At a glance
Classic Christmas fiction
The Chimes
Book 2 of the Christmas Books series
On New Year's Eve, elderly messenger Trotty Veck absorbs public lectures blaming poor people for their suffering and begins to believe his own class is naturally wicked. The church bells he has long loved summon him into a dark vision of future years in which his daughter Meg, her fiance Richard, and their friends are crushed by poverty and contempt. Witnessing despair at its most dangerous teaches Trotty how damaging it is to surrender faith in human dignity and improvement. Urgent and supernatural, this Dickens Christmas book suits readers who appreciate social protest, working-class characters, redemptive visions, and holiday stories whose hope depends on challenging injustice rather than overlooking it.
Midnight Spiced Tea + Ranch Water
Choose your bookseller
Find the Book
Print retailers offer a search when an exact edition is unavailable. Kindle links open a specific edition. Audiobook links may open an edition or a search.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Book Bartender earns from qualifying purchases. Bookshop.org links also earn us a commission on qualifying purchases. Your price is not affected. Read the full affiliate disclosure.
No surprises at chapter twelve
Content notes
Poverty, despair, threatened violence, and Victorian social attitudes
Alcohol-Free Pour
Midnight Spiced Tea
Black tea and winter spice for bells at the turning year.
What you'll need
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.How to mix it
- Steep the tea and any herbs or whole spices in hot water according to the tea type, then strain. Stir in sweetener and juices. Chill and serve over ice.
- Garnish: Citrus peel, herb, or fruit from the recipe, if applicable.
- Glassware: Highball glass.
We earn a commission from qualifying purchases through these Amazon links, at no extra cost to you.
Highball glass ↗Cocktail Pour · 21+
Ranch Water
For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.
Tequila, lime, and sparkling mineral water make a crisp, no-fuss ranch water.
What you'll need
- 2 oz tequila
- 3/4 oz fresh lime juice ↗
- 4 oz sparkling mineral water ↗
- Ice
How to mix it
- Fill a highball glass with ice. Add tequila and lime juice, top with mineral water, and stir gently.
- Garnish: Lime wedge.
- Glassware: Highball glass.
We earn a commission from qualifying purchases through these Amazon links, at no extra cost to you.
Highball glass ↗Set up the bar cart
Shop the Barware
Find the glasses and tools for your next pour.