1971—In the tiny, backward town of Tulma, Tennessee, optimistic, bookish Caroline Carson unwittingly finds herself in the middle of a forbidden romance. Severely neglected by her family and forced to flee Tulma to protect her secrets, Caroline's young life comes crashing down around her. She finds refuge in a new town, but the past always has a way of stretching around time and stirring up trouble.When a new love comes into her life, she has to decide if she can give her heart to someone else, or if she will always be tied to someone she can't have.