"Judge Thomas Averill Carter is wealthy, influential, and the most eligible bachelor in Tioga County, New York, in 1852. His authority is wide-ranging and his life is nearly perfect. Any thought of serious romance is the farthest thing from his mind, until he is upended by the stunningly beautiful Sa-ku-ma Gage, eldest of a Mohawk family of touring gospel singers and storytellers. Casting Victorian conventions aside, they allow their intense deisre and love to transcend racial and social barriers and engage in a torrid relationship. Conflict erupts as they become estranged from both family and community. While their passion will remind the reader of the legend of Pocahontas, an unexpected development blends their story with the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet." -- Page [4] of cover.