Recommendations based on "Wagging through the Snow"

The Nutcracker and Edwardian-Era England combine to weave a magical tale of love and friendship at Christmastime.As the beloved stepdaughter of the Earl of Castleton, Lady Mariah Lyons cherishes her home at Plumford Manor, but her idyllic world will be threatened when the estate passes to Cyril Lightbourne, a childhood friend she hasn't seen or heard from in years. Once, Mariah dreamed their friendship would kindle into something more, but that was before she heard Cyril was courting the cruelhearted Lady Pearl. Now Mariah is willing to welcome him as a friend and pray he will be the heir her stepfather needs, but she'll keep her heart locked safely away from anyone with such poor taste.Cyril Lightbourne has long avoided returning to Plumford Manor, yet he reluctantly arrives in time for Christmas. When his friendship with Lady Mariah reignites, he finds himself caught between his affection for her and her family's misunderstanding of his attachment to Lady Pearl. Then, more trouble arrives in the form of a Danish lord on a mission to win Mariah's hand by Christmas. Will the magic of the holiday season help lead to the discovery of true love, or will duty to country leave all longing for what could have been?"So many delightful layers to this tale, along with intriguing characters and beautiful descriptions. . . . It really puts you in the mood for Christmas."--Melody Carlson, author of The Christmas Tree Farm and A Royal Christmas"Sugar plums, gingerbread, and all the Christmasy feels go into this charming holiday romance."--Michelle Griep, Christy Award-winning author of Once Upon a Dickens Christmas

Beautifully told with humor and tenderness, a Norwegian Christmas tale of sisterhood, financial hardship, and far-off dreams, acclaimed by reviewers and beloved by readers across Europe, where it has been a major bestsellerChristmas is just around the corner, and Ronja and Melissa’s dreamer of a father is out of work again. When ten-year-old Ronja hears about a job at a Christmas tree stand near where the family lives in central Oslo, she thinks it might be the stroke of luck they all need. Soon, the fridge fills with food, and their father returns home with money in his pocket and a smile on his face. But one evening he disappears into the night under the pretense of buying Christmas gifts—and the daughters know he has gone to his favorite local pub, Stargate, and they come to terms with the fact that he may lose his wonderful new job.Melissa decides to take his place at the Christmas tree stand, working before and after school in the December afternoon dark, and brings along Ronja, who quickly charms all the middle-class customers. On rare breaks the sisters dream of a brighter place of kindness and plenty, and find help from some of those around them—but both understand that their family structure is a precarious one, and that they are going to need luck and strength to transcend their circumstances.Skillfully told, evoking the delight, misunderstandings, and innocence of a child’s voice, Brightly Shining is small in stature but with an outsize impact on the reader, and has all the markings of a magical modern classic.

There's nowhere better to spend the holidays than with New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery in the town of Fool's Gold, where love is always waiting to be unwrapped… Noelle Perkins just got a second chance at life, and she intends to make the most of every minute. That's why she ditched a frustrating legal career to open her own store in Fool's Gold, California. The Christmas Attic celebrates everything that's magical about her favorite season. Business is booming, and as a bonus, gorgeous army doctor Gabriel Boylan has offered to help out during the holiday rush. Gabriel's memories of Christmas past contain more sour grapes than sugar plums, thanks to a drill sergeant father who ran his home like a boot camp. Spending the holidays with his family while he recuperates from injury sounds as appetizing as last year's eggnog. Still, there are some enjoyable distractions in town, including sunny, sexy Noelle…and the red-hot mistletoe kisses they can't stop sharing. Gabriel didn't think he was made for happily-ever-afters. But when fate hands you a love as sweet and surprising as this, only a fool could refuse….

Edward Goreys off-kilter depictions of Yuletide mayhem and John Updikes wryly jaundiced text examine a dozen Christmas traditions with a decidedly wheezy ho-ho-ho. 1. Santa: The Man. Loose-fitting nylon beard, fake optical twinkle, cheap red suit, funny rummy smell when you sit on his lap. If hes such a big shot, why is he drawing unemployment for eleven months of the year? Something scary and off-key about him, like one of those Stephen King clowns . . .

A sentimental advertising creative and a blunt, no-nonsense bar owner find a second chance at love while binge-watching iconic holiday movies in this poignant and heartwarming romance, from the author of Charm City Rocks and All Together Now. “Norman weaves nostalgic references to modern holiday classics . . . throughout this comforting romance.”—The Washington Post (Noteworthy Books of the Month) The new year had barely begun when Grace White and Henry Adler both lost their spouses. Now, nearly a year later, the first holiday season since their "Great and Terrible Sadnesses" approaches. Although their mothers scheme to matchmake the two surviving spouses, it’s clear that neither is ready to date again. Yet no one understands what they are going through better than each other, and a delicate friendship is born. When Henry sees an ad for a Christmas movie marathon—once an annual tradition for him and his wife—Grace offers to watch some films with him, despite her aversion to a few of his picks. Her two young kids, Ian and Bella, also join in whenever possible—bedtimes permitting, of course. With each movie, Grace and Henry’s shared grief eases as they start to see a life beyond the sadness. But as they draw closer, other romantic possibilities leave them uncertain about their future together. Is their bond merely the result of loneliness and shared circumstances, or have they found something that’s worth taking a shot at . . . again?

He's The Ghost Of Christmas Past. She's Not Exactly Scrooge. Ghost Of Christmas Past Nolan Callahan Intends To Spend This Holiday Haunting Like Every Other-get In, Get Out, Return To His Otherwise Aimless Existence As A Ghost Awaiting The Afterlife. But When He's Faced With Harriet York, The Sweetest Assignment He's Ever Had, He Suddenly Finds Himself Wishing For A Future. Harriet York Has No Idea Why She's Being Haunted. She's A Good Person-or, At Least, She Tries To Be. A People Pleaser To Her Core, She Always Does What's Expected Of Her. But As She And Nolan Begin To Examine Her Past, They Discover There Are Threads That Bind Them Together- And Realize There Might Be More To Moving On Than Expected. With The Deadline Of Christmas Eve Fast Approaching, Will They Find The Key To Their Futures In Each Other's Pasts? Or Will They Stay Firmly In The Present, Indulging In Their Unexpected, Spirited Connection?-- Provided By Publisher.

St Aidan: a cosy Cornish village where friendships are made for life and it's always cocktail hour somewhere... Escape to Cornwall with this uplifting and feel good standalone novel from the bestselling author of The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea There's nothing more magical than a winter wonderland wedding but when photographer Holly North returns to the cosy village of St Aidan she's determined to avoid romance and the festive season full stop. She's doing one small favour for a friend's wedding and then her plans involve diving under her duvet and avoiding any sign of Christmas cheer - and gorgeous but insufferable Rory Sanderson - for the rest of December! That is until Christmas arrives at Brides by the Sea, Cornwall's enchanting and most adorable little wedding shop. The champagne is on ice while mistletoe hangs from every nook and Holly's friends at the shop are determined she'll live up to her festive name. It's the most wonderful time of the year, and romance is most definitely in the crisp winter air with promises, proposals and Christmas kisses aplenty... What readers are saying about this cosy Christmas romance: 'You can almost smell the Christmas trees and taste those mince pie muffins...the perfect book to cuddle up with' My Chestnut Reading Tree 'A real cracker' Annie Cooper's Book Corner 'An absolute delight' Bookworms and Shutterbugs 'A really warm and cosy read...it has got me so excited for Christmas!' Jessica's Book Biz 'This book has it all, romance, entertainment, charm, cheerfulness, friendship, small miracles, Christmas magic and lots of warmth...I absolutely loved this fantastic book' With Love for Books

Who needs mistletoe? Most people wouldn’t think of a bad Santa case as the perfect Christmas gift. Then again, Molly Malone, office manager at Hunt Investigations, isn’t most people, and she could really use a distraction from the fantasies she’s been having since spending the night with her very secret crush, Lucas Knight. Nothing happened, not that Lucas knows that—but Molly just wants to enjoy being a little naughty for once . . . Whiskey and pain meds for almost-healed bullet wounds don’t mix. Lucas needs to remember that next time he’s shot on the job, which may be sooner rather than later if Molly’s brother, Joe, finds out about them. Lucas can’t believe he’s drawing a blank on his (supposedly) passionate tryst with Molly, who’s the hottest, smartest, strongest woman he’s ever known. Strong enough to kick his butt if she discovers he’s been assigned to babysit her on her first case. And hot enough to melt his cold heart this Christmas.

A snowstorm threatens to ruin Christmas for two mismatched strangers traveling together―until a spark of romance brightens the season in this charming short novel from Debbie Macomber. Shelly Griffin is looking forward to spending time with her beloved father in Seattle for the holidays. But unexpected complications arise when her plane from San Francisco is rerouted to Portland due to inclement weather. To make matters worse, Shelly finds herself stuck sharing the last available rental car with one of her fellow passengers: handsome, uptight businessman Slade Garner. Sure, he’s attractive, but Shelly isn’t immediately convinced she likes Slade. She’s not expecting the arduous journey to her father’s house in a severe blizzard to change her mind, either. But the more time Shelly spends with Slade, the more she suspects that she may have received an unexpected gift this Christmas: love.

First, drop in at 5-B Poppy Lane, where you'll get a chance to visit with Helen Shelton, her granddaughter Ruth and Ruth's husband, Paul. They'll offer you a cup of mulled cider and the story of how they met—and they'll share Helen's breathtaking adventures during the Second World War.Then drive out to Grace and Cliff Harding's place. They have a small horse ranch not far from Cedar Cove. Mary Jo Wyse and her little girl, Noelle, will be there, too. Join them in reliving their memories of the Christmas Mary Jo came to Cedar Cove, pregnant and alone, and had her baby in the Hardings' stable (well, actually the apartment above it). That's the night firefighter Mack McAfee began to fall for Mary Jo and the idea of a family—with her.