"Extraordinary...Bittner's characters spring to life." —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Raised in the hills of Tennessee, Emma Simms dreams of the day she'll escape her life of poverty to start over in the excitement of Knoxville. But when her mother dies and she's left with no one but her stepfather, Luke Simms, her dream abruptly becomes a nightmare. Luke plans to send Emma to Knoxville alright—straight to a notorious brothel. River Joe, the mysterious Cherokee-raised frontiersman, knew from the first time he set eyes on the beautiful Emma that he had to have her as his own. And one glimpse at the handsome, buckskin-clad stranger ignites the flame of dangerous desire in Emma's heart. Their passion could consume them both, but their love could very well save her life.