The secrets that color the tangled relationships between sisters, lovers, and children and their parents are explored in this sensuous novel. Growing up, Laura and Lizzie are fascinated by their mother's secrets and their parents' relationship and the unusually close sisters spend endless, blissful hours contemplating the possibilities of their mother's romantic past. But, as they grow older and develop their own secrets, the web becomes more complicated and the stories of generations of passionate women intricately intertwine. This rich story delves into themes of love, guilt, and growing older.