Six historical Christmas romances prove life’s most priceless gifts come not in the form of polished gold or silver—but from the vast riches of a loving heart. The Christmas Star Bride by Amanda Cabot Wyoming, 1885—Esther Hathaway lost her one true love at Gettysburg twenty years ago, but she is still willing to celebrate her niece’s wedding by commissioning Jeremy Snyder to paint her portrait. Will Esther’s prayers for God to ease her loneliness be answered by a wounded vet? A Token of Promise by Rebecca Germany Alaska, 1897—Promised in marriage to a man she has never met in exchange for a place to call home, Charlotte Vance is headed to the Klondike and struggling not to fall in love with the wrong man. Gabe Monroe has found a bride perfect for his brother. A wife will help his brother run his supply business and raise his daughter, and Gabe will be freed to seek riches in the Yukon rivers after the spring thaw. But what will become of Charlotte when both brothers refuse to marry her—even though one loves her? Band of Angel’s by Cathy Marie Hake Colorado, 1893—The first time Jarrod McLeod dips his pan in the river, he strikes gold—a wedding ring! Sure the woman who lost it must be beside herself, he goes upriver to return it. He meets laundress Angel Taylor. She did lose the ring; however, she refuses to take the ring back. Jarrod’s first impressions of Angel are scandalous, but he soon discovers the truth, bringing her a Christmas gift to span the perimeters of time. Winterlude by Colleen L. Reece Alaska, 1930s—A single out-of-place snowflake in San Diego lures Ariel Dixon home to Ketchikan, Alaska, despite her wealthy fiancé’s protests. When she encounters slim, handsome Jean Thoreau, a childhood friend presumed dead, a swift rush of events changes the course of Ariel’s life. Drawn back to the home she loves, Ariel finds peace in the arms of the man who would not break a promise made long ago. Christmas Bounty by MaryLu Tyndall California, 1855—Caroline is a widowed mother alone in a small California town that is suddenly exploding with gold fever. When she sees the ship’s captain who once saved her and her husband’s lives on a scaffold to be hung, she must do something—even propose marriage. Goldrush Christmas by Michele Ule Alaska, 1897—When Samantha and her twin Peter book passage to Alaska in search of their missionary-minded father, they never imagined getting caught up in the rush for gold or that their neighbor would follow them. Soon their youth and inexperience is challenged on all fronts.

Celebrating Faith and Love in the Historic Rocky Mountains From a Wyoming ranch in 1880, to a logging camp in Washington Territory in the late 1800s, to Denver, Colorado, in 1913, meet nine couples who find that Christmas is the perfect time for climbing to the heights of romance. Watch as their faith and courage propel them through challenges that come with mountain winters to cozy fireside celebrations that lead to lasting proclamations of love. Penned by an exclusive selection of Christian fiction authors—including Susan Page Davis, Vickie McDonough, and Carrie Turansky—this collection of nine romances is one to treasure.

In bestselling author Vanessa Kelly’s irresistible Clan Kendrick series, Christmas in the Highlands means family, celebration—and for one brother, the beginning of a passionate adventure . . . Being thrown over by the man she expected to marry was humiliating enough. Now that Donella Haddon, grandniece of the Earl of Riddick, has also proven a failure as a nun, she has no choice but to return to her family’s estate. The brawny Highlander sent to escort her is brash, handsome, and the only thing standing between Donella and a gang of would-be kidnappers. But the scandal in her past can’t be so easily outrun . . . Wealthy widower Logan Kendrick was expecting to meet a plain, pious spinster—not a gorgeous, sharp-tongued lass who can hold her own in any ambush. Though she’s known as the Flower of Clan Graham, Donella is no shrinking violet. In fact, she might be the perfect woman to bring happiness back to his lonely little son’s life, just in time for Christmas. But first he must protect her from ugly gossip and a mysterious threat—and convince her that their wild, unexpected desire is heaven sent. Praise for The Highlander’s Princess Bride “A thoroughly satisfying Regency romance.” —Publishers Weekly

“This two-in-one romance starts a new series that Mallery’s many fans will devour like a Christmas cookie.”—Booklist Susan Mallery, author of the Fool’s Gold romances, cheerfully invites you to Wishing Tree, where Christmas comes to life… The Somerville sisters believe in love, but they’ve lost faith it will happen for them. Reggie hasn’t been home since the end of the world’s shortest engagement. When her parents decide to renew their vows, she buffs up her twinkle to help with the Christmas wedding. Unexpectedly, Toby, her first love, is back too, and the spark between them shines as brightly as ever. In the spirit of the season, will they let go of past hurts and greet the New Year together? Done waiting for the one, Dena is pregnant and on her own—on purpose. But then a gorgeous, sad-eyed songwriter checks in to a room at her inn. Micah, unable to write since he lost his wife, finds inspiration in Dena’s determination to be a mom. One snowflake-speckled kiss and he’s a goner. But Dena is afraid to believe that a rock star could fall for a cookie-cutter small-town girl like her. As the Christmas wedding draws closer, these two sisters just might unwrap the most treasured gift of all—love. Don’t miss Home Sweet Christmas, a witty and heartfelt story of two friends who unexpectedly find the person-and the place in which-they belong this Christmas by #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery!

Enjoy this steamy enemies-to-lovers romance by Lacey Davis The Princess and the Paupers Carrie Sanders grew up in Treasure Falls with two fathers. When her parents were killed in a mining accident, she learned exactly why two husbands were essential. Now she’s grown and ready for two men of her own. But there are no eligible men in Treasure Falls. Levi Daly and Jasper Vanderbilt have traveled the world, made their fortune, and now want to return home. No longer are Levi and Jasper two poor kids, living on the wrong side of Main Street. No longer are they not good enough to marry a Spencer, or so Levi believes. He has loved Carrie since they were children, but Jasper and she were childhood enemies. Can Levi convince Carrie to marry him and Jasper? Or will they continue to be enemies? Can the poor kids marry the town’s favored daughter?

Enjoy this steamy menage romance by Lacey Davis The Gambler Takes a Chance on Treasure Falls Peart Tuttle is the slyest gambler in town. For the last two years, she has survived on her own by making enough money to keep her from going broke. But now her gambler’s luck has run out and she owes the saloon a hefty sum. Time to join the mail-order brides and get out of town. Widower Anthony Sanders owns a ranch in Treasure Falls and believes he will never love again. Yet, he wants children to pass his land to. Wesley Pickens has led a reckless life and only recently with Tony’s help has managed to stay out of trouble. Would a woman settle him down or will the bad boy return to his wild ways? Can Pearl escape her debts or will the past make her pay up in her new hometown? Will Tony and Wesley put their histories behind them or will Pearl become the abandoned bride of Treasure Falls?

AN AMISH CHRISTMAS When Karen Imhoff finds a beaten man lying unconscious by the road in her Amish community, she doesn't hesitate to help. "John Doe" needs a place to stay while he regains his memory, and she has a room to rent. The handsome Englisher proves invaluable around the family farm, yet his presence wreaks havoc with her emotions. Karen has her younger siblings to care for. She can't fall for an outsider who doesn't know his own identity… THE CHRISTMAS QUILT Years ago, Rebecca Beachy kept her reasons for rejecting Gideon Troyer's marriage proposal a secret. Then Gideon left their Amish community. Now, Rebecca crafts quilts to raise money to cure her blindness, and carefully guards her heart against love. Then Gideon returns, at risk of being shunned, to make the winning bid on one of her exquisite quilts. Will Rebecca's quilt—a patchwork promise of rediscovered love—bring Gideon and Rebecca back together again? A HOPE SPRINGS CHRISTMAS When Amish buggy maker Levi Beachy turns the tables on matchmaker Sarah Wyse, they just might discover they’ve already found their perfect match—in each other.

"THE CHRISTMAS WISH" 21,500 words (about 100 pages) Heat index: Sweet To grant her dying father his last Christmas wish, Miss Annabelle Pemberton proposes marriage to her father's former ward, the rakish viscount Lord William de Vere. How painful it will be, though, to be trapped in a marriage of convenience with the only man she has ever loved. Marriage to the wealthy heiress will help restore de Vere's decaying estates, but that is not why he accepts her bizarre proposal. He has grown to love her father as if he were his own, and if Mr. Pemberton selected him for his only child's husband, then Lord de Vere must honor the man's final wishes. Little does he suspect his father-in-law knows him better than he knows himself. "HOME FOR CHRISTMAS" 20,000 words (about 85 pages) Heat index: Sweet For six long years, Captain David St. Vincent has dreamed of returning home to Ramseyfield—and to its prettiest resident, Elizabeth Balfour. To his astonishment, though, it is not Elizabeth, but her plain younger sister, Catherine, whose company he seeks. Cathy Balfour has worshipped David for as long as she can remember. It was she who wept when he left, she who presented him with a cross to keep him safe while in service to the crown, and she who read and carefully collected the newspaper accounts of his sea battles. But how can one as plain as she ever hope to win his heart? "CHRISTMAS AT FARLEY MANOR" Best Historical Novella of 2011 (This novella was first published as an ebook in 2011.) Approximate length: 21,000 words (about 100 pages) Heat index: Sweet This is a lovely story, tender and romantic, with a dashing hero and a beautiful heroine. A very satisfying read. – Linda Sims, Top Amazon UK reviewer It wasn't to be a real marriage. . . Harry Tate is an army captain of some means who is almost certain to die when he returns to Spain on the morrow. Elizabeth Hensley is a destitute beauty he's only too happy to help. Two years later. . . When they meet again at his ancestral home, Harry is now Viscount Broxbourne, bent on showing his wife how much he wants her to be his real viscountess by Christmas.

Upon its benefactor's untimely death, the San Francisco Christian Home for Orphans and Foundlings loses all of its funding. What is to become of the dozen children who live happily within its walls? The spinster housemother, Magdalene Fairchild, and the home's founder, Chandler Alexandre, scramble to find a way to keep the children. When all of their plans go awry, only one hope remains--a marriage of convenience between the plain Magdalene and the handsome Chandler. Though the orphanage is saved, will the hasty action of these two people ultimately cause heartache? Magdalene, convinced no man could ever want her, finds little joy in her marriage. Chandler, meanwhile, struggles to show Magdalene what a treasure she is. When they find their love for the children isn't enough, how will God work to bless their union?

Brighten the season with tales from the master of Christmastime fiction. Most famous in the realm of holiday literature for his 1843 publication, A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens was in fact a prolific writer in the yuletide genre and a great contributor to many now-prevalent traditions of the holiday itself. In the year following the release of A Christmas Carol, Dickens released The Chimes: A Christmas Story of Some Bells That Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In. This story combined his usual sympathy for the poor with the notion that we must always strive to live in nobler ways. In 1845 came The Cricket on the Hearth, a novella that, in its time, surpassed even A Christmas Carol in popularity for stage productions. The years 1846 and 1848 respectively saw published The Battle of Life and The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain. Given this wealth of Christmas-themed works, it is no wonder that Dickens is sometime referred to as “the man who invented Christmas.” Perfect for both fans of Dickens’ work and those who just find special pleasure in the holiday spirit, these five Christmas stories are now available as part of the Word Cloud Classics series, providing a chic, inexpensive introduction to timeless tales.