"Charlie's Christmas Miracle" is a sweet story that takes place in a small village surrounded by snowy hills. Charlie is the main character. He is a happy, kind young man who loves Christmas. The holiday season makes him happy, from the bright lights to the smell of freshly baked cookies to the joy of giving and getting gifts. But things are different for Charlie and his family this year. They are having money problems and can't buy a Christmas tree or any ornaments for it. With a heavy heart, Charlie watches as his friends and neighbors get their homes ready for the holidays. One cold evening, Charlie had an idea. He makes up his mind to go into the woods and get a Christmas tree to decorate. Charlie packs warm clothes and is ready to go on his adventure. While Charlie sings his favorite Christmas song, the tree he picked starts to shine and glow. It was a magical moment for him in the forest. It's like the tree reacts to his happy music by getting brighter with each note. Charlie is so happy that he decorates the tree by hand with bells, bright ribbons, and pinecones made from twigs and leaves. The tree changes into a beautiful sight that casts a warm, welcoming glow throughout the forest. Charlie's happiness grows when a group of birds joins in and makes a beautiful song. After hearing about Charlie's Christmas surprise, people come from all over the world to see the magical tree in the forest. They bring their own trinkets and decorations to add to the beauty of the forest. The forest becomes a joyful and magical place where everyone can enjoy the real spirit of Christmas. On Christmas Eve, Charlie asks his family to come see the miracle tree. Their lips light up with wonder and excitement as they give him a tight hug, showing how proud they are of their smart and kind child. For a special event, everyone in town gathers around the magical tree to sing Christmas songs, give and receive gifts, and tell stories of love and kindness. The glow from the tree gets brighter, making everyone happy. As the clock hits midnight, Charlie makes a wish for his family, friends, and everyone else gathered around the magical tree to be happy, loved, and successful. A shooting star flashes across the sky, letting him know that what he wanted has come true. Charlie's family spends Christmas with a tree that is decorated with love and memories that are very important to them. They tell Charlie how much they appreciate him teaching them the real meaning of Christmas. The people in the area go back to see the miracle tree one more time and give food and blankets to the birds and animals that have made it their home. Even though the tree's light goes out, its magic lives on in the minds of everyone who saw it. From that day on, Charlie's town is known for its kindness, safety, and sense of community. A lot of people get together in the forest every year to enjoy Christmas and remember the miracle that brought them all together. Charlie's Christmas miracle becomes a beloved story that is told from one generation to the next. It reminds everyone that the real magic of Christmas is love, kindness, and joy shared with others. It shows that Christmas is a feeling that can be found in the smallest acts of kindness and in the strangest places. Charlie's Christmas miracle will always be a source of hope, inspiring people to enjoy the spirit of Christmas in their everyday lives. The Story's Start: A little boy named Charlie used to live in a town surrounded by snowy hills. He was a happy, kind young man who loved Christmas more than anything else. It warmed his heart to see all the bright lights, smell the fresh cookies, and give and receive gifts. The small town was turned into a snow wonderland every December. Snowflakes would fall from the sky and cover the land in a beautiful, shiny blanket. The streets were full of the laughter of kids building snowmen and having snowball fights, and the homes were lit up with bright lights. But Charlie's Christmas was really amazing because of how much his family loved and cared for him. The house where Charlie's family lived was nice and on the edge of town. The smell of fresh cookies and the sound of laughter could always be heard in their house. They loved their child very much, and they loved Christmas as much as he did. They would make wonderful Christmas memories together. Charlie loved the event where everyone decorated the Christmas tree every year. In their cozy living room, they would gather around a beautiful evergreen tree that reached almost to the roof. The tree was placed by Charlie's grandfather a long time ago. It has grown tall and strong, just like their love for each other. It would take the Thompsons hours to find the perfect ornaments to put on the tree. Each ornament held a special memory for the person who owned it, like the bright construction paper and glitter ornament Charlie made in kindergarten or the beautiful glass ornament that has been passed down from generation to generation. As they put up the tree, they sang their favorite Christmas songs, which made their hearts full of love and joy. When Charlie's family was decorating the tree one cold December night, Charlie's dad saw a sad look on his son's face. He got down on his knees and asked Charlie, "What's wrong, buddy?" Mr. Thompson knew that his son wanted to see the magic of the Christmas lights show, but they hadn't been able to buy any lights lately because money was tight. He looked at his wife, and the two of them shared a knowing look. Mrs. Thompson smiled and said, "Charlie, you know that the true magic of Christmas isn't in the lights or the decorations. It's in the love we share with each other. Let's make this Christmas special in our own way." Charlie tried to smile as he nodded, but he couldn't help but feel a little let down. That night, Charlie thought about what his mom had said as he lay in his warm bed. But even though he knew she was right, he still had to see the amazing light show that everyone was talking about. As he fell asleep, he wished on a sparkling star that there was a way for him to feel the magic of the lights. The next morning, Charlie woke up to find that there was new snow on everything outside. Getting out of bed and running to the window made his heartbeat fast with excitement. Everything looks and feels more beautiful when it snows, and it did today. After breakfast, Charlie chose to take a walk around town. As he walked through the snowy streets, he couldn't help but notice that everyone was busy getting ready for Christmas. Shop owners put flowers in their windows, families got warm to go ice skating, and friends gave each other gifts. Charlie couldn't help but feel left out. He wished he could be a part of all the holiday activities and share the joy of the season with his friends. He saw a sign in the town center that said, "Christmas Lights Display Tonight!" as he walked across town. Charlie's heartbeat faster. The show was tonight, but he didn't have any lights to add to it. There was magic around him, but he didn't know how to join in. Just as he was about to speak, he heard a voice he knew calling his name. Emily was his best friend. She ran up to him quickly and smiled big. It was "Charlie!" she yelled. "Guess what? Our family has some extra Christmas lights, and we don't know what to do with them. Would you like to help us decorate our house for the display tonight?" Charlie's eyes sparkled with joy. "Oh, Emily, that would be great! Thanks so much!" Charlie put up Christmas lights on Emily's family's house in the afternoon. They put them around the windows and hung them over the bushes. Charles couldn't believe how lucky he was. He was going to be a part of the beautiful light show, after all. As night fell, Charlie, Emily, and her family joined the other people in the town square. It looked like something from a fairy tale because the whole square was lit up with bright lights. It looked like the stars, clouds, and even a huge Christmas tree was lit up with hundreds of lights. Charlie's family would put up their Christmas tree together every year. They would sing Christmas songs and hang colored ornaments and gold tinsel for hours on end. But this year was different. Charlie's family was having money problems, so they couldn't buy a Christmas tree or any other decorations. As Charlie looked on, his friends and neighbors were decorating their houses for the holidays. It broke his heart. For as long as Charlie could remember, the best part of the holiday season was always decorating the Christmas tree. It was a beloved tradition that brought his family closer together and made memories that would last a lifetime. Every year, they would plan to start this great project on a weekend in early December.

Previously published stories from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Crusie, Mandy Baxter, and Donna Alward, these hot romantic stories share the spirit of love this season. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, when love is in the cold and frosty air—and desire reaches the boiling point... Hot Toy From New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Crusie comes a hilarious, sexy story about a determined shopper who grabs the last action figure off the shelf, only to find herself plunged into the arms of a sexy secret agent. Mayhem under the mistletoe ensues. Business as usual this Christmas season...right? Christmas with the Billionaire Rancher Nate wants to stay away from all the women who want his money in Mandy Baxter’s story set deep in the heart of Texas. But when gorgeous do-gooder Chloe Benson comes knocking at his door—in search of funds for her charity—Nate can’t ignore the passion he feels for her. Maybe love is priceless after all? Christmas at Seashell Cottage ’Tis the season in Jewell Cove when local doctor Charlie Yang finds her quiet, steady life disrupted by both an abandoned baby in the nativity manger and ex-SEAL Dave Ricker. Are these turn of events too good to be true? Or is Christmas working its magic—for real?

Escape to the tranquil shores of Willow Lake with #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs in this collection of unforgettable Christmas tales from her beloved Lakeshore Chronicles series. LAKESHORE CHRISTMAS Maureen Davenport is finally getting her shot to direct Avalon’s annual holiday pageant, but her storybook notion of Christmas is disrupted when Eddie Haven is assigned to assist her. As they spar over every detail of the pageant, their passion for the perfect performance begins to blossom into something more. CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS Logan O’Donnell is determined to create the perfect Christmas for his son, Charlie, and Willow Lake newcomer Darcy Fitzgerald is the last person he can see himself falling for. Yet between the snowy silence of the winter woods and the toasty moments by a crackling fire, their two lonely hearts collide. The magic of the season brings them each a gift neither ever expected—a love to last a lifetime. Previously published in 2009 and 2013.

Charlie's Christmas Letter is a little document in the form of a letter to my grandson, which seeks to answer the questions that a bright teenager ought to be asking: Why were the shepherds in the fields in winter? Who were the three wise men? Why do we bring holly into the house? Of all the ways of entering a house why does Santa choose the chimney? What is the Messiah about? Why did Tchaikovsky drink unboiled water during a cholera epidemic? What is the Jewish Celebration of Lights all about? The letter presents some of the more interesting features of the season and incidental matters. Much space is devoted to details of the nativity and the transmittal of these through the uncertainties of the gospel reports; then there are the primitive rituals of food and drink; the origin of Santa Claus; and a summary of the wonderful legend The Cessation of the Oracles. Then come features of the season not part of the nativity story: Messiah, The Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol, containing some of the more colorful and significant details of the lives of Handel, Tchaikovsky, and Dickens. Then Hanukkah. Then Shopping. At best tangentially related, these have in them elements of Christian value. Next, the climax of the season: church on Christmas morning and the carols. Finally the book concludes with an attempt to present for the boy the huge dimension of the inconceivable phenomenon of the Incarnation. The chatty, simple style avoids long words where possible and offers parenthetical explanations. It is not without occasional, innocent wit and is sometimes a bit didactic: there are grandfatherly prescriptions, which Charlie may find a bit pompous.

Charlie Hunt lives in Augusta, WesternAustralia. Augusta is a small seaside town situated at the most South West part of Australia. It is part of the Margaret River wine region, and is often described as Paradise. Now retired Charlie looks back on his very interesting life. Born just before the second World War in the small country town of Red Cliffs, Charlie completed his education in Melbourne. He started his employment in the Aircraft industry, and travelled to Perth to join a local Airline. Here he started a family, and then later on operated a successful jewelry business for some years. His love of horses then led him to become a professional race horse trainer. He then completely changed tack and became a Restaurant proprietor, which eventually took him to Margaret River. He then retired to Augusta . His son Graeme worked with him both with the horses and in the Restaurants, while his daughter Lisa brought up her family in Perth.

Christmas Pieces – 24 Historical Fiction Short Stories Surrounding Christmas is a compilation of stories that take place across America and offers the reader a view of various ethnic cultures and how they celebrate Christmas. Although they are stories that include Christmas holiday traditions, they can also be read throughout the year and enjoyed for their historical content. Tom Gahan wrote one story for each of the twenty-four days of Advent leading up to Christmas. Various stories are fun and whimsical, others are more serious. Some have an element of romance, others do not. Christmas Pieces is written for a wide audience. It is wholesome and family-friendly with secular and Christian themes alike. The content is free of violence, profanity, or disturbing themes that is suitable for children and sensitive readers. Tom Gahan has written for decades covering a wide variety of areas. He prefers to write historical fiction. Tom’s commercial writing helped launch a startup company to be an international industry leader within two years. His well-received historical fiction novel, Harmony Bay: An adventurous slice of waterfront life where mystery surrounds history became required reading at several high schools. Tom Gahan has often lectured on writing and has been a welcome guest at schools, universities, libraries, and book clubs. Tom is the recipient of several awards including the prestigious Gold Key Award from his hometown Chamber of Commerce, two citations from the U.S. Congress, and was named Civic Leader of the Year for his humanitarian work. Tom, who is a happily married grandfather, enjoys travel, fishing, wildlife, nature, and woodworking. He lives on eastern Long Island in New York. Foreword provided by Deborah E Gordon-Reagle, Th.D. Keywords – Christmas Short Stories, Holiday Stories, Historical, Advent, Wholesome, Family-Friendly, Multicultural, Secular, Christian, Romance, Tradition, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Alaska, Pittsburgh, Oshkosh, Florida, California, Denver, Bayou, Bethlehem, West Bank, Christmas Book, Christmas Books, Christmas Stories

In this fast-paced romance that combines flirty fun and situational comedy, a spunky heroine must navigate secret crushes, high school hijinks, and of course, Shakespeare. Understudies never get to perform...which is why being Juliet's understudy in the school's yearly Shakespeare production is the perfect role for Emily. She can earn some much-needed extra credit while pursuing her main goal of spending time with Wes, aka Romeo, aka the hottest, nicest guy in school (in her completely unbiased opinion). And she meant to learn her lines, really, it's just: a) Shakespeare is HARD, b) Amanda (the "real" Juliet) makes her run errands instead of lines, and c) there's no point, since Amanda would never miss her chance to be the star of the show. Then Amanda ends up in the hospital and Emily, as the (completely unprepared!) understudy, has to star in the most famous scene from Romeo and Juliet opposite the guy of her dreams. Oops? Shani Petroff’s Romeo and What’s Her Name is a laugh-out-loud funny novel chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads. Praise for Romeo and What's Her Name: "This has all the hallmarks of a high-school romance: a swoon-worthy male lead, a requisite mean girl, and plenty of backstage dallying and wacky miscommunication. Flirty and fun." —Booklist "Petroff’s latest offering, published by Macmillan’s crowdsourced imprint, will delight romance lovers with its fast pace and humorous tone." —School Library Journal "[Emily is] the American Bridget Jones...this book is simply amazing!" —Jenn, reader on SwoonReads.com