Jackson Free Press

As a child growing up in Mississippi, I observed many gracious hosts and hostesses. With the passing years, I came to especially appreciate the hospitality of my parents, as friends and neighbors came to our house to enjoy leisurely Sunday afternoons and holidays. These events included boisterous laughter, heartfelt conversation and usually a decadent meal from the grill.

As the holiday season approaches, my friends and I hope to become good hosts as friends come to visit. But for us, life is different from the way our parents live—we have small apartments, jobs with odd hours and busy social schedules. Having company can sometimes seem more like a chore than a blessing.

Enter Amy Elliott, author of "A Warm Welcome" (Ryland, Peters and Small, 2009, $24.95). This beautiful and practical volume addresses many of the questions and needs associated with hospitality. Elliott, who has an active career as an editor and author, lives in a small apartment in Brooklyn, N.Y. She understands the limitations of today's busy hosts, yet manages to encourage her readers to try to entertain, anyway.

Elliott's advice helps in welcoming weary travelers into your home, making them feel comfortable and feeding them well. Whether your company stays for several nights or just the evening, "A Warm Welcome" is an inspiring resource.

Particularly useful are its sections on preparations and arrivals. These chapters explain how to best prepare for your guests and make them feel at home. Those with limited resources will still be able to create an inviting atmosphere using Elliott's tips.

Inviting guests into your home, particularly for an overnight stay, can result in awkward moments. Questions of who pays for excursions or dinners out, whether children are invited and smoking preferences make for sticky situations. Thankfully, each section of "A Warm Welcome" contains an etiquette Q&A, where Elliott provides advice for tactful, equitable resolution.

If you are entertaining overnight guests, they will need something to do during the day. The chapters on excursions and activities provide ideas for unique outings and hilarious parlor games. On cold winter evenings, classics such as "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" can entertain just about any guest.

Elliott offers fresh courage to hosts of any age. Those who are busy and have a limited budget and space will find "A Warm Welcome" particularly encouraging. Her book sets out to remind us that inviting others into our homes is no cause for fear or financial doom. Done with kindness and an open heart, hospitality will bring laughter and fun to every household, even during this busy season.