Dr. Will Brenner married Laura Hale thinking he could save her from anorexia. Laura's teenage sister Jo lives with them, because their parents are deceased. When the three travel to Austria, they meet Thomas Trawick, a suspicious character, who pursues Jo back to Chicago to possess her. The intrusion of the charming, but dangerous Thomas stretches the bonds that keep the Brenner family together. Jo breaks away from her overbearing older sister; Laura, hungry for excitement, pursues Thomas. Laura and Will realize that they do not love each other and are incapable of helping one another; Will must confront his attraction for his young sister-in-law. Jo is not interested in either older man, until she kisses Will.
The book becomes somewhat cliche at this point and some not quite believable occurances happen to bring about an ultimately bitter-sweet ending. ( )