Five Star Christmas

Lucy Ralston, a marketing professional, returns to her hometown of Pinewood for the holidays to find that her father, Ted, a retired Park Ranger, has converted their childhood home into 'The Ralston Inn.' The business is failing, and Ted is facing financial ruin. When they hear a rumor that the legendary, incognito travel critic Bea Turner is visiting local B&Bs, the family goes into high gear. When a guest named Beth Thompson (B.T.) arrives, they assume she is the critic and launch an elaborate charade. Lucy's brother Will and his wife Suzanne pretend to be wealthy world travelers; her sister Amber poses as a professional chef; and her grandfather Walter acts as the handyman. The ruse is complicated by the arrival of another guest, Jake Finley, a supposed geologist. Lucy and Jake share an immediate connection, having previously sparred over the last sassafras candy cane at a local shop. As the family maintains their 'guest' personas, Lucy and Jake bond over stargazing and the shared experience of losing their mothers. The farce reaches a peak during the town's Christmas festival, where the family struggles to keep their real identities secret from the townspeople. Eventually, the web of lies collapses: Lucy discovers that Beth is just a regular traveler looking for home decor ideas, while Jake reveals he is actually the one writing the reviews for the travel site. Jake is initially hurt by the deception, and Lucy is stung by his secret identity. However, after seeing the genuine love and effort the family put into saving their home, Jake writes a glowing five-star review, specifically praising the 'unique characters' of the Inn. Amber decides to pursue her newfound passion for cooking by attending culinary school, and Lucy and Jake reconcile, realizing their connection was the only real thing in a week of pretenses.