Sparks fly between rivals Olivia Tolivar and Frederick Sterling. As desk clerk of the Culp Hotel, Olivia longs to leave it all behind for the life of a wife and mother. The answer seems to present itself in the form of a visiting scholar. But can she accept their differences in belief? When a shared passion to educate the less fortunate draws Frederick and Olivia together, Frederick's competitive nature vanishes as he begins to appreciate Olivia's strong mind and vulnerable heart. But will the results of his scheme to draw Olivia away from the hotel keep Frederick from winning her hand?