The children in Millie's family can't wait for Grandma to arrive with her special Christmas apron. According to tradition, each grandchild will write down the gift he or she wants most in the world and then slip that wish into the apron's pocket. Then, on Christmas morning,those wished-for gifts will be magically waiting under the tree. But eleven-year-old Millie overhears her parents: the family can't afford gifts for all the little ones. She pictures the disappointment on her siblings faces nothing to open on Christmas morning. Is Millie willing to sacrifice her own whole-soul wish so someone else's can come true? Full of tender emotion and delightful surprise, this story reminds us of the miracles that unfold when we think of others before ourselves.
The books that we choose to keep -- let alone read -- can say a lot about who we are and how we see ourselves. In My Ideal Bookshelf, dozens of leading cultural figures share the books that matter to them most; books that define their dreams and ambitions and in many cases helped them find their way in the world. Contributors include Malcolm Gladwell, Thomas Keller, Michael Chabon, Alice Waters, James Patterson, Maira Kalman, Judd Apatow, Chuck Klosterman, Miranda July, Alex Ross, Nancy Pearl, David Chang, Patti Smith, Jennifer Egan, and Dave Eggers, among many others. With colorful and endearingly hand-rendered images of book spines by Jane Mount, and first-person commentary from all the contributors, this is a perfect gift for avid readers, writers, and all who have known the influence of a great book.
‘A Christmas book about kindness and cheer to make even Scrooge’s heart melt’ Dame Jacqueline Wilson on The Christmas Carrolls The Christmariffic Carrolls hit NEW YORK! Funny festive middle grade from the founder of Authorfy, perfect for 8+ fans of Matt Haig, Ben Miller, Sibeal Pounder’s Tinsel, and the Nativity! films
A Season to Heal for Love Season's Series: Book 2 Vanessa Worthington is a Christian woman married to her college sweetheart, Max. They have a loving marriage, living in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and both work in their professions in Manhattan until a phone call turns their lives upside down. For better or worse. Vanessa is at home on her much-needed staycation. Her phones are ringing off the hook. Her twin sister, Veronica, calls like always to ask if she can take care of her eleven-year-old daughter, Layla, while she is off to her seminars, and the house phone rings, which startles her. A gentleman's voice on the other end of the line asks if he can speak to Maximillian Worthington, saying that he's a lawyer from Washington DC. During dinner, Vanessa tells her husband that he received a phone call from a DC Lawyer. Max is confused about why a lawyer is calling him. He returns the call, and the lawyer explains to him about a will left by the Barringtons. He is bewildered and starts spewing questions over the unexpected call. The lawyer tells him that he's in town and asks if he can come by to explain everything to him. The distinguished-looking lawyer tells them before the Barringtons' death that they drafted a will that stated Max, their only heir, would get their massive fortune. Then he reads a handwritten letter from his birth mother that he is adopted. Max is confused and furious about why his parents kept his adoption from him. That evening, Vanessa and Max opens the envelopes the lawyer gave them. They are amazed by seeing the pictures of the beautiful mansion in Waldorf, Maryland, and the enormous check. Much to the astonishment of the inheritance, Max tells Vanessa that he will quit his job. Vanessa squashes his excitement and suggests in a subtle way to face his parents first, see the mansion, and then announce to family and friends about the inheritance when the time is right. Vanessa feels her husband's heart and sees his parents' shame for not telling Max he is adopted. They go to Maryland along with Layla to see the mansion and fall in love with it. When they return, Vanessa wants to dispute whether to keep the mansion or not, and Veronica returns from her seminar to pick up Layla. Max tries to avoid the confrontation. Over dinner, he makes the big announcement that they are keeping the mansion. Max is in his office calling his boss to tell him he will not be at work. Vanessa overhears the conversation and asks him why he isn't going to the architecture firm. He keeps a straight face, lying about going to Waldorf. Vanessa is unaware that he surprises her by preparing the house for their twentieth anniversary. Veronica asks Vanessa if her daughter can stay again for two weeks. On the day Veronica is to return, she calls Vanessa, pleading if Max can pick her up later because of the flight delay. Vanessa and her niece are impatient and worry about why it's taking them so long to come home. Nevertheless, they are happy, and Vanessa is surprised to hear a knock on the door. The Newark Police are at the door, and she reluctantly invites them inside her home. Vanessa's heart breaks, and her niece is numb by the shocking news the police tell them. A six-car pile caused by a police chase killed six families. Vanessa tells her family and friends about the heartbreaking news that happened to Max and Veronica. She prays for a change for her and Layla after the tragedy. As Vanessa goes through her grief and healing, Layla lives with her in Waldorf, Maryland. God blesses her heart again. She meets a widower, Dr. Titus Morrison, at her parents' Thanksgiving dinner that year. But as they get closer, guilt starts to creep in--falling for him, taking the role of mother, his crazy doctor's schedule, her best friend, and her daughter's move in after her bitter divorce. She runs into Layla's handsome father and her at the Church of Zion, not telling her family or Titus about Max's inheritance. God reminds them to trust him.
This is a true-life inspirational story about a young South African girl, Angelo del Amore, who travelled to Milan two days before her twenty-third birthday for a holiday. Little did she know her entire life was going to change and how much she would inspire and change all those she had met in Milan in a miraculous way. This book is a true fairytale that does not speak about the law of attraction or how the power of positive thought and unconditional love can construct as well as heal in abundance; it merely gives the simple actions of manifestation. Throughout this book you may identify with yourself in every way and be inspired by this Cinderella story and be motivated to follow your heart without question, come what may.
The joy of Christmas often gets lost in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. For many people, fond memories of a childhood Christmas can bring back that special feeling. This book collects tales written by adults remembering their favorite Christmases of the past. This heartwarming collection evokes the true spirit of the season with such stories as: Shared Popcorn: - a young brother and sister realize the meaning of charity and forgo their favorite snack at the movie theater when they choose to buy tickets for two children who lost their money; Grandpa Will’s Gift: - a difficult Christmas during the Depression is made spectacular for a little girl surprised by her grandfather with a horse and sleigh; At the Five and Dime -: a young boy does a good deed for a man in town everyone calls “Grouch Peterson”. With touching stories like these, this book is the perfect gift to rekindle the true magic and wonder of the season.
