Charlie Morgan grew up in Boston, sheltered by his mother, in awe of his father, a well-respected doctor who lost his life when Charlie was nine. Following in his father's footsteps, Charlie becomes a well-respected doctor, retiring early and moving to Maine, to a camp used as a getaway years back by his father. Leaving Jayne is his only regret. Her wild red hair drives him crazy. Charlie's awkwardness in relationships gets in his way.

Once settled, Charlie discovers the old barn on the property holds a secret kept hidden for years. Charlie struggles for answers. His eventual reaction is surprising. When a sad, young boy comes into his life, Charlie's kindness turns the boy around. They become the best of friends. Because Charlie's parents never celebrated Christmas, the boy's belief in the wonder of Christmas leads to Charlie's embrace of the Season, and so much more.

Abbey senses something special about the little man tending to the reindeer who, along with a century-old farmhouse, a barn full of animals, and fields abounding in woods and pasture, was a gift to Abbey from a stranger. Abbey and her husband, Steve, move in just before the holidays. They have been together since the '60s, eloping when Steve returned from Vietnam. Now with Abbey's cancer in remission, they're looking forward to their boys coming home for Christmas.

Turns out this Christmas proves to be more magical than anticipated as Abbey realizes an understanding never thought possible through the rekindling of a belief rooted in childhood. Of course it's who delivers this gift on Christmas Eve that gives Abbey and Steve the strength to face their greatest challenge.

About the Author

Barbara Briggs Ward is the author/illustrator of The Really, Really Hairy Flight of Snarly Sally and Snarly Sally's Garden of ABCs. Her projects include illustrating And Then There Was Hope and The Brain Reigns for the New York State Office of Mental Health. She has been a featured author/illustrator on Mountain Lake PBS in Plattsburgh, New York, and Target's Book Festival in Boston and New York City. She has been published in Highlights for Children, McCall's, and the Crafts Report. An essay led to a feature in Ladies' Home Journal. Her story, In Anticipation of Doll Beds, was accepted into the Chicken Soup of the Soul book, Christmas Magic, released October, 2010. Barbara invites you to visit www.snarlysally.com and www.thereindeerkeeper.com.

Suzanne Langelier-Lebeda is an award-winning graphic designer/illustrator. She earned national awards for art and publication design as a coordinator of publications at the State University of Potsdam. Her projects have included illustrations for the National Park Service Cumberland Island National Seashore Visitors Center, Georgia; Renee Fleming Benefit Concert Materials, New York City; Adirondack Life and Country Living Gardener Magazines; St. Lawrence University; Clarkson University; and graphic design for the permanent exhibit on History and Traditions at SUNY Potsdam. She is a member of the Adirondack Artists' Guild in Saranac Lake, New York. In her fine artwork she primarily concentrates on contemplative nature studies that explore intimations in nature by integrating watercolor, drawing, writing, and digital photography. Suzanne invites you to visit www.snowlinedesign.com.

Over the years, Ben and Ellie never had a problem communicating. So when Ben seems distant, Ellie's confused. Her instinct tells her it has something to do with the contents of an old cardboard box his father insisted Ben take before he passed away. With the children grown, Ben's evasiveness adds to Ellie wishing the holidays were over. But it's Christmas -- the season of hope and love rekindled -- especially when going back to a wondrous place on a winter's night in the old sleigh decorated in pine boughs and silver bells -- the very sleigh that carried a little boy and that cardboard box on a Christmas Eve journey so long ago.

It's been an emotional journey for Steve having lost Abbey after thirty-some years of being happily married. With the passing of time, he thinks about moving on yet hesitates. While encouraged by those around him, Steve seeks a sign, a whisper, something mere words cannot express. With two families coming together in celebration of a double wedding on Christmas Eve at the old farmhouse surrounded by woods and pastures and a majestic barn full of reindeer, the magic of the season demonstrates yet again anything can happen. Sleighs pulled deep into the woods by mighty horses bring loved ones to yet another place full of wonder and surprise as a gift wrapped inside a worn-out trunk full of special things left to a granddaughter by a grandmother she'd never know proves invaluable. What sounds like violins -- like harps being played and a chorus singing from somewhere amidst the pine and birch trees offer reassurance as snow angels lie in wait and eternal love spreads its wings, reaching beyond the mountain tops. Christmas wrapped in new beginnings by old traditions makes a most astonishing season-unforgettable.

While curious of the world outside her Amish community, Annie Finley's love for her husband, Daniel, and their son, Jacob, is why she's content to stay. A devastating accident one stormy night changes that, propelling Annie beyond those boundaries. With the help of two women who sell Annie's quilts, she learns those responsible for the accident are ruthless owners of a newspaper dynasty who'll do anything to keep the presses running. A plan is devised enabling Annie to shed her simplicity and travel to Philadelphia where she infiltrates that dynasty, moving amongst them as one of them until the moment when she must make her move--a move with grave consequences reaching all the way to the White House in a fight over the Second Amendment.