It seems a perfect backdrop for what Violet Hayes longs to experience: a little mystery, a little romance.

To be honest, it is more than a little mystery. She schemed her way to Chicago to discover the mother she barely remembered. As for romance… well, with the help of her grandmother and three great aunts, that is coming along nicely as well --- perhaps too well. Each of her relatives --- including her saintly grandmother --- seems to have a separate agenda for her.

In the course of a summer, Violet's world will open wide before her eyes. But in the wake of discovery, she must find a way to determine which path --- and which man --- will ultimately be the right lifetime choice for her.