Kate Francis has been a loyal assistant at a Seattle newspaper for the past five years. When one of her story ideas finally gets accepted, the assignment takes her back to her charming hometown of Sunflower Valley.

Lucille comes of age in the rebellious, sexually liberated 1970's. Determined to take advantage of the new freedom offered by The Pill, she explores and experiments with women and men, straight and gay, at home and abroad. Lucille is devoted to being a musician, but her sexual abandonment and haunting past threaten to destroy her. Teddy, a music producer, responds to her appeal for help. He insists that she behave like a professional, and he helps her put together a stronger band. She recruits sax player Hank the Hunk to her band, and they fall in love. Lucille is ready to have a baby, but Hank sits on the fence.

When police officer John O'Keefe is found dead, his girlfriend, Karen Read, is charged in connection with his death. What begins as a shocking tragedy quickly ignites a firestorm that captures national attention as Karen fights to clear her name.