Mother Miriam Howatch knows her career as an ordained priest is unusual, but she is devoted to her calling. It's never bothered Miriam that her title and clerical collar aren't scoring her any dates, but with her friends building families, Miriam finds herself wishing for more.

Boone Rutledge is an agriculture professor and conservationist who loves plants but isn't a fan of people. After a childhood marred by religious fundamentalists, he particularly dislikes people of faith.

While visiting her favorite parishioner, Miriam is stranded when a once-in-a-century ice storm hits their corner of Kentucky. Suddenly, she's stuck in a farmhouse with the lovably eccentric Ms. Rubie and her grouchy grandson, Boone. As days pass, Miriam finds that Boone's surliness is armor protecting a heart she could easily love.

With Miriam's clerical shirts swapped out for flannel, Boone sees that this priest his grandmother gushes about is actually a beautiful and complicated woman. He can't stop his attraction to Miriam, but he will do all he can to keep from trusting or, God forbid, loving her.

Forced together by Mother Nature, can Miriam break down Boone's defenses? And can Boone trust Miriam with his wounded heart?