The only child of a US naval officer and a charming mother, Grace Houston is the centre of her parents' universe - until sudden tragedy tears her world apart. Grace and her mother, Jackie Lee, must leave the naval base in Virginia to ritzy Palm Beach, Florida, to start all over again. It's hard enough being the new girl - but Grace is enrolled at a prestigious private school where what you wear is more important than who you are. Now her own mother is pressuring her to do whatever it takes to be accepted by the in-crowd. But Grace just wants to close her eyes and disappear.

Soon Jackie Lee marries a sophisticated millionaire, Winston Montgomery, who is her ticket to high society. But happiness once again vanishes into the shadows - and it's not long before the young and dashing Kirby Scott works his way into Jackie Lee's life. He's got his eye on her newly-inherited forturne - and something much more precious: her beautiful, innocent daughter ...