Through an internet site, Charles Brewster and Emily Springer arrange to swap houses over Christmas. Emily, a widow, wants to celebrate in Boston with her only daughter. Charles, history professor and curmudgeon, wants to avoid the holiday altogether. He figures a prison town should be nice and quiet over the holidays—except he's thinking of the wrong Leavenworth, and ends up in Washington State—in Santa's village! Through all the mix-ups and misunderstandings, amid the chaos and confusion, romance begins to emerge in unexpected ways. Because everything changes at Christmas!