Eighteen-year-old Grace Knutson loves Blessing, North Dakota, and sees no reason to leave. She is more serious-minded than her twin sister, Sophie, and is very sensitive to the feelings of others. In spite of her familys disapproval, Grace has always had a soft spot in her heart for Toby Valders. She has seen the vulnerable side he has kept well hidden.
The arrival of Jonathan Gould, the handsome scion of a wealthy New York family, creates a flurry of anticipation and speculation in Blessing. Jonathan's father wants him to learn the value of manual labor and to appreciate the accomplishments of those not born to wealth. Surprisingly, the city boy takes to farm life, working from dawn to dusk alongside the others. Soon he finds himself inexplicably drawn to gentle, courageous Grace.
