John Savage (the hero of The Savage Chronicles 1: John Savage) established his family, Quaker converts, on a substantial tobacco plantation along the Nansemond River in colonial Virginia in the mid-1600s.
His son, John Jr. (JJ), (the hero of The Savage Chronicles 2: JJ Savage), assumes leadership in the family and guides his family through planter attacks on Indian friends and an assault by bloodthirsty pirates.
In the course of time, the Savage family relocates to the coastal Perquimans area of what will become a part of North Carolina, continuing in the farming of tobacco. Then, in the mid-eighteenth century, Thomas Savage's family further relocates to the central part of the colony, a place called Harpers Crossroads.
As in the family's past, this is sadly not a time that permits peace and forbearance.
The Savage family, as faithful Quakers, do not own black slaves. When an escaped slave couple appears on their land, they face the challenging decision: return the slaves to their cruel owner or find sanctuary for them.
One solution is to lead them to safety among Indian friends. These Indians, the Nansemond Algonquians, are friends of Thomas and his family who grew up playing with them as children, as did their early Virginia forebears.
In the midst of helping the slaves, the family is attacked by marauders. For a family that does not believe in firearms, how can the family protect itself?
And Thomas finds himself in a romantic quandary: The girl he loves is Anglican, and he wrestles with the prospects of marrying outside the faith.
In the midst of these challenges, a battle looms between the English army and patriots at Guilford courthouse. Does Thomas join with patriots to end English rule or stick with his Quaker principles?
In a time of such turmoil and danger, one wonders how it is possible for love to succeed.
