Picking up where the first book left off, Michael Carter sells the magical house on Festive Lane to a new and unsuspecting family, the Hills. A much different family nucleus than the Carters, Harry and Susan Hill, are dealing with a myriad of challenges brought on by the sudden custody of three stepchildren awarded to them by Susan's recently deceased sister, Carin. Unaware of the Christmas House's magical forces, the Hills receive assistance from Martha Kennedy, the house's twice-removed matriarch, to navigate the ups and downs ahead of them. The first Christmas Eve brings many questions and few answers to the family regarding relationships, deceit, and even murder.The Christmas House II, Martha Returns, is the second book in the series, The Christmas House.