It's the nineteen sixties. Life was different then. But Tyneholme, the magnificent, historic home of one of Brisbane's pioneering families, the well-known Chaseleys, endures. Dickie Chaseley, grandson of the first Chaseley to arrive in Australia, is a respected businessman, and his vivacious wife, Vivienne, is a much-loved patron of a large number of charities.

Circumstances have drastically changed young Laura Dawson's comfortable and sheltered life and she gratefully accepts what she sees as a lifeline, a job working with Viv Chaseley. Laura moves into Tyneholme and into the unbelievably amazing world of the Chaseleys. Working with Viv gives Laura the confidence she knows she lacks, and it brings new meaning to her previously uninspiring life.

She meets Dickie and Viv's elder son, Richard, and his lovely wife, Sara, and their younger son, the dark and slightly dangerous, Nicolas. Then the Chaseleys' only daughter arrives home from the UK. Viv had said she was sure her daughter and Laura would become great friends, but nothing could have prepared Laura for her meeting with the poised, worldly, so very attractive Rosemary Chaseley.