Marin Frist is a relationship coach and bestselling author who finds out that her boyfriend has been having an affair. She breaks up with him and heads north to Alaska to write her next book about men. When she gets there, she is surprised to find the town is full of unmarried men.
Marin begins to adjust to her new environment. She becomes a relationship advisor on Patrick's radio show, she's followed by a stray raccoon, and she gets advice from the men in town as to what she should do to get over her ex-fiance.
Marin gets a check sent to her for $13,000, her half of the wedding deposit. Now officially a single woman, Marin struggles with her emotions. Meanwhile, she's been asked to host the town's Charity Bachelor Auction. Ben gets "bought" by a younger girl, leaving Theresa feeling uneasy. Patrick introduces Annie to his disapproving mother.
In New York there is a rumor that Marin has died, since she's been away for so long. Meanwhile, Marin shipped some clothes to New York which have mysteriously appeared on the women in town.
The town experiences a record heatwave. The energy bars Marin has been feeding the raccoon in her closet makes him sick. Marin asks Jack for help and finds herself attracted to him. However, she doesn't know if either she or Jack is ready for a relationship. Things also heat up between Patrick and Annie, and Ben and Sara.
Marin tries to figure out if people can be friends after they've slept together. Patrick worries because Annie constantly asks him to leave after they've had sex. But Annie is embarassed about her snoring. Marin wants Jack to take her Anchorage so she can get some culture. Ben and Sara tire of sneaking around. Ben asks Theresa to move out.
Marin's sister, Liza, arrives in town unexpectedly. The town throws Marin a surprise birthday party. Ben asks Theresa to move out, causing tension between Theresa and Sara. Patrick's father's missing plane is found, giving Patrick hope that his father might still be alive.
Patrick figures out that Buzz is his real father. The two confront Celia. Distraught, Patrick turns to Marin for professional help at building his and Buzz's relationship. Sara gets nervous about her EMS exam. Minor earthquake tremors in Elmo cause an avalanche that trap some people. Marin and Jack go to search for them.
Jane leaks an excerpt from Marin's new book to The New Yorker. Now Marin must defend herself to Jack, who she included without his permission. Singer-songwriter Jewel's car breaks down in Elmo, and she runs into her former bandmate Theresa. Celia and Mai fight for Patrick's attention.
Marin goes home to New York for Thanksgiving and to meet with editors about publishing her book. She is very happy to be back, but she starts to miss Jack. He misses her too, and is about to make his move, when his ex comes to town. Meanwhile, Patrick has to choose who he wants to spend Thanksgiving with.
Jack's ex, Lynn, arrives while he is anxiously waiting for Marin to return from New York. He lets her stay on his couch for the night. Marin knocks on his door in the morning, and Lynn answers.
Since Jack has admitted to Marin that he's falling in love with her, she decides to take her time and wait for Lynn, his ex, to leave Elmo. Annie and Patrick try their hardest to get over each other, but realize they want to be together.
Marin is suffering writer's block and is trying to get over Jack. She volunteers to help at Elmo's funraising rummage sale to keep her mind off things. Stuart, her handsome and flirtatious publisher, makes an unexpected visit to help critique her book. Sara comes back to town to find Ben and Theresa together. Patrick's storybook proposal to Annie goes awry.
Marin is excited about moving into her cabin, but finds that the place is not quite ready. Jane tries to be supportive of Marin and winds up neglecting Sam. Patrick worries about finances when Annie starts talking about her dream wedding. Celia finally admits to dating her boss, Richard. Theresa feels uncomforatble letting Sara help out while Ben recuperates. Lynn wonders if Jack still has feelings for Marin.
Stuart invites Marin on an overnight ski trip. She wonders if she can accept his invitation with no strings attached and tries to be "one of the guys." However, their passion takes over. Jack takes Lynn to get a sonogram. Patrick admits to Annie that he once made a donantion at a sperm bank.
Marin can't get her construction crew to do what she wants done on her cabin. She soon meets sexy local handyman Cash. Buzz attempts to be supportive when he learns George's secret. Marin must decide if she should attend Lynn's baby shower. Jane tries to establish her New York business in Elmo so that she can spend time with Sam.
Marin comes home to find that Cash has set up a tent on her property to live in. She tells him he can temporarily move into her cabin in exchange for repairing it. However, she must get used to his lifestyle. Patrick wants to ask Annie's father for her hand in marriage, so she takes him to New York to meet them. Jack and Lynn decide to get married.