<P>At last life can begin again for Raelynn Barrett. In the loving embrace of her new husband, the dashing American shipping magnate Jeff Birmingham, she can forget her painful past and the tragic, undeserved disgrace of her family. Jeff has brought passion into her heart once agin -- and each sweet, lingering kiss is a promise of a future rich in joy and sensual fulfillment.<p>But Raelynn can hear the whispered rumors that damn the man she loves. And what her own eyes have witnessed seem to brand her adored and adoring Jeff as the worst sort of criminal. Yet even as she flees his desire and his love, Raelynn cannot escape the memory of his tender touch and the heated nights they shared. But in the face of the devastating treacheries of ruthless, hidden enemies, how can Jeff ever hope to win back the trust of the woman he cherishes...and secure his place eternally in his beloved Raelynn's betrayed heart?