For over one hundred years, England manned their warships by impressing men and boys from the poor areas of the country and sending them to sea without their consent or concern for their families left behind. This is the story of two families that lost their men to press gangs that roamed the country, gathering men by force, all with the approval of the king of England. Life on the warships was brutal and cruel, the sailors virtual prisoners.

Mona Froud lost her husband Ned to the press gangs, leaving her with a young son, Daniel, and very pregnant with the second. After fifteen years she still had no idea if he was alive or dead. She had to get work as a barmaid to feed her young family. Maria Duncan and Will Ryketts were to be married and start their lives together. Their future was changed forever when press gangs raided a tavern in their small town.

Mona's and Maria's lives become intertwined by the loss of their men to the king and his wars at sea.