To Have and To Hold, by Mary Johnston (Paperback)

A daring sea captain, a mysterious noblewoman, and a dangerous quest for survival. In colonial Virginia, love and loyalty clash with ambition and intrigue. Can they protect each other-and their secrets-as enemies close in?

Set in the early 1600s, To Have and To Hold tells the thrilling tale of Captain Ralph Percy, a rugged Virginia settler, and Lady Jocelyn Leigh, a noblewoman fleeing a forced marriage. Amid battles, betrayal, and romance, Johnston weaves a story of adventure and resilience in the New World. Combining rich historical detail with suspense, this classic novel explores themes of honor, loyalty, and the lengths one will go to for love and freedom.

Mary Johnston (1870-1936) was an American novelist, born in Buchanan, Virginia. She was most popular in her own day and is most remembered for two novels about early Virginian colonial life, "To Have and To Hold" (1900) and "Audrey" (1902). She also wrote several books about the Civil War, including "The Long Roll" (1911) and "Cease Firing" (1912). Other titles include "The Great Valley" (1926) and "Miss Delicia Allen" (1932). All her novels combine romance and history with lively plots. "To Have and To Hold" is set in the early days of the Jamestown settlement, and comes replete with swordfights, adventure, and murder.