Olivia knows on paper she has a good life; a condo near the beach, a faithful car, a boyfriend, and a position as personal assistant to a VP. And she is only a week away from her long-awaited vacation, a road trip through New England with her boyfriend. As Olivia is on the verge of setting off, her boss assigns one more task, meaning a delay of the start of her vacation, which results in Olivia's boyfriend dumping her as he considers the demand "the last straw". Little does Olivia know, but consequences of "the last straw" are about to affect the rest of her life.

Mick, back home on Scandia Island after another successful trip, is gearing up with the rest of the islanders for two Nor'easters headed their way, and he knows his increasing discontent isn't due to the weather. When the ferries are grounded and one of the stranded appears in seek of lodging, one look at her is all it takes to make him realize the storm could be a blessing in disguise. Until their first conversation, and their second, and third. Because he and the sassy Olivia can no more agree on anything under the sun than he can stop the storms from raging. Or so he thinks.