Violet Arden is a burgeoning painter who insists on a life of passion and vivid colors, but scandal is heaped on humiliation at her artistic debut in London. It would be one thing to withstand withering critiques, but the night goes from bad to worse when an illicit affair with her art instructor is exposed. She flees the London limelight to recover from her humiliation at her cousin Emilia Graddock's country estate, where she plans to continue honing her art under a new mentor and leave all thoughts of love and heartbreak in the past where they belong. That is, until she comes face-to-face with the man who scorned her paintings in front of her friends and family. . . her new next-door neighbor, Alasdair Kerr.

Alasdair Kerr has recently set aside his life of art and travel to return to Clafton, his family's estate and the site of a tragic fire that claimed his cherished father's life. Now, he's ready to finally rebuild the home that was lost and step into his role as man of the house. But his rakish younger brother Freddie can't seem to leave the off-limits Graddock woman alone, and his mother has brought an overbearing clergyman into their home who appears keen to fill his spot as the favored son.

Violet is determined to ignore Alasdair, which shouldn't be hard to do considering their families have been in a long-standing feud. . . if only their attempts to end Emilia and Freddie's secret relationship would stop bringing them together. And when new fires threaten their homes and lives, Violet and Alasdair reluctantly join forces to uncover the identity of the arsonist once and for all. But can they ignore the feelings kindling between them that are but an ember away from igniting into a full blaze?