Many girls dream of becoming princesses, but for the heroine of "Holiday in Your Heart, nothing could be better than singing at the Grand Ole Opry. Teenaged singing sensation Anna Lee has realized her dream of performing a holiday concert on the fabled stage. Yet her happiness is clouded by thoughts of her grandmother, stricken with a serious illness back in her native Mississippi and unable to see her beloved granddaughter triumph at this special time of year. It takes the lessons of an older country singer, a musical legend now past her prime, to show the young woman that if you carry a holiday in your heart all year round, you'll always know which things really matter, which songs are the ones you have to sing. LeAnn Rimes's legions of fans will find "Holiday in Your Heart a tale as heartrending as the finest country ballad.

We all know the story of Thanksgiving. Or do we? This uniquely American holiday has a rich and little known history beyond the famous feast of 1621. In Thanksgiving, award-winning author Melanie Kirkpatrick journeys through four centuries of history, giving us a vivid portrait of our nation's best-loved holiday. Drawing on newspaper accounts, private correspondence, historical documents, and cookbooks, Thanksgiving brings to life the full history of the holiday and what it has meant to generations of Americans. Many famous figures walk these pages—Washington, who proclaimed our first Thanksgiving as a nation amid controversy about his Constitutional power to do so; Lincoln, who wanted to heal a divided nation sick of war when he called for all Americans—North and South—to mark a Thanksgiving Day; FDR, who set off a debate on state's rights when he changed the traditional date of Thanksgiving. Ordinary Americans also play key roles in the Thanksgiving story—the New England Indians who boycott Thanksgiving as a Day of Mourning; Sarah Josepha Hale, the nineteenth-century editor and feminist who successfully campaigned for Thanksgiving to be a national holiday; the 92nd Street Y in New York City, which founded Giving Tuesday, an online charity established in the long tradition of Thanksgiving generosity. Kirkpatrick also examines the history of Thanksgiving football and, of course, Thanksgiving dinner. While the rites and rituals of the holiday have evolved over the centuries, its essence remains the same: family and friends feasting together in a spirit of gratitude to God, neighborliness, and hospitality. Thanksgiving is Americans' oldest tradition. Kirkpatrick's enlightening exploration offers a fascinating look at the meaning of the holiday that we gather together to celebrate on the fourth Thursday of November. With Readings for Thanksgiving Day designed to be read aloud around the table.

Set on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, "Waiting for a hurricane," follows a girl obsessed with escaping both her life and her country. Emotionally detached from her family and disillustioned with what the future holds, the takes drastic steps, seemingly oblivious to the damage she causes to herself and those around her. "Sexual education" examines the attempts of a student to tally the strict doctrine oabstinencece taught at her school with the very different social norms of her social circles. The short stories offer snapshots of lives in turmoil, frayed by relationships, dreams of escape, family taboos and rejection of, and by, society.

Ranging from very old-fashioned holiday cheer to more modern tales of love, romance, and wishes, these 12 tales prove that the power to believe can work miracles, wishes can come true, and love heals hearts.

With a little boy’s help, can he let go of painful memories? Casey Evans wants no part in the holidays, which is a major problem for Mayor Sutton Wentworth. Sutton has her heart set on their town winning a national Christmas contest, and Casey’s refusal to decorate his coffee shop could ruin everything. Thankfully, her precious son has worked his charms on Casey. But can one little boy—and his mother—change the mind of the local grinch? From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope. Thunder Ridge Book 1: Surprise Christmas Family Book 2: The Sheriff's Promise Book 3: Opening His Holiday Heart

A Montana Scrooge With a Secret Crush What can make a grumpy "there-is-no-Santa-Claus" kind of man smile? The sight of quirky Lucy Chapin. Something about the woman creates warm and fuzzy feelings within confirmed bachelor Spence McKaslin. So he decides he'll just have to ignore her. Hard to do, since they're working together on a Christmas program for hospitalized children. And the time with lovely Lucy soon has Spence thinking twice about spending his life alone. But can Lucy open his heart to the joy of the season…and to love?