II, and Virginia and Ruby Starr live on Ocracoke Island, about twenty miles off the coast of North Carolina. For the eighteen-year-old twins, life in such a remote and inhospitable environment is never easy, but when their father drowns and their mother falls into a coma, it's nearly unbearable. In addition, German U-boats are sinking ships close enough for the explosions to rattle windows, and it seems the sun will never rise on a happy day again. Regardless of Virginia and Ruby's turmoil, they hope life will be kinder, and if love finds its way into their hearts, they will welcome it with open arms.

When Virginia makes a gruesome discovery on the beach, it leads her to an intriguing Navy man. For Ruby, the beach yields an intriguing stranger from across the Atlantic, brought there by a tragedy of war. When both men meet, the only outcome can be death, but which sister will lose the man she loves?