A few weeks before Christmas, she receives a call from Peter (Christopher Wiehl), her father's employee, informing her he was injured in a sleighing accident.

Holly soon learns that Peter is the boy she met as a teenager in her father's gift shop, and that she inspired his interest in The Nutcracker.

She tries to prevent this, and although she has trouble arranging the needed financing, she softens up in the process, grows closer to Peter, and remembers the true meaning of Christmas.

During Holly's stay at Santaville, she meets Ben Richards (Matt Walton), a seemingly friendly financial adviser who decides to help her save her father's home and business.

Through a selfless gesture, Peter saves the day by selling the Nutcracker carvings, which he hand-carved as his hobby, for a large commission.

Candace Cameron Bure stated in an interview that she decided to do the film because of the simplicity of its story and that it, according to the actress, grabbed you by the heart.