Trama

Ruby, an aspiring romance novelist, joins a writers retreat in Tahoe, in order to win a lucrative book deal. But when Woody, the hotel owner, shows her the beauty of nature, Ruby wonders if she's been writing the wrong kinds of stories.

Acclaimed romance novelist Marcus Harlow is hosting his latest annual romance writers retreat at a wilderness resort at Lake Tahoe, it on an invitation only basis to three applicants based on their submission of writing. The three will compete for a lucrative book deal based on a proposal written at the retreat, this time on the theme of the wilderness. With her overbearing but loving mother Diane having submitted her application without her knowledge, Ruby Easton, an accountant by day and aspiring romance novelist by night with all her submissions to publishers so far being rejected including the story Diane submitted, is a somewhat reluctant attendee in believing it was a scam until she learned that it was being hosted by Marcus, her idol from who she hopes to learn about writing for the genre. Her other issues of concern are being a fish out of water in both the writing and the locale, she indeed up against two published authors, and admitting that she is a city slicker through and through being afraid of the great outdoors. Conversely, Woody, the resort's new owner/manager who has taken over from his now deceased father, would rather cater the resort to the true wilderness aficionado than to who he considers the tourist class only wanting to do "wilderness lite" in their designer attire. However, he is convinced by his father's friend and business partner Dean that they need those tourists to make the business not only thrive but survive. As Woody is the wilderness coordinator for the retreat, he and Ruby initially clash in their differences, Ruby not fully understanding how doing all those outdoor activities will make her a better writer, especially as Marcus is a frequent absentee as he attends to his business deals. In spending time together, Ruby and Woody start to fall for each other as Woody opens her eyes to the beauty of the outdoors. But a relationship between the two is threatened by Marcus, who Woody learns should not be the idol that Ruby has placed on her pedestal, something that she may refuse to see in her eye on the prize of the book deal.—Huggo