On My Wishlist (11) - The Christmas Edition

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where we list all the books we want to read but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming.

Christmas at Harrington's 
by Melody Carlson
Published October 2010

Because I love Christmas books.

Christmas is approaching, and Lena Markham finds herself penniless, friendless, and nearly hopeless. She is trying to restart her life after false accusations landed her in prison, but job opportunities are practically nonexistent. When a secondhand red coat unexpectedly lands her a job as Mrs. Santa at a department store, Lena finally thinks her luck is changing. But can she keep her past a secret? This tender story about fresh starts will charm readers as all of Melody Carlson's Christmas offerings do. Full of redemption and true holiday spirit, Christmas at Harrington's will be readers' newest Christmas tradition. (Goodreads)

The Christmas Secret
by Donna VanLiere
Book 5 in the Christmas series
Published October 2009 

I've made it a tradition to read one of her books each Christmas. This is the only one missing from my collection. And I love Christmas books.

When a struggling young single mother saves the life of an elderly woman, she sets into motion a series of events that will test her strength, loyalty, and determination, all the while setting her on the path to finding true love. Christine Eisley is the mother of seven-year-old Zach and five-year-old Haley. Her ex-husband provides little, if any, child support and makes life difficult for Christine by using the children as pawns. She works long hours as a waitress to make ends meet, but her job is in jeopardy because she’s often late to work due to the unreliable teenaged sitters she’s forced to use. When Christine saves the life of a woman who works in Wilson’s department store, the owner of Wilson’s wants to find her, to thank her, but Christine has disappeared, losing another job once again. He sets his grandson, Jason, to the task of finding the mysterious “Christy.” Jason, an accountant by trade who has lost his job to downsizing, thinks he is “above” working at Wilson’s. Soon, he discovers that this new task gives him more than he bargains for. The Christmas Secret is a novel for anyone who wants to see how love is a gift that keeps giving back; that hope is a treasure that never runs dry, and that faith is a miracle that is reborn with each new day. (Goodreads)

The Christmas Box
by Richard Paul Evans
Published November 1996 

I got The Christmas Box Miracle some years ago, not realising it was the story of the story in The Christmas Box, not actually The Christmas Box. Obviously I can't read The Christmas Box Miracle without first reading The Christmas Box. Plus, I love Christmas books. 

When I wrote The Christmas Box, I never intended to publish the story--it was simply an expression of love for my two young daughters, Jenna and Allyson. Though I often told them that I loved them, I didn't believe that they could ever really understand the depths of those feelings until they had experience the joy of rearing their own children, and by that time our relationship would have already changed. Forever. In writing The Christmas Box, I hoped that at some future time they could read this book and know of their father's love.

As I began to write, I was amazed at the inspiration which flowed into my mind and heart. I completed the book in less than six weeks and, when I had finished, I produced twenty copies of The Christmas Box to give as Christmas presents to my family and a few close friends. In the next four weeks those twenty copies were shared from family to family, and friend to friend. Now I share the message of this book with you in hope that we can all remember what is most precious to us, and that you, too, may experience the magic of The Christmas Box and pass it on.

With love and Christmas,
Richard Paul Evans
(Goodreads)

Are you wishing for Christmas books too?