Living in London&apos;s poorest slum, Mercy Wilkins has little hope of a better life. When she&apos;s offered an opportunity to join a bride ship sailing to British Columbia, she agrees. After witnessing so much painful heartache and loss in the slums, the bride ship is her only prospect to escape a bleak future, not only for herself but, she hopes, someday for her sister.<br /><br />Wealthy and titled Joseph Colville leaves home and takes to the sea in order to escape the pain of losing his family. As ship&apos;s surgeon, he&apos;s in charge of the passengers&apos; welfare aboard the <i>Tynemouth</i>, including sixty brides-to-be. He has no immediate intention of settling down, but when Mercy becomes his assistant, the two must fight against a forbidden love. <br /><br />With hundreds of single men congregating on the shore eager to claim a bride from the <i>Tynemouth</i>, will Mercy and Joseph lose their chance at true love, or will they be able to overcome the obstacles that threaten to keep them apart?