Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men...and Gingerbread Men?! After his harsh beginnings as a rough-and-tumble orphan on the streets of London, Jake Everton takes his rightful place as the long-lost heir of an aristocratic family with magical powers - his personal quest, to follow in his slain parents' footsteps as a Lightrider in the age-old battle of good versus evil. In the fantastical nooks and crannies of the Victorian Age, Jake and his friends (including his pet Gryphon) find no shortage of adventure - righting magic-related wrongs, solving supernatural mysteries, and exploring wondrous new worlds. Now it's Jake's first Christmas with his eccentric magical relatives, but trouble never takes a holiday... Santa's Horrid Little Helper Wanted! Humbug, the disgruntled Christmas elf. Reward: One Christmas wish granted, courtesy of Santa. Humbug hates being a Christmas elf. Instead of making toys, he'd rather make mischief. Angling for a new job in Halloween Town, he sets out to prove he's frightful enough for the task by ruining Christmas for as many people as possible - until Jake and his friends capture him. The kids set out on a rip-roaring adventure to the North Pole to hand the troublemaker over to Santa and collect the reward. But the way is fraught with danger, leaving them to wonder if they'll make it back in time for Christmas...or if they'll even make it back alive! Dear Reader, Although this book is connected to The Gryphon Chronicles series, it was written to stand alone, so you can still enjoy it just as much even if you haven't read the full-length novels. For readers who ARE following the adventures of Jake and his friends, consider this story #3.5 in the series. As a Christmas tale, GINGERBREAD is the lightest of the stories, and is half the length of the regular novels. [Previous titles include: Book 1 - THE LOST HEIR (now optioned for a movie!); Book 2 - JAKE and u0026 THE GIANT; and Book 3 - THE DARK PORTAL.] The Gryphon Chronicles are fun family reading for ages 10 and u0026 up, but younger kids who are avid readers should do fine with them, too. Thank you for your interest in our work! With warmest wishes, E.G. Foley