Christmas Bequest — Barbara Miller

The shocking news comes right before Christmas -- Patience Mayhew's beloved brother Jack was lost in the Battle of Nivelle. Since his son is but a toddler, Jack left his estate in trust to his best friend Stuart -- the man who, years ago, broke Patience's heart.

Stuart Marsh is just as shocked as Patience at Jack's bequest. How can he possibly run Heatherfield when Jack's widow resents him and sister detests him? But as he settles in and sees how much work Heatherfield needs, he realizes it's his chance to prove himself to Patience all over again. He wants nothing more than to lift the burden from her shoulders and prove that Christmas miracles exist -- and that love, real love, never truly fades away.