Emily of the Wild Rose Inn — Jennifer Armstrong

1858

Emily MacKenzie is content spending her days sailing and working at the Wild Rose Inn with Lucy, her best friend and adopted sister. The rift between the North and South is growing, but Emily has never given much thought to the troubling social issues of the day, nor to the dangerous work of the Underground Railroad in her own town.

But conflict ensnares Emily when the Stockwells, a wealthy southern family, come to stay at the Inn with their slave, Moses. Emily knows in her heart that slavery is wrong, and wishes she could help Moses. But her growing feelings for Blount, the Stockwells' son, hold her back. By helping Moses, she would betray Blount, but taking Blount's side would compromise her values and destroy her heartfelt friendship with Lucy, a free black. Can Emily find the strength to do what must be done?