When single-mom Claire Matthews inherits an old home in rural Michigan, she sees it as a chance to strike out on her own after her husband's death and build a new life for herself and her son. But the house is in worse shape than she thought, and moving on with her life and her artistic endeavors is anything but easy, especially in the middle of winter. Carpenter Paul Sawyer believes life is a game he's forever losing. Since his divorce, he's become reclusive, creating chess sets in his garage workshop and selling them over the Internet. But a customer's special request and a bad winter storm give him a second chance at love . . . if he's willing to take it.