Music is Juliet Crawford's life - her passion and her first true love. Her dream is to be the chief conductor of one of the great orchestras: even the heartbreaking round of conducting competitions has not broken her spirit. And when she loses at an all-important contest in Paris, she is consoled by the glowing praise of the world-famous Czech conductor Alexander Stoltze and his brilliant young protege Karel Haken. Back in Edinburgh, Juliet and her equally-ambitious flatmates immerse themselves in the music they love - so they are there for Juliet when Karel crosses her path once more and leaves her with a broken heart. Then, at last, she gets her chance, as assistant conductor for the London Symphony Orchestra. She will somehow have to make her name in a make-or-break year, while overcoming a jealous rival and working for the man she once thought she could love.