Dark clouds and chaos descend lower upon America as the war rages around them; threatening all they hold dear. Carrie and Robert are once more pulled apart, and Carrie finds herself the target of a hostile group of men determined to stop her from providing medical care of black residents of Richmond. How long can she continue to save other people's lives at the risk of her own? Aunt Abby is sucked into a violent riot in the North, while Matthew faces the greatest challenge of his life. Rose welcomes new life, while Moses risks everything as a Northern spy. The ultimate test comes as the people of a once-promising nation must hold on to their faith and dreams as everything around them crumbles.

Carrie and Janie are living their dream in Philadelphia, but what price will they pay when cholera sweeps through America once again? Robert searches for peace on the plantation, but forces are in place that are determined to deny it. Moses and Rose are driven by forces beyond their control to become leaders in the midst of a violent racial revolution. Jeremy discovers love, but will the reality of his heritage make it impossible, and will he survive the forces determined to destroy the factory? And will Matthew finally free his heart?

Carrie Cromwell comes of age as the dark clouds of the Civil War swallow the country. Born with a fiery spirit and a strong mind, she finds herself struggling between the common wisdom of the South and the truth she has discovered. The activities of the Underground Railroad and her close friendships with the Cromwell Plantation slaves create difficult choices. But when her decisions put her at odds with her heritage, and challenge her dreams, will she be able to give up all that is precious to her?

Burdened with the responsibility of running an entire plantation, Carrie Cromwell fights to understand the forces tearing her beloved country apart. As battles rage around her, she watches as her life slowly unravels and she discovers truths she would never have imagined. Will her actions and decisions push her even further from those she loves? When the danger she dreads becomes reality, will she find the courage and strength to escape? Robert is pulled into battle, facing things he would never have imagined. Moses and Rose face a great loss, and then make a decision that could claim their lives. Everyone struggles to survive and live in a country that has exploded into Civil War.

The power of the Union army brings the South to its knees in surrender, but not until a year of intense pain and violence creates a chasm that may be impossible for the country to bridge. Carrie struggles to hold on to hope as the world caves in around her, hanging on to the promise she’s been given. She also finally gets to reveal the secret she has held so close. Moses is gravely wounded in battle. Aunt Abby faces danger as she gets more deeply involved with women’s rights, and spends time in Washington, D.C. Robert’s plantation takes a severe loss, but is saved from burning by an unlikely source. Rose continues to thrive in the Contraband Camp and finally has a dream come true.

As her beloved city of Richmond is transformed into a deadly Civil War battlefield, spirited Carrie Cromwell puts her medical skills to work in a Confederate hospital. While she fights to save unknown soldiers, the one she cares about the most is lost to her when Robert disappears in battle. She must also deal with a family secret that has finally come to light. Meanwhile, Rose and Moses have found freedom at last - only to be separated by war. Can Moses, now a Union spy, elude those who are searching for him as a runaway slave, and also help those he thought he would never see again?

Will Reconstruction really change America? Carrie and her housemates battle cholera in Philadelphia. Her world is turned upside down when she discovers the truth of her heritage. Will it completely change her path? Robert watches his dreams fade before his eyes when he refuses to align himself with southern beliefs after the war. Rose has to face down a new threat, and Moses is forced to step into the role he has avoided. Janie has agreed to marry Matthew, but can she actually move beyond her fears and become his wife? And will Jeremy realize Marietta’s life as a Mulatto’s wife is just too dangerous for the woman he loves? So many of the characters you have come to know and love face both challenges and joys in this turbulent time in history.

America struggles to rebuild in the aftermath of Lincoln’s assassination. Promises will be broken, and everyone you have grown to love will be asked to pay a high price to make freedom for the slaves more than just a mockery. Robert fights to emerge from the darkness as Carrie risks everything to bring him back to her. Moses is offered the opportunity of a lifetime, while Rose returns to her roots with a dream that will change everything. Matthew is caught up in the worst maritime disaster in American history, while Jeremy discovers the cost of embracing his true heritage. Thomas and Abby are surprised by a future they never dreamed was possible.