IN 1845, 25-year-old Hannah Price, brought up in the narrow world of the island of Nantucket, has only the horizons of the stars to tempt her to look beyond her narrow environment and bigoted community.

Her hopes for her future, as an amateur astronomer, lay in the possibility of discovering a new comet. Into her life comes Isaac Martin, a young black whaler who has ambitions to better himself.

He persuades her to help him master the art of navigation. The attraction that grows between them brings suspicion and criticism from the inhabitants of Nantucket.

Hannah is devastated when he leaves the island and returns to the sea. She writes but receives no replies. Her thoughts of Isaac keep her focused on her desire to find a new comet and when she does her world is altered again.

People who shunned her because of her association with a black man now want to be friends with a famous lady.

Throughout her success she has always longed to share it with Isaac but where is he? Then he comes back into her life. Read this beautifully-written novel to learn what happens. I couldn’t put it down.