A Dead Rose is told from the perspective of Isis Reynolds, a young, successful woman who is unsuccessful in love. She has great friends, a wonderful job, and a loving family, but she can't seem to find that special someone. What's worse, in her quest for love, she's developed a reputation that has prevented many men from taking her seriously, and has caused many women to loathe her. She constantly receives evil looks, and seems to always hook up with men who want only one thing' sex.

Eventually, she falls in love with and marries Vincent, a Soldier stationed at the nearby Army installation. He knows about her past, but doesn't seem to care. Meanwhile, the people closest to her go through their own changes. Her girlfriend Michelle marries her co-worker and moves to Germany. Her other girlfriend, Keisha, struggles with the realization that she's gay. Isis's sister, Cleopatra, moves in with her boyfriend and tries to hide it from their mother.

For Isis, she finds that marriage isn't all she dreamed it to be. She begins making more money than Vincent, who responds by neglecting his marriage. Isis responds by comparing her husband to what she thinks is the ideal mate. Doubt about her marriage, love, and even her own mortality set in, forcing both Isis and Vincent to make some drastic decisions that could send their lives into a downward spiral.