After a whirlwind cross-country move, Harriet and her donut-loving basset hound, Humphrey, have settled into a new life in Grass Valley, California. When Harriet learns that she s going to be a grandma for the first time and get a new suite with room for her salt-and-pepper shaker collection, she can t wait for her best friend, Martha, to come visit so she can share her good news. But adventure is never far away when Harriet is around. After listening to the pleas of a desperate teen whose daddy needs money right away---and happens to have a gold mine to lease---Harriet falls hook, line, and sinker into the venture. Although she s nervous about her investment, Harriet chooses to keep it a secret from her son, Henry, and his wife. She can only imagine what she ll do if this turns out to be her ticket to a golden windfall. When suspicions arise, though, it becomes clear that Harriet may never see an ounce of gold. But will she continue to trust and risk losing everything? The fate of the young teen and a family emergency show Harriet where her true treasure lies."

Is There Really a Fountain of Youth in Paradise? Welcome back to Bright 's Pond, where strange happenings are afoot at the Greenbrier Nursing Home. Strange even for Bright 's Pond. The residents suddenly act like kids again riding trikes, climbing trees, and of all things falling in love. Some of the townsfolk blame it on the crooked new gazebo, or its builder, a quirky little man who quotes Don Quixote, collects water from the fountain at the Paradise trailer park, and disappears on a regular basis. While Chief of Police Mildred Blessing investigates the mystery, Griselda and her friends deal with a luau Thanksgiving, preparations for the Christmas pageant, and maybe even an upcoming wedding. Only, in Bright 's Pond, nothing ever really goes as planned . . . "What's better than Bright's Pond? Bright's Pond at Christmas time. Magnin hasn't just created characters--she's created friends you'll love spending time with. You'll love every page of this quirky delight, and when that last chapter is read, you'll be ready for more of Griselda and the rest of the Bright's Pond residents." - Jenny B. Jones, Award-winning author of romantic comedies such as "Save the Date" and A Charmed Life series

"The queen of quirk does it again. With her signature wit and charm and penchant for surprise, Joyce Magnin takes us on a leisurely read through Bright's Pond, where uncannily loveable chaeracters reside -- God in the midst of them. I want to move there." - Nancy Rue, author of The Reluctant Prophet"Creative and fun, a visit to Bright 's Pond for the Holidays is just what the doctor ordered. Who can resist spry octogenarians in hot pursuit of the Fountain of Youth or romance in trouble But it is the endearing thread of love and sympathy that runs through the characters that makes readers return." - Cathy Gohlke, Christy Award winning author of William Henry is a Fine Name and I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires

Newly widowed Charlotte Figg purchases a double-wide trailer sight unseen and moves to the Paradise Trailer Park with her dog, Lucky. Unfortunately, neither the trailer nor Paradise are what Charlotte expected. Her trailer is a ramshackle old place in need of major repair, and the people of Paradise are harboring more secrets than Bayer has aspirin. Charlotte s new friend Rose Tattoo learns that Charlotte played softball and convinces her to rally the women of Paradise into a team. Reluctant at first, Charlotte warms to the notion and is soon coaching the Paradise Angels. Meanwhile, Charlotte discovers that the manager of Paradise, Fergus Wrinkel, abuses his wife, Suzy. Charlotte sets out to find a way to save Suzy from Fergus and in the process comes to a difficult realization about her own painful marriage. "

Maybelle can t sew. But when she finds an unfinished quilt in the attic of her mother s house, she gets the crazy idea to complete it. At first, it s just a way to fill the lonely nights while her husband, staff sergeant Holden Kanzinzki, is away fighting in World War II.

Yet when Maybelle discovers that the quilt is made from scraps of material that can be traced back through her family heritage, the project is suddenly much more important. Then word comes that Holden is missing in action, and with little else to do, Maybelle clings to the quilt as much as to the hope that her husband is still alive. As neighborhood friends gather around Maybelle to help her through the unknown days and nights ahead, it is the quilt that becomes a symbol of her unflagging belief that Holden will return to her, to their home, and to their quilt-covered bed."

Now that her morbidly obese sister, Agnes Sparrow, is comfortably dieting at the Greenbrier Nursing Home, Griselda learns to fly literally after a pilot makes an emergency landing and creates quite a ruckus in the otherwise sleepy town of Bright s Pond. But Griselda s newfound freedom and her flight time with handsome pilot, Cliff is hampered by other happenings in town. Like the gold digger who prances around town and is supposedly engaged to Stella Kincaid s brother the lottery winner who is in a coma. And there s Ivy Slocum s dog, Al Capone, whose adventures continue long after they should. When Chief of Police Mildred Blessing starts investigating the gold digger, however, things really heat up for Griselda and all the residents of the unique Pennsylvania hamlet called Bright s Pond! "

2010 Carol Awards Finalist No longer able or willing to leave her home, the unusual Agnes Sparrow has committed herself to a life of prayer - prayer that has resulted in numerous miracles, both large and garden variety, including a prize-winning pumpkin. The rural residents of Bright's Pond, a quirky Pennsylvania town, are so enamored with Agnes they plan to erect a sign in her honor on the interstate. Agnes wants no part of it and sends her sister to fight city hall. Their petitions are shot down and the sign plans press forward. But when a stranger comes to call asking for his miracle, Bright's Pond is turned on its head and Agnes' feet of clay are exposed, forcing the town to its knees.