Christmas Short Stories Anthology

Christmas brings out the best and the worst in us, as can been seen in this evocative anthology. Among what Thomas Love Peacock calls the "many poetical charms in the heraldings of Christmas," there are eulogies by saints and diatribes from curmudgeons. Here, Christmas is expounded by divines, sung by rustics, deplored by philosophers, made mystical in stories and summed up in a line by the poet Elizabeth Jennings: "The hush, the star, the baby, people being kind again."

Outshone by a gregarious stepsister and overbearing stepmother, Lady Athena Cummins is used to fading into the shadows. Beloved only by her youngest sister, Persephone, Athena has accepted her destiny as a spinster. But Persephone has a different scheme in mind, and conspires to send Athena out for one night of fun at Lord Finchley’s masquerade Christmas Ball. The masked beauty catches the Lord’s eye but, determined to avoid the wrath of her stepsister, Athena leads Lord Finchley on a wild chase to discover her true identity.

In their first encounter, Isabella becomes infatuated with Marc, a handsome young man who makes fantastic potato chips. Fifteen years later while Isabella purchases a picturesque Victorian house she discovers Marc is the seller. His magnetism stirs her emotions and pulls her into his troubled world. Soon Isabella realizes her new house, nestled deep in the woods, is haunted. By communicating with the house's spirit, she hopes to learn secrets, which can help Marc resolve his conflicted past and move him into the future.

Welcome to the town of Kismet Bay where magic and fate are a way of life...Have all eight stories in one place and all new bonus material! Listen to the series epilogue never before been published! Follow the Strange family through their journey to love and their eventual happy-ever-after.

Have you ever been dumped right before the holidays? It sucks. Luckily, my handsome hockey player roommate steps in with a plan. He's going to volunteer his services as my personal trainer, so that I can get a revenge body and make my ex regret leaving me. But during our long, sweaty sessions at the gym, I find myself becoming more and more attracted to Sven. His muscles are enough to make any girl swoon. He is sweet and caring with a panty-melting smile. Did I mention he's my ex's brother? Ignoring that, Sven might manage to save my Christmas from being an utter disaster, after all.

Moderne Weihnachtsgeschichten: Wer einen neuen Hauch aus vergangener Zeit vernehmen will, kommt nicht umhin sich mit den Weihnachtsgeschichten von Jürgen Thomas zu beschäftigen. In dieser Sammlung weihnachtlicher Kurzgeschichten werden die alten Weisheiten nochmal neu ausgelegt und in einem modernen Licht betrachtet.

Friends and family gather in stately Graymoor Mansion to celebrate the holiday season, but a blizzard traps them in the massive Victorian home Christmas Eve and all of Christmas Day. To entertain themselves, the guests take turns sharing their Christmas memories and special holiday stories. Join Sean, his family, and his friends in their Christmas celebration. There's plenty of food, including wonderful desserts, Christmas cookies, and steaming hot cocoa to go with this set of Christmas tales.

While some are nestled cozy in their traditions, others are lost in darkness. An unkindness of ravens lurk like a warning above them while they try to escape their inner demons and fight the dragons they've been trying to avoid. There's no enjoying fatal amounts of pie because their minds are slipping, slipping into a twisted delusion. They are the murderers, the disturbed, the unfortunate, and the misunderstood. These outliers are imprisoned by their circumstances until they slowly fade into the icy landscape, smothered by the forged façade of a perfect Christmas.

It all started ten months ago. I had just gotten to Fallen Peak and met my new boss. Ledger Miles. He’d be the man of her dreams if he wasn’t such a jerk. When the accident happens and I’m called to the hospital, I’m shocked to learn that Ledger doesn’t remember his life. In fact, the only thing he is sure of, is that we’re married.

Another wonderful Dickens short story combining spectral images with Christmas. Wonderful turns of phrase and digressions throughout. To name but one, “faithful obstructions”, for servants - in other words, easier to do it yourself if not for pride of position. Playful, fun, and illuminating. One of his less listened-to stories; well worth it for anyone, but especially for fans.

Cosy up for Christmas with this festive story, starring everyone's favourite Victorian foundling, Hetty Feather!An unexpected gift leads to trouble for Hetty on Christmas Day at the Foundling Hospital, and the dreaded Matron Bottomly is delighted to have an excuse to exclude Hetty from the festive celebrations. Poor Hetty is distraught - but just when it seems that all is lost, a dear friend arrives to whisk her away for a Christmas unlike any other....

Dancing With Bear Publishing is proud to announce their 2013 Christmas anthology! It is chock-full of stories that will bring a tear or two, either from laughing or crying, depending on the story! But no matter which one brings you to tears, you'll have a hard time choosing just one favorite!

"The Holly Tree" is a warm Christmas story by Charles Dickens and a listening treat for adults during the holiday season or almost any time of year. Full of wonderful Dickensian words, phrases, and irony. The story contains a strain of great truth, and love for Americans, who Dickens depicts over-friendly but warm, kindly, generous, and warm hearted.

Jessie lived with her family on their homestead and had helped the family build a successful farm raising crops and animals. Her greatest joy and passion was for training her young mare and galloping across the plains. To her shock and dismay, her family agrees to an arranged marriage with a wealthy family who traveled from back East to do business in their town.

After a hectic summer running her beach café in Cornwall, Evie Flynn is looking forward to her first Christmas with new boyfriend Ed. But when Ed’s ex suddenly gets in touch again, and some unexpected guests arrive: Ed’s surly brother Jake and Evie’s heartbroken best friend Amber, Evie’s Christmas starts to look as if it’ll be a total turkey. Will any of her festive wishes come true?

When Angelica Cartwright heads to Kentucky to begin her teaching career, she never dreams she will be waylaid in Mistletoe, Kentucky, with a broken foot and cared for by a handsome wood-carver and his daughter. However, she soon finds that Luke Tanner is also carving himself onto her heart

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas is a story audiobook for the whole family, with a collection of original stories and poems by Chris all set around the festive period.

Alle Jahre wieder macht sich die halbe Republik kurz vor den Feiertagen auf den Weg zur buckligen Verwandtschaft. Als ob der Besuch bei Tante und Onkel nicht schon schlimm genug wäre, quälen wir uns stundenlang durch den Stau, fluchen über den ICE in verkehrter Wagenreihung oder sitzen auf dem verschneiten Rollfeld fest, während unser Airbus zum wiederholten Mal enteist wird. Und das alles umgeben von nicht minder nervigen Nichten, Neffen, Omas und Opas, die sich ebenfalls nicht vor dem Besuch bei der Familie zu drücken wussten.

"Dengang, der var mange eventyr, glemte man at fortælle om tandfeen og hendes hemmelige juleselskab. Nu skal du bare høre - men shhh! Husk, det er en hemmelig historie." Sådan begynder det fortryllende sjove og spændende juleeventyr, hvor det vrimler med alfer, den dejlige tandfe, en klog ugle og - ikke mindst - en fæl drillenisse, der prøver at ødelægge Julen. Eventyret, der er i 4 dele med 24 kapitler - et for hver dag - er skrevet af Sally Sharf og illustreret af Nataschja Caja. Historien er for børn i 5-12-årsalderen og kan med fordel fortælles i forbindelse med advent frem til jul.

Here is a charming Christmas tale about a young woman staying with her aunt in rural New England. When Sophie invites her high-society friends to visit her and Aunt Pemy, they quickly - and much to their delight - discover that there's much more to country life than they had ever imagined.