Newly arrived in the small town of Oberlin, Ohio, Sterling is an enthusiastic young writing teacher trying to break free of his privileged upbringing. Samantha, neglected but brilliant, stays on the fringes of society, living through her books. Neither knows what it means to truly dream big until the summer of 1901, when their lives collide and they learn things about themselves and each other that challenge the ways they view the world.

When a stolen kiss suddenly separates them by over 100 miles, they both have to decide what is most important and how to obtain it-even if it means facing their toughest fears. When an important letter goes missing, and an old journal is thrown into the mix, Sterling and Samantha each worry about failure and loss, but are some dreams worth the risk? And when all hope seems lost, will their newfound faith in God be enough to strengthen them?