Recipes For Easy Living // Christmas Comes to Valentine — Curtiss Ann Matlock

Christmas has come to Valentine, Oklahoma, and everybody's got a special wish....

For thirteen-year-old Corrine, it's really about keeping what she has: a happy life with her aunt Marilee and Papa Tate; her beloved horses; and an almost boyfriend, Ricky Dale. Now is not the time for the mother who abandoned her to come back into her life.

Anita, though, is determined. She is coming home for Christmas to fix the mistakes she's made. Despite some bad times and the bridges she's burned, Anita loves her daughter, and she is desperately hoping a bit of Christmas magic will help Corrine decide to love and trust her again.

As for Marilee, she loves Corrine like her own, and fears losing the girl to a beautiful, irresponsible mother who might just break her daughter's heart all over again. As always, Anita's arrival fans old flames of anger and stubbornness between the sisters. Then again, it is a season of miracles. And if one tiny miracle could find its way to Valentine this year, then everybody might just get the most perfect gift of all.