Book picks similar to
Befana's Gift by Natalie Savage Carlson
juvenile
legend
grandparents
jealousy
Decebal Triumphant
Peter Jaksa - 2020
The Roman Empire expanded its conquered territories north to the Danubius (Danube) River. One kingdom is still a serious threat – the third most powerful military power in Europe and the richest nation in the region. That nation is Dacia, led by its young and brilliant military leader King Decebal.Decebal Triumphant is the story of the early days (85 – 99 A.D.) of the Roman – Dacian wars. It is told from the point of view of King Decebal and the Dacian people fighting for their freedom and survival, and also examines the intrigues of Emperor Domitian, a rising military star named Trajan, and the Roman nobility fighting for power. Going beyond historical myths and Hollywood stereotypes, this novel tells the rich story of an epic clash of cultures and of brutal military conflicts that shaped the future of two nations.
A Glizzy Christmas: A Comfort Of A Thug Christmas Treat
Diamond D. Johnson - 2021
The Boat of Dreams: A Christmas Story
Richard Preston - 2003
He leaves behind his beloved wife, Sarah Ann; a six-year-old daughter, Lila; and a thirteen-year-old son, Will, Jr. They live in a trailer on the coast of Maine, and parked beside the trailer is their father's beautiful but unreliable lobster boat, the "Sarah Ann." The "Sarah Ann'"s graceful curves and beautiful wood are a painful daily reminder of Will Sr.'s plans and dreams -- dreams now lost with him.The December afternoons are lonely and dark for Lila and Will, who must come home alone from school while their mother works. They get scared when they find evidence that someone has been visiting the trailer, and when they come home to find a rugged, cantankerous, somewhat smelly old man watching TV, it takes them a while to realize he's...Santa Claus.What Santa does with the lobster boat and how he handles Will's one and only Christmas dream -- to have his dad back -- is the story of "The Boat of Dreams." It brings laughter, surprises, and tears and tells through an unforgettable story how love is the one power that can overcome all.
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge
Mem Fox - 1984
Of course, his favorite is Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper, because she has four names just as he does. The only problem is Miss Nancy, who is 96, has "lost" her memory. Undaunted, Wilfred sets out to "find" Miss Nancy's memory for her. Full-color illustrations.
Blizzard
John Rocco - 2014
Told with a brief text and dynamic illustrations, the book opens with a boy's excitement upon seeing the first snowflake fall outside his classroom window. It ends with the neighborhood's immense relief upon seeing the first snowplow break through on their street. In between the boy watches his familiar landscape transform into something alien, and readers watch him transform into a hero who puts the needs of others first.
Polar: The Titanic Bear
Daisy Corning Stone Spedden - 1994
Illustrated with evocative watercolors, family photos, postcards, and keepsakes.
Shhh! The Baby’s Asleep
JaNay Brown-Wood - 2021
Baby is finally asleep, and Mama is trying to shush the rest of the family; but when they are all finally quiet baby wakes up--and it is up to big brother Dante to find the right book to read so everyone can get some rest.
The Ickabog
J.K. Rowling - 2020
From the delicate cream cheeses of Kurdsburg to the Hopes-of-Heaven pastries of Chouxville, each was so delicious that people wept with joy as they ate them.But even in this happy kingdom, a monster lurks. Legend tells of a fearsome creature living far to the north in the Marshlands... the Ickabog. Some say it breathes fire, spits poison, and roars through the mist as it carries off wayward sheep and children alike. Some say it's just a myth...And when that myth takes on a life of its own, casting a shadow over the kingdom, two children — best friends Bert and Daisy — embark on a great adventure to untangle the truth and find out where the real monster lies, bringing hope and happiness to Cornucopia once more.Features full-colour illustrations by the young winners of The Ickabog competition.
The Christmas Grieving
Emma Ashwood - 2019
When Molly was eight, her mother passed away on Christmas Eve. It was on that day that Molly learned that Christmas didn’t bring joy, but heartache. The years drew on in a struggle against hunger and making the rent. When her father passed away, Molly knew her time was running out. She didn’t have two dimes to rub together, it was only a matter of time before she was homeless. When her neighbor, Mrs. Gardner, suggests a way out, she refuses. But a few months later, Mrs. Gardner returns with a sheaf of papers. She had written to a man named Howard Grover on Molly’s behalf. A husband, a home and the promise of a future awaited her, if only she would agree to travel west. About to be evicted, a desperate Molly realizes it’s her only chance at survival. When she meets the humble Howard and his kind sister, Rose, Molly feels at home for the first time. Although Howard is by no means wealthy, he promises Molly she will never go hungry again. When he proposes they get married on Christmas Eve, Molly is hesitant. Christmas Eve was a time of heartache. She agrees, only to awaken on Christmas Eve to deception and a confession. What must Howard confess? Will Molly ever have a Christmas of joy? This is a sweet mail order bride romance that will have you counting your blessings. This Cinderella-like tale tugs at the heart-strings and will have you racing to the last page for an ultimate happily ever after.
The Miracle Christmas Baby (Mail Order Bride Christmas in the Country Book 7)
Emma Morgan - 2018
Mack Cooper as a mail order bride. However, when she arrives, she realizes Mack is not the man she is meant to marry. Instead, he sent for her for a friend, Phillip, who knows nothing of her arrival. But Helen’s troubles have only just begun when a landslide blocks their path, leaving her temporarily staying in Mack’s house and caring for a rescued baby. As the weeks pass, both Helen and Mack begin to care for one another—feelings they both keep secret. And all too soon, the road is cleared and Helen is gone, sent to marry a man she does not know, away from the one she loves. Until a little holiday magic lets love find its way back.
Heat For The Holidays
Michelle Love - 2018
Tragic Secrets Book One: A Holiday Secret Baby Romance It was supposed to be a time of mourning, reflection, and endings. Instead I found love, happiness, and new beginnings… She’d caught my eye right from the start. That little filly was as wild as they come, though. Friends.That was her favorite word. I wanted more, and I always get what I want. But with her, love had to come first. Her virginity meant a lot to her. She meant a lot to me. And just as it started coming together, it all came crashing down. Why, I didn’t know. We were in love. Or had it all just been a crazy game to her? Riding Stick Book Two: A Second Chance Secret Baby Romance I didn’t want any of it. Not the company, the cars, the hassles. I only wanted her. Too bad we don’t always get what we want. It shouldn’t have been that hard to just ask the girl on a date but with a father like mine, every move I made had to be carefully calculated. What was I doing? Waiting around for keys to the kingdom which may never come? Thank God, Aura Cameron didn’t see me as some stuck-up boss’s son who would use and abuse her. She saw a future with us. Too bad fate didn’t. Loving The Don Book Three: A Single Daddy Nanny Romance Daniela: He’s the Don. He’s my boss. He’s all I’ve ever wanted… But he buried his heart with his wife. Dashing, seductive Armand Rossini is the first man I’ve ever felt real desire for. But I’m here to look after his sweet, traumatized daughter, Laura. Not to warm his bed. However, Armand has other plans. And I’ve got no defenses against his charm. The seduction is total. The se* is amazing. But it comes with a limit: His wife, barely even dead two years, has his heart. Not I. And then the unexpected happens: I’m pregnant. Armand has promised to take care of me, but I’m starting to have doubts. You can’t hide a pregnancy forever—especially with his nosy, bossy mother around. Now she’s found us out and forced a wedding. And just like that, I’m married to the Don of New York. I’m now wife to the man who warned me not to love him—and I’m in danger. Will Armand find his heart in time to save me? Three On a Match Book Four: A Reverse Harem Bad Boy Romance Sparks fly on a remote Caribbean island when three hot, desperate ex-convicts rope lonely trauma nurse Alanna into helping save one of their lives. Plucked from her cruise in the middle of the night, she becomes a woman on a mission...but it’s hard to keep her mind on business with so many hunks around. All three men want her, and they’re willing to share. Offered a month of relaxation, seduction, and mind-blowing se*? Virginal Alanna cannot resist. But as everyone’s feelings deepen, an unexpected surprise complicates matters: Alanna is pregnant. When jealousy and violence rear their heads on the island, will their new love last? While You Were Gone Book Five: A Christmas Second Chance Romance I never thought I would feel happy again. Not for one moment. Not after he took my daughter. The man I married wasn’t who I thought he was, and he showed me that in the worst possible way.
Checkout Girl
Denise Deegan - 2013
She's taken on an unexpected detour back to her life shortly before she died. But she's seeing the world from a different point of view. This is the first time she has ever experienced a detour being the best part of a journey. 'A wonderful, warm read that's guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings,' author Colette Caddle. Checkout Girl was published as part of the short story compilation, Moments, in aid of the tsunami. It was also part of a short story collection published in Germany. Aimee Alexander is the pen name of bestselling Irish author Denise Deegan Checkout Girl includes a short excerpt from Pause to Rewind, a contemporary novel by Aimee Alexander.