Quiet, mysterious, web-toed Alice Riley has long been the black sheep of her mother's self-righteous family. When Alice rescues a drowning girl in the freezing water of Lake Riley, high in the Georgia Appalachians, her unusual abilities are exposed. Alice can remain underwater for extraordinary periods of time and locate submerged objects. She also realizes that through some natural telepathic ability she can link minds with strangers, particularly salvage diver Griffin Randolph. Alice sends a message to Griffin across the Atlantic, also saving him from a drowning accident.

These unique occurrences, coupled with the sudden attention from the media and townsfolk, confuse the reclusive Alice. The dazzling Bonavendier sisters --- who claim to be half-sisters to Alice --- enter the picture at an awards ceremony for Alice and lure her to beautiful Sainte's Pointe Island. When Alice arrives, she discovers that she and Griffin have a remarkable bond, that she and the sisters may have a common mermaid ancestor, and that a dispute between her family and Griffin's remains unresolved.

Realistic yet magical, Alice at Heart is a powerful story of discovery and unification.