Glenna Douglas may be the daughter of a humble crofter, but she dreams of becoming the innkeeper of Glengour Inn, where she has worked for years. Her problems are two-fold: first, she cannot read or write; second, the landlord has chosen a gentleman who has never set foot in Glengour to manage the inn. She is determined to prove herself more capable than the newcomer-but she may need a bit of help from him to do it.

With confidence, charm, and a bit of assistance from his good looks, Alistair Innes has found achieving his goals fairly straightforward thus far in life. His next ambition is somewhat more daunting: return his childhood home and birthright to its former glory so he can inhabit it himself-hopefully with a genteel wife at his side. His plans are temporarily foiled, though, when those capable of financing his venture require him to prove himself first. The challenge? Turn a Highland inn to a higher profit.

Alistair and Glenna are not the only ones concerned with the future of Glengour, though. Indeed, Angus MacKinnon-newly appointed justice of the peace-seems in turns determined to help and hinder them. With the vision of Alistair's future at stake and the desires of Glenna's heart rapidly expanding far beyond a simple inn, they must determine how far they are willing to go for their dreams-and exactly who those dreams include.