From the manger of Jesus Christ to the 21st century, this encyclopedia explores more than 2,000 years of Christmas past and present through 966 entries packed with a wide variety of historical and pop-culture subjects. Entries detail customs and traditions from around the world as well as classic Christmas movies, TV series/specials and animated cartoons. Arranged alphabetically by entry name, the book includes the historical background of popular sacred and secular songs as well as accounts of beloved literary works with Christmas themes from such noted authors as Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, Hans Christian Andersen, Pearl Buck, Henry Van Dyke and others. All things Christmas are available here in one comprehensive volume.
Krista Galloway is not a fan of Christmas. After her rough childhood in multiple foster homes, the holiday season just brings too many bad memories to the surface. But when she accepts a job as a city manager in the mountain town of Winter Hill, Washington, Christmas is part of the deal. The small town is famous for its Christmasville celebration, something that the city manager . . . well, manages. As she tries to make her tiny new apartment feel like home for her and her eight-year-old daughter, Emily, Krista begins to wonder if this move was a mistake. She doesn't always feel welcomed in the close-knit town, and Emily continually wonders, "Where's the snow?" Can a friendly stranger and his family help restore Krista's Christmas spirit before the big day? Bestselling author Melody Carlson invites you to spend this holiday season in a town you'll never forget--and never want to leave.
In a hilarious and heartwarming novel from USA Today bestselling author Lisa Plumley, a down-home diner owner meets a sexy Scrooge--but will it be a match made in holiday heaven? Casey Jackson doesn't do Christmas. Mistletoe, eggnog, pitchy carolers--it all leaves the L.A. based talent agent colder than a winter sleigh ride. Nonetheless, Casey's been called to Kismet, Michigan, to help get a pop star's holiday special back on track. But it's the diva's sister who's proving the biggest obstacle. Kristen Miller is funny, sassy--and crazy about Christmas. And suddenly, Casey has all kinds of visions dancing in his head. . . Kristen can't believe that Casey is anti-Christmas. To her, the season is as magical as the thrill she feels whenever they touch. Because even though Kristen set out to teach the charismatic hotshot a thing or two, she's learning some lessons of her own. About letting herself stand in the spotlight for once, about holiday flings that can turn into much more--and about how all you really need for the perfect Christmas is the right person to share it with. . . "Lisa Plumley creates charming characters. Her books are a delight!" --Rachel Gibson Raves for Lisa Plumley's Holiday Affair "A deliciously satisfying, cocoa-worthy holiday read." --Library Journal "A delightful story with utterly charming characters." –Romantic Times Book Reviews
Official version featuring Kristen Miller's delicious recipes for pies-in-a-jar as served at the (fictional) Galaxy Diner in Kismet, Michigan. Now you can bake your own: * traditional double-crust Apple Pie-in-a-Jar with cinnamon * Cranberry Pecan Pie-in-a-Jar with buttery streusel topping and cinnamon whipped cream * Peppermint Chocolate Mousse Pie-in-a-Jar with candy cane sprinkles * Pumpkin Pie-in-a-Jar with vanilla whipped cream * Walnut Caramel Pie-in-a-Jar with vanilla whipped cream Also includes a bonus first-chapter excerpt from Together for Christmas and a complete Lisa Plumley book list.
In this reference work 222 musicals developed specifically for television are fully detailed, including musical episodes from nonmusical shows, animated specials that appealed to adults as well as children, and operas and related works commissioned for the small screen. Each entry provides air date, network, running time, cast and credits, and a listing of all the songs. A plot synopsis follows, focusing on the show itself and the story from which it was adapted; information on award nominations and awards won, recordings, videos and published music is then provided. Contemporary reviews of the show complete the entry.
In "Christmasville" readers discovered the magic and mystique of a community, perpetually locked in a wintry wonderland of the yuletide season. With the passing of each calendar "year," homes and buildings were rearranged according to a new "plan" of things - as if checkers upon a playing board, presenting for Mary Jane the niggling notion that something was awry. There was the issue of ... memory, and forgetfulness ... of trees without leaves ... of New York City and Boston cream pie. Seeking answers to her question, Mary Jane embarked on a series of perilous journeys through the forests and mountains of the uncharted wilderness, determined to resolve the enigma of "Christmasville". But if Mary Jane was motivated by personal faith, a spirit of independence and the quest for truth in the first volume of the trilogy, Madeleine and Esmeralda are driven by purposes quite different in the second. For both girls it is the embracement of hope - of salvation for Madeleine, of illumination for Esmeralda - that propels them along their separate paths. Madeleine, a daughter of the Magian line, is bequeathed "calinda al emeris magus"--The rare "gift of the fourth king"--which enables her to perceive what others cannot. But, as with many gifts, there are prices for such things. The bloom of a rose, or the fruit of a tree, does not come without the promise of a thorn or the threat of blight. For Esmeralda, the fortune teller who once read Tarot cards for Mary Jane on First Night, the journey forward is impeded by that affliction which haunts everyone who calls Christmasville home: memory - the multiple perforations of memory, which prevent her from summoning images of her long lost father, her mother, her brother, Oscar ... and of what became of them all. As readers follow Madeleine and Esmeralda in their journeys, they discover the origin and dynamics of the colossal clock tower by the "house at the end of the world," the functions of the giant transformers that generate much more than heat and light for the idyllic town of Christmasville, the "secret of lightning" and the remarkable phenomenon of "thin places." But for the astute reader - the reader who discovered in "Christmasville" a confirmation of that sometimes elusive, though always enduring virtue of faith - "Finding Christmasville" will be a journey of illumination, an epiphany, a celebration in that most wondrous and fragile of human aspirations: hope. "Another dickens of a tale!" (Kris Kringle, the "North Pole Gazette").
Mixing the coziness of Susan Mallery with the sexiness of Jill Shalvis, the newest in USA Today bestselling author Lisa Plumley's Kismet Christmas contemporary romances blurs the line between naughty and nice with a fun story full of small-town charm, Christmas spirit, warmth, and of course heat! Original. "In the charming fourth contemporary set in Kismet, Mich., (after Together for Christmas), a charismatic CEO falls unexpectedly for a store manager. Jason and Danielle have incredible chemistry—and very different ambitions that might drive them apart. Plumley paints a beautiful portrait of a town where the holiday spirit is felt all year round and gives readers warm glimpses of the couples from previous stories." —Publishers Weekly In Kismet, Michigan, Christmas is special: big fluffy snowflakes, sleigh bells, carolers singing. It’s a picture-perfect holiday—you just have to choose who’s in the frame… Jason Hamilton is on thin ice with the board of his toy company. The young CEO may be a kid at heart, but his party boy reputation requires damage control. So Jason's off to Kismet to inspect a model store, stay on Santa's Nice list, and stick to business—no goofing around. Which is too bad, because the store manager, Danielle Sharpe, is the definition of what makes Naughty fun… Danielle is thrilled to show off her thriving little toy store—especially if it's her ticket out of Kismet. The single mom is tired of manufacturing cheer solo while her ex-husband has all the fun. But if she'd known Jason was this hot, she wouldn't have offered to host him. With Jason in her house, Danielle is getting warmer than spiked cider. She's supposed to impress him with her expertise, not daydream about catching him under the mistletoe. Now whatever she does, she can't get swept up in the magic… From the Author This book is part of the Kismet Christmas series, which includes... Home For The Holidays Holiday Affair Together For Christmas All He Wants For Christmas What people are saying... "Fourth in the Kismet Christmas series, All He Wants for Christmas is the perfect combination of naughty and nice. The Christmas spirit in a small town paired with steamy hot romance will satisfy all fans of contemporary romance this season. The witty banter will have readers laughing, and the sexy interludes will delight." —RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars "In the charming fourth contemporary set in Kismet, Mich., (after Together for Christmas), a charismatic CEO falls unexpectedly for a store manager. Jason and Danielle have incredible chemistry—and very different ambitions that might drive them apart. Plumley paints a beautiful portrait of a town where the holiday spirit is felt all year round and gives readers warm glimpses of the couples from previous stories." —Publishers Weekly
Where can a grinch find the spirit of Christmas? For photojournalist Jesse, Winter is the worst of times for more reasons than he can count. Not least that Christmas is a stark reminder of last year’s misery when his banker boyfriend left Jesse with unmanageable debt. The ring Jesse had bought to propose was the first item he had to sell, and it wouldn’t be the last. With money running low, he wants an assignment somewhere fascinating, far away, and hot. Meanwhile, his agent offers him cold and icy Eden Vale, awarded Christmas Town 2011, and given how much it pays, he can’t say no. Only now he’s trapped in a town of less than a thousand people, cut off by snow, and every single person wants to drag him kicking and screaming into Christmas. Gabriel has lived his entire life in the mountains. A teacher at the elementary school, he believes that the season of goodwill unites community, family, and that love resides in everyone’s heart. When Jesse arrives in town, lacking any measure of Christmas spirit, Gabriel immediately sees through his defenses and bonds with him. Despite the barriers that Jesse throws up, Gabriel is determined to show the man what a real Christmas can be.
