Grumpy Monte Wildhorn is brought to spend the summer at a lakeside cabin in Belle Isle by his nephew Henry, who's friends with the owner. Monte is a famous
Western novelist. Struggling with the loss of his wife to cancer six years earlier has sapped his passion for writing and driven him to drink heavily. Monte eventually befriends the family next door, attractive single mother Charlotte O'Neil and her three young daughters, teen Willow, middle child Finn and Flor. Willow, the eldest, is constantly on her cell, Finn is mischievous and Flor is naïve. Shortly after arriving, a resident drops dead. Another neighbor asks Monte to read the pre-prepared eulogy. Afterwards, he meets Finn, who asks him to teach her three new words for her mom, then how to write as her mentor. He teaches her through example, making up a story on the spot, which she believes. When Monte is invited to the O'Neils for dinner, Finn shows she has learned well the vocabulary he taught her. Charlotte indirectly asks him about love, and he basically says his wife was the love of his life. Later Monte has a dream about dancing with Charlotte. Not only does the writer subtly influence people in town, but they help him find inspiration again. Finn spontaneously coming up with a story stimulates him to write a story for Flor, and then another. One day in late August, Charlotte asks Monte to watch the girls while she finalizes her divorce in NYC. They bond, and he tells Finn how he ended up in a wheelchair, how he met the love of his life, and how he started writing. Shortly thereafter he says his goodbyes. Months pass and Monte has returned to Belle Isle. After selling the movie rights to his Western books, he is able to buy the house next door, and the O'Neils welcome his return. ==Cast==