Voyage of Death and Desire by Madalyn Rae

“Voyage of Death and Desire” is the first book in the sister series of the popular series, “Vampires of New Orleans”

Nineteen-year-old, Elsbeth Abernathy, is the oldest of nine children. Considered unmarriable and demon-possessed from an ailment that’s plagued her since childhood, she’s forced, along with her widowed mother and eight siblings, to set out for what they hope is a new life in Charles Town, South Carolina.
Captain Hawthorne Rex is a young and newly appointed captain of the vessel that will carry them across the Atlantic. After finding Elsbeth in the height of one of her “fits”, he makes the decision to help her, and her starving family survive the difficult trip to America.
Elsbeth’s life is turned upside down when a mysterious man climbs aboard their ship. In order to save the lives of her family and everyone on board, she’s forced to sacrifice her safety and sanity as she’s drawn into the dark world of one of the world’s oldest vampires.
Now in modern-day Charleston, a long-lost love returns, and fate has other plans. Will Elsbeth survive, and receive her happily ever after, or will the darkness that has followed her for centuries win once more?