Afraid to spend the Christmas holiday alone, an aging widower hires a woman to keep him company...when these two lonely souls meet, the result is a heartwarming and redeeming weekend that will change both of their lives forever. In this and other stories in The Christmas Wife, distinguished author and four-time recipient of the prestigious O. Henry Award Helen Norris expertly blends the poignant and bittersweet in moments that quietly resonate beyond the page. Emotional and moving, Norris's stories masterfully celebrate the heart and soul's triumph over loss, regret, and the nameless longings common to all. With a new introduction by Kaye Gibbons, author of Ellen Foster, A Virtuous Woman, and more, this edition also includes the DVD of the film The Christmas Wife, starring Academy Award-winning actor Jason Robards and Tony Award-winning actress Julie Harris. Book jacket.

Toymaker, Deacon Stone, needs a wife. If he isn't married in less than a week his grandmother will sell her shares of the family business, and everything Deacon has worked his entire life for will be taken from him. He isn't the husband type but he'll do whatever it takes to keep control of the family business. Single mother, Claire Brooks, dreamed of being an actress, not a maid to the wealthy. But with an eviction notice, an empty bank account, and Christmas just around the corner, she's barely making ends meet. When her daughter accidentally breaks a priceless statue belonging to her employer - the gorgeous and aloof toymaker - Claire has no choice but to accept Deacon Stone's proposal. Marry him for thirty days, convince his grandmother that they're in love, and he'll give her a hundred grand and the chance to finally give her daughter the life she deserves. Claire's determined to give the performance of her life. But when Deacon's kisses ignite a scorching hot chemistry between them, the line between make-believe and the truth starts to blur.

"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.

Will marriage save her family? Christmas with the North Country Amish

Find sweet satisfaction with 50 easy, everyday cake recipes made with simple ingredients, one bowl, and no fuss. IACP AWARD WINNER • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Bon Appétit • The New York Times Book Review • Epicurious • Town & Country “[Snacking Cakes] hits the sweet spot. . . . Cake for breakfast? Yes, please!”—Martha Stewart Living In Snacking Cakes, the indulgent, treat-yourself concept of cake becomes an anytime, easy-to-make treat. Expert baker Yossy Arefi’s collection of no-fuss recipes is perfect for anyone who craves near-instant cake satisfaction. With little time and effort, these single-layered cakes are made using only one bowl (no electric mixers needed) and utilize ingredients likely sitting in your cupboard. They’re baked in the basic pans you already own and shine with only the most modest adornments: a dusting of powdered sugar, a drizzle of glaze, a dollop of whipped cream. From Nectarine and Cornmeal Upside-Down Cake and Gingery Sweet Potato Cake to Salty Caramel Peanut Butter Cake and Milk Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Cake, these humble, comforting treats couldn’t be simpler to create. Yossy’s rustic, elegant style combines accessible, diverse flavors in intriguing ways that make them easy for kids to join in on the baking, but special enough to serve company or bring to potlucks. Whether enjoyed in a quiet moment alone with a cup of morning coffee or with friends hungrily gathered around the pan, these ever-pleasing, undemanding cakes will become part of your daily ritual.

Christmas was the be-all, end-all celebration on the farm. Pages and pages on the topic appeared in The Farmer’s Wife, and these pages weren’t just about food—although recipes for all the various components of parties and holiday gift baskets certainly abounded. The magazine’s experts expounded on the best and latest ways to decorate home, tree, and parcels and to create homemade gifts for family and friends, as well as games to be played to capture the spirit of the season. In short, The Farmer’s Wife presented its own opinion—both grand and humble, broad and minute, and always, always bearing in mind the idea of community among its readers—about the ways in which Christmas should be celebrated. You’ll find in this book a smattering of that opinion. Here are recipes to see you through the entire Christmas season; gift ideas guaranteed to get your creative juices flowing; tips for decking your halls; and even a few stories to delight both the young and the young at heart.

If half of all cars bought in America each year broke down, there would be a national uproar. But when people suggest that maybe every single marriage doesn't look like the next and isn't meant to last until death, there's nothing but a rash of proposed laws trying to force it to do just that. In The New I Do, therapist Susan Pease Gadoua and journalist Vicki Larson take a groundbreaking look at the modern shape of marriage to help readers open their minds to marrying more consciously and creatively. Offering actual models of less-traditional marriages, including everything from a parenting marriage (intended for the sake of raising and nurturing children) to a comfort or safety marriage (where people marry for financial security or companionship), the book covers unique options for couples interested in forging their own paths. With advice to help listeners decide what works for them, The New I Doacts as a guide to thinking outside the marital box and the framework for a new debate on marriage in the 21st century.