Leaving London to return to live in the country cottage that had provided her happiest childhood memories, Sarah found that the Rannock family were still among her neighbours. As a child she had played with the four children. Now only Simon remained in the area, and his explorer father was a frail recluse, scarred emotionally as well as physically by his experiences. Helping Paul Rannock write his memoirs brought Sarah into continuing contact with the family and, at first, into open hostility from Simon who was opposed to his father reliving painful memories. Gradually, however, friendship was to deepen into love, until Christmas and the Gathering of the rest of the Rannock family brought beautiful Italian Anna from Simon's past to threaten Sarah's newfound happiness.

But Sarah had reckoned without her neighbours, the Rannocks, of nearby Marlyn Manor. Helping the frail and eldery father, Paul Rannock, to write his memoirs, Sarah soon found herself at odds with his family - and particularly with his young son Simon. But as their hostilities mellowed into friendship, and something more, Sarah dared to hope that she and Simon might one day find happiness together - until that fateful Christmas that threatened to dash all her cherished dreams forever . . .