[7] Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty live with their father in the fictional town of Arundel in Western Massachusetts.

When their aunt arrives with a letter from their late mother urging their father to start dating again, the sisters are immediately afraid of the possibility of a wicked stepmother.

They decide to secretly set their father up on bad dates so that he won't fall in love again.

After this happens a few times, their father starts pretending to go on dates with a mysterious woman to appease his sister, who has made him promise to see at least four different women before he gives up for good.

After this is revealed, the sisters realize that their father has feelings for their next-door neighbor, Iantha, who the whole family likes.