Rose Bernard, at age forty, lives a content life living with her beloved aunt but still feels the emptiness left by never having known true love. The love that she constantly searched for had always eluded her. But things take an unexpected turn when her aunt's old and dear friend Colonel Kent and his son, Allison, return from abroad to their neighborhood. The story follows some drama when Rose witnesses Allison's growing interest in her much younger and shallow cousin Isabel. It's a beautiful book filled with vivid, appealing characters. The romantic story is written wonderfully. Rose's aunt, Madame Bernard, is a lovely and wise elderly lady who makes the work even more enjoyable. It also contains other impressive supporting characters like twin brother and sister named Romeo and Juliet, who are responsible for some twists and turns in the plot. Every word and every line is meant to be enjoyed. The past and present sufferings portrayed through the characters' lives make it deeply touching, but the book has plenty of joy and delightful humor.