Mississippi, 1963. Essie Lee Lane is a small-town girl who doesn"t take "stuff" from nobody. Yet even she isn"t ready for the Reverend Theophilus Simmons, one of the South"s most fiery and respected young preachers. Down-to-earth, caring, and oh-so-fine, he"s everything Essie never thought she"d find in a man, and he realizes she is everything a pastor needs in a wife. But Essie and Theophilus soon discover that dealing with the contentious members of Theophilus"s church will be no honeymoon-especially when a couple of First Lady wannabes and a few blasphemous preachers enter the picture. With their parishioners in turmoil and their denomination facing a major scandal, Essie and Theophilus must put their faith and love to the ultimate test as they struggle to lead their congregation to God"s sweetest rewards.