As frost sparkles on cottage roofs and smoke rises from chimneys, the English village of Fairacre is a perfect vision of Christmas joy - but even in this cosy community, celebrations of the season do not always go as expected. In this enchanting holiday collection, Miss Read shares three of her most beloved and memorable Christmas tales.  Village Christmas: The Emery family is preparing to celebrate their first Christmas in Fairacre, having moved from London just three months before, and to welcome the birth of their fourth child. When the unexpected happens on Christmas morning, their new neighbors, the elderly Waters sisters who are habouring a little disapproval of Mrs Emery and her ways, are fortunately nearby to lend a hand. The Christmas Mouse:  The sensible and down-to-earth Mrs. Berry has just finished her Christmas Eve preparations for her widowed daughter and her two grandchildren when a winter storm brings two visitors seeking refuge to her hospitable home. Their chance encounter will make this an unforgettable Christmas for them all.   No Holly For Miss Quinn: A family emergency disrupts Miss Quinn’s plans for a quiet and fuss-free holiday. She agrees to look after her brother’s three young children while their mother is ill and soon finds herself swept away by holiday traditions, the infectious enthusiasm of the children and the surprising arrival of someone from her past. For uplifting reading, no one rivals Miss Read. Her delightful Christmas tales brim with good cheer and the spirit of Christmas itself.  Illustrated  by J.S. Goodall.