SUGARPLUM HOMECOMING is a wry name given how Lana feels about her horrible late parents and unhelpful townsfolk. She's caring for a girl aged nine, and hiding from someone. Her hated home is the last place he'll think to look for her. She'd rather not meet neighbours at all, but kids will be kids. Davis Turner used to be Mr Perfect, and he comes to introduce his Paige and Nathan, who want to play with young Sydney. Lana doubts they have one other thing in common. Her family home is so abandoned, the children call it the haunted house. She'll have her work cut out to make it habitable. Davis intends leaving them to it, but later Paige reminds him that at church they are told to help their neighbours. They should take a dish of lasagne to the new arrivals on their first evening.

From a small beginning a gradual friendship grows, though Davis's sister remains judgemental and warns that Lana was a bad sort, in all kinds of trouble, and could be a bad influence on children. For her part, Lana silently wonders where the helpful neighbours were years ago when she really needed them. And she tells Sydney, don't go into the cellar!

I found Christmas was a convenient time of year as it gives the neighbours a chance to mingle and pick trees, decorating them and making fun plans. Lana is a singer, and is encouraged to perform - we should all use our talents. She had previously thought she should give up her music to follow God, as she had been among bad company. So this tale is not so much about Christmas time as facilitated by it, and the core of the story is the homecoming of a girl with a bad reputation, to mixed response. Bravely overcoming her dysfunctional family upbringing, Lana just wants to start afresh. Linda Goodnight has set several inspirational stories in Whisper Falls, Idaho, and SUGARPLUM HOMECOMING has a lot of substance as well as gentle romance.

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