A determined potter. A hapless shopkeeper. A mischievous cat on a mission. An English potter in search of a new life, Emma Louise Avalon has left the pottery factories of Stoke-on-Trent to start her own workshop in a mining town on the Fever River in America. The red clay in Illinois will be ideal for ceramic production, and her inheritance will allow her to live comfortably. Over the past decade, Robert Montgomery and his cat, General, have paid witness to Galena’s growth due to its lead mining industry. He owns the only dry goods store in the burgeoning town, so he’s sure he has everything he needs. Or does he? Robert’s life is upended when General takes a liking to Emma. Even though she has convinced Robert to sell her pottery on commission, General’s mischief-making results in an accident that forces the two to consider far more than a business deal together. Life on the Fever River is about to heat up for these two wayward souls.