"MRS. MIRACLE," by Debbie Macomber, Avon, 337 pages, $7.99 (f)

Seth Webster is a widowed professor raising two adorably rambunctious 6-year-old twin boys.

The boys' antics have chased away a string of housekeepers, and Seth is at his wits' end. Then in walks new housekeeper Emily Merkle, with a twinkle in her eye and a chicken pot pie in her bag. Mrs. Merkle — Mrs. Miracle, as the family dubs her — sets about putting the family right with a warm smile, a firm hand and, just maybe, divine guidance.

Travel agent Reba Maxwell is struggling with heartache of her own. A rift between Reba and her sister — caused when the sister stole Reba's man — has put quite a damper on Reba's holiday spirit.

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Can Mrs. Miracle use an upcoming church Christmas pageant to bring the two lonelyhearts together? Of course! What kind of book do you think this is?

In "Mrs. Miracle," popular author Debbie Macomber has created a sugary love story sprinkled with recipes and folksy wisdom ("Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death").

"Mrs. Miracle" was originally published in 1996 and has been released in a new paperback edition to coincide with a Hallmark Channel original movie premiering Dec. 5. at 6 p.m. The film stars Doris Roberts (Ray's mom from "Everybody Loves Raymond") as Mrs. Miracle.

e-mail: jwilliamson@desnews.com

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