Author:  Sheila Roberts
ISBN:  978-0-312-59448-0

Click Here To Purchase The Snow Globe
 
Talk about a story for someone who REALLY needs a miracle this Christmas.  Of course, with the rough 2010 that we've all had, I'm sure this would be the absolute perfect gift to give the people you love who are looking to restore their hope.
 
This fantastic story begins with a young woman who has had one heck of a year.  In fact, Thanksgiving is almost upon Kiley Gray, and she still can't get over the disastrous Halloween she's just gone through.  Kiley is one of those hopeful people (or was) who truly believed in everything from Santa Claus to Prince Charming; until her beau - her fiance', in fact, dumped her for her younger sister.  She's still nursing this extreme hurt when she walks into an antique shop one day and comes across a snow globe with a scene inside that captures her heart.  She can't afford it, but once the owner tells her the story of the globe, Kiley simply can't resist.
 
In Chicago in the 1880's a man named Otto Schwartz owned a toyshop.  He could barely run the store anymore because he simply couldn't bring himself to smile after losing his wife and baby during labor.  One day Otto received a package from his sister in France, and inside was a snow globe with a lovely little toyshop located in an Alpine village.  The most beautiful part was that in front of the small shop stood a stunning angel watching over the peaceful scene.  Something happened when Otto shook the small globe and watched the snow fall over the toyshop...and Otto's life was changed forever.
 
When Kiley hears the happy, miraculous ending to this sad tale, she can't help herself; she purchases the snow globe and hopes with all her heart that she, too, can find some peace from the small angel inside the glass.  What Kiley doesn't know is that near her home in Seattle there is a small toyshop in the Market just waiting for her to arrive at the door; and, the owner of this magical place is a mix between Indiana Jones and Superman.  Let's just say that Kiley gets the surprise of her life.
 
Throughout this wonderful story, the snow globe changes hands between Kiley and her two best friends.  Suzanne is working herself into an early grave in order to give her husband and daughter the lifestyle she believes they should have.  What Suzanne doesn't understand, however, is that love - not things - are what truly make a family.  Allison is another of Kiley's friends who gets to hold the snow globe in her hand.  She has a good life, all-in-all, but her family is something that Allison can barely stand anymore.  All she truly wants is her beloved grandmother back in her life.
 
I can't tell you what a truly funny, warm-hearted, compelling book this is.  They say that fantastic things come in small packages, and that is certainly true of this beautiful story.  You can always tell when a book will become one of your absolute favorites, and that's when you close the cover and can still quote lines that will stay with you for the rest of your life.  In this case, for me, the writer said that Kings were born in mangers.  Not everyone sees miracles like this, but it doesn't make that moment in time any less real.  There are true miracles in this world, and I, for one, believe in them all. 
 
Enjoy this one guys!  And when you're done, pass it along to absolutely everyone you love.  You'll be glad you did.  Merry Christmas!
 

Click Here To Purchase The Snow Globe