The Obsession of Victoria Gracen (Unabridged‪)‬

Victoria Gracen's life in middle age has settled into a round of club meetings and faithful attendance at her Presbyterian church. But all that changes when she invites her newly orphaned 16-year-old nephew (whom she's never met) to come live with her.

Dick Gracen, a city boy from Chicago, finds life in the Gracen mansion, attended by servants, a startling change. He's charmed by his lovely aunt who hopes to introduce him to boys of good character.

But Dick's new friends turn out to be the small town's "bad boys" and soon, Miss Gracen finds herself surrounded by a crew of delightful, totally misunderstood fellows. She's invited to join in their hikes and sledding expeditions; through them, she's introduced to the new ragtime music and she, in turn, shares her love of literature and classical music. In 1915 small-town America, "keeping the Sabbath" means no frivolity of any kind, the day of the week that all these boys dread. But soon "Miss Vic" dreams up weekly meetings at her house with appropriate activities that entertain and instruct.

The town gossips are shocked by this strange goings-on. It doesn't take long for the rumors to start that Victoria Gracen is "obsessed...with boys".