The spirit of the season

the long version

Once readers visit the charming village of Acorn Hill they'll never want to leave. Three sisters-Louise, a widow from Philadelphia; Alice, an unmarried nurse who lived with her father; and Jane, a divorced chef from San Francisco-reunite in the sleepy town after their father's death and turn the family home into a charming bed-and-breakfast. Here the sisters rekindle old memories, rediscover their childhood bonds, revel in the blessings of friendship and meet fascinating guests along the way.-------It's December and Acorn Hill is festive, but the Howard sisters are about to discover that Christmas doesn't always mean peace on earth. A misunderstanding between Florence Simpson and her husband Ronald has Florence jetting off to Florida-and feisty Ethel has just the solution. She sets off after her friend and drags Alice and Ronald with her, determined to convince Florence that her marriage is worth fighting for. Can she get through to the couple in time to make it back to Acorn Hill by Christmas? Meanwhile, the downtown merchants of Acorn Hill start a Secret Santa program, and Jane sees a special way to arrange a special Secret Santa delivery for a needy family in town. As Christmas gets closer, they all begin to get into the spirit of the season.