Darlina Flowers had been raised in a strict religious home, so when she moved away to Abilene, Texas, at the age of eighteen, she was determined to try everything that had been forbidden by the religion and her parents. She took part-time work in a night club that had lost its liquor license for serving to minors where she waited tables and learned to go-go dance. Nothing on earth could have prepared her for the larger-than-life Texas musician, Luke Stone, to come waltzing into the club and sweep her off her feet and into a world that she had only fantasized about. Luke had been living the life of a road musician for so long he’d forgotten any other way. He was burned out, thought he didn’t care about anyone or anything anymore; that was until Darlina. She re-ignited passions in him that he thought long dead. But had he waited too late? Would his careless actions from the past destroy any chance at love and happiness with Darlina? As Darlina embraces the new and different life with Luke, he struggles with demons that he fears will destroy them both.

When Texas veteran musician, Luke Stone, finds himself behind bars with a seventy-five year prison sentence, he is filled with hate, anger and rebelliousness. He's lost everything that he treasures, including the woman who holds his heart. How has it come down to this? He's spent his entire life writing songs and making music, filling dancehalls and bars from Texas to California. But, when he refuses to tell the FBI what he knows about certain bank robberies that he possesses knowledge of, they make sure he pays dearly. Broken and alone, in a prison of her own, Darlina Flowers struggles to find a way to live without the man she loves so completely. In an effort to dull the pain of living with only half a heart, Darlina gets involved in drugs, then follows a guru and tries different relationships, but nothing fills the void. Several years pass before Luke makes up his mind that prison will not break him. He crawls up from the bottom one tiny step at a time, determined to be and do something worthwhile and discovers artistic talents he never realized he had. The Convict and the Rose inspires hope and shows how anyone can turn a negative dark situation into a positive one. But more importantly, the story portrays a love that goes beyond earthly confines and proves how persistence and faith come with their own sweet reward. This story is based on true events.

Released from federal prison after fifteen long years, Luke Stone boards a Greyhound bus bound for Texas, for home and the woman who holds his heart. Revenge haunts him no more and the unjust sentence is behind him for good. He happily hangs up his neon dreams for a paint brush and hammer, and trades his convict clothes for jeans and a work shirt. All of the plans and dreams made through letters over the many years can now become reality. Darlina Flowers has waited her entire adult life to become Mrs. Luke Stone, but will the hardships of starting over with nothing be too much? She and Luke face the trials that come their way from extreme poverty to an almost deadly heart attack. She stands beside Luke and together they work to build a life one piece at a time. Together they can overcome any obstacle no matter how difficult and prove that love can truly conquer all. Their love is tested to the core as the story unfolds.

Luke Stone has cheated death more times than he cares to remember. With a second music career opportunity, he knows he won’t fill the Texas dancehalls and honky-tonks like he did in his younger days, but is determined to give it his all. Darlina, his rock and anchor, longs to see his dreams fulfilled and vows to do everything possible to help him find success. Together the two grab the chance for Luke to record a new CD and make the sacrifices necessary to see it through. But, just as the CD is about to be released, Luke suffers a huge setback when his left leg has to be amputated in order to save his life. Throughout this story, Luke shows his strong will to push forward; to leave some sort of lasting legacy behind and make his mark. Darlina stands beside him through all of the devastating hardships and encourages him to keep pushing. She learns to play guitar so that she can sing and write with Luke. They build a recording studio and promote their music in every way possible. But the sand in the hourglass is growing thin and only one question remains. Will fate allow Luke to sing his last song?