An enchanting story of village life from the bestselling author of the FAIRACRE series. January has been bitterly cold in Thrush Green. But at last the winter seems to be melting into a beautiful spring. But with the warmer weather comes a series of local dramas in the community: the future of The Fuchsia Bush tea shop is uncertain when its owner, Mrs Peters, falls ill; there are problems concerning Rectory Cottages, which prove hard to solve; the plans for the village fete - always an event rife with conflict - are hotting up... Meanwhile, the arrival of a stranger from America excites much interest and curiosity - who is he, and what effect will he have on the village?