A doctor starts to fall for his friend's secretary, but mutual suspicions keep them from declaring or consummating their love, until the doctor proves himself an honorable and good man. Following a devastating break up with her boyfriend in Seattle and the death of her father from Parkinson's disease, Karin is heartbroken, sick of love, mourning her father and needs a fresh start away from Settle and all the bitter memories that it holds. She works as a librarian in Seattle, and at first has no idea where to look for another job. Fortunately, an invitation comes from her elegant married friend Lissa, whose historian husband Charles needs secretarial work as he writes a book on the architectural history of Quebec City, that most historic of Canadian cities. Karin takes the train to Quebec City and moves in with Lissa's family. Assisting Charles in his research is his wealthy aristocratic friend Paul, a dark, commanding, seductive man. Paul is a doctor from an old and wealthy Quebec French family, and he is immediately attracted to Karin and Karin has the same electric attraction towards him. Complicating matters is the fact that Lissa is unhappy in her marriage to Charles (who is a good man but a bad fit for Lissa) and also wants Paul for herself.
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Karin and Paul wander the streets of Quebec City on the pretext of Paul showing Karin the sights as well as educating her about the city's architecture so that she can more readily help Charles with his book. Karin is powerfully attracted to him but dislikes his womanizing reputation and his authoritative manner of ordering her and other people around. After a party, Paul attempts to seduce Karin but stops when he realizes that she is a virgin, and begins to court her less aggressively, but more protectively. Karin still doesn't trust him though, feeling like she's just a game to him. After reading about a drug ring in Quebec City, Karin remembers the eyes and noses of some of the poor artists of the city who Paul appears to sponsor through their apprenticeships, and develops a suspicion that, as a doctor, Paul might have been possibly selling heroin and marijuana, apart from courting all the young female artists and seducing them. She continually resists his attempts to seduce her and date her, to his frustration, until finally Paul realizes the cause of her suspicion when she drops a remark about his harem of young women. Though Karin is quickly disabused of her notion that Paul might be involved in drugs, it takes longer for her to be convinced that his womanizing reputation is undeserved. However, one of the female artists insists that Paul is more like her protective older brother, helping her career and her boyfriend's career so that they can get married, and Paul himself laughs dismissively at the idea that he might have a fling with Lissa. In the end Karin is full of guilt for doubting him, and also admires him for his good deeds and kindness towards others. They consummate their love together, and get married as Charles' book is released.
Best part of story, including ending:
Loved the introduction to Quebecois life. This was something that had never been on my radar previously.
Best scene in story:
When Paul takes Karin on a walking tour of the city's most artistic buildings and artwork and discussed them, I felt I was learning a lot.
Opinion about the main character:
I liked Karin for being occasionally funny, but that was rare. Paul was kind of rapey so I didn't like him that much.
