Annabelle had the strangest feeling—as though she were about to tiptoe into the most wonderful room and leave the most wonderful present under the most wonderful tree and she couldn't wait to hide and watch the face of the someone who would open it. Fifty-seven-year-old Annabelle Perkins lives alone in a small Midwestern town and works as a waitress. But she dreams of traveling to the Holy land and giving a gift to Jesus at his birthplace, just like the magi did two thousand years ago. After saving her money for months, her dream is about to come true. Then something unexpected forces Annabelle to make a series of difficult decisions. From Carol Lynn Pearson, the best-selling author of A Christmas Thief and A Stranger for Christmas comes this poignant Christmas tale about the true meaning of giving, sacrifice, and faith.

The Modern Magi is a contemporary Christmas tale that extends the true spirit of the season throughout the year. For the first time in her life, Annabelle Perkins is going to do something remarkable . . . Annabelle Perkins is 57 years old, without family or any noteworthy achievements. She has one dream, however, and that is to spend a Christmas in the Holy Land. Each year Annabelle scrimps and saves to put the money aside for the trip, and each year an opportunity arises to give an early, secret Christmas gift . . . a gift that will cost as much as the trip. This story of gift-giving and sacrifice will be a delightful Christmas treasure for old and young alike. A Christmas title that appeals to adults and children alike.

"Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry, originally published in 1906, has become one of the best known and most beloved of Chistmas tales. An exuberant couple urged on by their love, make great sacrifices in order to purchase the perfect Christmas gift for the other. The husband sells his gold watch in order to buy expensive combs for his wife's luxurious locks. While the wife sells her hair to the wigmaker in order to buy a chain suitable for her husband's handsome timepiece. When all is revealed on Christmas Eve, the sweet irony of their dual generosity leaves them, whether they know it or not, as the wisest of gift givers: "But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi." The artist Joel Priddy employs the same twists of reciprocity in his own work and is well suited to adapting and updating this classic for a modern audience.

Warm your heart this Christmas with this wonderful festive tale from bestselling author P.J. Tracy - perfect for fans of It's a Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street. Emil Rice has a silver tongue and sticky fingers, the only problem is that his charm always gets him into trouble and he's never been very good at not getting arrested. Twenty-two times he's been caught and twenty-two times he's sworn never to steal again, but it's on his twenty-third arrest when Emil realises he may have picked up more than he bargained for. Sentenced to community service at a secure mental health facility, Emil is unwillingly befriended by two elderly female patients who believe he is the final part of a big cosmic plan that will change their lives forever... This heartwarming Christmas tale of kindness, friendship and redemption will be perfect for the cold winter nights!

All I want for Christmas. "Identical twin boys Zeke and Zack wished for only one gift from Santa this year: a new mum! But convincing their love-wary dad that their new music teacher, Miss Davis, was his destiny and sent by Santa, wasn't as easy as they'd hoped"--Page 4 of cover.

The Gift of the Magi is a short story by O. Henry first published in 1905. The story tells of a young husband and wife and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money. As a sentimental story with a moral lesson about gift-giving, it has been popular for adaptation, especially for presentation at Christmas time. The plot and its twist ending are well-known, and the ending is generally considered an example of comic irony. It was allegedly written at Pete's Tavern on Irving Place in New York City.The story was initially published in The New York Sunday World under the title "Gifts of the Magi" on December 10, 1905. It was first published in book form in the O. Henry Anthology The Four Million in April 1906.