Pretty Oklahoma teenager Helen Nichols accepts an invitation from her cousin, rising movie actress Ginger Rogers, and her Aunt Lela, to try her luck in motion pictures. Her relatives, convinced that her looks and personality will ensure success,provide her with a new name and help her land a contract with RKO. As Phyllis Fraser, she swiftly discovers that Depression-era Hollywood’s surface glamour and glitter obscure the ceaseless struggle of the hopeful starlet.

Lela Rogers, intensely devoted to her daughter and her niece, outwardly accepting of her stage mother label, is nonetheless determined to establish her reputation as screenwriter, stage director, and studio talent scout. For Phyllis, she’s an inspiring model of grit and persistence in an industry run by men.

While Ginger soars to the heights of stardom in musicals with Fred Astaire, Phyllis is tempted by a career more fulfilling than the one she was thrust into. Should she continue working in films, or devote herself to the profession she’s dreamed about since childhood? Which choice might lead her to the lasting love that seems so elusive?

In London’s West End, where theatre lights blaze with promise, desire and ambition put two wary hearts to the ultimate test.
Ellie Lowery, former ballet prodigy turned international burlesque sensation, craves change and a professional challenge. By reinventing herself as a stage actress, she’ll not only escape the grind of constant touring—she can fulfill her late husband’s final wish. Her breakthrough role in a debut play provides the perfect fresh start, yet she’s reluctant to permanently retire her pointe shoes.

Corporate executive Dan Wheeler is instantly captivated by the alluring American who gained worldwide fame sashaying in cabarets. And, he soon discovers, there’s much more to appreciate than her beauty and charm and talent. But a visit to his ancestral home in the countryside reveals a significant obstacle to their future happiness. Dan assures Ellie that his father’s disapproval will eventually fade. But because she was married to someone whose parents never accepted her, she’s fully aware of the difficulties they will face.

An unexpected threat emerges from her past, with the potential to lower the curtain on her already troubled romance. Desperate to restore balance after a staggering betrayal, Ellie must decide whether ballet will once again serve as her sanctuary and solace.

An absorbing tale of artistic resilience, family loyalty, and the courage to defy expectations.