The Christmas Village

USA Today bestselling author Annie Rains returns to Somerset Lake, North Carolina, with a heartwarming Christmas story about a midwife and her ex-fiance who face high stakes when they must team up to compete in the neighborhood house decorating contest, in this trade paperback that will help get readers in the holiday spirit. Once upon a Christmas, she gave him her heart. This year, he'll have to win it back again . . . When Lucy Hannigan returned to her childhood home in Somerset Lake, one of the first things she did was join the local book club. And thank goodness, because now that Lucy’s first Christmas without her mother is bearing down upon her, she can use all the help and support she can get. Especially when she has to take in a tenant and the only person interested is Miles Bruno, her ex-fiance. Lucy’s friends keep teasing her about the way Miles is trying to make up for his mistakes but forgiving and forgetting isn’t coming easily to Lucy. With bills piling up and her mother’s finances in disarray, however, Lucy isn’t in any position to say no. As the small town prepares for the holidays and competition heats up in the Merriest Lawn decorating contest, Lucy can’t help feeling like a Scrooge. Her mom loved the holidays and won the contest each year, but as much as Lucy would like to carry on the tradition, she isn’t sure she has it in her to deck the halls this holiday. Yet when Miles shows up with tons of tinsel, dozens of decorations, and lots and lots of lights, Lucy begins to wonder if maybe the spirit of the season will finally mend her broken heart.

Delight friends and family with an enchanting old-world village, festively decked out for the holidays. It's simple! Just punch the pieces, fold, glue, and add glitter to make a steepled church; English Tudor Revival home with a Shaker roof; New England-style Colonial; a bow-wow-wow doghouse; snow-covered trees, and more! The all-inclusive kit features an instruction book, cardstock project sheets, vellum, glitter, pipe cleaners, glue, and one premade evergreen tree.

My Big Wimmelbooks let kids ages 2 to 5 be the storytellers with hours of seek-and-find hands-on learning—and fun! In these one-of-a-kind picture books, every page is bursting with life—and tons to discover! Children as young as age 2 have a blast pointing out recognizable things—a blue tricycle, a hungry dog, a piggyback ride—while older kids can follow the star characters from page to page, telling their stories along the way. How? Wimmelbooks are virtually instruction-free, inviting kids to make their own way through the busy Wimmelworld they encounter, and to craft their own stories. First, you’re introduced to a unique cast of characters who are hidden in plain sight on the pages that follow. As you seek them out, each character’s storyline unfolds, but it’s up to kids to interpret the scenes and create stories they think fit. It’s hours upon hours of fun—and an effortless introduction to literacy to boot. In this special holiday-themed Wimmelbook, it’s Christmas time! Christmas Eve, to be exact. From the outdoor ice rink to the bustling holiday market, a busy cast of characters is having a great time as they celebrate by skating, sledding, shopping, and singing away. But will the little boy get the tractor he wants for Christmas? And where is Santa? Kids follow along and find out in My Big Wimmelbook—Christmas Village. About Wimmelbooks Wimmelbooks originated in Germany decades ago and have become a worldwide sensation with children (and adults!) everywhere. My Big Wimmelbooks is the first-ever Wimmelbook series to feature Wimmelbooks as Wimmelbooks in English. They’ve been praised as “lively . . . and abounding with humor and detail” (WSJ), likely to “make any parent’s heart sing.” (NYT)

The painter shares his memories of Christmas, celebrating friends, families, and traditions.

There’s no doubt about it—Cade Dugan has a magic matchmaking touch. Every time he’s made figurines of mates for local residents of Holly for his ceramic Christmas village they’ve arrived as depicted. His problem is the figure of the woman in the blue coat he made for himself, because women swoop down on Holly, determined to be The One, the minute they hear about it. Egypt’s had great luck with men—all of it bad. Every time she introduces her guy to a friend, she ends up being a bridesmaid instead of the bride. She’s on her way for the fourteenth outing—her sister’s Christmas Eve wedding to Egypt’s last boyfriend—when her car conks out near a tiny village full of more Christmas cheer than she can stand…and a gorgeous hunk in a sleigh, drawn by a team of reindeer, who is clearly a complete nut job. A complete nut job who makes her tingle all over, and who is fated to try to kill her three times before he can claim her forever.

Expand your LEGO Winter Village with these brand new models! This holiday season, get ready to grow your LEGO winter wonderland! Within these pages you'll find complete instructions and full brick lists to build a collection of brand new Winter Village models, as well as step-by-step guidance on how to buy all the pieces you'll need through Bricklink.com - LEGO's official online marketplace. In this book, create the ultimate quaint and cozy Christmas town with instructions for: a Chocolate Factory a Hot Cocoa Truck a Chocolate Sculpture a Church a Nativity a Canal Boat a Pub Turn on the Christmas classics, brew up some hot cocoa, and get building with this perfect festive family activity.

Can the magic of Christmas and the community of Thorndale bring two lost souls together in love? Olivia doesn’t have time for Christmas or for romance – she’s got a demanding career and has been burned before when it comes to love. This year, she’s spending the festive season in her dad’s old house, packing it up now that he’s moved out. Her dad failed to mention she wouldn’t be spending her time there alone... The last thing Olivia expects is for her surprise guest to be the very man who literally ran from her after an evening of mutual flirtation. But Tom has nowhere else to go and Olivia is determined to forget the disappointment she felt at his abandonment and instead help him find his way again. As heavy snow keeps them inside the cottage, will their enforced confinement spark romance once again – or will it push them further apart? The perfect festive romance to curl up with, for fans of Victoria Walters and Trisha Ashley. Praise for A Country Village Christmas'Warm and comforting and realistic and heartwarming and funny. It’s got everything a real family Christmas should have.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review 'The writing evokes a real sense of community, with friendship and family at the heart, and the main characters are well drawn. I could easily imagine this book being made into a "feel good" movie. Perfect if you're looking for an uplifting light read - a cosy novel with a seasonal and romantic theme.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review 'This was my first visit to Thorndale and after enjoying this peep into the village I can't wait to explore more books by this author. It's a book you will want to devour in one sitting, snuggled up with a hot chocolate.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review 'I absolutely loved this beautiful, cosy, heartwarming read that was so much more than just a Christmas book. This was the perfect escapism read.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

CHRISTMAS MAGIC TO REKINDLE THE SOUL! A frosty breeze somehow pried its way indoors, and as it passed in a single puff through Yorkminster village, the family's ceramic Christmas display, where it collected a few flakes of the "magical snow" Dad had found at the Enchanted Christmas Shop they had visited while on vacation that summer. The shop had indeed a magical sense about it, transforming that dizzying July day into the scents, sounds and expectations of Christmas. Dad had found the "magical snow" in a display in the back of the store. "Sprinkled about your own Christmas village," the proprietor had explained, "your snow covered streets and lawns will look more real than the snow in your own backyard!" And so they did, with the magical snow even cold to the touch. Dad had purchased the last bag, and he and his daughters had taken turns that afternoon sprinkling it about the streets of Yorkminster. Now, a little bit of the magical snow caught up on that breeze and swirled about the room, glittering in the lights of Yorkminster village, before wafting to the ground about the sleeping girls. Alana awoke suddenly at the sound of a boy's voice and a numb tugging at her arm. It was mostly dark, other than a few distant lights and what seemed a field of stars above. "Get up I say," came the voice again and the pulling of her arm. It was tingling a bit now. "You'll catch the death of you sleeping in the snow like this." Like magical snow in The Christmas Village, these tales of the memories of Christmas will transport you back to the spirit of Christmas! REVIEWS: "Magical snow, a Dickensian village come-to-life and a Shakespearean garden all lend a sense of joy and wonder to these fourteen tales, not unlike the feelings experienced by a child on Christmas morning. I encourage readers young and old to take a break from their over-scheduled lives to read The Christmas Village and Other Tales of the Magic and Memories of Christmas and r