A thistle is a prickly beautiful thing, dangerous when your skin is bare and soothing when seen on the Scottish hillsides. Astraea is beautiful and dangerous as well - dangerous to Cal Chesterfield's peace of mind. She's been a wild child for years, delving into things foreign to Cal's more conservative nature, but she appears to want to change. She needs to learn some self-respect and acknowledge that she's more than a pretty plaything. Cal wants to change, too. He's too staid, too conventional, and he's been a failure at making relationships work. It is time for Cal to step out of the square box he's built for himself and try something different, someone different. Astraea is a perfect change of pace. But can Cal really change and loosen up? More importantly, can Astraea calm down and find a way to love herself so she can love another?