A Beautifully Broken Christmas

By Brenda S. Anderson

Four short Christmas stories of Faith, Family, and Hope

All stories originally appeared in The Mosaic Collection Christmas anthologies.

"A Christmas Homecoming"
a Coming Home Series novelette

"Our love story is definitely not typical. It began on a day not unlike this one, when your grandfather was on his way to propose to his girlfriend. Only two weeks later, he proposed to me."

Marlene Prestidge can't wait to leave the farm to study art in Paris. Now that her brother is coming home from the war in Vietnam, she finally has her chance. Until helping a stranded motorist leads to a chain of events that could forever put her dream on hold.

This story originally appeared in The Mosaic Collection's 2020 Christmas anthology, A Star Will Rise.

"A Beautiful Christ-mess"
a companion story to Brenda S. Anderson's A Beautiful Mess

When prodigal son Zachary Belden returns home at Christmas to surprise his family with news, he's stunned by other news that turns his surprise into a big mess and challenges his newfound faith.

This story originally appeared in The Mosaic Collection's 2019 Christmas anthology, Hope is Born.

"Broken Noel"
a companion story to Brenda S. Anderson's, Broken Together

Christmas season has always been a time for joy for Thomas Nordberg and his family, but when his wife succumbs to cancer days before Thanksgiving, that joy is buried with her. In his grief, his relationship with his daughter is wounded as well. A gift to another hurting child may be the only thing that restores joy in their lives.

This story originally appeared in The Mosaic Collection's 2021 Christmas anthology, The Heart of Christmas.

"The Home for Christmas Challenge"
a Coming Home Series novelette

Christmas isn't Christmas without drama, and this season might be the worst of all.

Dating hasn't been on Lee Aldrich's mind since Amelia's mother abandoned the two of them over thirteen years ago. Since it's the last year before his daughter heads off to college, he wants to make the upcoming holiday season memorable. Unfortunately, Amelia has other plans, beginning with a blind date for Lee. A date that stirs up memories of the past that he has no desire to revisit.

But if Lee wants to have Christmas with his daughter, he and his date need to accept Amelia's Home for Christmas Challenge. As the months pass, Christmas nears, and the challenges continue, forcing Lee to face hard truths. If he doesn't meet the truth head on, he risks losing what he cherishes the most.

This story originally appeared in The Mosaic Collection's 2023 Christmas anthology, A Thrill in the Air.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1951664124
• ISBN13: 9781951664121
• Release Date: November 2025
• Publisher: Vivant Press
• Length: 300 Pages
• Weight: 0.77 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.5"