As the only veterinarian at Oak Falls Animal Hospital, Dr. Kate's life is complicated. When winter storms hit the Hudson Valley, she's swamped with hospital patients and house calls, and her long-distance relationship with law student Luke Gianetti is precarious. The discovery of the body of Sookie Overman, a professional organizer, gets the town buzzing, but Kate's too busy to take the case. She has her animals to take care of after all. But after a disastrous fight with Luke on New Year's Eve—he's jealous of a handsome artist who's taken with the young vet—and when the body of Sookie's assistant falls with the confetti at midnight, Kate realizes the only way she can have a fresh start in the new year is if she finds some resolution to the problems in the old one...