The Soul of the Rose

"And the soul of the rose went into my blood..."

This line from a Tennyson poem enchants young Celia Thatcher, who supposes every woman's heart hopes to be the rose that captivates a man.

Celia is searching for her own sense of hope after the tragic death of her closest friend. Moving in 1876 to work in a Massachusetts bookstore, to start life afresh, she soon catches the eye of not one, but two men: the elite but unkempt Edward Lyons and the charming law student Charles Harrod. One is hiding from his past and from God. The other promotes a religious belief Celia had never before considered. Both leave Celia wondering if either are right for her. 

When one of her suitors is accused of  murder, Celia is challenged with a deeper choice: should she follow her heart or her faith?