
"It's December 1941. Caroline, Cyril, Edward, and Leslie are home from their recent exploits on the Isle of Man and are now happily ensconced in their cottage in Kent. Feeling safe from the ongoing horrors of war, if only temporarily, Caroline finds herself surrounded by people she loves and who love her, so she counts her blessings and immerses herself in the spirit of the season. She trims the holiday tree with her newly wedded spouse and makes a last minute shopping trip into London.
Other family members are busy, as well. Samson and Delilah -- the group’s adopted pair of shelties -- are running amok in The Peasant’s Revenge and causing the pub’s patrons no end of displeasure. Leslie and Edward have a chance encounter with a child who is separated from her parents in Germany and lives nearby with a foster family. Then there’s that something bothering Caroline that simply can’t be ignored much longer. Christmas in Kent will indeed be full of surprises."

Chapter 1: Deck the Halls A Village in Kent, England December 21, 1941 It was nearly Christmas and Caroline found herself once again happily ensconced in her village home. She couldn’t remember exactly when she’d fallen in love with the cottage, but she thought it might have been from the moment she first saw it. “I doubt it’s suitable for someone your age,” the neighbor said—the one trusted with the key and paid by the owner to show the small village home. Caroline recalled how the woman went on for some time about the gloomy look of the place: the dark brown exterior and the failed attempt by a previous owner to liven it up it with a bright yellow trim on the front windows and door. “Just makes it a sight, doesn’t it?” Caroline thought that was just what she liked about it—the rust
