Check Inn to Christmas

Julie Crawley, an ambitious young lawyer, is hoping for a promotion to senior associate, a steppingstone to being named a partner of the New York City corporate law firm. But she has been working so diligently that she has been given a holiday break to visit her family out West in Crestridge, Colorado. As she steps off the train, Ryan Mason brings her laptop that she has left behind. He is returning from a business conference. Both grew up in Crestridge, members of families who share a lengthy feud between rival inns. The Crawley's claim that the Masons snatched the prime location close to the depot away from them. Julie and Ryan keep spending time together as the community comes together for various contests that are part of the centennial Christmas celebration in the mountain town. A bit of uncertainty hangs in the air because the Edgestone Corporation is putting out feelers for buying property to develop an upscale, complete, modern resort facility. Both the Crawleys and the Masons stand to lose most of their market share of the tourist trade. Julie and Ryan, who seem to be enjoying each others company more and more, put their heads together searching for a solution to the problem. She comes up with a new ordinance that would give residents the power to have a voice in future growth while Ryan devises a business plan through which the two families would out-bid Edgestone for the space on which they have their eye. Can the couple possibly talk their parents, who are firmly entrenched in the feud, to join forces?—Garon Smith