strict abolitionist who was part of the Underground Railroad--she seeks to help the South understand the transgression of slavery. Andre and Elizabeth's attraction is immediate and obvious, but they quickly discover how diverse two people can be in their values and beliefs. Andre, a Confederate naval officer, returns from the war to discover his father has been hanged by the Yankees, his brother has died of disease and deprivation, his mother is mentally incapacitated and institutionalized, and the glorious and beloved estate of his youth smolders in ruin. His rage against the North knows no bounds--and he has rejected the God whom he blames as allowing the marauders from the North to rob him of his family and inheritance. The question is whether these two strong-willed individuals will be able to swallow their pride and discover a common path to rebuilding the city--and their own lives.