Set in Charleston during the years leading up to the War Between the States, The Belles of Charleston is a coming-of-age story about four cousins.

Alexis Belle: Beautiful, spoiled, and petulant, she treats Charleston as her own private playground, along with the men who live there.

Jennie Belle: Alexis' identical twin, cursed to always do her sister's bidding.

Rachel Belle: A strong-willed New Englander who marries into the Belle family and lives with a cloud over her marriage.

Franklin Belle: Rachel's husband who, because of his family's secret past, goes north to find a bride and his future.

Lewis Belle: The family rogue who attends the military college of South Carolina and uses his uniform to seduce every young woman in Charleston, including his brother's wife.