Wheeler begins this anthology with a surprisingly frank introduction about how divorce, family bickering and geographical transience have created in many people a longing for an elusive "home" at Christmastime. What follows are six sentimental holiday tales, in the same tradition as Wheeler's phenomenally popular Christmas in My Heart
and Christmas in My Soul
anthologies. All of the stories were written by women. There's a pretty contribution by Grace Livingston Hill, whose yarns have become staples in Wheeler's collections, though this one has terribly didactic moments. ("She suddenly remembered that she was a witness for the Lord Jesus. She must think of her testimony.") There's also a very dated but charming Temple Bailey story, situated in the fundamentalist-modernist controversy of the early 20th century. The most powerful and understated sketch is also the only contemporary one of the collection: Nancy Rue's "The Red Envelope." (Oct. 15)
