Steve and his ocelot companion Goldie bring a creeper home for Christmas, and female villager 253 is not happy about it! Readers young and old will appreciate the tree quest, fierce battles, and tale of a strange electrified creeper. This story contains NO cursing, kissing, or scenes of graphic violence. Appropriate for all ages. None of the content herein is approved, endorsed, associated, or connected with Mojang / Notch. Minecraft is the property of Minecraft (r)/TM & (c) 2009-2013 Mojang / Notch. The illustrations may include content licensed via Creative Commons, as described in the credits section at the end of the book.
"If somewhere in the afterlife Roald Dahl met Charles Dickens and they cooked up a new Christmas tale, it couldn’t have much on this fleet, verbally rambunctious, heart-stealing follow-up to A Boy Called Christmas."—The New York Times Amelia Wishart was the first child ever to receive a Christmas present. It was her Christmas spirit that gave Santa the extra boost of magic he needed to make his first trip around the world. But now Amelia is in trouble. When her mother falls ill, she is sent to the workhouse to toil under cruel Mr. Creeper. For a whole year, Amelia scrubs the floors and eats watery gruel, without a whiff of kindness to keep her going. It’s not long before her hope begins to drain away. Meanwhile, up at the North Pole, magic levels dip dangerously low as Christmas approaches, and Santa knows that something is gravely wrong. With the help of his trusty reindeer, a curious cat, and Charles Dickens, he sets out to find Amelia, the only girl who might be able to save Christmas. But first Amelia must learn to believe again. . . . “Matt Haig has an empathy for the human condition, the light and the dark of it, and he uses the full palette to build his excellent stories.” —Neil Gaiman, Newbery-winning author of The Graveyard Book "With a little bit of naughty and a lot of nice, this Christmastime yarn is a veritable sugarplum." —Kirkus Reviews
Before there was Santa Claus, there was a young boy who believed in the impossible. . . . Lemony Snicket meets Klaus in this warmhearted Christmas caper. Eleven-year-old Nikolas—nicknamed “Christmas”—has received only one toy in his life: a doll carved out of a turnip. But he’s happy with his turnip doll, because it came from his parents, who love him. Then one day his father goes missing, and Nikolas must travel to the North Pole to save him. Along the way, Nikolas befriends a surly reindeer, bests a troublesome troll, and discovers a hidden world of enchantment in the frozen village of Elfhelm. But the elves of Elfhelm have troubles of their own: Christmas spirit and goodwill are at an all-time low, and Nikolas may be the only person who can fix things—if only he can reach his father before it’s too late. . . . Sparkling with wit and warmth, A Boy Called Christmas is a cheeky new Christmas classic-in-the-making from acclaimed author Matt Haig and illustrator Chris Mould. "Irresistibly readable. Destined to become a Christmas and anytime-before-or-after-Christmas classic!" --Chris Grabenstein, New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library “The definitive (and funny) history of ho, ho, ho! My children loved it.” —Yann Martel, bestselling author of Life of Pi “The most evergreen, immortal Christmas story to be published for decades.” —Stephen Fry "Humorous and heartfelt, A Boy Called Christmas will grow your heart three sizes and make you believe in magic." --Liesl Shurtliff, New York Times bestselling author of Rump "Matt Haig has an empathy for the human condition, the light and the dark of it, and he uses the full palette to build his excellent stories.”—Neil Gaiman, Newbery-winning author of The Graveyard Book
All I want for Christmas is my brother’s best friend… Haley I’ve been crushing on my brother’s best friend, Clay King, for as long as I can remember. Then I end up snowed in with him, alone, at my family’s cabin. A week before Christmas. If I don’t go for it now, will I ever get another chance? Clay Haley Carter is the one woman I can’t have. She’s my best friend’s sister and he’ll never accept it. But I can’t help the way I feel about her. And when she tells me she wants me, I give in. I can have her for the weekend, when we’re far away from reality…but can I have her forever? Christmas Confession is a short but steamy, brother's best friend holiday romance. Author's Note: All of my books come with a guaranteed HEA. Once the page closes, the characters will always be together. However, if you need a marriage proposal and/or pregnancy for a romance to feel complete, my books may not be for you. Most of my characters don't want kids and enjoy living in sin. So if the latter is your jam, read on.
North Carolina artist Stephen Shoemaker and writer Janet Pittard have teamed up to present a selection of Shoemaker's paintings and drawings and the stories behind them. Known for his dramatic railroad paintings and scenes of life in the Blue Ridge mountains, Shoemaker shares the thought processes involved in creating his artwork, reveals his sources of inspiration (which often include events in local history or personal experiences) and points out clues and symbols appearing in his art. Together with 48 images, several of which were created especially for this publication, and occasional short poems by Pittard, the lively storytelling sheds light on an artist's development as well as the unique culture and history of the mountain region served by the train called the Virginia Creeper, which ran from Abingdon, Virginia, to Elkland, North Carolina (now Todd), from the early 1900s through the mid-1970s.
Sixteen-year-old Janie Ridley is a varsity soccer player at Chuck Yeager High School doing her best to not think about the pressure she is receiving from her teammates, who all made a pledge by Christmas Eve to score a lot on the field and at least once off the field, to lose her virginity before she turns seventeen. Justin Alito, along with other boys, is all too happy to assist any of the girls on the soccer team in fulfilling their pledge to be in the Christmas Eve Club and has already initiated a few of the girls to prove his point. As Janie downs alcohol in an effort to tame her nervousness and inhibitions, she experiences an internal battle that does not end that night. But as the boys become “men” and the some of the girls attempt to fend off bullies and stand up to peer pressure, fate steps in to intervene. Will a mysterious geeky classmate be able to stop Janie from losing her virginity before it is too late? The Christmas Eve Club is a tale of forgiveness, faith, chastity, and relationships as a high school girl is pressured to lose her virginity before her seventeenth birthday.
The Complete Christmas Books of Lucy Maud Montgomery is a collection of heartwarming and nostalgic holiday tales that capture the essence of Christmas spirit. Montgomery's writing style is characterized by vivid descriptions, charming characters, and a delightful mix of humor and sentimentality. Set in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these stories provide a glimpse into the life and traditions of the time, while also exploring timeless themes of love, family, and community. Each story is a gem that will surely evoke warm feelings and evoke the magic of the holiday season. Lucy Maud Montgomery, best known for her beloved Anne of Green Gables series, brings her signature charm and storytelling prowess to this collection of Christmas books. Her own experiences growing up in rural Canada surely influenced her portrayal of festive traditions and celebrations in these heartwarming tales. Montgomery's ability to capture the essence of the holiday season and the simple joys of life make these stories a must-read for fans of classic literature and Christmas enthusiasts alike. I highly recommend The Complete Christmas Books of Lucy Maud Montgomery to anyone looking to immerse themselves in the enchanting world of old-fashioned Christmas celebrations, filled with warmth, love, and timeless lessons. This collection is a true treasure that will undoubtedly become a cherished part of your holiday traditions.
Three charming holiday romances by NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY best selling authors. The Kidnapped Christmas Bride – Jane Porter Trey Sheenan has risked and lost everything - his freedom, his fiance McKenna Douglas,and his infant son TJ. McKenna has loved Trey since they were kids, but she’s had enough. She’s put her mistakes - namely Trey - behind her and moved on. When Trey is releasedearly from prison, he’s determined to beg McKenna’s forgiveness. But he’s too late. McKenna is marrying someone else. Or is she? Once again, Trey risks everything, but thistime it’s for love... and the memory of one perfect Christmas together as a family. Come Home for Christmas, Cowboy – Megan Crane This Christmas season, Christina Grey Cooper has finally accepted that her marriage to her college sweetheart Dare is over. So she packs up her things, leaves a note, and heads back home for Marietta, Montana in the hope that a Christmas with her family will help piece her head—if not her heart—back together. Dare isn’t about to let the love of his life go, and who cares if that’s what he thought he wanted? He’ll do what it takes to win Christina back—even if that means suffering through Christmas with his in-laws, pretending to still be happily married for the sake of family harmony, and trying not to get caught up in all that holiday nonsense he’s never believed in… But Christmas is magical, especially in Montana. And if Dare has any hope of convincing Christina to give him one more chance, it’s going to be here… A Sweet Montana Christmas - Roxanne Snopek Melinda Sweet loved her husband before she learned of his wealth and she loves him still, despite the fact that it’s gone. Unfortunately, while she knows the collapse of his Chicago financial services business had nothing to do with him, he believes otherwise. His upbeat adjustment to their new – and temporary – life on his grandfather’s rundown honey farm is a foil to cover the burden of failure. She wasn’t expecting to throw – in five weeks – the traditional Sweet Christmas Open House, but it’s a good earning opportunity and how hard could it be? Austin Sweet is determined to make his wife proud of him again. But he also wants to erase the sting of shame he feels from his parents, to whom he owes a debt of gratitude for arranging for this caretaking job. Getting paid to fix up this disaster is better than living in their basement, sure. But what does he know about bees? Or fixing broken plumbing? Or cleaning a chimney? But when Austin’s grandfather gives him the farm as a Christmas gift, there’s only one response. Accepting the gift will secure a future that will make his wife even more unhappy than he already is. Refusing the gift will finalize the rift between him and his family, but he’d rather lose them than Melinda. Then he discovers she’s spared him the choice. Austin’s not-so-Sweet side rears up as he determines that he’s done trying to make everyone happy. He’ll get his wife back, no matter what. And they’ll decide their future together.
