At the Valley View Motel in South Australia's picturesque Clare Valley, eighty-six-year-old Lola Quinlan is up to her usual mischief. She has sent her family away for the holiday period and invited a number of mystery guests to come and stay. But who are all these people, and why aren't they spending Christmas with their own loved ones? As the big day draws closer and Lola's immediate family dramas threaten to unravel her plans, she discovers that at a special time of year, magic can happen in any family - especially your own. A funny and sad and particularly moving novel about memories and moments and the very meaning of life.