When her grandmother is ill, Emma Holberry steps in to run Holberry Animal Sanctuary, but she soon discovers it is on the brink of financial ruin. She decides to try and resolve the problem herself and finds the handsome new locum vet, Rick Delayne, an enormous support. A fund-raising ball is organized, but when Emma's fiancé, Nigel, drops out for business reasons, she is bitterly disappointed. At the ball, she welcomes Rick's company but when she senses there is a growing attraction between them, realizes she will have many battles to fight before she can resolve her personal and family dilemmas.